Convenient, good coffee with multiple pod flexibility
Written: Jan 17 '07 (Updated Jan 20 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to refill, works with multiple/specialty pods, stylish looks.
Cons: Hood lock can be annoying, steams a lot at times, difficult to pick up safely.
The Bottom Line: Excellent coffeemaker with lots of flexibility. Great at the price I paid, good at the normal $50 price. I would buy another if I needed another pod maker.
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| rnovak's Full Review: Black & Decker GT300 Coffee Maker |
First, a bit of a warning to prospective pod people. Pod coffeemakers are an odd bunch. They are a bit harder to get used to, and all of the economy (under $100) models seem to have their quirks. If you're going to buy a pod coffeemaker, expect some adjustment period and the occasional issue. But they have definite upsides and can be very convenient and affordable.
The GT300 was my second pod coffeemaker, and my cheapest ($15 on clearance at Target last year). The features I liked most about it were the ease of refilling the tank, and the ability to take more than one pod per brew (great for large coffee cups). The Juan Valdez branded one I started with did not have either feature.
Be aware that this coffeemaker is somewhat fragile; plastic bits can break if you drop it. Yes, I know this from experience. I picked up the coffeemaker by the front and back, not remembering that the back was the removable reservoir, and it bounced off the kitchen floor. Still works though.
Like the AT13 Home Cafe I bought after this, the GT300 has simple single-button brewing operation. You press the "Open" button to pop the hood, put the appropriate pod holder in with pod(s), close the hood, put a cup in place, and press a button. You can choose between 7oz, 9oz, or 14oz. There is also a 7oz "creamy" setting for use with specialty cappucino/latte pods. It takes about a minute to make a cup.
There is a "stop" button to interrupt the cycle, and a "clean" button which you can use without a pod (with an empty pod holder) to clean the system. If you use the coffeemaker on a cold day or if it needs cleaning, you'll get a lot of steam out of it. Just run a "clean" cycle with an empty pod holder and it should be fine. Run a "clean" cycle with coffeepot cleaner or vinegar according to the manual, every month or two, and it will also help.
This model has an electric lock on the hood, so you cannot open the hood while the coffeemaker is trying to make coffee. This does mean that sometimes you have to power the machine off and back on to get into the top (especially after power outages), but in normal operation this will not matter.
The 32oz water reservoir at the back is removable, but it also has a wide mouth and removable lid so you can refill it without removing it from the coffeemaker.
The drip tray is removable, for ease of cleaning as well as for use of travel mugs.
I have not noticed the plastic taste that others have reported; you will want to wash the removable parts (pod holders, drip funnel, water reservoir) and run a cup or two of water through the system before making drinking coffee. Always run at least a 7oz cycle of water (no pods) between beverage types. This protects you from the icky feeling of tea-flavored coffee or coffee-flavored tea, unless you don't find that icky.
And of course, to quote another review of mine: I recommend this to all of my coffee and tea drinking friends: always use filtered or bottled water when making coffee or tea. I keep a Pur water pitcher near the coffeemaker and try to keep it topped off so that I don't kill the machine before my first cup in the morning. Check your reservoir and dump/wash/rinse it from time to time.
I have used several varieties of pod with this coffeemaker, including Yuban, Target's Archer Farms, Senseo, and Folgers. Some people mention pods being expensive; I usually pay $0.25 per pod which is pretty good for the value. If you don't have a local Target or grocery store that sells pods, look at Amazon. Their grocery selection includes many varieties of pods in four-packs (about 72 pods) that are very inexpensive, as low as 20 cents a pod. Do not buy t-discs or k-cups; they're for other kinds of coffeemaker.
Afterthought (1/20/2007): Sometimes, if you don't use this unit for a while, especially if it's unplugged, you'll find that the pump requires priming again. The symptom is that the coffeepot clicks and then the bottom right buttons (14oz and Creamy) blink incessantly, and no water passes. I need to find my manual to mention how to re-prime the pump (and to do it on my GT300).
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
rnovak
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Member: Rob
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
Writer, photographer, UNIX system administrator, cat herder, team leader, mild parrothead, coffee fan.
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