Advantages: Fresh ground coffee at a good price
Disadvantages: Loud, a bit messy and somewhat limited adjustment

...The Starbucks Barista grinder is a relabelled Dualit grinder which is offered at a reduced cost from Starbucks outlets. A grinder is essential for those who want fresh coffee. Coffee beans will last much better than ground coffee, and so grinding before use becomes the only way to ensure the freshest coffee. A burr grinder like this one is essential for an even grind that doesn't burn the coffee. The coffee mills with spinning blades should be avoided at all costs, as they cannot evenly grind each bean and give consistent grounds. Added to their shortcomings of a mill, is that the speed of the blade heats and alters the coffee as it is ground. The burr grinders like the Barista crush the beans between grinding wheels and allow for each bean to be ground to an even consistency, without build-up of heat. The machine has an easy load... Read review

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Advantages: Looks good, adjustable for fineness and servings
Disadvantages: A bit noisy

...Krups Expert Coffee Grinder, GVX2 Having recently bought a Gaggia Espresso machine I needed to get a grinder to prepare the beans to make the perfect coffee. I'd bought the espresso machine at Bluewater shopping centre and I knew that I'd want to get cracking as soon as I got home so there was no time to look around online to get the best deal. After realising that the only suitable Gaggia model would cost £150 I thought I'd nip into John Lewis to see what they had on offer. The choice there was pretty good with models starting at about £20 running up to the Gaggia model. After being given a crash course in the matter of grinding beans by the very helpful assistant I plumped for the Krups model, GVX2, at £39.95. Before I talk about the Krups model, let me try and pass on that crash course and explain the finer points of grinding... Read review

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Advantages: Warm water in 3 secs, energy saving
Disadvantages: Doesn't boil water

...The Tefal Quick Cup is a type of kettle, but instead of boiling a whole kettle of water to make a single cup of tea, the Quick Cup heats only the amount of water required, therefore saving energy. Tefal claims that a cup of hot water takes only 3 seconds and I was sceptical at first, but its true. The machine itself is mainly black with a stainless steel control panel on top, and has 2300w of power. The machine is made from high quality plastic, so is easily cleaned with a wet cloth. The water tank holds 1.5 litres of water, and has space for a Claris water filter if required (one comes in the box). One touch of the red button on the top of the machine provides a steady flow of hot water, enough to fill an average sized mug. If you want less, just press the red button again. For more, either press the red button once again... Read review

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Advantages: Freshly ground, available in small quantities
Disadvantages: A bit more expensive than other coffees

...rather addicted to trying out their wide range of fresh coffee beans, which you can buy in small quantities and have freshly ground on the premises. I’ve tried almost all of their varieties and now have some firm favourites. Whittard stores are pretty much of a muchness, they all look very similar, and you will always find a section devoted to fresh coffee beans. There will be a three-tiered display of vats of beautiful, aromatic, shiny coffee beans, in light, medium and full roasts. You can buy 125g, 250g or 500g of beans. And you can buy them whole to grind at home if you have a grinder (whole they last about four weeks before they begin to lose flavour) or ground in the shop (ground coffee lasts about two weeks before flavour is lost). My local store stocks 18 blends, six each of light, medium and full roast, which I have... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to use and clean.
Disadvantages: None really.

...I drink a lot of coffee, but you won't find any instant coffee in my house as I don't like it. I only like good, strong filter coffee so I need a good quality, no frills coffee maker that's easy to use and easy to clean. I've had espresso makers, cappucino makers and other types that seem to do just about everything except make a decent coffee and they're all languishing outside in the loft of the garage. The Tefal 8967.25 is very different however. The instruction manual is clear and straightforward. The coffee machine has a clear plastic reservoir that takes the water, which is clearly marked with cup amounts, using both demi-tasse and ordinary cup sizes. As it is clear plastic, it is easy to see exactly how much water is going in. It has a swinging plastic filter container and you can use either the permanent filter... Read review

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Advantages: Filtered water
Disadvantages: Not as hot as a normal kettle

...I bought this item in August 2007 as i have a lead feed pipe to my home so I was really attracted to the idea of have filtered water straight from a "kettle". Having got the unit home and rinsed through it was put to work making a brew of both Tea and Coffee. My wife is the Tea drinker and was a litlle disapointed that the water was not as hot as a normal kettle and the Tea bag needed agitation to ensure that sufficient flavour was gained. On the coffee side I was happy that the instant powder was not scorched as this does make the drink bitter. I did agree that the drink was not as hot as usual but soon worked out the secret of the Quick Cup.... the first few seconds of water are not as hot as the rest. I seems that the unit works like a combi-water heater in your home and need to run for a short period to reach full heat. I have... Read review

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Advantages: delicious, gives you that morning jolt you need
Disadvantages: may be too strong for some, pricey

...did that, all plans for sleeping that night would be off. My favourite coffee of all time is Nescafe Original Instant Coffee. As someone who has tried a variety of different coffees, I can safely say that nothing beats it for taste and quality (unless, that is, you want to go to France every morning and get your fix there). First of all, it’s instant, so the minute you add it to boiling water it turns to dark, rich, aromatic coffee… no messing around with a coffee brewer – or worse yet, a coffee grinder (my grandma has one of those, and it seems so pointless to do all that work, especially before your caffeine fix). For an instant coffee, it is surprisingly delicious and rich, which makes many of the cheaper varieties of instant taste flimsy in comparison. The beans are French roasted before they are ground, so the coffee is strong... Read review

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Advantages: Quick, very efficient, easy to clean, in the long-term saves you money
Disadvantages: would be nice if there was a cup/mug size selection, if used, filters not cheap.

...Great efficiency, as the only tea drinker in the household, this product is extremely efficient - hot water in only 3 seconds - it does puff & blow a bit (similar to the noises made on Red Mountain coffee adverts!). Tefal claims energy saving up to 65% , compared to a standard kettle. I work shifts and often come in from work, put the kettle on and then wander off distracted, waiting for it to boil, frequently I would come back to the kettle and find it had cooled so i would have to switch it on again - wasting electricity. The whole item is reasonably smart looking - clear/black/stainless - not an ugly thing to have on the worktop. The model I have has two buttons on the top, one to just have filtered water, the other you either press once to have a mug full delivered, or keep your finger on the button and let go when you... Read review

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Advantages: Why does every other coffee taste worse and cost much more?
Disadvantages: So cheap, Tesco will either double the price soon or delete it!

...Don't waste your time and money on any coffee product from ANY supermarket or shop: simply try "Tesco Original" beans - not, repeat not, the ready-ground variety. They are the cheapest beans by far - £1.28 for, I think 227g -, and took over where the even better "Tesco Colombian" left off (literally deleted from the range - again, NOT the more colourful and expensive "Tesco Colombian Supremo" pack which is anything but supreme - quite nondescript, in fact, especially for the price. The Original beans pack smell glorious when squeezed and sniffed! Even the check-out people comment on the aroma if you do it casually whilst waiting in the queue, and have bags of taste and character without being overly strong. Mind you, we also have the cheapest and best coffee maker ever - the Toshiba Filtermill all-in-one grinder and percolator!... Read review

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Advantages: Reliable, efficient, well-made
Disadvantages: None

...I should say at the outset that I am NOT a handyman type. However, my late father in law was a stonemason and I inherited some of his tools when he died, and our small patio badly needed relaying. So, remembering some of the tricks of the trade he'd imparted to me I set about cutting some paving slabs to size with a club hammer and a bolster chisel. What had seemed effortless when he did it suddenly became hard graft and, sure enough, the fourth slab toppled when I tried to turn it over and off I went to A&E with a broken finger. A friend heard about my accident and, when he'd finished laughing at my ineptitude, he lent me his angle grinder, a Bosch GWS 8-115C. I was amazed how quickly this contraption ripped through the paving slabs and straight after returning his I immediately bought one of my own. It came in a smart, neatly... Read review

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