26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very convenient, but strong isnt so strong!, 3 July 2007
We bought this to replace a top of the line delonghi machine. We found we didnt use the espresso side so much, so a simple filter machine was required. Also one that allowed the extraction-and-filling of the water resevoir, as the unit had to be placed in an awkward place.
The machine works well, is perfectly sized, looks fabulous.
However, two points stop it getting 5 stars.
1- the dark coffee (strong) setting doesnt really allow a strong brew to develop. Which isn't great if you are after a strong drink.
2- the jug doesnt always pull out easily due to tightness of the anti-drip unit.
Still, its fine for the price, and looks fab in a modern kitchen.
Final point - it comes with a filter-unit inside, but dont expect to buy replacement filters - nobody sells them anywhere!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Does exactly what I wanted it to, 8 July 2009
I looked for MONTHS for a new filter coffee maker after my old one died. Almost all the filter machines out there are pretty unattractive, no matter what your budget. This Kenwood one caught my eye though, a smooth, curvy and unfussy design amongst the dozens of black-plastic uglies. A bit of web-searching threw up some reviews, and also a few places that sold reasonably-priced spare parts for the machine. This model (CM375) may be discontinued soon - I think Kenwood are making a new version of it with digital timer etc. Personally I'm not bothered about extra features, I just want a basic, good machine.
So, looks aside, does this machine perform well? I found it simple to get going - a quick wash of all the removable parts, a couple of runs through with plain water and you're off. The water-filter unit (which you place inside the water-tank) was a new thing for me but it looks like it's optional whether you use it or not. The water-tank comes out so you can fill it easily. The permanent filter does a pretty good job, but you can use paper filters instead if you prefer. There hasn't been a single drip yet when I've removed the carafe. The carafe pours perfectly too, no dribbles. The hot-plate keeps the coffee warm enough and hasn't stewed mine yet. The CM375 brews coffee fairly fast and mostly quietly.
Most importantly, the coffee tastes good. The strongest setting is a little bit too strong for me, which I'm happy about, having been a bit worried after another reviewer said it didn't make strong enough coffee.
The number of cups it makes, according to the instructions, is 12 (or 18 small ones!). I use normal, largish mugs and I find the machine will fill about 5 of these at a time. This is pretty standard in my experience.
The only thing about this machine that I don't immediately like is the handle on the carafe, which doesn't feel very solid and creaks when you hold it. We will see if it stands up to twice daily use.
This is a good-looking basic machine that produces excellent coffee. There is no timer, no clock, no auto shut-off. It has one button and one strength-selector. So long as it continues to work as it has done so far, I'll be absolutely satisfied with it.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
No problems with excellent machine., 11 Oct 2009
We use a filter coffee maker daily. The last two were Kenwoods and they failed with identical faults. They also had other overspill problems.
This one was expensive but looked a good match for our kitchen. It works very well indeed. No hint of any problems. I always seemed to spray coffee grounds about the work surfaces with the other machines but this one has a much easier access and no spills so far. The removal water container is a real benifit too.
One small gripe is that I couldn't get the enclosed water filter to fit. As I wouldn't have replaced it I haven't lowered the score for what is the best filter machine we've ever had.
High price but good value.
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