Coffee is more than just a pick me up, it’s a ritual. But sometimes you don’t need a full pot. If you were the lone coffee drinker in your home or you just want a machine to make smaller amounts, you might be looking at Cuisinart Grind & Brew Single-Serve Coffeemaker. The unique proposition of this machine is that it can make one cup at a time in two ways; you can use prepackaged Keurig pods or fill the included adaptor with your own favourite coffee and make your cup that way.

In this review I’m going to take a look at what this machine is like to use, how it works, what the coffee is like and what you might need to know before picking it up for your kitchen. I’ll wrap things up with the pros and the cons and let you know if I think I can recommend this coffee machine for you.

I’d like to thank Cuisinart for giving me a machine to review. Though they did provide it, they didn’t ask for nor receive permission to have any input into my review so you can consider these thoughts all mine.

Unboxing & Set-up

The Cuisinart Grind & Brew Single-Serve Coffeemaker is the only thing in the box. There are just two other components that come with it… a removable drip tray, which you’ll place under the spout, and hidden inside a side door is your reusable filter cup.

To get ready to brew you do have a couple of tasks: the machine comes with a water filter, which pops into a small compartment at the bottom of a long holder that sits in the bottom of the water tank. It needs replacement about every 60 days or so. Then, fill the 48 ounce/1.4L water reservoir.

Watch my full VIDEO review of Cuisinart Grind & Brew Single Serve

Cuisinart recommends you follow the instructions to run some hot water through the system in order to give it a rinse before your first use.

Let’s get to know the rest of the machine…

Next up you can fill the small coffee beans hopper with fresh coffee beans and clip the lid into place which will help keep it fresh.

Underneath the beans hopper is a small clip which is where you will place your reusable filter cup when you want to use it. The filter cup is a small K-cup style basket which you’ll fill with your own ground coffee. I’ll get to exactly how to use it and how it works in just a moment.

On the right hand side of the machine is the brewing head. Whether you use your own reusable K-cups, or you purchase Keurig pods, they will get placed under the lid here.

Up top is your control and info panel. This allows you to choose three different sizes of coffee; 8 ounce, 10 ounce or 12 ounce cups. You can also opt to grind your own coffee here and you’ll get alerted if your water tank is low.

Making coffee with Cuisinart Grind & Brew: Fresh Ground Beans

I’ll go over making coffee with your own ground beans and using a K-cup, and let’s start with the ground coffee option.

You’ll have a hot cup of Joe in less than a couple of minutes. Start by opening up your reusable pod and sliding it underneath the grinder. Touch the grind button and wait for it to do its thing. The machine will measure the appropriate amount and also the appropriate grind size. There does not appear to be any way to change either the measurement or the grind size.

When the cup is full slide it out and close the lid. You’ll need to remove the K cup adaptor from the brew head and then set the reusable pod inside, close the brew head and choose the size of coffee you want. An 8 ounce cup brews up in less than about 90 seconds, which I think is quite quick.

Coffee temperature

I measured the coffee temperature just after brewing at about 149°F/65°C. This is quite hot but not scald your tongue hot. You could call it hot but quickly drinkable.

I did notice a rather common feature of grinders like this and that is that you can expect a sprinkling of ground coffee to spill out of the device. Most of it gets captured in the drip tray and shouldn’t be a major problem.

Making coffee with Cuisinart Grind & Brew: Using Keurig K-Cups

Making coffee with K-cups is even quicker and easier. Ensure the K-cup adaptor is in the brew head, then drop in your Keurig pod and close the lid. Choose your coffee size and again this brews up in about 90 seconds.

It does seem like it takes a long time, and the coffee tends to dribble out rather slowly, but given the amount we are brewing here, I think it’s actually a perfectly reasonable length of time.

If for some reason you need to stop the brewing process at any time, just push the brew size button again.

Cleanup

The parts including the filter basket and drip tray can go in the dishwasher but are safe for the top rack only. You can also rinse or hand wash under running water.

Overall review: Cuisinart Grind & Brew Single-Serve

Overall I am surprised at how convenient this machine is. It would be most ideal for occasional coffee drinkers as opposed to those who are downing a pot a day. Let’s go over the pros and the cons of this machine so you can see if it might be right for you.

On the pro side it’s incredibly convenient, while at the same time offering two options for brewing; either your own preferred coffee beans or the convenience of a pre-portioned Keurig cup.

The brewing process is incredibly quiet ensuring that if anyone is still sleeping they’re not going to be bothered. A cup brews up in about 90 seconds or so which is a reasonable timeframe.

The coffee is hot by my standards and you have the option of brewing three different sizes. The water tank holds 48 ounces which will make about six 8 ounce cups before it needs refilling.

The Conical Burr grinder does a very good job of grinding coffee extremely well and to an even consistency. You can also take it apart for cleaning.

So what are the downsides? There’s not a lot of deal breakers for me as far as this machine is concerned. I think the biggest standouts for some coffee lovers might be the sprinkling of coffee grounds from the grinder or perhaps the fact that you might have to refill the water tank more often if you’re making larger portions. And on that note, if you did want to insert a large travel mug, there’s not really enough room for that. The footprint of the machine may also be a little on the large size given it’s only producing a single cup, but since Cuisinart has doubled the brewing methods here, the size is understandable.

In short I think this is a great single serve coffee maker that gives you great options whether you want convenient K-cups or your own grounds. I can absolutely recommend the Cuisinart Grind & Brew Single-Serve Coffeemaker to you.

It sells for about $200CAD/ $149USD and you can get it directly from Cuisinart or from several retailers including Amazon.

**A note about Affiliate Links: TechGadgetsCanada & TechGadgetsInternational is supported by our readers. Occasionally I will include affiliate links in my reviews. I do this partly for convenience of the reader (since I’ll almost always include a link to the company website or similar anyway) in case you want to read more or purchase, but I also may get a small commission from the click, which helps me keep the blog running. If you choose to use this link I thank you greatly for supporting the blog. There’s no obligation or cost to you for using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

The post Cuisinart Grind & Brew Single Serve Coffee Maker: FULL in-home review appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

There are two types of people who enjoy sous vide cooking . One is a the foodie type, for obvious reasons. The other is the folks out there who can’t cook. That may seem weird, but hear me out. Sous vide machines have the ability to control the final temperature of your food to within half a degree, so you really can’t overcook anything. And if you knew it was possible to turn out perfectly perfect food every time with almost no work on your part, wouldn’t you suddenly have an interest in cooking more? The new Anova Precision Cooker Nano is a compact sous vide cooking device that I recently had the chance to test and review, along with the Anova Container. I’ll tell you all about how it works and what kind of food you can make with it, and a bit about what sous vide cooking is and why people like it.

Watch for the video review soon, or subscribe to my YouTube channel here to get notified when it’s posted!

What is Anova Precision Cooker Nano?

The Anova Precision Cooker Nano is a compact, app-connected sous vide machine. You plug it in and place it in water and using the onboard controls or a smartphone app, you can adjust your cooking temperature to within 0.1 degrees. The Nano version is a smaller and more compact version of the previous generation Anova.

There’s a small digital readout on top of the unit so you can see temperature and time at a glance. Or you can use the app to program and manage your cooking.

You can use the Anova Precision Cooker Nano in a pot filled with water, a bucket, or with the custom made Anova Container, which lets you stack food and hold it under water, while creating an area for the machine to sit unobstructed. It all gets covered with a lid to keep the heat just right.

What is sous vide cooking?

Sous Vide cooking is a technique that uses a hot water bath to cook food to a precise temperature. More accurate than steaming and not as bland or imprecise as boiling, sous vide is a whole different method of cooking food.

Cooking sous vide involves sealing food inside a watertight bag, and immersing it in that precisely controlled hot water for an extended period of time—often an hour or a couple of hours, depending what you’re making.

After, you may want to give the food a quick sear coming out of the sous vide bath, since while the food is perfectly cooked, it can be a little pasty looking. Searing it gives colour and makes it more appealing on the plate.

Why cook sous vide?

Sous vide cooking has numerous advantages:

You can cook proteins, and other food to within 0.1 degree; because you pre-set the temperature, and the sous vide cooker holds it exactly there, there’s no danger of overcooking.

By the way, did you know the temperature difference between rare and medium rare in a steak is exactly three degrees? That;’s pretty close. No wonder so many of us over or undercook meat. The Anova gets it to witin 0.1 degrees of that perfect temperature and holds is precisely there.

You can leave food unattended, without worrying about overcooking it. Some sous vide machines like the Anova Nano here have connected apps that allow you to monitor time and temperature from a distance.

Another plus of sous vide cooking? Temperature and doneness is uniform all the way through the meat. If you’ve ever tried to cook a perfect medium steak, you know you can get it medium in the centre, but the outsides are cooked more thoroughly. Because your target temperature is precise, you can make an entire steak that is the perfect medium temperature all the way through, not just in the centre.

Sous vide cooking allows you to hold food at temperature; in some cases for hours. If guests are late, or you’ve mis-timed the cooking time on your other dishes, you don’t have to worry. You can hold food in the sous vide bath. The app will let you know for exactly how long.

 How do I set up Anova sous vide?

You’ve got a few things to do before you’re ready to sous vide. First off, download the Anova app from the App Store or Google Play. Next you’ll want to encapsulate your food in something that seals well for the cooking. Typically this is a ziplock bag or vacuum packed package. You want something that doesn’t leak, or melt.

To zip lock or to vac pack?

Many sous vide enthusiasts will vacuum pack heir foods for the sous vide process, and that’s because this removes all the air from the bag and seals it tightly, preventing leaking food or juices that can damage the sous vide machine, while also preventing the bag from floating in the water.
There are a couple of ways to hack this if you don’t have a vacuum sealer. You can put food in a ziplock or other durable, self-sealing bag and try to push all the air out of it as best you can (try sucking it out with a strew) , or you can cook in a Mason jar.

Are Ziploc bags safe for sous vide?

Ziploc backs are perfectly safe for sous viding. They’re food safe and tend to be durable enough to hold up to the heat involved, so consider them an inexpensive and easy option. You’ll want to push all the air out of the bag as best you can to keep the bag from just floating to the top of the water bath. You can even suck out the air with a straw.

What can I cook in a sous vide?

The short answer is almost anything! Vegetables, meats, fish and seafood, eggs, desserts; you can even infuse vodka with natural essences!

Preparing the Anova Precision Cooker Nano

Place the machine in water and secure it to the side of your container using the attached clip and thumb screw. I will say I hate this clip. It’s locked in one place and it doesn’t fit most of my medium pots. The previous generation anova had a removable ring that you could adjust the position of for almost any pot or container.

A heads up you’ll need a LOT of water with this device; it has a fairly high water level threshold and you’ll get an error message if your water level is too low and your cook won’t start. If you use the Container, it obviously takes even more, so if you’re doing small batches, a smaller pot is probably preferable.

Cooking with Anova sous vide

Cooking with the Anova is pretty straight forward, even for novices. Choose a recipe from the Anova app, or look up instructions for how to cook any type of food or protein. The app does it all for you but you can dial in any temperature you like.

Package up your food; and add any oils, herbs or flavours to the bag to really infuse it. Then start your water, either manually on the machine or get the app to do it for you. The water will heat up. I’m happy to say the water heats up pretty quickly (mine took less than 10 minutes when I used a big pot) and a small, single beep on the machine will alert you it’s ready.

I didn’t care much for this; I got no push notification to my phone when it was ready and when I walked over to the pot following the beep, the timer had already started counting down. I was left with the feeling the machine doesn’t wait for you. If you miss your alert, you’d have to adjust your cook time, and I couldn’t see how to do that. More investigation is needed…

When the bath is ready, you’ll get a message that it’s time to add your food. Place it in its wrapping into the water bath and tell the app your cook has begun, or mark the time if you’re going manual.

Now, shake a martini and relax—your cook will likely take an hour or two.

I’ve cooked numerous things sous vide:

• Eggs: soft boiled, hard boiled
• Sous vide egg bites
• Chicken
• Fish: (salmon, trout)
• Steak:
• Vegetables: carrots

When it came to the eggs I tried cooking hard boiled and they came out what I’d call medium poached. It’s also important to note there’s two sets of instructions in the app; the Anova guide version, which I used, and a bunch of crowd sourced recipes. You’ll want to look carefully at the ratings on those before you try them.

My “hard boiled” egg.

Features of Anova Sous Vide

There are a couple of features that set this machine apart. The big one is the digital display—something not found on a competitor’s model. The Nano is also slightly smaller than previous versions, though not quite as compact as said competitor. The Anova also comes with a built in clip for attaching your sous vide machine to a pot to keep it upright, and this clip is a bit more versatile than what you’d find on that other model.

Using the Anova app

The Anova app is a wealth of information. It’s got recipes, cooking guides and inspiration for your meals. It will tell you at a glance what temperature to cook foods at, or you can tap to load a recipe and the app will connect directly to the Nano and handle management of the cook for you. There are a few bugs with the app in my opinion. I never seemed to get a push notification or alert that the water was ready. Sometimes I’d walk over to check on it and find the time had just started counting down with no alert to me to put the food in now that the water was heated.

Other times, I’d walk over to find the water was at temperature, but I got no beep and no notification from the machine. When I went into the app to start the cook, there was no way to do that; no “Start cook/start timer” option.

Overall review: Anova Precision Nano Sous Vide machine

Overall I’ve been pretty happy with the Anova Precision Nano Sous Vide machine. It’s easy to use and the app takes a lot of the guesswork out of the precision needed to cook sous vide because it recommends temperatures and sets them for you.

If there are any downside to this device, I’d say its the terrible design of the clip which doesn’t let you adjust it; I much preferred the previous version which had a moveable collar. The device has a rounded bottom that won’t sit flat on its own in your pot and it has no magnet to stabilize that anyway. I also think the cord is also very short. I also had a lot of trouble with the app.

Even so, the Anova Precision Nano Sous Vide does exactly what you need, and it’s a lot of cooking power in a smaller package. The app is helpful and like that it’s easy to operate on-device without needing your smartphone too.

I can recommend the Anova Precision Nano Sous Vide. It sells for about $119CAD.

The post Review: Anova Precision Cooker Nano sous vide machine appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

OutIn Nano portable espresso press: full hands-on review

In this review I spent several weeks using the OutIn Nano, both at home, in the camper man, and on the go. I’ll show you how it works whether you choose to use pre-measured pods or your own coffee, and I’ll take a look at the pros and cons and let you know if I think I can recommend this device for you.

Watch my full hands-on video review to see it in action

 Unboxing

Taking a look at what you get with this device it’s a pretty cool and attractive package, and OutIn does a nice job of making the packaging feel luxe.

Let’s take a look at the parts…

You get the OutIn Nano which has your power and battery, along with a few parts; there is a plastic espresso cup which fits over the bottom of the machine, a 2-piece portafilter that’s used for ground coffee, and a separate 2-piece portafilter for using Nespresso pods that has little metal claws inside.

There’s also a coffee scoop which can double as a tamper, and a USB-C power cord.

I had the idea that all of the pieces would fit conveniently back into the body of the espresso machine in some way… But after experimenting with that in a couple of configurations it doesn’t quite fit back together. That was a disappointment that makes it a little less convenient to travel with. The way I found it fits best together is to put the coffee scoop inside the cup of the ground coffee port filter and to set that in the water tank up top. Put the top part of the ground coffee port filter into the bottom of the espresso cup and then attach the capsule port filter into the machine. It mostly fits together, the lid on top never fully closes, nor does the cup fit right. OutIn says it is actually not meant to fit together at all, which I think is a bit of a mist design opportunity.

Using OutIn Nano

To use the machine you want to make sure it is fully charged.

Depending whether you’re using a coffee pod or ground coffee you’ll choose the portafilter you need.

I’m going to run both for you in just a sec…

You can use this machine with cold water and the machine can heat it, or you can pour in boiling water for extraction.

Depending which type of water you use this will change how you program the machine. If you want the machine to heat your water for you you’ll turn it on with a quick press then push and hold the button for two seconds to heat and extract your shot. If you want to skip the heating process turn the machine on and quickly double tap the button. Pressing the power button at any time will stop the extraction process.

The machine is going to use exactly as much water as you place in the tank and will drain it each time.

Let’s start with using ground espresso.

You’ll fill the ground coffee porta filter with finally ground espresso beans and then tamp it lightly using the scoop. Attach the lid and then use the bottom of the porta filter to screw the assembly tightly to the bottom. Then sit the machine into the espresso cup. Push the button quickly to turn the machine on then hold for two seconds to begin the heating and extraction process. While the company says the machine should heat in 2 to 3 minutes, I found that impact this was a lot closer to five or six minutes.

It does feel agonizingly long, yes. But given the parameters of this machine and the fact it’s relying on a battery, it’s possibly not surprising. And it may go without saying that you can always boil your water separately first and then run the shot using boiled water, although of course you’ll still have to wait for that initial boil also.

When the machine is fully heated it will begin extracting your espresso shot on its own. The machine runs extremely quietly so it’s easy to miss this if you’ve turned your back and gone onto something else while waiting for the heating process. With the shot ready it’s time to drink.

Tasty? Hot? Thick?

Using Nespresso Pods

When it comes to using an espresso/Nespresso pod, this is really easy. Just push the pod, narrow side in, to the Nespresso adaptor and then attach the rest of the portafilter.

When using pods you’ll want to make sure the portafilter is screwed in tightly in order to generate enough pressure to do a proper extraction with crema. The first time I tried this I don’t think I tightened the port filter enough and my espresso came out on the watery side. The next time I was able to get a bit of a better result.

How hot is the shot?

You might be wondering how hot the espresso shots are when they are extracted. I measured the temperature immediately after brewing at ??

Of course if you are looking for a hotter shot you could simply use your own boiling water heated to your preferred temperature.

Battery Life & Charging

The company says that when the machine is required to heat the water for you you should get about 3 to 5 shots of espresso on a single charge. If you use already heated water, you can get dozens of uses. I can confirm from my own personal experience that I was only able to get about three shots on a single charge. That is definitely extremely low and may limit the devices usefulness depending on how much power you have access to. If the machine doesn’t have enough juice to complete an extraction it will beep and shut down automatically which happened to me on more than one occasion.

My recommendation for this device would be to charge it after each use so you can always keep it topped up and ready.

In case you’re wondering you cannot use the machine while it is plugged in to recharge.

Recharging takes approximately two to three hours which is actually quite reasonable.

Overall review: OutIn Nano portable espresso machine

Overall there’s a lot of plusses to this machine, but it does have some areas where I do hope the company can make improvements in a Gen 2. Let’s go over the pros and cons so you can evaluate them with me.

On the pro side, this machine is truly an all in one portable espresso maker; it can use either ground espresso beans or Nespresso pods making it very versatile. It uses either cold water and can heat the water for you, or you can add your own boiling water. And depending on how much water you measure and you can make a single shot or a double easily.

The machine is relatively compact and lightweight given all that’s going on. I like that it comes with clever accessories like a scoop/tamper and a drinking cup too. The two hour recharge time is reasonable too.

On the cons side, I found it does take quite a long time to heat up; about five or six minutes which is almost double with the company promises on its website.

The battery life is also extremely short if you want to have the machine heat your water for you. I was only ever able to get no more than three shots on a single charge. And given you cannot use the machine while it is charging that does feel a bit more limiting also.

The accessories don’t fit back into the machine to keep it slim for transport. And I do think some type of drip tray would be helpful so you have somewhere to put it after brewing.

I suppose the battery life would be the biggest dealbreaker since if you were going to take this off grid for a few days it’s usefulness would be quite limited. But if you are aware of the downsides and can work around them, I think this is a pretty clever machine that delivers on exactly what it promises; hot fresh espresso, anywhere, easily.

OutIn Nano sells for about $149US/$209CAD and you can get it from OutIn’s website or Amazon… and this is not the first gadget like this I’ve tried. Check out some other options when it comes to portable espresso….

**Contest is now closed**Win an OutIn Nano!

Congrats to Maritess S. who was the winner of the OutIn Nano.

To enter this contest, write a (preferably nice) comment on this blog in the comments section below.

The Fine Print

There is one (1) OutIn Nano device available to be won. We’ll pick one winner at random from among all website entries/comments. The contest is open to residents of Canada and USA only until 11:59pm MT November 11, 2024.

Only 1 entry per person, please; excess entries will be discarded. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Not valid in Quebec.

The winner will receive 1 prize. Prize will be shipped direct to the winner by OutIn, so winner is required to provide a Canadian or USA mailing address (PO Boxes not accepted). TechGadgetsCanada.com bears no responsibility for prizes not delivered, delayed or misdirected, or not claimed after 30 days, or misdirected due to incorrect address being provided. This prize has no cash value.

We’ll get in touch with the winner via the email address supplied on entry or via website comment registration. Winner must respond to an email naming them as the winner within 48 hours. Non-response within 48 hours means we’ll redraw under same  48 hour timeframe until we get a winner’s response.

Winner’s name(s) will be posted to this web page after the draw.

If for any reason the internet portion of the OutIn Nano Contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other causes beyond the control of this website which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Contest, TechGadgetsCanada.com reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. Prize may not be exactly as show in accompanying photographs.

By entering this contest you agree you have read and accept the rules and are to abide by them.

**A note about Affiliate Links: TechGadgetsCanada & TechGadgetsInternational is supported by our readers. Occasionally I will include affiliate links in my reviews. I do this partly for convenience of the reader (since I’ll almost always include a link to the company website or similar anyway) in case you want to read more or purchase, but I also may get a small commission from the commission from the click which helps me keep the blog and YouTube channel running. If you choose to use an affiliate link I thank you greatly for supporting my content. There’s no obligation or cost to you for using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Wacaco Minipresso NS2 full hands-on review

In this review I’m going to try one out for myself, I’ll take a look at what’s new, improve and different from the original. I’ll talk about how exactly you use this device and what it can and can’t do. I’ll wrap things up with the pros and the cons and let you know if I think this new machine is worth it for you.

What is Wacaco Minipresso NS2?

Wacaco Minipresso is a small hand-held espresso press. It uses boiling water, and hand-pumped pressure to squeeze out a shot of espresso from its compact body (it weighs less than 300g and is about 5” long). This model I chose uses coffee capsules, AKA Nespresso pods, which means making your morning espresso is going to be even easier because the coffee is already ground, measured, and tamped in a sealed package. If you prefer to use your own ground coffee, there’s a different model you can choose instead.

Possibly worth underlining is that you need to boil the water somehow and pour it into the machine; this device does not heat the water for you.

What’s different from Nanopresso?

I’ll touch on what’s different between this new NS2 machine and my original Nanopresso. For starters the Nanopresso was sold as a single shot machine with additional add-on accessories that could allow you to use an espresso capsule, or to make double shots.

Original version with adapters, left, and new version at right.

Having spent a good many years with my Nanopresso, there are a few significant differences I’ve noticed right away. For one, this machine is almost an inch shorter than the original. It also appears to be made of a slightly nicer plastic composite and it has a few higher end details that make it look a little more rugged and elegant.

NS2 is also built upside down from the original: in this new model the water goes in the top, while the coffee capsule is inserted into the bottom. I will get into how this works in just a sec…

Original Nanopresso is still available, but between the NS2, and the Minipresso line, there appear to be multiple options and many improvements.

Unboxing Minipresso NS2

The Minipresso consists of several parts, which you’ll see the first time you unpack it. Some of them may be a bit mystifying:

• The press body
• The plastic drinking cup
• The filter head/portafilter
  On top is a removeable lid and inside is:
• A cleaning brush
• Drip tray

How to use Minipresso

To use Minipresso, you’ll take everything apart and insert a basic Nespresso capsule into the bottom, narrow end in, and then screw the top on.

You’ll need boiling water, so whether you start some in the microwave, get it from your water cooler-hot water tap, or put a kettle on, you’ll want to get that going.

Fill the reservoir on top with boiling water and twist the lid back on. At this point, twist the pump dial or piston so that it pops up from the body; this pump will be how you create the pressure inside the device.

Press the pump; it will take about xx squeezes until the pressure builds enough to pop the capsule, and you’ll hear that and then see the espresso flowing.
Keep pumping until no more liquid comes out.

What’s the pressure like on Minipresso NS2? Crema quality?

I was suitably impressed with the espresso and crema quality on the Minipresso. It seems like the machine puts out enough pressure to make a good shot and a decent crema (the coffee foam formed during extraction). Wacaco says, the pumping system reaches 18 bars o during extraction, which is comparable to what you might expect from the commercial espresso machine at your local cafe. I’ll note that is the same pressure as the original Nanopresso.

Coffee quality

Overall I found I got a pretty good shot using the Minipresso. I’ve done plenty of reviews of Nespresso machines and I’ve become a convert to them thanks to their quick work and good quality fresh coffees.

While getting that ultimate thick and creamy espresso that comes from professional machines is hard, Nanopresso does a good job at giving you a very drinkable espresso. If you’re not a fan of coffee pods, you could certainly opt for the Minipresso version which allows you to use your own ground coffee.

Cleaning

The Minipresso is very easy to clean. Take it apart when it’s done and use the brush to remove any stray grounds from in and around the portafilter. Depending on how your feel about soap and coffee oil build up, either rinse it out and let it dry or use a bit of soap to scrub it clean. Wacaco does not say that any of the components are dishwasher safe.

Adaptations and modifications

Unlike original Nanopresso it doesn’t appear you can customize this machine so much. If you want to use ground coffee, or Keurig pods, you would need to purchase different variations of the Minipresso that are specific to those use cases. I also did not see that there is a double shot adapter for the NS2, which is a small disappointment.

Since I do like a double shot, I experimented with simply refilling the water tank after the first shot was extracted… and that’s an okay option in a pinch.

Using Minipresso

I brought the Minipresso NS2 with me on a few trips; both camping and business travel, as well as a family birthday trip. This machine is so small it can literally fit into the tiniest backpack pockets and I only need to toss in a handful of Nespresso capsules to ensure I am ready to make my coffee. And let’s just say that my family found a quick espresso was just the thing after a night on the town in New Orleans…
I found for the most part getting boiling water is easy enough; either from a hotel coffee machine or kettle, or boiling some on the camp stove. So despite the fact there is no heating in this machine it’s not really a barrier to it use.

Overall review of Wacaco Minipresso

Overall I feel like this new version is a significant improvement over the original. Not only is it more compact, but the piston action is a lot smoother and easier to operate, and it seems like the water tank lid seals tighter and better. Let’s go over the pros and the cons.

On the pro side, I like the smaller size, lighter weight and increased portability of Minipresso NS2. Despite its multiple parts and accessories, it fits together easily the design is so clever. I love that this machine is specifically built to use Nespresso pods so that I don’t need to order extra adapters. I find the pressure it’s able to build up makes a thick and strong shot of espresso, and using these pods while travelling is extremely convenient and mess free.

So what are the downsides? So far I have to say this may be the perfect travel espresso machine. The only major complaint I could make is that I have to refill the water tank and re-run the water through a pod if I want a double shot. It would be great if there was a tank adapter.

In short, if you love your morning espresso as much as I do and you want a quick and tidy way to enjoy high-quality coffee on the go, the new Wacaco Minipresso NS2 is your new travel bestie. I can absolutely recommend it for you.

Minipresso NS2 sells for about $85CAD/ $60USD and you can get it from Wacaco’s website or get one fast from Amazon. The ground coffee version cost the same.

I get to review plenty of coffee gadgets and tech. You can check out… my review of the original Nanopresso device, the Handpresso plug-in portable espresso machine, or my favourite Nespresso machine, here.

***Contest now CLOSEDWin an Wacaco Minipresso NS2!

Congratulations to G. Corbett of Victoria BC who won this prize.

To enter this contest, write a (preferably nice) comment on this blog in the comments section below.

The Fine Print

There is one (1) Wacaco Minipresso NS2 device available to be won. We’ll pick one winner at random from among all website entries/comments. The contest is open to residents of Canada and USA only until 11:59pm MT November 11, 2024.

Only 1 entry per person, please; excess entries will be discarded. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Not valid in Quebec.

The winner will receive 1 prize. Prize will be shipped direct to the winner by Wacaco, so winner is required to provide a Canadian or USA mailing address (PO Boxes not accepted). TechGadgetsCanada.com bears no responsibility for prizes not delivered, delayed or misdirected, or not claimed after 30 days, or misdirected due to incorrect address being provided. This prize has no cash value.

We’ll get in touch with the winner via the email address supplied on entry or via website comment registration. Winner must respond to an email naming them as the winner within 48 hours. Non-response within 48 hours means we’ll redraw under same  48 hour timeframe until we get a winner’s response.

Winner’s name(s) will be posted to this web page after the draw.

If for any reason the internet portion of the Wacaco Minipresso NS2 Contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other causes beyond the control of this website which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Contest, TechGadgetsCanada.com reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. Prize may not be exactly as show in accompanying photographs.

By entering this contest you agree you have read and accept the rules and are to abide by them.

**A note about Affiliate Links: TechGadgetsCanada & TechGadgetsInternational is supported by our readers. Occasionally I will include affiliate links in my reviews. I do this partly for convenience of the reader (since I’ll almost always include a link to the company website or similar anyway) in case you want to read more or purchase, but I also may get a small commission from the commission from the click which helps me keep the blog and YouTube channel running. If you choose to use an affiliate link I thank you greatly for supporting my content. There’s no obligation or cost to you for using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Wacaco Minipresso NS2 full hands-on review appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

Nespresso Original versus Nespresso Virtuo: How To Choose, what’s the difference?

Specifically, I’m reviewing  Nespresso original versus virtuo here in this video, but I’ve reviewed many more models. Both machines make espresso, the Vertuo line is also designed to brew regular coffees to – all in the same machine.

Nespresso launched the VertuoLine in about 2014 as a way to lure North American coffee drinkers, who are less about espressos than they are about full size coffees.

Coffee pods and capsules: what’s the difference?

First, let’s look at the difference between Verturo and original Nespresso pods. The original Nespresso pods are small and narrow and come in one size only (since they’re really meant for espresso), while the Nespresso Vertuo pods are wide and round and may differ in height depending on what’s inside. With an original pod you can make espresso, double espresso or add water for an Americano. Vertuo coffee pods have special barcodes on the pod that carry specific instructions for how each coffee is to be extracted. The Virtuo lineup offers drinks in five sizes, from a single espresso, to double espresso, a 5 ounce gran luongo/Americano (150ml), a 230ml/8 oz ‘mug’ coffee to a 14 oz Alto coffee.

Milk or no milk?

Let’s move on to another differentiator: milk or no milk?

One of the key differences between Nespresso Virtuo vs original set ups is that none of the Vertuo models come with built-in milk frothers, while Nespresso Original does offer machines that will handle the milk, like the automatic Lattissima here.
But you can bundle a Vertuo with Nespresso’s popular Aeroccino frother —often at a discounted price.When it comes to Choice and availability, The Nespresso Original machine has a far bigger selection of capsules. And because the patent on the capsules has expired, you can get them everywhere – and even fill reusable ones with your own coffee.
Vertuo capsules by contrast are available only from Nespresso because they need a proprietary barcode to be recognized by the Vertuo machine.

Nespresso Vertuo vs Original: Drink options and sizes

Time to talk drink sizing…Nespresso VertuoLine capsules come in three different sizes, so larger drinks can be as strong as smaller ones. In total those three sizes will make 5 different coffee drinks. Nespresso Original Pods only come in one size and are meant to make espresso, double espresso or a luongo.
Now, you can make a bigger coffee with an original pod by adding more water, but it is obviously more diluted… something you don’t get with the Vertuo.
With that said, both the Nespresso and Virtuo machines let you permanently alter the drink size to your tastes – yes even the Nespresso Vertuo capsules with the special barcode can be easily reprogrammed to make the drink you want. I’ve got videos here on the channel that show you how to do that on both types of machines.
I have a how to video that can show you how to do this, right here on the blog.

Nespresso Original Machine vs Vertuo: Coffee quality

Crema is a hot word in coffee circles… Both Original and Vertuo machines and their coffee pods give you a beautiful crema on top of the coffee which a lot of folks really love.
Some say the Vertuo Nespresso capsules produce a thicker layer of crema, and I guess that’s true, but it begins to dissipate almost immediately since it’s mainly a product of all the air in the spinning process. For me, I’d rather a better coffee than taller coffee foam, so I’m not as wowed by that, personally.

I’ve tried dozens of coffee pods from both lineups and I can say there’s lots to choose from and you’ll be able to find something you really like. I find the coffee fresh, delicious, hot and tasty.

Which machine is stronger: Nespresso Vertuo or Original

Brewing pressure is another hot topic, since that helps make a creamier drink.
Despite the seeming higher end feel and more tech smarts of the Vertuo experience, the Vertuo machines use exactly the same amount pressure to extract coffees as the Original line does; you can generally expect 19 bars from both sets of machines.
When it comes to Brew time… Perhaps not surprising but the Original lineup tends to produce faster results. This is likely because original line drinks are smaller.

Coffee Temperature

Coffee should be hot, right? Not so fast. We tend to brew our coffee with boiling water since the temperature can help extract flavours and oils a little easier, but very hot water can make coffee bitter.
You’re probably familiar with cold brew coffee, which essentially replaces heat with time: letting ground coffee sit in cold water for up to 24 hours to extract the same flavors—without the bitterness and acrid taste. For that reason, the Vertuo line uses a slightly lower temperature when making coffee; and here all those rotations help saturate the grounds faster, so not as much heat is needed.
Now for some people this is a problem; coffee that comes out of the machine at any temperature other than volcanic may not be as enjoyable. I guess your temperature and taste preferences are probably very individual. So whether a slightly cooler but more flavourful and less bitter brew will be enjoyable for you is definitely a matter of taste.
For me, I found there were still some Vertuo coffee roasts that did taste bitter, and at the same time I didn’t really notice a huge difference in temperature.

Nespresso Original versus Nespresso Vertuo: which is better?

So…Which to choose? The Original or the slightly more advanced Vertuo line?
Now you know how the key features of Original and Vertuo stack up against each other. In my opinion you should buy a Nespresso Original machine if you want it for espresso or espresso-based drinks. You’ll pay less for the machine and the Nespresso capsules, and you’ll have way more espresso pod choices.
Buy a Nespresso Vertuo machine if you’re more of a coffee drinker and you want the option of making espresso and coffee from the same machine. With the barcoded capsule brewing system, the VertuoLine makes brewing any style and size of drink foolproof, but it is adjustable.

For me, since I want it mainly for espresso, I’m going to stick with my Nespresso Original machine, but I think both of these systems have their benefits. The choice is up to you.

I’d love to hear which line you chose and why, so share your story in comments below.

Nespresso Original and Vertuo are both available from Amazon and Walmart.

Also Read: 

The post How to Choose: Nespresso Original versus Nespresso Vertuo appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

Each day starts with a double espresso for me and while I used to use a fancy, expensive machine, I’ve gotten to realize the efficiency of coffee pods. Now I’m a Nespresso convert. I wanted to try one of Nespresso’s newer machines that is extremely popular. So in this review of the Breville Nespresso Inissia, I’ll show you how it works, what the coffee is like, as well as the pros and one big con you’ll want to be aware of after having it in my home for two weeks.

Breville Nespresso Inissia review

Some out there may be wondering, is a Nespresso Innisia espresso machine worth it? I was not into Nespresso at first, but a couple things changed my mind: after staying with friends who both have Nespresso machines I discovered I like the coffee and it’s a very quick and easy way to get espresso.

I chose the Breville Nespresso Inissia espresso maker because it’s relatively small while still being kind of stylish. It measures about 5 inches wide by about 12 inches long, and 9 inches tall, and it offers two sizes of coffee with two preset buttons. I don’t add milk to my coffee so all I wanted was something for straight-up espressos.

Watch my video review of Nespresso Inissia

Set up: Breville Nespresso Inissia

Let’s start Nespresso Innisia review with its setup. There’s really no set up required for this machine. Just plug it in and push one of the buttons to power it on. It’s ready to go immediately. The kit I bought also included a sample pack of Nespresso capsules, which was a nice way to try some different coffees.

When it comes to the power, Nespresso machine inissia gives you 19 bars of pressure from its pump and has a 27 ounce water tank. It’s super small and weighs almost nothing (about 5 pounds).

The first time I ran the machine Nespresso recommends you run a cycle of water through it first before you brew coffee. Almost immediately the water tank leaked water all over the counter. Thinking I had just set it up incorrectly I took it apart and put it back together again, but same problem. For some reason the machine was oddly leaky. Now, once I got the brewing process underway and started using it regularly the leaks seem to have abated. But it doesn’t give me a whole lot of confidence to see that in the beginning so it’s something I will have to keep an eye on. I later went to the Nespresso website and saw that many customers are complaining that this device is leaky, so, be warned.

Breville Nespresso Inissia: Adjustable drink sizes

Though I didn’t realize it at the time, and the instructions don’t say so, you can actually program the exact size of drinks you want your Breville Nespresso Inissia espresso maker to make, for both the small size and the large.

It comes out of the box programmed for a small double shot from the small button, and what seems like a quad for the large.

By pushing and holding the button while it;’s making an espresso, then letting go when you’ve got your desired amount, you are creating a new saved setting. Next time you just touch the button your custom drink volume has been saved. I set mine so that the small button pours a single and the large an oversized double. If you want a little more detail on how to do this or to share these instructions with someone else, check out my video how to adjust Nespresso drink sizes easily.

Nespresso coffee & pods

We could spend some time here on the environmental impact of coffee pods. For the most part, neither aluminum Nespresso pods, nor plastic Keurig K-cups are recyclable in a lot of city’s recycling programs; they’re just too small. But I am really happy to say Nespresso inissia espresso machine encourages you to recycle the aluminum pods by including a pre-paid return bag with your order.

When it comes to the coffees and their taste, there’s lots to enjoy. I find the coffees, packaged in their little pods to be really fresh tasting, and with the stunning number of different roasts, tastes, flavours and options, you’re bound to find lots you’ll like.

Nespresso Pod cost

Let’s talk about what it costs to brew your morning espresso. Nespresso pods can be had on the Nespresso website for about 80 cents to $1.25 per pod. Compared to the cost of a coffee shop espresso, that’s a bargain. I have also, by the way seen reusable Nespresso capsules so you can use your own coffee too. Either way, I’m perfectly happy paying about a buck for my morning espresso.

Coffee brew quality: Breville Nespresso Inissia

Brewing a coffee is as simple as turning it on and waiting for it to heat up, which takes less than 20 seconds- about 10 seconds faster than my Delonghi. I’m impressed with how fast this is. Then you pop in a capsule, pull down the arm to lock the machine, and choose your size. My drink brewed in about 10 seconds.

One thing I like about the Nespresso machine Inissia and really all Nespresso machines is that the espresso comes out nice and thick, it’s not watery. It ends up with a nice crema on top, and it’s actually really hot, definitely hot enough for me. You can argue that crema has nothing to do with quality… But it is a nice touch that makes the espresso look appealing.

No adjustable temperature

This machine, like other Nespresso machines, doesn’t have an adjustable brewing temperature (it comes from the factory set to about 83-86 degrees, says Nespresso). Nespresso intends this to be at a hot but drinkable temperature so you can sip the espresso right away, and says if it’s not hot enough, to pre-heat your cup.

Some folks might not appreciate that you can’t adjust the water temperature, but I was definitely fine with the factory setting.

The Breville Nespresso Inissia has some handy features; the energy saver feature shuts it off in a few minutes if it’s not used again, the water tank holds more than enough water for 13 doubles before it needs to be refilled.

There’s a flip-out cup riser which actually works well for smaller espresso cups, but it’s extremely poorly designed for larger cups, with the rim of the cup being really close to the spout. Because the cup riser only flips up and it’s not removable, it actually gets in the way of getting a larger coffee mug into the proper position. I think this is a very poor design and hopefully will be reworked in future configurations.

There’s a small pod bin that holds about 10 discarded pods. All the pieces can go in the dishwasher.

Breville Nespresso Inissia; not as quiet as other machines

The Delonghi Nespresso machine I currently have is a pretty quiet brewer, but this Breville Nespresso Inisia does make a noticeable and fairly loud buzzing noise. The noise stays on through the entire brewing cycle and is rather annoying. In comparison to my DeLonghi Essenza mini, it sounds like a freight train rolling through the kitchen. While I am exaggerating, it is a significant flaw in this machine as far as I am concerned.

Ending the Breville Nespresso Inissia Review

Overall this machine is a stylish and capable Nespresso machine that does the job admirably.

It’s small but it isn’t the smallest espresso brewer Nespresso makes. Here the bigger footprint allows for additional pods in the disposal bin and a bit more water in the tank.

This model has an industrial chic look that gives it a little more style than some other Nespresso machines. The coffee it makes is delicious, hot, thick, and with a beautiful crema, and I like that I can customize the sizes so it’s perfect for my morning routine. The water tank is plenty big enough so that I don’t feel like I’m refilling it constantly. For those who want a bigger water tank, there are larger machines out there, and they come with more features and a higher price too.

If there are any cons to this machine, for some it might be that you can’t adjust the water temperature, but for me this was not an issue. My biggest gripe was the loud and buzzing noise during the breathing process. If you also think that something that would annoy you, I can absolutely recommend my Nespresso Essenza mini as a quieter alternative.

The other potential downsides to this machine include the inept cup riser, and the potential for leaks.

While I had a fine experience with it, you’ll want to weigh these cons carefully. The Breville Nespresso Inissia sells for about $209 CAD though I have seen it on sale for about $139 CAD.

You can watch my full review of the Essenza mini which is my #1 pick for a great all-around Nespresso machine, or check out what a more full-featured Nespresso machine has to offer right now.

**A note about Affiliate Links: TechGadgetsCanada & TechGadgetsInternational is supported by our readers. Occasionally I will include affiliate links in my reviews. I do this partly for convenience of the reader (since I’ll almost always include a link to the company website or similar anyway) in case you want to read more or purchase, but I also may get a small commission from the click, which helps me keep the blog running. If you choose to use this link I thank you greatly for supporting the blog. There’s no obligation or cost to you for using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Breville Nespresso Inissia espresso maker review appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

For coffee drinkers, the day doesn’t truly begin until after that first cup. So making it easy to get can set the tone for the next 12 hours— and beyond. Ninja’s automatic 12 cup coffee maker is massively popular, so is that because it’s cheap, or because it’s good? I picked up one of these coffee makers from Amazon to test out in my kitchen so I’ll let you know how easy the Ninja 12 Cup Programmable Brewer is to set up and use, how easy it cleans up, and what it looks like on the countertop too. (CE251)

Design

Ninja hasn’t gone above and beyond when it comes to the design. That’s not a criticism, since I believe they’ve put all of their engineering efforts into making this a dynamite coffee maker. While much of the construction is plastic, and the footprint is a little larger than some other similar automatic coffee makers, Ninja makes the most of the additional space it takes up with some pretty smart features.

The glass carafe holds up to 12 cups and sits on a warming plate that can keep your brew hot for hours. The carafe has an extremely comfortable large plastic handle and a really cleverly designed spout that in my testing did not spill a single drop.

The water tank for this machine lives on the side, instead of hidden on the back. While this means it takes up a bit more room, Ninja has made the tank removable with an easy to grip handle, that saves so much trouble. Instead of filling the carafe and then having to pull the coffee maker out from under your cabinets and open up a lid to refill it, you can just remove, fill and replace the tank. I’m probably jumping ahead here, but this design alone would make me purchase the Ninja 12 cup programmable brewer.

My hands-on video review

The machine comes with a reusable metal mesh filter and you can also use Number 4 Cone paper filters if you prefer.

On the side of the machine is an included coffee scoop.

Under the removable water tank is your control centre for some of the other features, so let’s get to them.

Programming

Removable water tank.

The name gives it away, but yes, you can program your Ninja coffee maker to have your brew ready for you when you wake up. Setting both the clock and the brewing schedule is easy using the hour and minute buttons on the front of the control panel. Similarly, you can also adjust how long the machine will keep your coffee warm after the brewing cycle has completed by using the stay warm button. Out of the box, the coffee maker will stay on for two hours after a brewing cycle, but you can adjust this up to four hour

Coffee strength & temperature

Since we’re taking a look at the control panel, let’s get to the brewing strengths options. Ninja offers what’s called a classic brew strength and a rich brew strength. Essentially Classic could be regular coffee while Rich is a stronger brew that ninja says is better suited to standing up to milk, cream, or other flavorings.

My preference is for darker coffees, and even so I actually found the classic brew strength was bold enough for me, and the rich strength just made it even more so. There’s not a ton of difference between these two settings in my opinion (for me it comes down to the coffee beans you’re using), but it does help out a little bit.

Temperature

The water temperature at brewing time is 181F or 82.5C.

Small Batch setting

If you don’t generally drink a full pot of coffee, you can use ninjas small batch setting to brew from 2 to 4 cups. I’m not 100% clear on exactly what this setting truly does since Ninja makes sure to point out in the manual that even if you have the small batch button turned on it will use up all of the water you pour into the water tank. From what I can glean, Ninja believes this quote, ensures the same great flavour as a full carafe brew” but I didn’t really notice a difference.

Brew speed

If you’re not using the advanced programming, you’ll definitely want to pay attention to this next metric: how long does it take to brew a full pot? From my testing, it takes approximately 12 to 15 minutes to brew a full carafe, which is both reasonable and expected for a coffee maker of this type. Of course if you’re jonesing for that first java, you can use the ‘pause and serve’ feature which blocks coffee from pouring out if you remove the carafe briefly.

I can say this feature also worked really well and I didn’t notice any drips or over spill.

The water sprinkler (I’m sure it has an official name) that drips the hot water over the grounds is wide and covers a lot of area, which I actually think helps to saturate the coffee grounds better.

I will just mention the strange lid that comes with this coffee maker. It has one feature I really like and another feature I was very unclear about. While I’ve already talked about the great spout, the lid also locks on with a twist, making it very secure so you’ll never have to worry about spills or accidents. The other thing the lid has is what’s called the ‘flavour straw’.

Despite building it into the machine and including it in the marketing, nowhere could I find what this alleged flavour straw was supposed to do. I did find one sentence on their website that says it helps to ‘mix the coffee for consistent flavour’, but I don’t really understand what that means or see it in action. I guess if you’re brewing a whole pot, it will pipe the freshly brewed coffee into the middle or lower part of the pot so in theory, you’re not getting progressively weaker coffee floating on top as the pot fills up? I’ll go with that.

Clean up

Cleanup is a big deal when it comes to your coffee maker. I’m glad to see the glass carafe, brew-through lid, removable filter, holder, permanent filter, water, reservoir, and lid, as well as the scoop are all dishwasher safe.

Overall review: Ninja automatic Coffee Maker

Overall I would actually like to replace my current aging coffee maker with The Ninja Programmable Coffee Maker… the removable water reservoir is actually a huge plus for me since it means I don’t have to scoot the machine all over the counter to fill the tank. The coffee it made was top notch, and the fact that everything will go in the dishwasher for clean up is pure magic. It was easy to program and adjust all of the settings so even folks with a fear of setting alarm clocks, would still be able to operate this easily. So what are the downsides? I’m really struggling to find any thing bad to say about this coffee maker. Some folks may wish there was adjustable, holding temperature, or brewing temperature, but I didn’t feel those were major features I needed.

Particularly for the extremely reasonable price, this machine is offered at, I think it’s an outstanding programmable coffee maker, and I can absolutely recommend it to you.

It sells for about $79US/$148CAD and you can get yours as I got mine from Amazon.

**A note about Affiliate Links: TechGadgetsCanada & TechGadgetsInternational is supported by our readers. Occasionally I will include affiliate links in my reviews. I do this partly for convenience of the reader (since I’ll almost always include a link to the company website or similar anyway) in case you want to read more or purchase, but I also may get a small commission from the click, which helps me keep the blog running. If you choose to use this link I thank you greatly for supporting the blog. There’s no obligation or cost to you for using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Ninja 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker review appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

I’ve recently been playing around with a new accessory for Thermomix; the Cutter attachment. If you’re wondering how it works and if it’s worth it, you can watch my full review. But in the video accompanying this post, I’ll make some dishes for supper to show you what it’s like to use.

The Cutter is really easy to use and it can slice almost any fruits or veggies. Plus grating cheeses, cabbage, carrots and potatoes is also fast when you have a robot to help you.

Don’t forget to check out the full review of the Thermomix TM6, or see how you can even bake cakes in your cooking robot… right now.If you like to cook but hate the work, kitchen cooking robots can HELP YOU. There’s a few on the market but I really like Thermomix. I’ve recently been playing around with a new accessory for Thermomix; the Cutter attachment.

What is Thermomix Cutter?

The Thermomix Cutter is a slicing and grating attachment that fits onto your Thermomix and makes faster work of tedious kitchen chores, shooting slices or gratings into a bowl, ready for you to cook with. If you’re wondering how it works and if it’s worth it, you can read my full review. But in my video how-to I’ll make a quick dish for supper to show you what it’s like to use. Thermomix is making new recipes for its TM6 robot, and some of them use the slicer or grater to speed things up or make it look prettier. I’ll be making potato gratin.

Making Potato Gratin with Thermomix Cutter

The steps are easy and the Thermomix TM6 walks you through it…

How to use Thermomix Cutter?

Start by assembling the Cutter – the catch bowl goes into the steel mixing bowl, then you choose which side of the blade goes up to do the work. One side is for cutting, the other for grating. Then add the lid with its two-sided feeder chute. If you have small potatoes, they can go in whole, or you can trim your potatoes so they’ll fit.

When you’re ready turn it on and then start feeding in the potatoes. It creates perfectly uniform slices that you can then lay nicely in a baking dish.

A creamy sauce gets made in the bowl next, and poured over the sliced potatoes.

Finally you can grate some cheese to sprinkle over the top.

Bake it according to your Thermomix’s recipe instructions and then voila! Potato gratin!

Making Cucumber Salad

Next up I made a salad to go along with the meal; Thermomix’s cucumber salad.

This salad uses thinly sliced cucumber, which is made perfectly even with the Cutter.
When you get to the end some of the pieces do stray from uniformity a bit, but since it’s all going in a big salad bowl, no worries.
After making quick work of the cukes, the TM6 makes the dressing, walking you through the measurements, then blending it.
Pour the dressing over the veg and your fresh cucumber salad is ready.The Cutter is really easy to use and it can slice almost any fruits or veggies. Plus grating cheeses, cabbage, carrots and potatoes is also fast when you have a robot to help you.

Don’t forget to check out the full review of the Thermomix TM6, or see how you can even bake cakes in your cooking robot… by watching the video on my YouTube channel.

**A note about Affiliate Links: TechGadgetsCanada & TechGadgetsInternational is supported by our readers. Occasionally I will include affiliate links in my reviews. I do this partly for convenience of the reader (since I’ll almost always include a link to the company website or similar anyway) in case you want to read more or purchase, but I also may get a small commission from the click, which helps me keep the blog running. If you choose to use this link I thank you greatly for supporting the blog. There’s no obligation or cost to you for using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Making new recipes with Thermomix Cutter appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

What’s in the box of Hamilton beach food processors?

What you get in the package is simple and straightforward: there’s the motorized base of the food processor which includes a non-removable motor shaft. Many food processors make this removable but not here. Then the processor itself consists of several parts:

• Bowl
• Chopping/Mixing blade
• Lid with pusher
• Reversible slicing/shredding disc
• Bowl scraper

My hands-on video review

This food processor has a surprisingly small footprint, but at the same time it looks like it will hold a decent amount of food for prep.

Set up

There’s not really much in the way of set up; just plug the machine in and it’s essentially ready to go. You’ll need to choose which parts and pieces you need for the task at hand and assemble those, otherwise that’s it.

Chopping & Mixing

If you’re looking to chop vegetables, you can simply drop large chunks into the bowl. During my review I used onions. When you’re ready to chop, just align the lid with the handle of the bowl. That creates a safety lock that allows the blade to begin when you turn the control knob. Amazingly this machine is extremely fast and the blade is very speedy and powerful. It makes quick work of pretty much any type of vegetable.

There are two speeds and a pulse option

The only caveat I’ll make here is that there is really not a lot of speed control and doesn’t seem to be a way to truly slow it down or chop more slowly or more gently. The way to get a courser chop is to simply run the machine for less time. In the recipes I tested out I mainly needed finer dice so the machine did quick and excellent work of it for me.

One of the most important Hamilton food processor instructions is to  add the bowl scraper before you process any of your ingredients. Otherwise you’ll be trying to wedge the scraper in amongst a bowl full of food; not ideal.

I also used this machine to mix a dough to make bread. The recipe I chose is specifically designed for a food processor or a blender, so it worked great in the Hamilton Beach food processor. Despite the fact the blade is a cutter it didn’t destroy my dough and made quick work of the kneading for me.

Using the bowl scraper

The bowl scraper is actually pretty genius, and I fell in love with it from the first use. While your Hamilton Beach food processor is doing its work, you can use the small lever on the lid to maneuver the scraper to scrape the bowl as it works, carving stuck-on food back into the bowl for further chopping. It actually does an extremely thorough job at scraping the sides and getting wayward bits back in front of the blade.

Next up was a homemade hummus. Here the Hamilton Beach food processor really shines. It made a perfectly uniform dip and managed all the ingredients really well. The bowl scraper was brilliant here since when I make hummus with another older food processor, I have to stop about four or five times to scrape down the sides. Here, I was able to simply toggle the scraper around the sides of the bowl while it was mixing and everything finished up extremely quickly. I was left with a perfectly textured hummus.

This tool is so simple yet so smart I can’t believe I haven’t seen a food processor that does this before now.

Slicing & Shredding

The Hamilton Beach food processor will also manage both slicing and grating. The cutting disc that does this is reversible; so whichever action you want, you turn that side of the disk up and then set it over the motor shaft where it will click into place.

I tried it with carrots, and made uniform slices for a soup. The only thing to note here is that there is really only one thickness option so you can’t get fatter or thinner slices. Even so the slices were uniform and worked just fine for my recipe.

Flipping the disk over to test out the grating, I tackled a firm cheese, so I could make a quiche. The gratings are much thicker than I would normally use for something like this; more of a rougher cottage style than a finer grating. Nonetheless, they worked great in my recipe, and I was happy with the results.

Overall review: Hamilton Beach Food Processor with Bowl Scraper

Overall, I’m extremely happy with the results of the Hamilton Beach food processor. Based on my experience and numerous Hamilton Beach food processor reviews, it’s clear that this appliance consistently delivers exceptional performance and reliability.

On the pro side, it holds a lot of food while taking up relatively little real estate. It feels substantial but it’s not heavy, making it easy to store away or get out for a quick recipe. It makes fast work of a lot of tedious kitchen tasks, and can handle everything from slicing and grating to chopping and mixing, with ease.

So what are the downsides? There’s not a lot of ability to finesse the speed with this machine so you have to be careful not to over mix or over chop. There’s also no adjustability with slicing or grating thickness. In my opinion, those are very minor distractions that don’t take away from the overall performance of this food processor.

Plus, there’s also the fact this food processor sells for just about $55 US. It’s more in Canada at $109CAD (and yeah the Canada vs US prices are a bit out of control). I think this is a great food processor for a great price. I can absolutely recommend it to you.

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