Black & Decker GT300 Home Café Coffeemaker, Black




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we bought this one after our old one broke...it was one they don't make anymore. so we tried this one and it does not make good coffee. the coffee it makes is not strong enough. we tried putting 2 pods in at once and it is a little better. but i would not recommend this to anyone.


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Great for individuals who only drink an occasional cup of coffee or tea. Works great. Easy clean up.


-> Black & Decker GT300 Home Café Coffeemaker, Black

Like others I am genetically deficient when making coffee. Also, like many I started with the HC-100 when finally finding a coffee system that yielded consistantly good results with minimal effort. When the HC-100 finally went out, I bought a GT-300 about six months ago. It performed admirably until yesterday, when I started getting the flashing blue light problem (temporary fix, unplug for about an hour).

Solution, given my parameters of habitually using 15oz mugs and my stock of pods on hand, is to buy a new GT-300 while the old one is in the repair cycle. The others I've seen apparently don't like 4.5" tall mugs.

Incidentally, try the Senseo Kenyan Blend. You will like it.

At O'Dark Thirty in the morning, being able to get a decent cup of eye-opening coffee after stumbling out of the bedroom, is priceless.


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I like decaf, my husband likes high test. We both agree that the coffee tastes like water. I brew with the strongest roast at the lowest (7oz) setting. Still . . . tastes like water. Sometimes I get up in the morning and look at my pitiful machine and drive to Starbucks.


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When all else fails.... read the instructions!

1. The machine must be "primed" before using for the first time. MAKE sure you fill the water container AND only use the "ONE pod" holder (without a coffee pack). If you use the "TWO pod" holder, the machine will NOT prime.

2. If you do not want "watery" coffee, MAKE sure you compress the coffee pods. Initially, I used two pods and did not compress them, and I was extremely disappointed. However, the next time I compressed them into the holder, selected the 7oz button, and WOW!... a really strong cup of coffee (7oz). Next time when I use two pods (and compress them), I will select the 9oz button.

3. Save money (lots of it)- BUY the Presto model #09403 "MyPod" refillable coffee holder, add your own coffee, and REMEMBER... compress the coffee grounds.

4. If the unit "Locks"... read the manual- it states how to Unlock the unit without having to break it.


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All this stupid contraption did was blink and lock up. I never even got one cup before it locked up and never opened again. I wanted that vanilla latte so badly. I called the help line and wasted 2 hours of my life only for the cheap plastic to finally break. I will be returning this within 24 hours of purchase. I should have listened to other bad reviews.
DON'T BUY THIS PIECE OF JUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


-> Black & Decker GT300 Home Café Coffeemaker, Black

I wouldn't trade my Home Cafe for any other coffee maker. Ease of use, quality of coffee and the fact that I don't need to make a whole pot when I only want a cup make it indispensable. I am on my second one, which is the reason I did not rate it at 5 stars. The first one broke when I used the wrong filter holder and put two pods in the one-pod holder. The unit jammed closed and would not open. I had to break it to open it.


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We owned the previous design of this product and after several years of using it everyday we finally decided to throw the old one away and upgrade to the new one. It has been excellent so far, it is quieter and has a few more options. We like how fast it is and how consistently it makes the same strength of coffee. I would definitely recommend this to anyone in a hurry in the morning.


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We wore out our first Home Cafe after years of daily usage and needed to replace it. We were very pleased on the new features of the GT300. We looked at other types, but Black and Decker allows us to fill our travel mugs easily. A few of the features we are happy about are how the door closes over the pod, the new buttons to choice cup size and that it beeps when done and also the removal tray for easy cleaning.


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I bought the original Black & Decker Home Cafe model at a Target store on clearance for $9.98 and that was a huge bargain. However, a key plastic disperser part over the pod holder broke literally days after its 1 year warranty--though I certainly can't complain for the price I paid.

Though the new model sidesteps the former cumbersome twist handle pod closer mechanism--which was a hassle. The new one using the same pods and water amounts brews much weaker tasting coffee. I just received my latest $39.99 model from Amazon and am so disappointed. I suppose I can use 2 pods to alleviate this issue, but that means I will be spending twice as much on coffee as the original machine to achieve the same flavor intensity. I have also discovered that it is getting more difficult to find stores that stock the Millstone French Roast pods and Cappucino pods. Certain Wal Marts have them, but no where within 45 minutes driving distance of my home or job.

So much for new "improved" models. Let's hope this one lasts longer than a few days past the 1 year warranty!


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My fiance bought this coffee maker at Wal-Mart on sale. It worked flawlessly for a week or two. Then I thought it would be a good idea to put a tea bag in the compartment where the coffee goes. My fiance told me later that the instructions advised against that as it might damage the unit. In the next day or two the unit malfunctioned - it would buzz and then two blue lights would blink. Sometimes we could unplug it and start over and it would work but the problem seemed to become more frequent (and frustrating).

I noticed that the lid locks in place while the unit is brewing, so the round top part inside apparently rotates and locks into the bottom part (where the pods go). It occurred to me that the buzzing sound is the sound of the locking mechanism rotating into place and that's when the problem occurs (intermittently). So we started pressing down on the lid before clicking the brew button and it always works fine when we do that. (Apparently if the lid doesn't close snuggly then the locking mechanism jams and you get the blinking lights and must then reset it by unplugging it.)

I hope this review helps anyone else that is having this problem. I've seen several comments from others having the same issue. Other than this one issue which turns out to be minor if you know the workaround, we love this coffee maker! We also use it just to make quick hot water for ramen noodles or tea (but I don't put the tea bags in the machine any more, just in the cup!). We've had it for a couple of months now and use it at least once a day, usually more.


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My sister purchased this item for my wife for Christmas of 2005, since she was the coffee drinker in the family. In the last year, I have gone from not drinking coffe at all, to making at least 4 mugs a week (14oz setting). I don't agree with any of the negative reviews this machine has received.
I have put a cup of coffe brewed with this machine up against various brews from [national chain name omitted] and prefer the brew from this Balck & Decker 9 times out of 10 (they do make a few great lattes).
--Cons
Only thing I can think to mention is that the resivior only holds enough for 2 brews on the 14 oz setting, but that is enough for my wife and I to have a full mug each morning.
--Pros
Fast brew.
Great serving sizes.
Easy to fill and clean.
This is simply some of the best coffee I have tasted.


->Best Price Black & Decker GT300 Home Café Coffeemaker, Black

Bought this model. Would not brew a full cup of coffee no matter what I did. Called customer service and they sent me a new one. This one also did not work. All it did was flash blue lights and never brewed a cup. Tossed it out and bought a different model by Black and Decker. Have had it for months and never had a problem with the new model.


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Bought this for my wife for Christmas. Very simple to use and made a great cup of coffee (per my wife, I don't drink coffee). It lasted a total of 3 days. On the third day all it would do is flash two of the blue lights. Wouldn't beep, would'nt pump water, nothing. Believe all the negative reviews you keep reading and stay far away from this unit.


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Short and not so sweet:
First unit did not work at all,
Second unit worked for about 3 months, then sporatically, then quit.
I should have believed the other reviewers.
Going to try the Senseo Supreme unit now.


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First off the machine would not register that the reserve was full of water. Had to mess with it several times to get it to work and run it through the cleaning mode. Once it did work the smell of plastic while it brewed was a bit concerning. The coffee had the same aroma and even had a weird plastic taste to it. So after several attempts of cleaning and re-brewing (and wasting pods) everyone in the kitchen agreed that it makes a great hot cup of plastic tasting brown stuff.


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I like the concept and the machine worked fine until the thing jammed. I made perhaps 30 cups of coffee with this thing over 4 months. One morning, I pressed the button to release the top and put in a new pod and it simply would not open. No amount of reasonable force could get it open, so I had to use a screwdriver to pry it open. Needless to say, it won't close regularly now. I plan on returning it for a new one, assuming this was just a fluke.


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I'm one of those customers who had problems with the last model. In fact I returned mine twice for replacement and was sent this GT300 as the most recent replacement. Brewing a cup of coffee this morning I realized I needed to commend Black and Decker on the GT300. It has lasted me around 6 months now and I use it almost daily. On cold days like today, I use it six or more times a day. Sometimes I just use it to make hot water for some instant oatmeal or hot tea.

1) It's durable - around 200 servings so far for me
2) It's versatile - it comes with 3 pod holders - single, double and specialty (cappuccino) or can simple heat water
3) It's easy to clean - the parts that get dirty most often come apart and reassemble easily
4) Pods are plentiful - works with all coffee and tea pods I've seen. You can even custom make your own pods with a "kit".

My only criticisms:

1) The "creamy" setting doesn't seem any different than the 7 ounce setting.
2) Some cappuccino pods don't froth (Douwe Egbert), which may be more of a pod issue than a coffee maker issue.
3) The water reservoir is adequate for a cup a day. If you brew more than that you'll be filling it once a day or more. I can get about 3 cups per fill. This isn't a deal-breaker for me but a larger reservoir would be more convenient.

Overall if this GT300 lasts me another 6 months and dies, I would definitely still buy this model again.


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I cannot get this machine to work, I have tried everything. It just buzzes and then two lights blink. I have unplugged it, redid every step, etc. Nothing. Very frustrating....


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Recently my Black & Decker HCC100 Home Cafe blew up. Literally. It has a serious design flaw and the steam builds up against the weak latches of the head unit and BLAMMO! Coffee grounds everywhere. Not exactly a new phenomenon, as it had exploded at least three times before, however this time chunks of plastic broke off.

I did a lot of research looking for a machine that gave great extraction and temperature, but cost less than $75. I settled on the Black & Decker GT300 Home Cafe, which supposedly fixes all the design flaws from the earlier model.

Well, it did do that. It's easier to use, gives a more even temperature (In fact it gets a little too hot. I actually got a cup to brew once at 190 degrees.) and no chance of an explosion. The flaw?

It brews water. The coffee was weak. I used my strongest 10 oz. pod, on the lowest water setting, 7 oz., and it tasted like watery [...]. I pre-moistened the pod, made sure it had a tight seal, everything. It didn't matter. It was watery every timer. I tried two pods in the double-pod holder and still used the 7 oz setting - that should have been strong as mud. It was brown water.

The only way to get a decent cup was to let the first few ounces of water brew into one cup, then switch to the cup I wanted and let it finish. If I did that with four pods, I get a drinkable cup of coffee. What a pain in the [...]. I decided to return the unit. Save your money for something better like the SimpleHuman A40.

I gave this unit a 2 and not a 1 because the design and function is much improved over the previous product except for that one huge, massive flaw: it brews hot, light-brown water, not coffee.


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I have never been able to make coffee. I just didn't get that gene. Now I can. It's not as good as what mom makes, but it tastes like coffee every time. The only fault I can think of is the way the pods of coffee are measured. I would like for there to be more coffee in a pod that claims to be one cup of coffee. It's really not enough. But I shouldn't drink that much coffee anyway as it makes me nervous. This is a dependable machine that works for me.


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If you think you are going to get a dynamic cup of coffee or a coffeehouse quality latte, you will be disappointed. You will get a good cup of coffee in a short time. I do think it is better than drip. The better quality pods produce a better quality cup of coffee. In my area, I can only purchase the Folgers, Maxwell House., and Senseo brands. I have purchased premium pods on-line but they cost more than I am willing to pay for a cup of coffee at home. The Folgers makes a better cup. The Senseo seems weak to me. I have not tried the Maxwell House.

The two lattes I've tried, Senseo and Folgers, are disgusting.

This design is a lot better than the original HCC100 that only lasted six months before self-destructing. I would have avoided Home Café altogether because of that short lifespan, but it is one of the few models that allows me to brew more than a nine ounce cup.

The cleaning button does not make a lot of sense. Why not just push the nine-ounce button and not put in a pod?

I have not noticed any plastic taste and the temperature is neither scalding nor tepid.

It is quick and easy to use, even when you are half-asleep.


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Like another reviewer, I received this coffeemaker free from bzzangent.com for the purpose of trying it out and giving feedback. This and one of those cute scrubbing bubbles automatic shower sprayers were my first products from them, and I've had them about a month.

I've tried three kinds of Folgers pods with the coffeemaker. Coffeehouse quality? Not really, but it is comparable to the kinds of coffee you dispense and grind in the grocery store kiosks (i.e. better than canned). In addition, it does have capability for creamy coffees (I've tried Skinny Vanilla Latte and Cappuccino, which are both pretty yummy). These don't foam up like they should for true coffeehouse style, but they are better than instant, and a better option for me, who can't afford a very fancy coffee machine or the counter space it would require. I actually really like the shape and size of this. Not very wide or imposing. About 1.5 large coffee cups wide, actually. And it's quite sturdy, not at a

I prefer pretty strong coffee (on the level of European espresso), and was a bit disappointed after reading the product info and then getting coffee pot appliance-style. Even on the 7 oz setting, it's not quite what I'd like. On the other hand, the strength of the 7 oz would be overwhelming for the other coffee drinkers in my house, so that's going to depend on your preference.

Convenience is the keyword with this, and since I like flavored coffees and the others in my household don't, this is really an ideal appliance for what it does.

I love the speed of setup, brewing, and clean up. Seriously, the process is
- fill removable container with water
- open pod area lid, put in pod, close lid
- push button
...and a minute later I have a cup of coffee as good as I would get with a full coffee maker.
Cleanup: grab pod holder and fling the pod into the trash.
It's only suggested that you clean the pod holder and splashguard after using creamy pods, but I rinse 'em every time anyway. Still, altogether I think this is less effort than even instant coffees. Even though I have a bag of ground stuff in the fridge and cans of instant international coffees in the pantry, I've been using this machine 3-5 times a week since I received it.

I don't like insanely hot coffee that burns my tastebuds off, so the fact that it's perfect drinking temperature after adding a splash of milk is a good thing for me. If you like lap-burning temp coffee, you may not be happy with this incarnation of the single-serve maker.

The machine is a little bit loud for the minute it's on. If a light sleeper is asleep nearby (it just woke up my puppy that was sleeping under the countertop on which it was sitting), it could be a problem, but it makes the noise for only about a minute, so I haven't had any real problem. I don't have any problem with the plastic taste/smell that others mentioned either.

Hopefully, from reading the comments here, you can decide if this is the best product for you. I really like mine. Overall, it's a convenient, good-quality, single-serve appliance to make a fast cup of coffeemaker-style coffee.


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I've got a couple of caveats, before beginning my opinions:

1) Maybe I'm not the target audience for this product. Before using this product, I bought my coffee from a local roaster, and ground the beans at home. I'll drink "supermarket quality" coffee at work, if it's all that's available... but find there's a BIG difference in taste.

2) I got my coffeemaker free, from Bzzagent.com, with the expectation that I'd share my honest opinions about the device with others. Which I am.

Now that I've got that over with... I think that the coffeemaker fulfills it's basic promise to brew a cup of coffee in about a minute. Unlike previous reviewers, I haven't noticed any "plastic" taste, and the machine... essentially, works. Some people might like the coffee to be a little hotter (especially if you add cold milk), and some might claim it's a little expensive (at 30-60 cents/cup) but you can't deny that this is even more convenient (and better-tasting) than instant coffee from the microwave. And, considering it dispenses straight into your coffeecup, there's alsmost no cleanup. (Take pod out of machine, throw it away. Cleanup done.) In a "convenience" race, this machine beats everything else, hands down!

As to the promise of getting "Coffehouse quality at home", I think it falls short. I've seen some advertising copy where the claim is made that the pressurized steam that this machine generates gets more flavor out of the beans... but, unfortunately, because you are using supermarket-quality pods, you're still only getting supermarket-quality coffee. I noticed no difference in taste, compared to drip-brewing. (And, yes, I used the "Millstone" rather than the "Folgers" brand.)

As for the latte/expresso pods... they do create a latte-like drink, with very little foam. Don't think "coffeehouse quality" - think of a slight step up from General Mills International Coffees (the instant variety).

Will I still use this machine? Well, I'll probably use up my free supply (Mine came with coupons for 4 bags of pods), and it's better than making instant coffee for my guests that want decaf. And, if I don't have time to go through the hassle of making better coffee, this machine will have it's place. But, for a coffee snob like me... there's no reason to throw out my old coffeemaker.

On the other hand, if you're a "supermarket coffee" drinker, and feel that the conveniences of speed and easy cleanup outweigh the cost of the pods, this may be a 4 or 5 star device.


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I am quite happy with my purchase of a Black & Decker Home Cafe System. It is easy to use, fast, not overly noisy, and the coffee tastes quite good - no plastic taste or smell here. The 7 oz setting makes the coffee a bit strong for my taste, but the 9 oz is just right in flavor and size. I also like the fact that you can choose Folgers or Millstone Pods.

I have a few minor complaints. 1) If I use a regular size coffee mug, it splashes little drips out on my counter. 2) The coffee is not as hot as I would like it. I like to add a bit of milk sometimes, and if I do, I have to heat the milk first, or else it makes the coffee lukewarm. 3) I was hoping for a bit of froth with the cappuccino pods on the creamy setting. There was a tiny bit of froth initially, but it disappeared within about 30 seconds.

Overally, I am quite pleased. It makes my daily cup of joe just fine. Tastes great, works well.


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After reading reviews and available systems for the Home Cafe system, I decided to try the Black and Decker GT300. I was very impressed with design and like it's sturdiness compared to other models. It has nice controls and works well. Downside, a plastic taste and smell is totally there! I tired to clean the unit with vinegar as instructions suggest and also did repeated brewing to try to flush the system. After many cycles and wasting three pods I couldn't get ride of the plastic smell and taste. I even tried two different coffees and also ran plain water through to try to see what was wrong. I also noticed a film on the water when brewed. I think Black and Decker has a good product, but something internal is not right. Maybe it's selective since many others seem to like this unit. Maybe it's Folger's coffee - but I don't think so. The water? No, I used filtered water. I tried hard to make this work since I didn't want the hassle to return, but I am sorry to report I must. I don't write reviews often, but I had to add my opinion here so others may learn. I will try Krups or Mr. Coffee - before giving up on the Home Cafe system. Great idea, but they really should product test these makers carefully before releasing to the public. P.S. I still taste the plastic taste in my mouth!


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Like another reviewer we thought this model looked great on the shelf and had several features we didn't see on some other models. As good as it looked, however, the coffee tastes HORRIBLE! Tastes like plastic, even smells like plastic while brweing. Tried everything to get rid of taste, including running two bags of pods through it. Nothing helped!
Finally called B&D and they told me to return the unit to the place we got it from. They claimed that we were the first consumers ever to repoert this problem.


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UPDATE AFTER A YEAR (1/2/06): I have been using this coffee maker for a year now. No problems with the machine. It has performed flawlessly. I follow the maintenance schedule which basically entails running a 50/50 white vinegar/water solution through the maker roughly every 30 cups. This is to prevent scale build-up. I didn't do it every 30 cups. I've run over 200 cups of coffee through this and have done the maintenance 3 times.

The primary reason I prefer this maker over the Senseo maker is the fact that it was almost designed for my Black and Decker 14 oz travel mug which fits nicely underneath; the Senseo is too short.

I have narrowed my preferences for coffee down to the Senseo brand of coffee. The medium roast is my favorite.

For those people who did not like this coffee maker because of a plastic taste in there coffee, I can say that 2 things could cause this:

1. Leaving water in the plastic water tank for an extended period of time. I always use fresh cold water straight from the water filter.

2. Make sure you are using a fresh coffee pod or pods (for 14 oz mugs). Reusing a pod, or trying to use just one pod for 14oz will water down the taste considerably.

ORIGINAL REVIEW (12/28/05): Received this for Christmas from my wife. I upgraded from a B&D "Brew N' Go" single serve coffeemaker, and can use the same travel mug with the Home Cafe. The main reason my wife chose the B&D over the Senseo was the fact that my travel mug fits easily in the B&D model. I understand this particular model is a redesign of another B&D model which received horrible reviews. In my opinion it's always a good thing to get the "2nd generation" as all the bugs have been worked out.

I am impressed with the ease of use, including how fast it makes a cup of coffee, and how easily it cleans up. I also prefer the taste of the coffee over my old maker. The coffeemaker itself is not too big, and the water reservoir holds enough water to last me a couple days.

If you're like me, you need more than just a cup of coffee in the morning, you have to have a GOOD cup of coffee. At some point I'll know which pods I like best as there are a number of different pod brands out there. The manual says only to use Folgers or Millstone brand (don't like the taste of either), but from what I've read elsewhere it doesn't make a difference which brand you use as long as the pods are the correct size.

The cheapest pods I've found online are the Senseo brand which run roughly 20 cents per pod. Ultimately you weigh taste with price, and you decide which is more important.

Overall I am very happy with the B&D Home Cafe.


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Im sure there are better single serve coffee makers but I purchased this one over the Senseo since it brews 7, 9 and 14 oz cups of coffee whereas the Seseo only brews 4 and 8 ounce cups. I was hesistant because of the review below complaining of plastic tasting coffee but I have yet the taste anything other than the coffee itself. I however do not care for the Millstone blend so I will be searching for higher quality coffee soon.


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I purchased this item after previously using the HHC100 model. What an improvement in design! I'm buying this for my children to make capuccino so ease of use and safety was top of the list for me. It is very easy to use and the design has been improved to avoid some of the safety issues of the older model.

I considered the Senseo, JV and Mr. Coffee A13 models also. This one uses the Home Cafe pods which seem to be more universally available in my area and with more flavors and options.

Tastes great and easy to use!


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Well, it seemed nice on the shelf. It had some cool features like 3 pod holders for 1 pod, 2 pod, and Creamy. The 14oz button looked cool too.

Then I made my first cup. YUCK!

The plastic taste was horrid! Yes, I set it up correctly. And yes, I ran it through the CLEAN mode 6 times!!!

Still YUCK!

Can't get the plastic taste out so I returned it to Target.

Save yourself the aggravation, get a Senseo.