Back to Basics CM300BR Cocoa-Latte Chrome 32-Ounce Hot-Drink Maker
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Back to Basics CM300BR Cocoa-Latte Chrome 32-Ounce Hot-Drink Maker
Customer Review: Great latte machine!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm sitting here in Washington, DC, drinking a lovely hot lemon and apple drink during our second blizzard this week and am reminded why the Cocoa-Latte machine was my favorite Christmas gift in 2009.
I put the Cocoa-Latte on my wish list as an affordable machine for making a latte at home. It makes a decent latte, even with skim milk and sweetener rather than the whole milk and sugar recommended. It's frothy as expected and the keep warm feature is handy. I'm not crazy about instant coffee powder, so I often make a super concentrated shot of coffee in my French press, using slightly more than 1/4 cup of water and 3 tablespoons of grounds. I follow the recipe in the book using skim milk and sweetener and filter the 1/4 cup coffee in instead of the 1/4 cup of water. It's great! Much better flavor. Sure, you can argue that it's not quite as good as the decadent stuff that comes out of chain coffee shops. However, it is still tasty, is way cheaper, and I can make it exactly as I want it down to obscure coffee bean types.
I had a bad head cold a few weeks ago and the Cocoa-Latte was very useful. I filled it with water, lemon juice, and honey and dispensed it into a mug with a lemon slice with whole cloves pierced into it. This helped my throat feel a little better and was so easy while I was sick- it kept everything warm and the handy measurements on the side of the jug meant I had little clean-up.
For those reporting a difficult time cleaning it or a bad smell... I find that when I use milk in the machine, it leaves a film of milk in the edges of the bottom of the jug that I cannot get to with my dish wand. I gently move it all away with my finger and have had no problems. The film goes away and my machine does not stink despite its primary use as a latte machine means it is regularly processing milk.
Highly recommended. Latte, cocoa, and other drinks are excellent and this is one handy appliance!
Customer Review: Time saver and very convenient
Summary: 5 Stars
Back to Basics CM300BR Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink Maker, Chrome
This thing is great. I've had it for about a week and have used it about once a day. Now that it has gotten colder in Michigan, it's great to have some Swiss Miss standing by after I get home.
The point is, this machine is completely unnecessary. All is does is mix the powder and heat up the mixture to a perfect hot cocoa temperature...nothing a cup and a microwave couldn't do. However; it does all of thise very well, and for people who don't have a coffee machine to heat up their water, or who just like to set-and-forget things, this thing in fantastic and will do you right.
The way it works is you put the water and the powder-mix in the decanter/blender and it goes to work mixing and heating it. The heating element and the mixer turn off after the temperature has reached a pre-defined temperature, and then when it cools down a bit, they both turn back on and get it back to perfect again. The instructions say it takes 6-8 minutes to get the cocoa to the correct temperature, but the mixer turns off the first time at about 3-4 minutes. I find that after this first cycle, it is not quite the right temperature, but after letting it sit for a moment, the mixer/element turn back on for 20 seconds and it's perfect.
If you let it do its work for the 6-8 minutes, it will continue getting hotter and will be at that perfect temperature.
All-in-all, I am very satisfied with this machine, and as long as you rinse it out with hot water right after you empty it, it will stay clean as the day you bought it. FYI check out Linen's N Things or Bed Bath and Beyond and use one of those 20% off coupons to get it for 24 dollars.
Customer Review: What a wow machine!
Summary: 5 Stars
Actually, I've had my Cocoa-Latte Chrome Hot-Drink Maker for over a year now, but one night it died. It simply died from overwork. You see, I love the hot drinks this unit makes SO much that I worked the machine to death. Literally.
Since I had never heard of Back to Basics before (the unit maker), I didn't think I would ever find a replacement. The local department where I bought it does not carry it any more. Their mistake! Then <light bulb> I remembered Amazon. Oh yes, Amazon, the company that also sells straight jackets. I had decided long ago that a company that sells straight jackets has to sell anything. And sure enough, I found the Hot-Drink Maker! As soon as money becomes available, I will buy a replacement, maybe even two for the eventual death of the new one.
Here's why the Cocoa-Latte Hot-Drink Maker gets such high praise from me: Taste! The unit makes wonderful drinks, whether it is with powdered cocoa or powdered coffee. I even put in frozen blackberries, added milk and sugar and created a fantastic hot blackberry drink. Wow! Then I tried strawberries and blueberries. Yum, all delicious. Perhaps the frozen fruit crippled the unit.
What's to like:
1. The unit is easy to use.
2. A little booklet with several dozen types of recipes and drinks comes with the unit.
3. The unit produces fabulous hot drinks of all kinds. No, I never tried alcohol.
What I didn't like:
1. The unit is not so easy to clean. The heating unit is part of the pitcher. There is no way to keep water out of the system.
2. The cord is extremely short and must be plugged right there into the wall unit.
The two negative reasons are not enough to overcome the plus of the finished product. I still give a five-star rating!
Customer Review: Much Love for the Cocoa Latte
Summary: 5 Stars
A few years ago, as a college student on a budget, but with the need to often stay up late and pull all-nighters, I was looking for an alternative to the overpriced, big chain coffee retailers that dotted our campus. I bought the Back to Basics Cocoa Latte (actually at a CVS) and was very impressed and was able to save a lot of money with this very handy machine. I loved the fact that I could make my usual chai latte (chai concentrate, 2% milk, a dash of cinnamon) and press start, get dressed and grab my books and be ready out the door and ready for class in under 10 minutes. Even when walking several blocks on a cold winter day, my latte would still be warm when I arrived at class.
When I graduated, my Cocoa Latte followed me back home to NYC and as a young professional on a budget, it continued to serve me well. What I love most about the Cocoa Latte machine is how creative you can be with your drinks (the machine also comes with a great recipe book for inspiration and ideas). I encourage you to experiment with different powders, dairy/milks, syrups and spices. I found that the single serving instant coffee packets worked very well in this capacity. Additionally, not only is it cost-effective, but it allows you to create healthier versions of your favorite hot drinks (without the extra sugar, cream, artificial flavors) from coffee retailers.
Unfortunately, I had a roommate who was not very mindful and submerged the Cocoa Latte in water while washing it, causing it to get waterlogged and break. Now that I've moved, I have yet to find these in stone/mortar stores; I'm glad to now find it on Amazon and will definitely buy it again. How else will I make my green tea and honey soymilk lattes?
Customer Review: Great Milk/hot beverage frother
Summary: 5 Stars
I have had this product for 4 years now and use it at least once a week. I am a medical student and use it to froth hot chocolate or milk while I am studying. My favorite feature of this frother is that it will keep your beverage hot for as long as you need it to, and automatically refroth every 30 mins or so. This means that I can set it up at the beginning of a study session and my hot beverage refills are waiting for me every time I need a study break. I am an ex-coffee shop employee, and while the frothed milk is not quite as good as steamed milk, the convenience of having a machine to automatically froth and heat the milk for me when I don't have time to steam milk is well worth it.
This machine is great for company as well. Because of my coffee shop training my friends always expect cafe style beverages when they come by to visit. I run this machine simultaneously with my coffee machine, and espresso machine so that I can make any beverage my guests request quickly without getting stuck behind the steaming wand for the whole evening.
My best advice for keeping this machine functioning well is to make sure your guests know not to submerge the server (top part) in water (the base of the blending basin contains the heating apparatus).
After 4 years of consistent use my machine has started to slow down a little and I am currently purchasing a replacement so that I am ready to switch the machines out the second the first one gives out.