Back to Basics CM300BR Cocoa-Latte Chrome 32-Ounce Hot-Drink Maker
by Back to Basics
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Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: Back to BasicsBrand: Back to Basics
Model: CM300BR
Color: Brushed Metal
Product features:
- 600-watt hot-drink maker quickly and easily whips up delicious cafe-style beverages
- 32-ounce container with measurement markings and locking lid; nonstick heating surface
- Mixing paddle and dispensing valve; automatic shut-off function prevents over-heating
- 2-piece construction makes cleanup a snap; 35 recipes included
- Measures approximately 7-1/2 by 9 by 12 inches
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Back to Basics CM300BR Cocoa-Latte Chrome 32-Ounce Hot-Drink Maker
Customer Review: Makes A Delicious Hot Chai Tea and Milk Drink!!
Summary: 5 Stars
My wife and I have been making hot Chai tea at home for some years using a steamer device which required a lot of attention and often resulted in too much foam and/or skin and mouth burns. Finally we decided to buy the 32 oz capacity "Back to Basics" Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink maker from Amazon (for about $30) and have been highly satisfied with the unit in the 2 months we have been making hot Chai on a daily basis. In addition it has a nice curvy design, modern color and makes an attractive appliance to add to any kitchen counter.
The unit has two main parts:
1) A SILVER AND BLACK COLORED PLASTIC BASE containing the mixing motor. It is 5 inches tall and 7 inches wide. It has an "ON/OFF" rocker switch on the right side and a rocker "FROTH DISPENSER" switch on the left side. A 3 ft long black electrical cord having a 2 pronged wall plug extends from the bottom of the Base. Looking at the top of the base (where the "MIXING CONTAINER" fits), one sees a female receptor for a 3 pronged electrical plug and in the center a black plastic circular female mixer receptor intended to couple with the male prongs in the top MIXING CONTAINER
2) A 32 oz capacity top MIXING CONTAINER with tight-fitting black plastic cover. This MIXING CONTAINER consists of a milky-white transparent plastic(probably a strong, heat-resistant polypropylene), secured (with a gasket) to a 1-1/2 inch thick BLACK PLASTIC CONTAINER BOTTOM containing the heating element (600 watt or 5 amps at 120 volts). The polypropylene has molded into it a nice curved, comfortable handle. The underside of the BLACK PLASTIC CONTAINER BOTTOM has male electrical prongs (beneath the handle)and male mixer prongs which fit easily into the similar female receptors on top of the SILVER AND BLACK COLORED PLASTIC BASE. These engage both electrical power and mixer motor. Dimensions of the MIXING CONTAINER are about 7 inches high, 6 inches in diameter at the top and 5 inches in diameter at the bottom. The 7 inch height includes the 1-1/2 inch thick BLACK PLASTIC CONTAINER BOTTOM.
When one looks down into the MIXING CONTAINER a stainless steel surface is seen which is actually the top of the BLACK PLASTIC CONTAINER BOTTOM and which is heated by the heating element. In the center of the stainless steel surface, is a small, rotating black plastic mixing blade. There are embossed markings on the outside of the plastic MIXING CONTAINER at the 1,2,3 and 4 cup volume. The "DISPENSING VALVE" is screwed through a hole at the bottom of the MIXING CONTAINER, just above the stainless steel heating surface, and is secured by a silicone rubber gasket.
Following is our procedure for making 32 oz of hot Chai (enough for two 20 oz disposable insulated cups with ample head space for foam). We have also used the the "Back to Basics" Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink maker to make hot cocoa from milk and cocoa powder and this worked well.
1) Make sure the DISPENSING VALVE is closed! Pour 16 oz of your favorite concentrated liquid Chai (We use TAZO Spiced Black Tea Latte concentrate from COSTCO at less than $10 for a shrink-wrapped packaged of 3) into the milky-colored plastic MIXING CONTAINER.
2) Add 16 ounces of skim to whole milk (we use 1% fat milk)
3) If not already in place, place the MIXING CONTAINER on top of the SILVER AND BLACK COLORED PLASTIC BASE. This will engage the 3-prong plug and stirrer motor couplings. Press the black plastic cover into the MIXING CONTAINER. Plug in the unit.
4) Press the "ON" switch. The reasonably quiet stirrer motor starts mixing the contents via the small mixing blade and causes a slight vortex. In one experiment, heating 32 ounces of refrigerated milk and Chai at 42 Degrees F to 169 degrees F (the end of the heating cycle)took 10 minutes. This time goes quickly if you're busy doing other things. Temperature measurements were taken using a "Tru-Temp" Digital thermometer. At the end of the heating cycle the stirrer will stop, but the "ON" light will remain illuminated and will start the mixer and heater again if the temperature cools. If you're in the same room you'll always hear the stirrer motor stop. We turn the switch (and light) OFF because we use the Chai drink immediately. The 169 degrees F temperature is hot enough to be satisfying but not too hot to cause burns on skin or in mouth. If you must have a hotter drink, put the dispensed cup into the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
5) Turn on the "FROTH DISPENSER" switch (which starts the mixing blade again) and use the DISPENSING VALVE, to fill the cups or containers. The MIXING CONTAINER empties quite completely but tipping it forward slightly, will dispense the last drop.
[The froth/foam produced is ample but coarse. To produce the fine rich foam we were accustomed to getting with our steam frother, we purchased an "areolatte" battery operated steam free milk frother" (requires two AA cells) from Amazon for another $26. It is a nicely made, all stainless steel hand-held device and has a novel stainless steel stand which enhances the look along side the "Back to Basics" Cocoa-Latte maker.Aerolatte 1 Stainless-Steel Deluxe Edition Frother with Stand, Chrome We insert this mixer for 20-30 seconds into the hot Chai and get a nice long-lasting foam. We like to add nutmeg and cinnamon to the top of our foam. But after some research and experimentation I discovered that FAT KILLS FOAM and nutmeg, due to high fat content of 36% does indeed rapidly kill the foam. On the other hand, cinnamon alone with a fat content of 3% flavors but will not kill the foam. Try the experiment and see for yourself.]
6) CLEAN-UP is easy if done IMMEDIATELY. Take the MIXING CONTAINER to the sink, add warm water and some dishwashing liquid, and gently scrub the inside wall of the container with a dishwashing sponge or dish cloth. [INSTRUCTIONS SAY NOT TO IMMERSE THE UNIT IN WATER] The outer edge of the stainless steel heating surface will have accumulated a layer of solid material from the Chai-milk mixture. This can be easily removed by scrubbing with a pad, safe for ceramic cooktops (For example: "Cerama Bryte" cleaning pad from Golden Ventures, inc., Indianapolis, IN found at a local grocery store). Then open the DISPENSING VALVE and let the soapy water run through it. Use some of this soapy water to clean the MIXING CONTAINER COVER. Add more water to the MIXING CONTAINER and let it run through the DISPENSING VALVE. Do this a couple more times. Finally add more water to the MIXING CONTAINER and dump it out until you think all the soap suds is gone. Dry the inside of the container well and dry the cover. Store the unit on the counter with DISPENSING VALVE open (so it can dry) and with the cover just resting on top. Remove wall plug from wall outlet.
NOTE: Instructions call for removing and cleaning the DISPENSING VALVE after each use. This is the source of many Review complaints. I removed the DISPENSING VALVE before I had used the "Back to Basics" Cocoa-Latte maker just to see what was involved and I thought it was fairly complicated with its lever, cap, spring, stopper pin, stopper and valve body. Further, it is secured to the MIXING CONTAINER through a hole with a silicone washer which may leak over time. Also, as the valve is repeatedly cleaned, the gasket would eventually compress enough so that when the DISPENSING VALVE was tightened it would no longer be straight up and down. It's only my opinion, but I believe "Focus Electric, LLC" suppliers of the "Back to Basics" Cocoa-Latte maker were being very mindful of any liability associated with bacteria growing and/or causing illness by a dirty DISPENSING VALVE. I feel IMMEDIATE AND THOROUGH CLEANING of the "Back to Basics" Cocoa-Latte maker would make repeated DISPENSING VALVE removal for cleaning unnecessary. I haven't decided yet, but I may clean it at 6 month intervals but only if I feel it's needed. You make your own decision.
Review Update 3/3/2011:
Sad to report that our "Back to Basics Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink Maker" stopped heating after 126 days of use. My wife and I made 32 oz of Chai tea (16 oz of 1% milk and 16 oz of TAZO Spiced Black Tea Latte concentrate) at least once a day and sometimes two times a day, when on the 126th day it took 20 minutes to heat the quart of liquid instead of the usual 9 minutes. Then, on the next try, the unit would not heat at all. It has a 1 year warranty from "Focus Electrics, LLC" West Bend, WI, so I am in communication with their service to see what can be done. The 4-digit date code on the very center of the bottom of our product was 1025. I'll update this review when I have some more information. Maybe we overused it. But the shipping box says "For Household Use Only" and our making 32 oz of Chai-milk a day should fall under that description. Meanwhile, I ordered another one from Amazon with two day prime delivery and we're using the new one now. It's date code is 1039.
My rationale for buying another "Back to Basics" Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink maker" was because of the nice design, ease of use and easy cleaning. Consider, for a moment that the "Back to Basics" Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink maker" is a a "disposable" item (although not very "green" thinking in these days of recycling). On a daily basis, the 16 oz of Chai mix costs about $1.50 (Three 32 oz containers can be purchased for about $9 from COSTCO which is $3 per 32 oz or $1.50 for 16 oz). Sixteen oz of milk costs about $0.44, assuming a gallon of 1% milk (128 oz) costs $3.50. This is a total of $1.50 + $0.44 = $1.94 per day for 32 oz Chai tea + Milk mixture. This is considerably less that purchasing two 16 oz Chai's from Starbucks or Caribou! Over the 126 days of use of our "Back to Basics" Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink maker", we have spent $1.94 per day X 126 days = $244 for ingredients. The cost of the "Back to Basics" Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink maker" with shipping was about $33 or about $0.26 a day for the 126 days that the unit worked. Thus, over the 126 days the "Back to Basics" Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink maker" cost less than the milk used on a daily basis and about 11.9% of the total cost of Chai + Milk + machine. i.e. $33/($244 + $33) X100 = 11.9%.
We're curious to see how long our second "Back to Basics" Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink maker" works. I'll update this review if and when it "expires" Meanwhile, we may be able to get our first "Back to Basics" Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink maker" fixed if the cost is not prohibitive. Then we will have a backup unit and the cost estimates in my previous paragraph will change
I'm still sticking with a 5 star rating based on how well the "Back to Basics" Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink maker" performed until it stopped working.
Update 3/4/11
Good news! This morning I was informed via email from Jennifer at Customer Service for "Focus Products" at [...], that they are shipping to my address a new "Back to Basics Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink Maker". This will replace the one that stopped heating after 126 days into a 1 year warranty. After it arrives, I will have a NEW backup unit to augment the 2nd unit we bought. I needed only to send an email to service@focuselectrics.com explaining my situation, including the date code on the bottom of the unit and attaching an Amazon receipt for the Hot Drink Maker to the email.
[I attached a jpeg image of the receipt as follows: 1) Go to www.amazon.com and click on "Your Account" 2) Log in with your email and password 3) Click on the elongated yellow button "Your Orders" 4) Find the item of interest that you have ordered 5) At the left of the item click on the "Order Number" link and the receipt for your item will appear. 5) Either print out the receipt for USPS mail or "capture" the page (I used "Clipmate" and save the capture as a jpg image)for attaching to an email, which I did].
I, now more than ever, continue to give the "Back to Basics Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink maker" a 5 -star rating.
Description of Back to Basics CM300BR Cocoa-Latte Chrome 32-Ounce Hot-Drink Maker
The Cocoa Latte Hot Drink Maker brings the café experience into your home. Automatically heat, whip and mix instant cocoa, coffee and tea into frothy, café-style drinks. The auto shut off ensures that drinks won't be overheated. The 32-ounce container, with a twist-and-lock lid and non-stick heating surface, is easy to clean. Includes 35 delicious hot drink recipes.Coffee, Tea & Espresso
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