• 64 B2B Marketing Tools and Resources
• Inigo Montoya Guide to 27 Commonly Misused Words: No preparing to die… just to know the difference between lay and lie (not included… just had to rhyme). The Princess Bride, like Copyblogger says, icky title — great movie.
• Wiki of Social Media Marketing Examples
• GovTwit Directory: List of government peeps who use Twitter. I worked for US government right out of college. Wonder if I could’ve Twittered? Probably from home and not work. Didn’t find any from my agency in list. Nice name… “GovTwit.”
• Comment Forms Designs: Nice collection. Sure makes mine feel so 1990s.
• 2008 Eddies: Edublog awards.

And for fun because we’re allowed…

• Cake Wrecks: I could spend too much time on this blog.
• Coffee Art [Link: Nancy Duarte]
• 6 EXTREMEly overused game titles: Good stuff. I’d add “Deluxe.”
• Best Free Games to Play This Holiday: Games are a wonderful way to spend holiday time especially when playing with family.
• jackassletters.com: Real letters. Real replies.
• Top 12 Tech Embarrassments in 2008.

I accidentally broke the coffee pot from my trusty coffee maker. I don’t know how long we’ve had it, but I know the Braun KF-187 (view larger image) coffee maker is a rare breed. We have an older KF-140 Braun (view larger image) coffee maker that we’re using as its replacement. It took only one use for me to see how the little things make a difference.

• Filter basket handle: Makes it easier to open and close basket.
• Green light: Alerts us when the coffee is ready.
• 1 – 3 cup button: I only make one cup of coffee and this button prevents burning when there is not much coffee in the pot.
• “Right feel” carafe: The pot felt nicer to hold, the lid was easy to get on and off, and it was just the right shape. The one I’m using now feels square and clunky, and it’s tricky to get its lid back on.
• Water level indicator shows small water amounts: When I made the first couple of cups using the KF-140, the ball indicator didn’t budge. So I thought I didn’t have enough water when I did. I rarely made too much coffee with the KF-187 as its indicator was reliable.

It also has a auto on feature, but I haven’t used for over two years that since I wake up at different times. The lesson here is that the little things make a difference.

I’ve been looking at current coffee makers and think many of them have too many features and their bodies feels like cheap plastic. I opened the lid to the water reservoir to see how they feel. A couple of them didn’t open and close smoothly and some felt like lightweight cheap plastic.

I love geeky and techie things, but a coffee maker doesn’t need most of those useless features. It’s a shame Braun didn’t keep making more FlavorSelect models since they were popular.

Older gadgets like VCRs lasted longer than the new ones. As companies find ways to make things cheaper, they also sacrifice quality. We had an older VCR that outlasted two or three newer ones. When a VCR lasted over a year, it was a miracle.

While I can order a replacement carafe, I decided it’s time to let the coffee maker go. It was getting worn out from so much use.

Starbucks originally served whole milk and didn’t offer other milk options until after receiving customer feedback rather than making the decision without customer influence due to dietary trends. Paul of Idea Sandbox patronized a local coffee shop that serves only whole milk and won’t change.

But that local coffee shop doesn’t have the disadvantage of having numerous locations where customers barrage baristas with complaints to offer other milk options. I like Paul’s adaption of “The customer is always right.”

The customer may not always be right, but they’re never wrong.

This line of thinking helps a business come up with creative solutions or a compromise. Did Starbucks betray its identity when it started serving low-fat, skim, soy and other milk alternatives? Where does a business draw the line between sticking to its beliefs and meeting customer demands?

Thanks to technology and its ability to customize, we as customers demand more from businesses. We know it can be done, so we expect the business to conform to us, not the other way around.

I didn’t start drinking coffee until after I graduated from college. I never pulled in an all-nighter—geeky, I know. Now, I can’t start my morning without a good cup along with the newspaper. Between the single serve coffee brewers and the single-serving coffee can heats itself, coffee has been given a fresh look.

I just got a Home Cafe. At first, I didn’t like it because when I filled up the water reservoir, it leaked everywhere. Learning from that, I started filling up a glass with water and pouring it into the resvoir, which stayed in the brewer. My mom has the same coffee brewer and hers doesn’t leak. So I contacted Black and Decker and a replacement is on its way.

The brewer came with 18 Folgers pods. I don’t like Folgers period, so I didn’t like the coffee even though I made it strong. You can make it stronger by putting two pods into it and brewing 7 oz. or 9 oz. instead of 14 oz. But Paul likes Folgers and he’s happy with the coffee it brews. You have to drink it right away as it’s at the right temperature, but it takes no time for it to get cold. It’s not as hot as my regular coffee machine. It’s no problem to heat it in the microwave.

The best part about the machine—EASY to clean! If you use a regular mug (6 – 9oz), it splashes, which is another reason I wasn’t crazy about it in the first place. But we started using taller mugs and it worked better. However, I prefer my regular-sized mugs as I have a nice Disney movies collection and a Charmed mug.

The instructions say you can only use Folgers or Millstone coffee with the machine and any other will damage it. Bull! That is just a ploy to ensure we buy its partners’ brands. Starbucks (Yes, I am a big coffee shop h0.) and Cool Beans make coffee pods and their packaging indicate they’re compatible with the Home Cafe, Senseo, Melitta, etc. I almost bought the Starbucks pods online, but shipping cost almost as much as the package! So I’ll have to hunt them down at every corner Starbucks.

My friend has a Senseo and she has been using Cool Beans with it. She said when she put two espresso pods in it, coffee spilled everywhere. So when using a pod that is heavily packed, it’s wise to use just one. I haven’t tried the Cool Beans yet, but my friend and I have similar tastes in coffee unlike Paul (weak coffee drinking wimp). My mom has seen the Senseo in action at a cousin’s house and thought the Home Cafe was better. I haven’t met anyone who has the Melitta.

A friend’s company uses Flavia S350. It sounds awesome. I wouldn’t buy the SB100 because it doesn’t use pods. It uses a different type of packaging. There needs to be a standard for these single brewers. I know the companies want to make money and force you to buy their brand… but which is better? Not buying it at all due to lack of choices as opposed to offering an appliance that works with many brands? I’ll take a little profit over none.

If you buy a Home Cafe before January 31, 2005, you can get a $20 rebate. The reviews on Amazon gave it an average of 2 1/2 stars. Not good, I agree. The leaky reservoir is one of the problems, but my mom has had no problems with hers and the company is sending me a replacement. Yes, the machine is full of plastic, but it works. I have had no problems with the lever. Just make sure when using two pods to use the two pod side of the pod holder otherwise the leaver won’t close when two pods are on the single side.

I believe every single brewer system has its good points and its bad points. Read the reviews and look at its set up. The Senseo can make two cups and add a froth while the Home Cafe and Melitta only do one cup at a time. The Home Cafe has come out with capuccino pods to use with its specialty pod holder. Unfortunately… it’s Folgers.

Have you seen or used any of these brewers? Share your experience. What pods do you like best?