Introducing the biggest piece of crap ever made by man: The Starbucks Barista Aromo Solo.
Do not buy this coffee machine. Don’t even read any other reviews of this coffee machine. It’s pure garbage.
This coffee machine overheated the first day I had it. It filled my kitchen not with a coffee aroma but with a putrid melting electronics aroma. Oh yeah, before it did that, it leaked all over the counter and onto the floor. Thankfully, for once I saved my receipt so I drove to Starbucks (where I bought it) to get an exchange. The one positive thing about this whole ordeal is that Starbucks does have good customer service — so exchanging the machine for a new one wasn’t a hassle. By the way, I have no idea why I exchanged this machine, I should have gone for the refund.
I have had the Aroma Solo for about a month now, every time I make coffee out of it I am displeased or frustrated in some way.
-First of all, coffee does not taste good out of the thermos. The plastic cap takes away from the natural coffee flavor (unless you like your coffee to taste like Organic Peruvian Burnt Plastic blend).
-Second, every time I make coffee, some of the grounds go through the filter and into the cup. This means that you can’t drink the bottom eigth of the coffee without getting a mouthful of ground up coffee.
-Third, if you don’t put the thermos in the exact position in the coffee machine, the coffee will leak everywhere.
-Fourth, forget about making more coffee after your first cup, because if you use this thing more than once per hour, it will overheat.
-Last, since this coffee machine uses a metal filter instead of a paper filter, you need to clean it after every use which is very annoying. What’s the point to having a metal filter anyway? Starbucks says that you still need to buy a new metal filter every three months.
I paid roughly $90 for this machine. That’s very expensive ,especially for the small volume of coffee it produces (only a thermos). I really can’t stress enough how bad the Barista Aromo Solo is. I wouldn’t even pay $20 for it. Save yourself the headaches (pun intended) and never ever buy this.
Hey, man. I just bought one of these things tonight on a whim. My first cup of joe tasted very good, although I did pour it into a ceramic cup before drinking(I was at home). So, you’re saying it overheats? What happens? Will mine melt? Will SB give me my money back?
Well, since Starbucks does have good customer service, they will give you your money back if you return it, but I strongly suggest that you get rid of it. I had two different ones and they were both very very bad, so I know it wasn’t a fluke. And it overheats if you use it too frequently within an hour, as in twice or three times in an hour.
Hey, man. I agree with your article totally!! I’ve used it many times – and about 1/2 of the time it leaks all over the countertop. I got so completely frustrated. When I made coffee with the machine, i put a towel under it to sop up all the coffee that leaked. Then I got wise and replaced it with a traditional machine.
I am having the same problem!! I have had mine for about 6 months and it has suddenly started leaking all over the counter about half of the time that I use it! I am so angry. When I call them they act like they have never heard of this issue before!! I am calling them back on monday now that I know I am not alone.
Try washing the lid with a brush between brews. I found when it leaks it is from the area where the stopper clamps back. This means it is not water tight when it leaks. Making sure this area is clean ensures it seals properly. Since I discovered this and ensured the lid was clean, I have not had it leak.
I’ve had the same problem with the leaking and cleaning may help. What I figured out was that the coffee is wicking up alongside the lid and the stopper. To prevent that, after I have the mug situated I unclasp the stopper and rotate it up as far as it will go. It will only move a fraction of a inch, but it’s greatly reduced the leaking issue.
As for the metal filter; I don’t use it; instead I use a #2 paper cone filter; works great. If you do use the metal cone, I found that having the coffee ground at a 8.5 to 9.0 setting greatly reduced the sediment.
We purchased this pot and found all of the above problems. We als went to #2 paper filters but no matter how careful I am the pot occasionally leaks. Three days ago it caught on fire..good thing I was in the kitchen at the time. We had only had the pot three months. I have called Starbucks..asked if they had any problems with this coffe maker..was told no but after finding this site..I think I shall return the burned out maker and get cash. Then need to search for another coffee maker – darn!
Love the fact that this coffemaker makes a hot cuppa joe and keeps it hot a long time. Like the rest of you, I am frustrated by frequent leaks and for no apparent reason — I grind consistently and insert the cup the same way all the time. What gives Starbucks?
I agree with all of the above. This is by far the most money I’ve ever spent on a coffeemaker and it’s a piece of junk. Coffeemaker technology is not that sophisticated and it’s been around since the 70′s, so I would think Starbucks could get it right.
I’m on my second one, exchanged the first after numerous leaks, the cone holder thingy not engaging. The “manager” at the store I purchased it said I was inserting the mug wrong, that the flipper thing locks in the back of the unit. I wish I had asked him to demonstrate because this clearly is impossible. Of course I got the standard “I’ve never heard of this problem before, blah,blah, blah” and “My friend bought this, uses it every day and loves it”.
Even when I’m careful and sure that I’ve engaged the latch, I occasionally get coffee spilling all over my formerly white formica countertop.
I haven’t tried using the programmable mode because I’m afraid to use it when I’m not in the same room.
I tend to blame myself for everything, so I made sure to purchase my coffee at Starbucks and have them grind it, specifically for this machine. Same problems.
I also have an issue with using 5.3 Tbsp. of coffee for one cup. I’ve found that I can use less and still get my daily buzz.
The only thing positive is that the manager didn’t pressure me to exchange, he offered a refund. I should have purchased a different model, but living alone, I don’t need an 8, 10 or 12 cup coffeemaker.
Thanks for allowing me to vent.
Here I thought I was being an electronics-idiot again….this machine is so fussy and hard to operate! Every little piece has to be in EXACTLY the correct position, and then sometimes it still leaks all over. There is no rhyme or reason to why it operates fine sometimes and other times it will give me about 1/2 a cup of coffe in the thermal container, hold grounds-filled water in the metal cone and then suddenly release it all over the counter! This thing is nuts. I’m very disappointed and doubt I would ever buy a Starbucks machine again. Give me my old Black and Decker model.
I’m so disappointed to find these comments. I now realize it isn’t something that I am doing wrong. I wanted this thing to work so bad and I threw away my receipt. Crap. I would not recommend purchasing this machine. Although it makes a good cup of coffee and mine hasn’t started in fire yet, it leaks everytime I brew a cup. I’ve been putting paper towels down everyday so limit the mess. Bummer!
I have just purchased the Solo and brewed 4 attempts this morning, patently thinking the next one would not leak all over the counter top but never got it to perform properly.The engineering is clearly flawed.
So, I was going to get my bro the Solo for Christmas, but now I’m thoroughly convinced otherwise. I want to get him a one-cup travel brewer, and have heard bad reviews at the Black and Decker too. What do you guys suggest?! Please help!
they are crap, I am on my third because it was a gift…can’t get money back….all of them just strt smoking and then has a crappy smell and turns off, forever. BEWARE. I think its a way to ensure you can’t make coffee on your own.
I FIGURED OUT A FIX FOR THIS problem. Simply remove the thing that seals the lid. The drip comes from this mechanism and when you remove it, it doesn’t spill all over. Not sure how to better describe the thing on the lid that you can open and close but that thing is the culprit causing the spilling. Remove it and your problem will be solved.
This device is a friggin’ disaster. If I’m not cleaning up coffee, I’m cleaning out the unit itself. What a piece of crap. This is the fourth unit I’ve had and each one lasts a month or two and then just dies. Just stops working. Like it was dropped in a tub of water. The only saving grace is that the local Starbucks store just keeps giving me a new one – no questions asked. Dunkin Donuts is looking better and better all the time.
I’ve cooked 10+ cups of coffee in a new unit over the past day. The first time I spilled water, but ever time after that It’s been fine. The one thing I noticed is you need to not over fill the filter with coffee. The 5 1/3 Tbs spoon of coffee is too much.
One more thing,,
You need a medium ground / med corse coffee grounds for the coffee maker. If it it too fine of a grounds can clog the filter / make the drip too slow and it can overflow. If you use a blade grinder, then don’t grind more than 10 seconds. The 15 seconds is too long and will make the coffee too fine. The right amount of coffee is about 2 table spoons of beans, ground for 10 seconds.
I received this as a Christmas gift from my husband. While the first couple of attempts during the “seasoning” process were rather frustrating, I believe I have since gotten the hang of it. Two things have helped: 1) 5 1/3 Tbsp is defintely too much cofee for 16oz of water, 2) do not overfill the reservoir. Measure out 16oz and then pour into the machine as it appears that the fill line in the reservoir is a little too high…either that or it actually only holds 15 1/2 oz or so. Hope that helps…this machine is perfect for me because I only drink 1 cup a day and I’m the only one in my house who drinks cofee…no need for anything bigger, plus it’s simple to use and clean!
I hate to be the odd man out so to speak but it’s worked wonderfully for me. I followed the instructions and so far no problems. I didn’t use the amount of coffee they suggested because it’s just that, a suggestion. I knew it would be way too much for my liking. I did however find I needed a paper filter under my metal filter to stop bits from getting in the coffee, but I haven’t tried using the heavier ground coffee yet to see if that helps. I even brewed twice on the auto-program so far (only got it for Christmas so haven’t used it that many times yet) and it was great.
I love this thing… I’ve been using it for a while and after I got the hang of it it’s been great. I agree with the key points above: 1) Don’t put too much water in… fill up your mug about an inch from the top and pour that in the reservoir. 2) Don’t use finely ground coffee with the metal filter, you’ll have coffee in your cup for sure. Either use a coarser grind or get paper cups. 3) Make sure you don’t shove the mug in too hard, practice putting it in so that it just sits there and triggers the drip valve.
It’s a great machine for the morning – set it at night and wake up to a hot cup of coffee, its awesome.
I’ve been using my coffee maker since Christmas and love it. I found that if you have to force the mug in, you will end up with a leak. It happened twice. If you can get the mug in easily you won’t have a problem. I think it just takes a time or two to get the hang of it, then it is simple. I use a paper filter instead of the metal filter and that seemed to help as well.
I purchased this machine just after Christmas, under a seasonal sale, offering $10 off the regular price.
Set it up, seasoned it, followed the instructions to the line. Unfortunately, the product just does not live up to the StarBucks name. Things started with a burning smell, that of plastic being melted upon the first few uses. The drip container doesn’t match up with the carafe properly, having it either leak coffee all over your counter, or clogging up and leaving coffee filling up in the basket, and then finally giving way to a tidal wave of coffee overflowing. Never have I come across such poor quality on a product such as this one. Shame on you StarBucks. This most likely will backlash back on them if they continue to plead ignorance with loyal customers who legitamitely call them to express their concerns. Loss of customer loyalty, bad press, class-action suits. This is where corporate ignorance leads nowadays when it’s more imporant to ‘turn the other cheek’ vs doing a product recall. The only thing that has yet to happen with my Aroma Solo is for it to catch on fire. I’m really not excited waiting for that to happen. Reminds me of the days of the Ford Pinto, and how it was better to leave people exposed to death vs doing a recall. On a brighter note, their customer service warranty department was on top of things ready to help out. Even though they listened intently to my ‘original’ story of coffee leakage and frustrations, finally they offered me a full refund and acted in a polite and professional manner to help out. Hopefully Starbucks will get the message and have this fixed, for I still would like to stay a loyal customer for now, watching and waiting to see if they take the responsible path and look after their customers needs first.
Time will Tell. In the meantime, I’ll switch back to my Barista.
mine leaked every time. had it for a whole 7 days now. found this site and called starbucks.
the fix for this known issue (according to their warranty service dept toll-free number) was to remove the spring-loaded valve from the bottom of the drip cup. removing this valve will allow the machine to flow freely regardless of cup presence. proceed with caution and use your head if you remove the valve.
now i’m just waiting for the meltdown/fire. marshmallows in the ready.
Wow, I am shocked at all of these negative results. My roommate has the Aroma Solo and he has had it for at least a year now. We got a place together about 6 months ago and I have been using the coffee maker on a daily basis ever since. I, too, was having the coffee spilling problems at first, but that was because I was putting the travel mug in backwards. You want to have the part that touches your lips go in toward the rear, do not install the mug with the stopper in the rear, that will cause the problems. As far as the overheating problems and the burning plastic smell, I have experienced none of that. On the weekends, when my roommate is home, we brew one cup right after the other with NO problems whatsoever. I have also never had a problem with my coffee tasting bad. No burnt taste at all. I guess he just got lucky and piced up a good unit.
The aroma solo strikes again. This morning, it leaked all over the counter top for no reason. I tried using the metal basket and it left grounds in my coffee as well. The thermos leaks every morning, Ive given up on trying to drink my coffee during my morning commute unless I want to be wearing it. It’s definately going back to the store tonight, I’ve had it since christmas and I am completely dissatisfied with it.
I love this coffee maker, but I am frustrated with the leaking problem. The leaking is not dependent only on the grind. I have experimented with different grinds many times. I agree that about 10 seconds is the best, but no matter what grind it leaks about every 4 to 5 brews. I believe is is more related to the design of the top of the mug. I have had 2 machines burn up in the past one year. I just found this site and I am amazed to find that others are having the same problem. Starbucks has denied that this is a frequent problem. I cannot believe that this is true.
I use a Farberware four cup percolator right now. I love it because it keeps my coffee piping hot. Does anyone know how many wots the Barista Aroma Solo coffee maker is? I’m blind and I don’t think I would want to mess with a machine that leaks all over the place. I also love hot coffee and from my experieence with drip machines, my coffee is not nearly as hot as it is with my percolator. Does anyone have any comment on what I have said?
My mom bought me the Aroma Solo as a Christmas present. Once I figured out how to put the mug in correctly, the coffee brewed fine. But a few days later while making my morning cup of coffee (only one, by the way) the machine overheated and left the kitchen smelling like burnt plastic. So we brought it back and the store gave us a new one, no questions asked. The next machine had the EXACT SAME PROBLEM!!! So we returned it and got store credit instead. I would like to get another Starbucks brewer (NOT the Solo…it is a piece of crap) but the next line of them are so friggin expensive. After all the hassle, they should just GIVE me a nicer brewer, one that won’t leave my kitchen smelling like an electrical fire. Starbucks is a company that I previously held in high regard. After this fisaco, I’m not sure that I still want to give them my business.
Hi, Well I think I have some answers to many of the problems everyone sees to have with their Barista Solo. After using this coffee maker for a while. I think I figured out some of the problems.
First, always fill the reservoir with COLD water. hot or warm water will cause the maker to go ape chit, and over heat. If you want a hotter cup of coffee, do as the instructions say, and pre warm the mug with hot water prior to brewing.
Remove the spring-loaded plug on the bottom of the basket. This seems to be the fix for coffee spillage onto the counter. Their little basket stopper was causing the spilling. The coffee would run along the stopper instead of dripping straight down and spill outside of the mug.
Maybe Barista will correct the problems. Until then I am sticking with this coffee pot. Being the only coffee drinker in the family, it suits me fine, and I think it brews a good cup of coffee (better then Starbucks mud) Peace.
Ha in a sick way I am relieved it is not just me with these problems. I have become so frustrated with the slow leaking down the side of the cup and the occasional flood when the stopper opens.
I will try removing the stopper though to see if that helps.
I got this as a gift so my return options are somewhat limited, or are they? I haven’t tried to ask for $ or credit back.
However, another thing (which hasn’t been mentioned here yet) that really bothers me is that when I screw my lid tight on my cup, the cup’s handle and the lip where you drink is not a 90 degree angle, it’s like 120 degrees meaning I need to screw it on loosely or hold my hand crooked to drink it. I managed to find another cup that does work at 90, but my orginal cup’s threads are flawed somehow.
OK, update from the previous post.
I removed the spring basket stopper and brewed three times to test it out. Two of the three times it still leaked! This time, however, it leaked out of the flip-top end of the lid versus before (with the stopper) when I believe it ran down from the stopper to the back side of the coffee mug well (behind the mug, never touching it).
Yes my flip-top was tightly closed, but it is not water tight. It just seemed to get a little too much coffee at once, and started going underneith the flip-top.
I think it is a timing thing: too slow and it dripples down the backside of the well; too fast and it sneaks underneith the mug’s flip top thing.
I even checked to make sure my countertop was level.
I’m going to try to return mine or better yet get cash back (no receipt however).
Also, with the stopper still in, I don’t believe it matters how you stick the mug except that the flip-top of course has to be on the outside. The bevel of the lid on the cup appears level all the way around and thus should always press up on the stopper the same way.
Bummer Steve. I thought I had the fix. Still no leaks here after I removed the basket stopper. I even have a second mug the I use, and it doesn’t leak anymore either. It’s funny to think of all the technology around us in the year 2006, but still having trouble with a simple coffee maker, lol.
Good luck on the return.
Keith, when it leaked after I removed the stopper I thought it was violating the law of physics since I couldn’t figure out how the coffee was going uphill (underneith the flip top).
But I did brew another and no leak this time, so two out of four now.
Some theories, (getting tired of playing science guy though):
* Since the spout that the coffee comes is very far forward (towards the flip-top) some of the splattered water that is aimed uphill overcomes the hill
* Although my countertop is level, maybe my coffee cup wasn’t quite level when it leaked and the slope did not have the correct gradient because the plastic floor where I set my mug isn’t level or I set the cup in crooked somehow. The next time it leaks I’ll check to see how the mug is sitting.
* Maybe it’s the bernouli effect or capillary action that causes the coffee to sneak up underneith the flip top
* Or combinations of the above
I suppose the most obvious theory is:
* The well in the lid fills up faster than it can drain and some goes underneith the flip-top. Unlikely, but maybe exasperated by those two little breather holes in the lid are plugged and coffee drains slower due to positive air pressure inside the mug
OK, enough already
What a relief to have found this site and to know I am not the only one who is frustrated with the Aroma Solo. I had my first unit for one year and it worked beautifully (except for the leaking problem mentioned by so many others). The convenience outweighed the problems, but the machine went suddenly dead a few days ago. The warranty service department was wonderful and I took my unit in to a local Starbucks and exchanged it. After carefully following the seasoning directions, my daughter tried to make the first cup in the new unit the following morning (we had only had it for two days), and it started spewing water and only ran half-way through, then the machine went dead. I am going tonight to exchange it, but the reports of the unit catching on fire have really given me reason to reconsider. Thanks for this forum!
I just bought an Aroma Solo today at 4:00pm and by 7:00pm it had stopped working. I was running water through it to clean it after seasoning it and it stopped working on the third cup. It also leaked alot throughout every brewing process. I checked these reviews before returning to the store so I accepted the refund instead of the exchange option.
Thanks for the advice. I was admiring the Solo and was planning on getting one for my office but now I won’t.
After trial and error, and re-reading these threads, I believe there are two types of leaks with two different “work arounds”
1. To prevent the “back of the mug” leak remove the spring-basket-stopper from the coffee maker.
2. To prevent the “underneith the mug’s flip-top stopper” leak: before every brew, unclasp the flip-top-stopper and rotate the mug so it touches the coffee maker (so that the coffee maker’s spout is farther away from the flip-top-lid). You don’t have to “remove” the flip-top-stopper, just unclasp it (a little click).
#1 was mentioned by glockenspiel and Keith.
#2 was mentioned earlier by Gregg and Chad, but I we have some terminology problems — “stopper” being used both the coffee maker’s spring-basket-stopper vs. the mug’s flip-top-stopper so I was confused.
Note that for me the #2 leak only started occurring after I did #1! #2 seems to be caused by the capillary action (or “wicking” as Gregg states) of the flip-top-stopper touching the rest of the lid. By unclasping it, the capillary action can’t happen. BTW I did try cleaning the lid (to make it water tight) but that didn’t help with the leak (it didn’t make it water tight).
Only time will tell if this works 100% for me. If it doesn’t it’s going back to Starbucks!
Good luck to everyone!!!
The Aroma Solo is without a doubt the most frustrating appliance I have ever owned. My husband gave it to me for Christmas, and I am learning to hate it. It leaks all over the counter nearly everytime I use it. Instead of being able to set it at night, I (like an idiot) stand there, with a flashlight, trying to determine why the hell it’s leaking. I agree that the coffee is “wicking” under the lid stopper. I will try brewing without locking the lid stopper down. If that doesn’t work, it is going back to Starbucks. I don’t have time in my life for poor engineering and lack of corporate responsibility – what would be so hard about stopping selling the thing and admitting the design is flawed?
GRRRRR!
the aroma they speak of is burnt plastic. tastes the same. bought it for my girlfriend for Christmas and it hasn’t been very Christmasy. exhanged it for the 8-cup aroma for twice the price yesterday and its the same deal, even after the ridiculous “seasoning” process.
After hundreds of leaks, I have now made 20+ without a leak. Here are the TWO things that I did:
1. Put the cup in so that the flip top lid is directly facing you, but slightly to the right; and
2. (most importantly) once the cup is in the machine, gently pull up on the flip top lid so that it clicks out of the lid itself. This prevents the coffee from running up the lid and over the side of the cup.
Once I was ready to return it. Now I am happy. Hope this works for you.
Martin.
I’m posting again because I have finally figured out how to stop the leaking. At first, I screwed the top down all the way. When you do it like this, the handle of the mug is positioned to one side or the other of the machine. I finally figured out that it is becoming air-locked, causing the coffee to not drain into the mug, but all over the counter. Now, I put it on half a turn, the handle of the mug is dead center in the coffee maker, and I hadn’t had a leak since. The book never says how the mug should be positioned in the coffee maker. It’s such a simple thing, I can’t believe that all of you who have complained and returned your machines were never give this advice.
I hope this helps.
I have returned three of these ridiculous coffee makers in 3 months. They all went on fire. Now this morning, the 4th one has burnt out. Stick a fork in me; I’m done with Starbucks. If they can’t get their act together, then they don’t deserve any more of my money. Any ideas on what coffee maker does a good job?
The best remedy for the leaking is to leave the top off the cup, and to pull out the whole flap mechanism on the removable plastic cone. Pry out the little spring and then pop out the little hinge. Then the coffee will flow freely into the cup, without spillage.
I bought two of these machines (one for home and one for work) because I thought they were both beautiful, functional and made great tasting coffee. But after a few days the leaks seemed to start even though I wasn’t doing anything differently. I even noticed that the lid began to screw onto the mug differently so that it wasn’t possible to get the hole to the lid in the right spot for the coffee to drain in. I was determined to find the cause for the leaks. I stood there with a flashlight trying to see how it lined up and for other reasons for the leaks. I took one machine back and they gave me another one which did not leak for a few days but then began to leak. Also, I found that Starbucks is not carrying this coffeemaker any longer so if you can find a store that still has one in stock they will exchange it but I don’t know what they will do otherwise. They are only going to carry the 10-cup Delongi coffeemaker now, which is $150 plus tax. I did find another site that said that the stopper that goes into the hole in the lid when it is closed, needs to be in the back to trip the spring valve and when I tried it that way it did not leak but I haven’t done it enough times now to know if this is a fix. I did enjoy reading all of these comments and found myself laughing out loud. It’s amazing how we all find it hard to give up on this silly coffeemaker. I have not had any burnt smells or overheating or any problems other than the leaks, but it’s scary to think we would put ourselves through this for a cup of coffee!
I have solved the problems described, instructions here…
http://www.sbishere.com/starbucks-barista-solo-i-am-so-dumb/
Update … after my last post I had exactly two leak-free cups of coffee and then it started again. In my attempt to beat this thing I enlarged the tiny holes in the lid because they seemed to block with moisture and cause a sort of vapor lock causing the overflow. I used an icepick that I heated up on the stove, which I inserted into the holes to melt the surrounding plastic to get them to a decent size but not larger than the little stoppers that go into them. So far, so good. But this is more like a game now!
Enlarging the holes in the lid has not only fixed the leaking but it has also allowed me to pour coffee into a mug from the thermal cup without it splashing and running down the side of the cup. Kathleen also figured out that it was an airlock problem but she took a different approach. I tried her approach but it didn’t work for me each time and I found it frustrating to fiddle with it each time I wanted to make a cup of coffee. Enlarging the airholes in the lid is a permanent, no fuss remedy for me.
Soooo nice to know I am not alone, or can’t read instructions.
The thing that worked for me was to remote the spring at the bottom. It was “all good” after that!
Wow. I sure wish I would have checked this out sooner. What a piece of junk. I do find the coffee tastes good, assuming any of it ends up in the cup.
Today I experimented with the mug to figure out how it was leaking. So I dripped water into the cup from a measuring cup, and watched, amazed, as water wicked up the stopper and dripped onto the counter.
Pretty sad how much time all of us have spent trying to figure out how to make appliance work. I’m going to try some of these suggestions, but if all else fails — I did keep my receipt.
Good luck to all.
I just talked to the nicest guy at the starbucks warranty number. He talked me through a test run with water and now I know how to work it perfectly. Seems you have to tweak the position of the cup and lid. He was well aware of the problems people are having and eager to help. JUST CALL IF YOU’RE HAVING PROBLEMS!
Well, I had all the same problems. After trying the various solutions presented I found a combination that works: 1. Remove the spring-loaded stopper on the bottom of the filter tray. 2. Remove the metal filter and substitute #2 paper cone filters. The cup top can be left on in the open position. The coffee maker works fine with this configuration and with the paper filter you don’t get a nasty drip onto the table if you leave the cup in for a few minutes before drinking. The reason I kept the Aroma Solo is because it does make good coffee and the thermal cup keeps it warm for a very long time.
Does anyone know what happens if you don’t put the lid on at all. My tought is that if I set the timer properly the lid would not be a big deal?
I got the drip figured out.
First of all let me tell you all that my Barista Solo worked great for about two weeks with a # 2 paper filter, then it too started to leak down the back of the mug onto the kitchen counter like many hear have described.
Using a flashlight during the brew cycle and aftewards playing with the plastic cone shaped filter holder over the kitchen sink I found out that the coffee is waving along the swivel plunger from the side with the stopper on it to its back side that is pushed up by the mug. The waving effect is similar to what you see when you pour water very slowly out of a standard round lipped glass. The water will flow out of the glass, but it will also wave along the side of the glass.
Thus, the problem is a defect in the design of the swivel plunger on the bottom of the plastic cone shaped filter holder. Everything else seems to be designed very well in my opinion. So all I had to do is take off the swivel plunger and there are no more drips. I have a total of three coffee makers including the new Bunn NHBX and in my opinion the little Starbucks Barista Solo makes a superior cup of coffee to all of them when I only want to make a mug full. I can really taste the delicious flavor of the coffee that this little machine makes.
If I find a fix for the swivel plunger so the coffee won’t wave along it, then I may reinstall it in the plastic filter holder, but until then I’m going to enjoy the great coffee that the Barista Solo makes.
Wow, am I ever glad to have found this site! I’m on my third Barista. I love the look of this machine, but I have been frustrated ever since I purchased it. The first two machines melted. I waited to hear the beep when the coffee was finished, walked over to the machine and discovered the display lights off, smoke rising from the back which smelled like burnt wires. I have to admit the Starbucks customer service was great, but they did act like I was the only customer that has had problems. The machine leaks everywhere! I use it in the classroom. My students all wait in anticipation to see if the coffee will spill over the counter. Even they want me to return the machine. Each time I contact Starbucks about this problem, they act as if this has never happened before. I’m very glad I’m not alone. I wish they could fix this problem.
Where is the swivel plunger? I too have seen the coffee dripping too slowly out of the small hole, which has caused the coffee to leak back and behind the cup, which then flows onto the counter. I’d like to know how to solve this problem!
Damon,
When I referred to the swivel plunger I was referring to the plug in the bottom of the filter holder that is on the spring loaded swivel arm. I removed the swivel arm with the attached plug and the spring naturally fell off the filter cup. Now the hole in the bottom of the filter cup is unobstructed by the plug so the coffee flows out of the filter cup regardless of what mug you put underneath it.
Update – I have noticed when I make several cups of coffee per hour that water gets between the plastic filter cup and the walls of the machine. When enough water accumulates there then water can start to drip out the back side of the filter area where there is an opening so I use a paper towel to dry the filter holding area of the machine to prevent this. Take out the plastic filter holder after making several cups and you should see the accumulation of water/moisture that I’m talking about.
I believe the temperature, dispersion and speed of the water delivered by this machine are par excellent, but the filter holder, namely the rocker arm with the plug on it and the nest the filter holder resides in need to be redesigned to prevent the average Joe from dripping coffee and water all over their counter.
In my opinion Starbucks got the hard part right, namely allowing a person to brew a delicious cup of coffe on their own, but they got the easy part wrong, which is preventing coffee and water from dripping all over the place when the machine is used right out of the box.
*** As part of my search for the best single serve coffee maker I just bought the Brookstone NEW “Stainless Steel Coffee for One” and I was very surprised at how flavorful and hot it made my first cup of coffee from it, so now I’m going to compare it to the Barista in a side by side comparison. ***
http://www.brookstone.com/shop/product.asp?product_code=515395&search_type=search&search_words=coffee%20maker&prodtemp=t1&cm_re=Result*R1C2*T
Based on the cup of coffee I just got from the Brookstone Unit I can tell you it’s going to be a neck and neck horse race between the two.
[...] Almost a year ago now, I payed $90 for a Starbucks Barista Aroma Solo (the link is to my blog post about it). The Barista Aroma Solo was the biggest piece of crap I have ever bought in my life. It put me through a great deal of undue stress both from the fact that it didn’t work, and I wasn’t reaching my daily quota of caffeine. Yet, for a third of the price, I now have the AeroPress which has never failed to amaze me yet. [...]
I’VE FOUND THE SOLUTION!
All you have to do is place something on the base of the coffee maker that the mug sits on (I’m using about 1/16 inch of a stack of 1 1/2″ x 2″ post it note pad).
This elevates the mug a little higher, which pushes up the valve arm more and fully opens the dripper (eliminating back flow to the back up the mug/machine, then dripping down the base and onto whatever the base is sitting on)!
Try it.
Thanks Travis, tried this and it does work. Helps push the valve arm up and no more leaking all over the counter-top. Manufacture defect.
I bought this unit two weeks ago and have not had a problem. However, I did several of the things mentioned here already.
1. I removed the stopper and spring immediately after buying the unit because I wanted to be able to use all of my travel mugs. It works well with a variety of mugs that I own.
2. I only use a # 2 paper coned filter filter . I have poor results on the past with permanent filters
3. I do not put a lid on the cup during the brewiong process. I have had problems with lids on other solo cofee makers
4. I alsway use cold water.
I am enjoying a cup from my barrista solo right now.
I do have one questin for any you experienced users. Has anyone tried cleaning the filter basket in a dishwasher?
Regards
Mike
All of these suggestions are great! Especially the one it said to remove the stopper and spring. Recently, the o-ring of my mug snapped and I was thinking to finding a o-ring that fits. But I’m having a hard time finding a match, and was thinking of buying a new one. But I really hate to buy a brand new one(which cost almost $20!!!), just for the o-ring part. My mug is fine, just a o-ring is broke. Anyway, my point is if I remove the stopper and the spring, I can use my other Starbucks mug and I’ll be happy again. I just found this site, sort of accident. Thanks guys!
What would happen if you were to use a different tumbler that starbucks sells without the tab?
Has anyone tried this?
Here’s the answer:
I’m not sure why this was not covered in the instuctions by here’s what you do.
1. Make sure the flapper on the lid is snapped down in the open position (drinking hole is exposed).
2. Screw the lid on lightly and have the flapper section directly opposite of the handle (flapper section points to back of coffee maker while handle points to you)
3. Brew drip free coffee!
It’s sad that the picture on the front shows the flapper facing the front (a big reason users set this up wrong). This set up allows the flapper (tallest part of cup) to contact the plunger mechanisim allowing the coffee to freely flow down into the drinking hole. Also nice is that by having the drinking hole in the front, the excess steam escapes out the front instead of condensing in the back.
I bought this coffee maker for my husband for Christmas and he absolutely loves it. He uses it every morning and has never had any problems with it.
We got this for Christmas 2006. When we brewed coffee it made a mess. Hmmm… What to do to try to resolve the leakage? Well, we didn’t get a chance because after 2 days, it didn’t work. No more power. Let’s see how SB will resolve this.
I got my Barista Solo last year at Christmas time. Once I found out the leak situition (thanks to this site) and removed the spring, all was good… no more leaking all over the counter! I made 1 cup a day in the coffee maker and usually two cups on weekends. I liked the taste of the coffee and that it made really hot coffee.
Then last week, it just quit – no power, no nothing. After reading these posts, I can only assume it overheated and burnt itself out. Just a little over one year, I’m sure it’s out of warranty. I’m a little frustrated. And, believe me, I could use a cup right now! I’ll replace it with something that gets better customer reviews.
Two of these burnt out yet I persisted! And the third one (after 3 months is still working) and does brew a good cup. I took advice from this blog and cut out a cardboard circle to fit under the cup when brewing. No mess! The product clearly has major flaws but Starbucks service has been great.
After reading this thread I stopped into my local Starbucks and asked for the manager. I told him my Barista Aroma Solo leaked on the counter and he said he’d be happy to exchange it or refund my money. He claimed there was aq recall of those units. I told him I had no box or paperwork and he said that was no problem.
I noticed the new units on the shelf seemed of a slightly different design. The little flip valve on the filter holder has been improved and is smaller and of a different shape. The cup lid now has a depression leading to the drinking hole to guide the coffee and make sure there is no “wicking” action as described here. You can tell the new units because the cups have a series of vertical ovoid depressions, like large dots, rather than the streamline-type lines on the outside of the cup.
One tip–if you insert the cup before you put in the filter holder you can check the top of the cup is properly positioned with the flippy cup closer centered at the rear of the slot in the filter holder plastic it fits into, and the flippy in the open (drinking) position.
So far one cup brewed. No leaks.
And another thing—I had the handle of the cup on my old unit come off at the attachment point, and Starbucks replaced it some time ago at no charge. The new unit comes with a little set of guidelines inside the cup on a paper sheet. One of them is to hold the cup by the center of the body, not the handle when putting on or taking off the screw top.
So it seems Starbucks was paying attention to the unit’s various failures once they built up a track record, and took them into account. Additionally, their customer service was superb and the whole experience has maintained my confidence in the company.
Wouldn’t you know it. I was at Starbucks this evening and inquired about this machine and its ability to make one SIMPLE cup of coffee. The lady I spoke to assured me that all I had to do was use really fresh water and 5 tablespoons of medium ground coffee. Presto… I’m so glad I came home to research this. Based on the most recent posts, and everyone elses trial and error, I’m going back tomorrow to purchase this machine. I will post after my first brew. Thank you to the vetrans for sharing!
Spoke too soon-3 days too soon. It just died. THIRD unit! Customer Service, always cordial and really customer oriented, says it has been redesigned. I do love the convenience of the coffeemaker and the good cup it brews…WHEN it works. Am I crazy to try again? I guess I will no matter what you say. Just a cockeyed optimist.
It is so nice to know that it wasn’t just me! We had FOUR burn out after just a month or two of use. We tried keeping it unplugged when not brewing coffee, hoping it would last longer that way, but even that didn’t work. It’s very disappointing, because I thought it made wonderful coffee and it was the perfect size for me. We finally had to get a totally different machine. I wish they’d fix whatever electrical problems this machine has–I would really like to have one that works!
Me too! My second Aroma Solo just died. This one also lasted just four months. Starbucks is very accomodating about replacing it, and I liked the size and coffee it made. But I don’t think “the third time would be the charm” especially if others have had the same problem. I too wish they would solve the problem — or at least acknowledge that there is a problem with it. Or do the machines I bought represent such a low number of failing machines?
I received it as a Christmas gift. I had the same problems with coffee leaking out of the machine and all over the counter. I thought I was special and that it only happened to me. The person who gave me the machine just phoned to complain about his machine doing the same thing. My solution was when I put the cup into the machine I don’t put the lid flipper down tight. Just leave it loose. Haven’t had a problem since
or maybe it’s because I changed from Starbuck’s coffee to Tim Horton’s Fine Grind. Maybe the machine doesn’t like Starbuck’s coffee?
Hasn’t this item been recalled?
You are a bunch of idiots, I’ve yet to have the coffee leak one bit…. I can agree with the plastic taste, but the coffee is kept warm long and the lid can be removed….
Yes, I am sure the previous 100 posts all come from idiots and you are the only one who isn’t. I’ll be the 101st idiot then.
I received this for Christmas in 2005 and am only on my second unit. The first one mysteriously died after brewing a cup one day. Customer service handled it nicely, though. Too bad I had to get a replacement.
My first one started leaking after about 6 months and the second one started after about 3 months. I started putting folded up sheets of paper towels under it thinking it just needed to be lifted a little bit (it also would soak up any leak). I figured the lever that opened the basket wasn’t being pushed up enough and gravity was causing the coffee to flow back along that lever and down the back of where the mug sits. It worked well…for a while. Now it doesn’t matter what I do, 8 out of 10 times it leaks. I have had the unit sitting on a plate to catch whatever it can.
Making sure the lid is clean as to have a good seal when the stopper is clipped back makes the most sense after all my trial and error, however, an old lid that is worn out isn’t going to have the best seal anyway.
I think it is about time I move on to another brand. This is definitely a design flaw that didn’t appear for me until the unit was somewhat worn.
Well it has come to this…
I am giving this brewer until the end of the week to work without leaking. I have fallen in love with a Keruig Platinum B70 machine. I like the flexibility of the K cup or the ability to use your own coffee…but not the price. Unfortunately there aren’t many other single mug machines that have programmability or a larger dispensing size.
Before I jump ship, I though I would try some of the proposed solutions to preventing this machine from leaking. I would like to use this thing until it burns up (like my last one).
This post will recap some of the proposed problems and their solutions. My following posts will discuss what I tried and how it worked.
To recap, three of the most commonly proposed reasons and there solutions:
Vaporlock – The lid isn’t allowing air to escape thus the built up pressure inside the mug doesn’t let the coffee in as fast as air is escaping.
1. Make bigger holes in the two vents
2. Clean the holes
3. Put the lid on loosely.
The Spring Loaded Stopper – Coffee is exiting the filter basket and taking one of two paths, into the mug or down the back of the machine (back of where the mug sets).
1. Position the lid so that the flip top is clipped back (open) and opposite the handle (one recommendation was to also keep it on there loosely). This will push the spring loaded lever up more, preventing the coffee from having two options of flow and going straight into the mug. Note that the picture on the box shows the flip top being on the outside of the machine.
2. Remove the spring loaded stopper altogether and just let the coffee flow whether you have a mug in there or not. People started doing this so they could use other travel mugs and/or with lids removed. [One might be concerned that if they forget to put the mug in than they will have coffee all over the place. Let me tell you that will pretty much happen whether the stopper is there or not. That filter basket doesn’t hold close 16 ounces.]
Bad Seal on the Lid – The seal when the flip top lid is clipped in the open position isn’t keeping the pooled up coffee on top of the lid where it will fall into the mug.
1. Clean the lid thoroughly to maintain a proper seal [However, as the nubbin that the flip top catches on gets worn down you won’t have as much pressure holding it down and thus a looser seal anyway].
I am sure there are other proposed problems and solutions, but I wanted to mention the ones that I think are most likely in my situation and the solutions I thought might work for me. Your situation may be different.
Okay, here are the results of my first attempt at prolonging my use of this otherwise fabulous coffee maker.
To combat my massive leak I thought I would try to tackle two of the problems/solutions at once. I have always believed the cause of the leak is the coffee running off the back of the spring loaded stopper and down the back of the mug rest.
[SEE PREVIOUS POST FOR REFERENCE TO TERMS OR PROBLEMS/SOLUTIONS]
My Solution:
I wanted to eliminate as many possibilities as possible. I thoroughly cleaned the lid, clipped the flip top open and positioned it opposite the handle in hopes of lifting the spring loaded stopped up enough to prevent unwanted flow to the back. I also left the lid loose to let air flow out and hopefully prevent any vaporlock if it were part of the issue.
Result:
Still had an ounce or two of leakage…below the average amount I usually experience. Unfortunately I haven’t really ever had a consistent amount leakage, but I surmise that lifting the spring loaded stopper up did help to some degree.
Thoughts on today’s test:
I now think the spring loaded stopper is the problem more than ever. While positioning the lid differently did help, I have a feeling the volume of flow from the basket is so much that the down pressure helps it run along the stopper no matter what angle the mug lifts it to. I also think the design of the stopper is as much to blame. I don’t discount the vapor lock, but I didn’t have a good seal on the mug anyway (I guess I could open those holes a bit with a nail or something). I don’t think I can get a better seal around the flip top since the nubbin is worn, but I haven’t seen coffee leak from there more than a drip or two. I just can’t get around the fact that both brewers I have had didn’t start leaking until 3 or more months of use.
Action plan for tomorrow:
This is it, my last try at saving this brewer. The spring loaded stopper is coming off! I don’t see the leak stopping until the coffee flows down one path…and one path only. I only hope that by removing the stopper the flow won’t increase so much that I have to brew with the mug lid off. I want that coffee is hot as I can get it so it will last through the morning.
Final Test Results:
I did exactly what I said I would do in my last post…with fantastic results. Taking off the spring loaded stopper stops the leak (like many people said).
I brewed two cups like this, one with the flip top lid opposite the handle and one with it directly above the handle. My machine slightly slopes to the back (used a bubble level), so having the flip top in the back did let a little (very little) coffee through as it naturally pooled up back there. Then I tried again the other way and the only moisture I had outside the mug was from the steam of the machine.
I noticed from the first brew was that it was a little weaker than normal. I suppose the stopper restricted the flow enough to allow the hot water to sit in the basket and pick up more flavor. For my second attempt I doubled the amount of coffee and that made it a little too strong. I will just experiment until I find the right amount.
IF YOUR AROMA SOLO IS LEAKING…REMOVE THE SPRING LOADED STOPPER!
I realize that my tests are nothing new; I thought I would summarize everyone else’s great ideas the past two years with my last ditch attempt at finally fixing the problem. Someone else is bound to stumble on this page like I did looking for answers. I just wish I would have looked a year and a half ago!
I saved my Aroma Solo from an early retirement and will keep using this thing until it burns out like my last one. I certainly will do my research before making the next purchase.
UPDATE:
Even after removing the spring loaded stopper you might experience a leak off the lid from the flip top.
Assuming your machine is level, make sure the flip top is directly centered up with the machine. If it is off to one side, the coffee pools up on the lid more and leaks from where the flip top clips down.
THE CORRECT FIX FOR ALL SOLO MAKERS.
This is the CORRECT fix for ALL STARBUCKS 1 CUP “SOLO” coffee makers. Remove black holder, use spoon or knife to pry the side and remove spring. Cut “2″ coils of the spring. ONLY 2. Place cut side in base (not plunger side) in and replace. This is what we are doing to the new models. When you place the cup in DO NOT (as previously mentioned) put the flip top in first. It should be to the side. This the CORRECT FIX.
A fix is a fix and one that works is probably CORRECT enough.
I am sitting here enjoying my first tumbler of finely brewed Dragon. LOL, it worked gret the forst time out. Tastes like coffee, it sounds like at least some the problems are user error.
Thank God I found this site. I have been frustrated with brewing two days’ worth of coffee in my 12-cup brewer and saving the second half in a Nalgene cup for next day. But on second day, coffee tastes terrible. So in my quest for a single cup brewer, I was very close to buying this product and it seems like leaking & overheating problem will keep me away. Did anyone else try that Brookstone’s “Stainless Steel Coffee for One” yet? I might go try that one out. I honestly think Starbucks doesn’t want you to try to brew your own coffee at home (even if it’s their ground coffee). They want you to come in, get in line, and pay $2-3 everyday so they would make more money. This is a conspiracy I tell ya.
Wow, am I ever glad I googled the Aroma Solo and found your post! My husband thought he wanted one for his desk and I wanted to research it first! Thanks to your posting and the comments here, it sounds like you may very well have saved his desk from flood and fire!
FIRST TRY, THE MODIFIED
OK, so my wife gave me one for Christmas. I take it to work, set it up at my desk… and realize I don’t have the directions with me. I turn to google looking for the directions and I find this site.
I read the entire list of comments, and tried to make a cup of coffee. Before I did, I took some good advice and completely removed the spring loaded gadget on the bottom of the filter case (the part that controls the flow of coffee into your mug or onto your countertop).
I decided to go with the metal filter. I only used 3.5 tbl spoons of coffee, as I heard 5.3 was way too much. I only used 13 fl oz. of water, as I heard 15 oz were too much.
Here’s my results:
First try: a clean cup of coffee. No leaks, no spills whatsoever. The coffee wasn’t ground personally, it was the storebought, already-ground coffee, so the grounds got through the filter a bit.
I drank it any way.
I’m trying today with very coarsely ground coffee, we’ll see it how goes.
Just wanted to say thanks.
UPDATE
Ok, second brew. NO LEAKS OR SPILLS AT ALL. I think I found the solution to that problem… The spring loaded gadget of spillage. Take it off.
I used ridiculously coarse coffee.. and it’s still cloudy. So i’m gonna have to say this metal filter is flawed. I’m gonna try again with a paper filter.
More later..
THE PERFECT CUP OF COFFEE
Third Brew today:
I used a paper filter underneath the permanent metal filter. So the coffee grounds are touching the metal filter, which is touching the paper filter, which is touching the filter housing. The spring loaded gadget-of-spills is off of course. Dunkin Donuts Original Blend coffee was freshly ground to a medium consistency, not course, not fine, and I used about 13 oz. of cold filtered water.
Beautiful. This machine makes a good cup of coffe, I have to agree.
once again, thanks to all that tried and failed and helped others. GO SCIENCE!
I just purchased one of these at a salvation army .looks almost new, for 6 bucks.works like a charm,you have to be a mild retard to get it wrong. of course it does need to be cleaned properly after each use but i just made coffee again after reading some of these comments and i tried to screw it up to no avail,it still works like a charm. i do realize it is made in china and is truly junk and i’ll most likely get a brain tumor the size of a grapefruit by my 7th cup but presently it seems to get super hot and make really good brew.as a word of advice,throw the gold filter in the trash,it is useless, use it and by day three your coffee will taste like your socks. just use a no.4 melitta paper filter. use a diluted vinigar to give a weekly cleaning and regular dishsoap daily with a good rinse.
LEAK FIX: The mug is the cause of the leaks. I noticed the leak occurred where the open flap latches to the back part of the lid. The two do not seal together tight enough to stop coffee flow between them. There’s no lip or ridge on the back part of the lid. It’s like trying to pour milk in a bowl that’s missing a side. If you cut a rubber piece from a canning jar seal to fit and lay on the back part of the lid (where the open flap connects) you will create enough of a ridge around the lid the stop the flow over the side of the mug. I have had great success with this method. Ideally, the lid should have been designed with a ridge all the way around the lid that the flap could still latch over. I noticed that ALL of Starbucks travel mugs are currently designed with this type of lid. I also have had the same issues with this machine as all of you, as well as having the machine finish brewing and beep before all the water has been processed — even soon after a good white vinegar cleaning.
I too purchased this machine. I live alone and only brew 1 cup per day – unless it is the weekend. This thing is driving me nutz! It leaks constantly – all over the counter. I scares me to use it as there is electricity and water involved – duh! After reading all of these comments, I am off to Starbucks to return it! For a refund if I can!