A current affair coffee machine review

jim

>:(
Did anyone else see the "review" of coffee machines on a current affair? It looked like a blatant ad for Sunbeam to me.

I sent a complaint to [email protected] because I worry that someone might have thought it was for real.

And I thought cheque book journalism was for human interest stories.

FreshCoffee2

yes I agree with you. Very misleading. My first thought was that I hope channel 9 was paid handsomely to run the story, because it was nothing more than an advertorial designed to give certain brands / models a leading edge over other brands models of atleast equal or greater "quality" that exist side by side in the marketplace and are sold by plenty of other manufacturers / retailers not mentioned. Regards, FC.

Lovey

It had the feel of a Choice review, but using proper judges . ACA (A Current Affair) and ACA(Australian Consumers Association)??  Cue the Twighlight Zone music ;D.

jim

:D There was an interesting ruling in the US recently where some journalists sought compensation for being fired for refusing to endorse a misleading story. The Judge ruled that the journalists were in the wrong as "there is no obligation on the media to tell the truth". It still makes my blood boil though, naive me!! So I just wrote a letter to the ACA (channel nine that is). Another friend who works in the coffee industry just told me that one of the judges on the ACA segment, Paul Bassett, is under contract with Sunbeam.  :-X Great way to advertise if you can afford it.

Alice

My first comment in a forum ever.     I do work in the coffee machine industry and was horrified by the set up.     Good comment above about Bassett's association with Sunbeam. Conflict of interest noted.     What little was shown of the judging was shoddy, and the conclusions drawn worthless. What does the general public think? What do the people that took part in the story think about it now they've seen it on air? I honestly don

Unknown

Ok, maybe there's something I don't know here, but what were you all doing watching ACA in the first place?!?!

jim

:D LOL !!!  Very well said! They had a promo on Channel 9 news and I thought I'd keep it on to see what was said. After the regular trash and gossip the coffee "advertorial" came on which was just more trash!! I guess they sucked me right in  :P

Unknown

There are some very elaborate excuses coming out here... Anyone's dog ate their homework? Heheheheheheh ;D

Lovey

Ok, maybe there's something I don't know here, but what were you all doing watching ACA in the first place?!?!

brabo

Notwithstanding the ACA test process, conflict of interest (although Basset's association is not hidden in Sunbeam promotions) and advertorial nature of the segment (http://ninemsn.video.msn.com/v/en-au/v.htm?f=39&g=69879c9d-6c53-4e42-a87b-d17d21379d44&p=aunews_auaca&t=m164) ... where is the critical analysis? Many of the remarks, as with many on this forum when it comes to products for the unwashed masses, come across as being pretentious chatter and as superficial as the ACA review, which you seek to deride. There will undoubtedly be many people who are persuaded by what they saw and would consider purchasing the Sunbeam manual. Do you question the credentials of the testers to know a decent cup of coffee? Do you feel the video of the watery coffee vs the crema of the Sunbeam and Expobar did not accurately reflect the result? Why did the review not include the favourites pushed on this forum such as Rancilio, Gaggia, Saeco and so on. Do you disagree that the Sunbeam represented good value or the Expobar was a top shelf machine for the dedicated coffee lover? How many people who recommend machines and coffee on this forum are truly independent and unbiased and have superior qualifications to those in the ACA review?

jim

Brabo, I DO have a vested interest, most of my coffee machine sales are Saeco coffee machines. So when I started this thread I took great care not to promote Saeco machines and also not to deride Sunbeam machines as I feel that would be unethical. I have deliberately kept my remarks superficial and will continue to do so (except maybe this post ). In other posts I've made I've promoted machines I sell and also recommended people look at machines my competitors sell. As any reasonable person should. For the ACA segment to be shown as a "review" when it wasn't is wrong. If they'd said "advertorial" or "promotion" then no problem. If they'd kept Saeco machines out of the review or reviewed them fairly then also no problem. I don't question the credentials of the reviewers, I definitely question the impartiality! Don't forget that for many of us this is a living. I had a call today from a lady saying she saw the "review" and wanted to cancel her order. A Saeco automatic was included and rubbished. I make fantastic espressos with great crema in my Automatic Saeco, if I adjust the settings poorly I can also make something close to dishwater. I can easily make any machine make rubbish coffee if I want to make it look bad. Did they do this on the promotion? Who knows. I should probably start selling Sunbeams, they've obviously got a good advertising budget. Lovey - please come and rescue me from my soap box with one of your funny comments. I need to get back to superficial, and maybe a coffee.  :-X

Honest_Gaza

:D So I just wrote a letter to the ACA (channel nine that is). Another friend who works in the coffee industry just told me that one of the judges on the ACA segment, Paul Bassett, is under contract with Sunbeam.

FreshCoffee2

admin

Dear Brabo - not sure if you work for ACA, but your criticism...

How many people who recommend machines and coffee on this forum are truly independent and unbiased and have superior qualifications to those in the ACA review?

...displays a disconcertingly low standard of journalism. This forum is not sponsored by anyone and is run as a 'public service' -type forum for people in Australia interested in coffee. The regular contributors are people of integrity who make it clear if they have a product of their own to sell, and even then do not tend to push it online. I know this because I have insisted on not allowing promotional posts on this site since its inception. In fact the people who are least happy with it are those unscrupulous operators who have tried to push their own product in an 'impartial-looking' post and found themselves dropped off by myself. I know (or know of) most of them and would happily provide names/contacts if you want to do a bit of proper research and contact a few of them, although no doubt, they won't speak highly of me or the site. Admin.

Honest_Gaza

.....well said Admin. It is unfortunately always the case that when any reviews are performed (coffee machines, cameras, TVs, PC's etc) that the products put up for review are never a true indication of what is really available on the market. This is evident in all media forms...both electronic and print.

CanberraCoffeeCnr

>:( Did anyone else see the "review" of coffee machines on a current affair? It looked like a blatant ad for Sunbeam to me.

everything that trashbook/chequebook show does is paid advertorial. From publicising the next film for star x, to the next big thing in country music.. ya da ya da... Nine, and PBL are a media empire.. Does it surprise you? Your email wont't change anything, sadly.

jim

I agree CanberraCoffeeCnr, and it's kinda funny when you watch the scandal over the amount of water in tinned products or how many tissues in a box. You know that a "sponsor" or regular advertiser has pushed their own agenda. Then it's the turn of your own product and it's not so funny. The one that really gets me is the "next big film" promo that they do, as you pointed out. You KNOW it's an ad, it's so obvious. And like a deer caught in headlights I just stand and watch ... sigh. The really sad thing is that I love the trashy journalism of it all. Today Tonight takes the cake, it's like every bad ad and reality TV show rolled into one "shock" story. You won't believe what this man did to his Grandmother, but now she gets her revenge Now that's kwality. And I won't post any more on this topic, it's too far away from coffee.  :-X

admin

Actually CCC - agree that this is typical of the standard of journalism on many of these 'shows', but disagree that we shouldn't bother speaking out. -A

brabo

there you go ... Jim and FreshCoffee put forward some substance behind the criticisms. FWIW Jim, my colleague has two Saeco coffee machines, one mid-range and one top end. These mostly make pretty good coffee that does not resemble the stuff shown on ACA ... although that said, both are back in the shop for servicing. Dunno about the setup however I agree it looks dodgy. Wouldn't you have expected one of the four "reviewers" would know how to set up a machine or get a representative to set up? My biggest gripe is the review was incomplete and did not compare like with like. Does such a review exist? Admin, I do not work for ACA, nor am I a journalist. I did not see the piece on tv but looked it up after I was told about it and checking on this forum. I read this forum simply as one of the public who likes a coffee and occasionally find some interesting tips. Do not fall into the trap of shooting the messenger. I would have expected that my opening remark "Notwithstanding the ACA test process, conflict of interest (although Basset's association is not hidden in Sunbeam promotions) and advertorial nature of the segment" might have suggested I do not work for ACA. Even another reader has observed the Bassett Sunbeam connection is made public. I am reassured to know that everyone who recommends this or that machine on this forum is truly independent and without vested interest.

john

As previously mentioned, the segment seemed a little biased towards two brands. It was also a little confusing. Not sure why they were comparing a $600 machine to a $2000 machine. I would be interested to know how many viewers raced out to the stores and purchased one of the machines the next day!!!! You can't blame any of the persons who were on the segment for getting a bit of free advertising. I believe that the host of the show enjoys a cup of coffee, so why not offer to make her a real cup!!! JD

admin

Fair point Brabo, although the disclaimer at the beginning of your post could also have been a ploy... I guess the reason i'm quite sensitive about the impartiality of the site is i'm very aware of the income i've forgone by not having this site sponsored. -A

flatwhite

Did anyone notice Paul Bassett's remark about the Sunbeam's "5 year commercial warranty." The way I read it the unit has a 1 yr warranty with 5 yr's on the pump.  As for 'commercial', most domestic equipment manufacturers only offer a 3-month warranty to their equipment used in a commercial environment.....correct me if I am wrong.

BlueMonkey

Did anyone notice Paul Bassett's remark about the Sunbeam's "5 year commercial warranty." The way I read it the unit has a 1 yr warranty with 5 yr's on the pump.

Gonzo

Dont get me started...!   you said "The message given in the ACA review, was that the Sunbeam made just as good a coffee as the Expobar.".........   maybe, but this is impossible. The espobar uses comemrcial size filter baskets. The sunbeam uses much larger, custom made filters.   coffee made with each of these machines cant bee compared to eachother unless the filter baskets used in the test hold the same quantity of grinds, no?   Anyway, even if the toaster made as good a brew or even better than the espobar, there are aother variables like, the espobar will still be doin it in 20 years, the sunbeam wont even be doin it in 5, and the espobar can be used to brew coffee for a large group of people at home with ease, but the sunbeam will always struggle. What a farce. the equipment is dis similar & cant truthfulkly be compared. The comment about warranty is deliberately misleading. but I guess nobody cares abpout the truth, just selling machines at any cost. G.

BlueMonkey

Dont get me started...!

G_Uru

I had a look at the tape of this advertisement. Did I say advertisement? I give it 2 out of 10 1 point for the color 1 point for the tin shed!!!!!!! G