Amazon has already launched a raft of Black Friday deals but the one I’d flag has already brought me months of joy after I snapped it up in last year’s sales – and it’s already been reduced well before November 24
It’s an occupational hazard of being a shopping writer, especially getting towards Black Friday and Christmas season, but it’s very easy to get caught up in some of the best deals you spot. As consumers we all know that sometimes when shops shout about a huge sale not everything is at it seems, so at Mirror Choice we work to dig down and find the actual bargains, based on products we know are actually worth the investment.
Black Friday doesn’t actually fall until November 24 this year, but with retailers keen to tempt us to part with our hard-earned cash, more brands than ever before have pushed the button on some huge discounts early, including not just Amazon but also eBay, Shark, Ninja, Lakeland, Sky, Oodie, Currys, Boots, LookFantastic and more.
But while I may have already splurged on matching Disney-themed Christmas Oodies for me and the kids reduced by 60%, my favourite deal so far is one that won’t cost me a penny because I actually bought it last year and have used it pretty much daily ever since. What’s more, caffeine lovers can rejoice as it’s already been reduced by almost a third despite it still being a fortnight to Black Friday.
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The Melitta Filter Coffee Machine may look like one of the hundreds of other similar models reduced at this time of year, but this compact and handy gadget has several superpowers that, literally for my money, make it stand out from the pack.
I bought it on a whim as a gift for my husband for Christmas in recognition of the fact that every morning he gets up first to make the coffee, which at this time of the year in particular means stepping into the cold kitchen long before the central heating has kicked in for its morning burst. The Melitta has a timer that means you can set it all up the night before, put your filter in, add your coffee and pour water into the holding reservoir and then set it to kick into action at whatever point you need it to in the morning.
When I first gave it to him, apart from recognising that it was clearly a gift for both of us, my husband’s initial response was ‘so this is like an old-fashioned teasmade, but for coffee?’ but it is so much more than that. Even overlooking the fact you can literally pour your first coffee of the day before you’ve finished blinking at the kitchen light flickering on, this jug is the perfect accompaniment for working from home.
It barely takes up any counter room and the insulated jug means the coffee stays hot well through the day – and in my experience for much longer than the two hours the Amazon blurb states – making it perfect for coffee top ups between work calls.
‘I’m a self-proclaimed coffee barista, this machine will stop your Costa and Starbucks fix’
But for me the game changer and the reason it is my favourite deal of last year is the lack of faff with it. We have had posher coffee makers, with pods and milk frothers and whatnot, but needing to clean them out after use meant in the end they stayed unused while I reverted to drinking instant for speedier, lower maintenance caffeine hits.
The Melitta is easily dealt with – filter coffee paper and coffee goes in the food waste recycling, the jug is quickly washed up and the machine is pushed back on the side ready for another day. Every so often it pings to say it needs the descaling cycle run, but that’s done at the touch of button and we’re ready for another delicious brew.
Paired with a Pact Coffee subscription which has seen me up my caffeine game and try some really tasty and unusual options (coffee brewed with beans grown in volcanic ash anyone?) this gadget has seen my 2023 coffee breaks have gone next level and I can’t think of many things I’ve bought in the last year that have bought me so much joy for the cost – the only other would probably my Valve Steam Deck but that was considerably more expensive.
In comparison, the Melitta jug has been reduced to £54.95, a saving of 31% on its RRP of £79.99 and the same price I paid for it last year. I think it’s worth every penny and I’m not the only one, with more than 11,000 coffee-lovers giving it an average rating of 4.7 stars out of 5.
While it might not be the most glamorous looking deal we talk about on Mirror Choice this Black Friday, or even one with the biggest discount, for me it’s going to be a tough one to beat, not least because a year on the jug works perfectly, has never brewed late or not at all and brings a bit of joy to every day – especially on cold winter mornings.
I tried the best tea and coffee advent calendars for 2023 and one of them included jam
