40 Oz Nut Milk Maker Machine – 8-in-1 Soy Milk Maker with Self-Cleaning, 24H Delay Start & 12H Keep Warm, Automatic Plant-Based Milk Blender for Almond, Oat, Coconut, Rice

On first glance I was excited to see a specialty machine that was going to make alternative milks (at times my wife seems to have some lactose tolerance issues) for cereals, overnight oats, coffee etc. When it arrived and I had a look I was a bit confused on what this machine was really all about as it blends and boils water. I cannot really determine, in my mind, why I would need that and what I would make in it that would require a heating function.From the milk making standpoint I have made almond milk and oat milk. The oat milk turned out just as slimy as oat milk made in my Vitamix, so I gave that a why bother score. The almond milk was better and it didn’t require soaking the almonds so I am sure I will use that function. Even better with the delayed start you can soak the almonds right in the machine then it will make the milk once they have soaked.As I think more about the machine I am trying to put it into context and if, as I imagine in many parts of the world (and yes here in the US as well), you have a small apartment and budget a machine that can serve multiple functions makes sense. You can use it for the milks, to make your tea, to warm soup as well as other things I guess it makes more sense.The downside, in my mind, is that the included recipe book shows different milks but only says the maximum amount of nuts to use (the almond max amount just covers the bottom of the machine) and then says water up to the max-well is that the right ratio or do I just begin guessing, I actually just went to the internet for the ratios. When making almond milk then the 60 grams of almonds and 180 grams of water makes about 16 ounces of almond milk despite the 40 ounce capacity.The accessories that it comes with are a mixed bag, the strainer is decent quality and is pretty fine mesh but it is also really small (think strain into your coffee cup). The measuring cup seems to be more of a shot glass and I have no idea what you would use it for. The cleaning brush is nice and effective (though not always needed to clean the machine) and the Nut Straining Bag works great.At the end of the day this is a convenient little gadget that can do multiple things if that is what you are looking for. The presets are handy and the machine is easy to clean. It looks like it has a nonstick teflon coating on the base plate of the blender if that matters to you. It seems to me, however, that if you are really interested in making alternative milks you can do the same in a blender and likely get higher output. BUT, a normal blender worth its salt will be more expensive and will be less versatile so if you are looking to make smaller capacities of milks and like the additional heating options this provides it is a good little unit.