Whole bean or ground? Preground coffee is convenient and tends to brew a consistent-tasting cup. But buying whole beans and grinding them right before brewing will intensify the coffee’s flavor and aroma, says Scott Rao, a coffee consultant and author of “The Professional Barista’s Handbook.” That’s because you’re limiting its exposure to air. This is…
One notable change over the previous Cherokee is in its increased interior space. Jeep claims the new Cherokee has 30 percent more cargo capacity than the last model. Every Cherokee features a pair of full-color displays on the dashboard: a 10.25-inch driver’s information display behind the wheel and a centrally located 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Climate…
Boilers are far less common than gas furnaces, and that’s reflected in the responses to Consumer Reports’ most recent survey on central heating. Our members installed 1,791 new boilers between 2009 and 2025, compared with more than 34,000 gas furnaces. But just like a furnace, when a boiler breaks, you want it repaired—or replaced—ASAP. Forty-two…
Everyone has dirty ears; the human ear is designed to produce earwax to protect itself from other junk getting in there, among other things. That means that the more you put your precious new AirPods Pro in your ear holes, the dirtier they are likely to get. So what’s the best way to clean out…
In addition, even 5-year-old models are new enough that buyers will get many of the modern convenience and entertainment features found in a brand-new model, but at a lower price. To help steer you to the best choices, we’ve assembled a list of the most fuel-efficient 5-year-old hybrid sedans and hatchbacks. All performed well enough…
Tired of pet hair and dust in the hard-to-reach spots of your home? Our favorite pick for cordless stick vacuums, the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder, is marked down to just $180 at Amazon. That matches the best price yet for this lightweight and capable stick vacuum, the same discount as Prime Day earlier this year. It…
Main theme: Following our year-end tradition, we present our own version of “Wrapped” by gathering a wide range of staffers at CR’s Auto Test Center to share their picks for the best and worst cars that Consumer Reports tested in 2025! This goes beyond our usual podcast panelists, sharing a look behind the scenes while giving…
The FDA’s announcement follows the administration’s April 2025 pledge to phase out certified color additives from the American food supply by the end of 2026—a commitment that has yet to be backed up by any regulatory directive and relies largely on voluntary industry cooperation. The timeline already appears to be slipping: On its website tracking…
While the air temperature between fillings varied by up to 12° F, the fuel in our underground tank stayed at a steady 62° F. As a result, we found that after the first few gallons were pumped, the fuel temperature coming out of the nozzle varied very little between morning and afternoon. At both morning…
Main theme: Consumer Reports has been the destination for unbiased car reviews since 1936. But did you know that we anonymously buy every vehicle we test—some 50 cars, trucks, and SUVs each year? In this episode, hosts Tanya Christian and Brian Vines get a crash course in car buying from our senior autos reporter, Keith…