Paragon Contempo Pop 8 Ounce Popcorn Machine for Professional Concessionaires Requiring Commercial Quality High Output Popcorn Equipment, Black and Chrome

This replaced a 4 oz. Waring popcorn maker we've had for 6 or 7 years. Only paid around $100 for the Waring, so we were a bit reluctant to pay over 4 times as much for the Paragon. But this machine is way nicer than the Waring. It heats quickly, keeps the popcorn hot and crispy for a couple hours, and leaves very few old maids (could be because the kettle is twice the size as our old one). The aluminum kettle is SIMPLE to clean. Simply wipe with a paper towel once it's cooled off a bit and it stays looking brand new. The kettle on the old machine was stainless steel, was a royal pain to clean, and looked horrible. VERY well made, solid, heavy, and modern looking machine. Couldn't be happier with the purchase. Oh, and we changed our recipe to butter flavor coconut oil, Flavacol salt seasoning, and kernels. JUST like movie theater popcorn.

So, do you enjoy popcorn? Do you love the smell when you walk into a movie theater? Do you love the taste of movie theater popcorn? Well, you get all of that and more with this machine. This is hands down the best popcorn machine I have ever used and I have never had popcorn that tastes this good in a home environment. My home theater room smells like a movie theater and I cannot tell the difference in taste! No one else can either. This machine works fantastic, makes perfect-tasting popcorn, and cleans up easily. It is super high quality and I expect many many years of use. We have tried different brands of popcorn but the best way we found for the best tasting "movie theater" experience is using popcorn kits. We buy "GreatNorthern" popcorn kits, 10oz bags and it is the best tasting popcorn period. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075KM235K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The machine comes with a very handy scoop. It is kinda cheap looking so I bought a pro metal scoop but I must admit, I use the plastic one the most. I prefer this popcorn just has it comes out of the machine, the perfect amount of salt and butter already in it from the kit. But for those that just have to have extra butter (movie theater style) then my wife and daughter love Snappy Butter Burst. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AXK9ROC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I will admit it does taste just like the theater but I was never an extra butter guy myself. Now this is a butter-flavored oil just like the theater and it is NOT real butter. Tastes super though! I also use this pump with it, and it works perfect. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006R9DO1U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Do yourself a favor and buy this machine! Thank me later!!

This is not a discounted used item, or an affordably priced item. There are many such poppers available for far less. This a premium priced product, but what I received was damaged. FOUR TIMES. First one - shipped from Amazon - had been opened, pulled apart and stuck back together haphazardly, causing some damage. The manufacturer took responsibility and sent another but that was far more damaged and had likely been opened too. The manufacturer then sent a third one that was factory sealed, but not inspected, as it had blisters under the paint and lettering on the front. Not acceptable for a premium priced item. These are quite heavy and I have had to hire help to open, move around and rebox them. Fourth one shipped had the doors misaligned and the company responded with a string of excuses claiming it was jostled in transit and could be fixed with a screwdriver. Fiddling with the screws made no difference. Then they claimed the legs were misaligned and it all could be fixed easily. They aren't and it can't. I've grown tired of the company's excuses and cannot recommend their products. Note another recent review pointed out the same problem with the doors. The so called warming light does nothing but glare into onlookers' eyes, and the heating element in the bottom is less effective than what you would find in an inexpensive toaster oven. It's only on one far side of the bottom, so there's only a slight amount of heat on about a third of the deck. This cost me so much wasted time, exhausting effort unboxing and reboxing and after receiving four damaged and flawed machines, I cannot suggest anyone else buy one and risk getting one that isn't damaged or flawed. I was never compensated for getting a damaged unit. They ignored all their failures to inspect for flaws before they shipped and complained about all the cost of the returns. So I end up with a damaged popper that I don't bother to use anymore. SAVE YOURSELF THE EXTRA MONEY AND TROUBLE and buy from another company.

It's not cheap but it's a beautiful unit that will make your home theater feel like a real theater. Cooks popcorn quick and easily. The construction is second to none and I think it will last forever. Well long enough for me to enjoy it at least :) I've used it several dozen times already and found clean up super easy. All sides are glass except for the front two doors which are plexiglass (I assume to protect against accidental breakage if you open the doors into something). All of the rest of the unit is stainless steel. The built in warming light AND warming floor keep the popcorn warm as you'd expect. If you are looking for the best in a popcorn machine this is the unit. The red unit has the same construction so either should do the trick. I find the black less obtrusive in the living room than the red would be. For a dedicated home theater you may prefer the red.