Upright vacuums have been the first choice of most homeowners for many years due to their design (you don’t have to bend over to use one) and how easy they are to store, but canister vacuums are becoming more and more popular for many reasons as the designs improve. The Miele S2121 Capri and the newer model Classic C1 Capri are great examples of improved design and performance.
Regular Use
Overall, this vac is very easy and convenient to use on a daily basis. It has 6 speed options for every type of floor or cleaning job, and it comes with great tools to make it easier. Included is a Turbo brush, recommended for carpets as well as a Parquet floor brush, meant for hardwoods. However, one user when she left her review says both brushes work well on both types of floors and neither scratches the hardwoods, but the Turbo brush has much more power.
Mechanics
The Miele Capri canister vac has a powerful 1200 watt high-output motor and is backed by the German engineering for which the Miele brand has become famous. This motor allows optimal usage of the power through the airflow that ensures fantastic dust intake and of course, great performance.
Air Filtration
The S2121 comes complete with Miele’s AirClean System and associated filters, which are made of an electrostatically charged multi-ply material to attract even the finest particles of dust. These filters retain 99.95% of particles as small as half of a micron and 94% of dust particles as small as one-third of a micron.
While HEPA filters are available as an option, most users in their reviews say these more expensive filters really aren’t necessary, as the Capri seems to do a great job of collecting pollen, dust, mold and pet dander particles with the regular AirClean filters.
Ongoing Cost
As with any bagged vacuum cleaner, you’ll need to buy bags as time goes by. Many users do prefer this, as the bags tend to be less messy than emptying a dirt container, where dust can fly around as you dump it into the trash can.
Also, though many newer vacuums come with washable filters, many a review comments on how nice it is to not have to bother with washing a filter and waiting for it to dry. Just tossing it out and replacing it with a new one is often an easier way.
Bags and filters, however, are an ongoing cost that should be considered before you make your purchase. Amazon has the best deal on these, sold either in a single pack of one bag and one filter for under $20 or a four-pack for around $$$. Bags and filters for the Classic C1 are a bit less expensive at about $$ for four bags with 2 filters.
Difference in the S2121 Capri vs Classic C1 (newer model of the same machine)
Both have the powerful 1200 watt motor and a rotary dial with 6 options for speed. Both have the same air filtration system and come with a wide variety of attachments. In fact, the attachments you get seem to be the only difference in these two best-selling canisters. The C1 does not come with a dusting brush, crevice tool or upholstery tool, so if you really need these, you’ll either have to buy them separately, or just by the S2121 to avoid the hassle and expense of buying extra components.
Specs
- Motor: 1200 watts
- Power settings: 6
- Bag change indicator: Yes
- Operating radius: 29.5”
- Weight: about 10 pounds
- Warranty: 7 years (motor); 7 years (casing); 1 year (all other components)
- Product Manual
Tools & Accessories
- Dusting Brush
- Crevice Tool
- Upholstery Tool
- Turbo Brush
- Parquet Floor Brush
- Telescopic Wand
Pros
- Great suction
- Versatile
- Works on a wide variety of surfaces
- Comes with great attachments that are easy to use
Cons
While the S2121 Capri is a great vac for anything from small jobs to vacuuming your entire house, there are a few things it does not do so well. One of these is picking up long pet hair. One user review says the owner didn’t realize this until she bought the Capri, and she had to cut the dog hair to get it untangled from the rotary brush.
If you are looking for a canister that is better designed for pets, you may be better off going with the Dyson DC47 Animal or larger DC39 Animal, as these both work great on pet hair.
As with most canister vacuum cleaners, even the best, they generally don’t work really well to dig deep down into high-pile carpeting. They simply don’t have the weight to get down in, and so the cleaner head glides over the surface more than getting the brush bristles down where you need them.
If you have a lot of deep pile carpet in your home, like heavy shag, you’d be much better off going with a full-size upright like the Miele Twist or Dyson DC65 if you prefer a bagless version. Those both do a fantastic job on all types of carpet and bare floors and have options to turn off the brush roll so you don’t scratch your hardwoods.
Consumer Ratings
Overall, user reviews give the Miele S2121 Capri 4.5 out of 5 stars, an excellent rating. If you’re looking for a powerful canister vacuum that is highly rated and easy to use and comes with a wide variety of useful tools, the Capri and the newer Classic C1 are both great options. Although they are pricey, they are very sturdy and sure to hold up to years of use.