A good “everyday” cup of coffee
Written: Feb 08 '07 (Updated Feb 08 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use, cost effective, looks good, better than most drip machines
Cons: Not as good as freshly ground, the milk for lattes tastes like creamer to me
The Bottom Line: It looks nice and does the job it is supposed to do. When I am out of town, my wife can enjoy a latte without me.
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| dkaakd's Full Review: Braun Brookstone Tassimo 1-Cup Coffee Maker |
Before you run out and spend your hard earned $100. on the Braun Tassimo Hot Beverage System (read: “coffee maker”) you should consider what type of coffee drinker you are.
If you are a person who enjoys a hot cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate in the morning before work, but you don’t want a lot of participation in the preparation of your drink this is the machine for you. If you are someone who buys coffee-in-a-can or instant, this is the machine for you. If you find yourself placing your cup of coffee in the microwave to warm it up, this is the machine for you. However, If you are the type of coffee drinker who enjoys the morning ritual of the coffee; you grind fresh beans, you steam (froth) whole milk, you have an investment in a high-end espresso machine, then may be a machine for you.
How the Tassimo Came Into My Life
My Frances Frances X3 Espresso Machine was in the shop for repair recently. Since it was going to be gone for a while, my wife bought us a Tassimo A1400 at Bed Bath and Beyond. After a few uses I will admit there is a lot to like about this machine.
For starters, it has a silver and black contemporary style which goes great with our mostly stainless steel and granite kitchen. The Tassimo also offers a wide variety of coffee, tea, hot cocoa and espresso drinks to chose from (more on that later). The machine has a 68oz water tank which is enough for about 5 or 6 cups of your favorite hot beverage. The tank also has a built in (removable) water filtration system which is a nice touch. The water heats-up in about 2 minutes and the machine is ready.
The process itself is very simple. Turn on the machine, wait 2 minutes for it to warm-up and the ready light is on. Place a T-disk (the coffee or tea pod) into the machine and press the large start button. The motor turns on and within about 1 minute or so and you have a hot beverage ready to drink. If you are making a cappuccino or latte simply take out the espresso T-disk and insert the milk disk. The machine will froth the milk and just like the coffee it is poured directly into your awaiting cup. Clean-up is really simple, any parts that get dirty are easily snapped out for a quick rinse.
So How Does it Taste?
Well it is good, but not great. The milk used in the lattes and cappuccinos has a distinctive creamer flavor to me. It could be that it is condensed milk or something in the milk I don’t know, but I can’t get used to it. It is not offensive in fact my wife likes it, but to me it isn’t right. Also, the coffee doesn’t taste fresh to me. Again, I am used to fresh ground and the pods just don’t come close for my taste buds.
The hot chocolate is good, but it is water-based and not made with milk so I find it thin, my kids like it though and the machine froths it a bit so it does have a light fluff when you sip it. The only tea I tried is the Tazo Black which I find quite good and may be enough reason to keep the machine.
That said, for many of you out there in Epinions-land this may be more than good enough. You have your morning cup (or two) and you are ready to face another day. But for me here is the rub, I like my coffee fresh, I like my milk whole, and I like the morning ritual of grinding the beans, steaming the milk, watching the espresso pour slowing from the portafilter into the glass. I am as much about the experience as the taste. The Tassimo leaves me flat. I yearn for the ritual. I also now have way too much time on my hands in the morning. I have tried Sudoku, crosswords puszzles, comics..I may have to go back to an office so I can use my time commuting!
Where to Buy:
Bed, Bath & Beyond had a 20% off coupon in our local mailer; Braun also offered a $20.00 mail in rebate. The machine was 160.00 (retail) and the combination of discounts brought the machine down to around $108.00 tax. Wal-mart and Target both sell the T-disks (pods) for around $4.00 per 8 cups of cappuccino or latte. Coffee runs about $4.00 for 16 cups. Be sure to check the Tassimo web site for several other types of T-disks you can’t get in stores!
All-in-all I think the machine is a keeper. It looks nice and does the job it is supposed to do. When I am out of town, my wife can enjoy a latte without me. When I’m home she will enjoy a better latte with me from our FF X3. If we have company, we can make a cup for each person to meet their individual tastes. That alone makes the Tassimo a good deal.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
dkaakd
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Location: Frisco, Texas, USA
Reviews written: 41
Trusted by: 5 members
About Me:
I'm just a dude that lives in Texas.
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