Bosch TAS1000UC Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer, Anthracite Review

I purchased this machine because I like to drink various drinks as the whim takes me.Tassimo allows you to do this.Also, most of the time I'm by myself, so don't need to make a large pot of coffee.Before I made the purchase, I was comparing Keurig with the Tassimo.The reason I chose the Tassimo was a) the priceb) the T-discs were more available than the K-cups and the only K-cups the stores here carried were Van Houtte coffee, which I detest c) reviews said the Tassimo makes better lattes and cappuccinos.I'm extremely happy with the machine for the following reasons:
- absolutely no mess
- the availability of different brews, from very dark roasts to light roast, hot chocolate (which IS a bit sweet), teas, lattes (in particular my fave, chai latte), cappuccinos, espressos, cremas and even decafs - I like a darker roast but was even able to find t-disks that were too strong for me
- I like that I can have 4 friends over and give them their preference of hot brews
- the tank is big enough that I don't have to fill it for each cup
- the bar code reader means a perfect brew each time
- the size is relatively small, smaller than my old espresso machine and my regular drip coffee machine (both of which have now been sold off)
- you have a cup of coffee in a matter of minutes vs a drip coffee machine or even a french press
- using just the cleaner disk, you can also simply spit out hot water for your own tea bags
- most of the t-disks are a reasonable price, brewing a cuppa can be less than 50 cents a cup.The Starbucks disks are more expensive, taking you closer to a dollar a cup, but what the hey, what did you pay the last time you actually went into a Starbucks?:)

Cons - and yes, even though I LOVE this machine, there ARE some cons:
- most of the disks make a small cuppa (10 oz)unless you get the breakfast blends, which will make a bigger cup, or you can simply brew 2 disks.
- the cup stand doesn't have finite adjustment - you can fit a regular sized mug, the stand adjusts for smaller mugs, but then it's a big leap to a large mug.If you have a slightly bigger mug, you have to set it on the bottom and then you get some splashing
- the foam is not as stable as coffee shop foams, but then for $99, I didn't expect it to be.As well the foam stability depends on the t-disk manufacturer as well.Nabob cappuccino was quite firm foam that lasted the duration of the drink.
- t-disk storage takes up a bit of space - but I'm still in the "try all the varieties until I find my favourite brew" stage, so I have a lot of selections at the moment

In Dec 2009, Tassimo is coming out with packages of just the latte cream.You will then also be able to use it simply as a milk frother if you wish, or you can make any of your favourite brews into a latte.

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Product Description:
Better brewing by design, Tassimo is a brewing system unlike any other. Remarkable in its ability to offer an exceptional combination of quality, convenience, consistency and versatility. Only tassimo offers a choice of coffee, cappuccinos and lattes made.

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Breville BKC700XL Gourmet Single-Serve Coffeemaker with Iced-Beverage Function Review

I've owned a Keurig Platinum B70 since January 2007 and have liked it a lot since getting it.K-cups are very convenient and aren't overly expensive when purchased from Amazon.My primary complaint about it is the pump noise and vibration.Keurig updated the design and greatly reduced the noise and vibration in their latest model of the Platinum and in this Breville model, and I wanted to find out just how much of an improvement there was.In my opinion, the improvement is huge.It is much, much quieter.I also liked the addition of the smaller cup size of four ounces, as well as the option to use a built-in water filter.Functionally, the Keurig Platinum and Breville BKC700XL are identical.The Breville adds a couple of nice convenience features (such as a supplied My K-Cup with a storage bin), and the cosmetics are clearly different.After using both, the cosmetics are a wash for me (some pluses for one model, and some pluses for the other), so it comes down to the difference in price.Right now, the Breville costs over $90 more than the Platinum.I don't think it's worth it, but it certainly might be for anyone that prefers the looks of the Breville.Either way, the coffee is good and easy to make!

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Product Description:
The best coffee is always the freshest coffee. That's why it makes no sense to brew by the pot: by the time you get around to drinking most of the joe, it's been sitting in a carafe (or worse, on top of a burner), going more bitter and stale with each minute. The Breville single-cup brewer takes a different approach. It makes coffee one cup at a time, so each cup tastes as fresh as the first one in the pot. The unit's LCD control panel includes a digital clock with auto on/off time, five brew strengths, and variable brew temperature, which allows for customizing each cup--perfect for households or dinner parties in which everyone likes a different brew. Best of all, the brewing process is very, very difficult to mess up. The Breville's patented "showerhead" sprays a precisely calibrated amount of water through a "K-Cup," a technology made famous by Keurig's single-cup brewers, using temperature and pressure designed to extract the maximum amount of flavor from the grounds. The unit provides a sample variety pack of single-use K-Cup coffee pods, including cocoa and tea, as well as a reusable My K-Cup that accepts any variety of ground coffee. The included My K-Cup and measuring spoon conveniently store in the brewer's top compartment. Furthermore, the machine comes with an iced-beverage function that dispenses a concentrated 3-1/2-ounce shot of tea or coffee. Simply dilute with ice and add water, milk, or sweeteners for an iced tea or coffee. Other highlights include low-noise pump technology for quiet brewing, a removable 60-ounce water tank that can brew up to 10 cups before it needs refilling, and a charcoal water-filtration system to reduce impurities for optimal taste. Made from heavy-duty stainless steel in a sleek, stylish design, the 1500-watt single-cup coffeemaker measures approximately 14-3/4 by 12-3/4 by 16-3/4 inches.

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Keurig B60 Special Edition Gourmet Single-Cup Home-Brewing System Review

If you're reading this review, you're most likely doing research and trying to decide between the Keurig line (B40,B50,B60), the Tassimo, or the Senseo.Out of those three, the Keurig is the best looking, the most durable, has the best heating and pumping mechanism, and has the largest variety of coffees and teas available.The Tassimo's versatility is tempting, but variety of coffees is lacking, the machine is a first-run model that does not feel as quality as the Keurig (I could barely find a piece of metal in the entire thing), and it cannot be set to warm itself up like the Keurig.The Senseo isn't bad and I may even consider getting it as a second machine, but it is kind of lame how you need two pods to brew an 8 oz cup of coffee.Considering the price of pods that I was looking at, it would outprice both the Keurig and the Tassimo for daily usage.

Between the Keurig models (B40,B50,B60), I spent a lot of time trying to decide and eventually went with the B60, mainly because the B60 is the only model that brews 3 different sizes of coffee--5.25, 7.25, and 9.25oz.The B50, a favorite amongst shoppers, does not offer the 9.25oz size.This large size allows my Oxo travel mug to almost completely fill after using one Extra Bold K-cup.As an added benefit of the B60, you get beautiful blue LEDs behind the display and the water tank, as well as a polished chrome handle and polished chrome outer-ring to the display.It looks very modern and very classy in my otherwise boring kitchen.Highly recommended.

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Product Description:
Ideal for entertaining, this 1500-watt appliance brews a fresh cup of gourmet coffee, tea, or cocoa in less than a minute. The unit uses patented K-Cups, which offer over 70 varieties of pre-measured gourmet coffee, tea, and cocoa from a variety of premium brands. Its patented one-touch technology provides precise control of brewing, and there's no messy grinding or clean up. Simply open the lid, insert a K-Cup, close the lid, and select a cup size. Three brew-size options include a 5-1/4-ounce robust cup, a 7-1/4-ounce regular cup, and a 9-1/4-ounce travel mug. For full control over brewing time and temperature, the unit allows for choosing from the standard brew temperature of 192 degrees F or a cooler 187 degrees F. In addition, the appliance comes equipped with a programmable bright-blue backlit LCD message center that displays a 24-hour digital clock and a programmable on/off timer. Other useful features include a descale indicator, a removable 48-ounce water reservoir, and a removable drip tray for quick cleanup. A complimentary 18 K-Cup variety pack is included. The single-cup brewing system measures 13-1/4 by 10 by 13 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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