Tassimo by Bosch Review

[RRocket]

I've had one of the original Braun Tassimo that were originally introduced in 2005 or so. Despite a few minor annoyances, this is a great single serve coffee machine. With 40+ different drinks available plus the ability to froth and steam real milk for a Latte or Cappuccino this is a cool gadget. All of this in 60 seconds or so with no clean up. While this will never be a substitute for the religious experience of roasting and grinding your own beans, this unit makes a pretty good cup of coffee when you simply don't have the time. Did I mention it only takes about 60 seconds?

Recently, the unit was redesigned by Bosch. Pretty cool that a coffee machine undergoes a design change after only a few years on the market. Anyways..I HAD to have a new one after enjoying the old one so much. So I bought one and here's my mini-review.

It's quite a bit more compact and leaner than the outgoing model. The counter footprint is much smaller. The overall style is also much cleaner...less bulbous. I like! The water reservoir in the back is also square this time around (old one was a cylinder) and has a nice grab handle so it's easy to carry once full. Mine does NOT have a water filter, since I have filtered water in the kitchen anyways. And besides it's $50 more for the version with a filter..and the filters themselves cost around $10 USD. So I skipped the filtered version. Also tucked in the back behind the water reservoir is a neat pocket for storing the Cleaning/Descaling T-Disc. Nice touch.

At the front of the machine, the cup holder is different. It has a nice thumb slide for ratcheting up the cup height. And better still, the cup riser removes completely so you can get tall travel mugs in there. This is great since it was not possible with the last model. The same single button control is there from the old one, but now has different colour LEDs around it to tell you the status. Again...just a sleeker, cleaner design. Modern.

Brewing...is MUCH faster than the old one, and the old one was pretty quick. The old one would pre-heat the water then brew. The new one is instant. It must have a clever compact version of a tankless water heater in it. And quieter too! The old one was a bit loud...one of the things I didn't like. It kinda chugga-chugga-chugged as it brewed. Not REALLY loud..but louder than a coffee machine should be. This has been addressed with this new version. It's really quiet. You can just barely hear the pump on start-up, and after that you really only hear the coffee pouring into your glass. Unless you are frothing milk...then you hear a quiet "whoosh". Also gone is the little pool of water that used to collect in the over-flow at the bottom of the cup holder (if you own a Braun Tassimo, you know what I'm talking about). It's bone dry now....another one of my complaints that has been addressed completely!

Overall I'm really VERY pleased with the new version. It is better in every single regard. If it's as reliable as my old Braun (never a malfunction in the many hundreds of cups of coffee) then they will really have outdone themselves.

Bosch really put alot of thought into this re-design and it shows. It's nice to see the replacement is superior to the outgoing model.

[Mister Moo]

Out-standing machine review in 603 words. Well composed and well thought out. If you don't work for Bosch marketing then you should, 'Rocks - great eye for detail. However, if this was a cigar review it would be equal to 601 words about a Xikar cutter and two words about the Phillies Blunt you snipped. I concede convenience has merit but the coffee a Tassimo spooges out MUST be worth more than two words. Or not?

I've had one of the original Braun Tassimo that were originally introduced in 2005 or so. Despite a few minor annoyances, this is a great single serve coffee machine. With 40+ different drinks available plus the ability to froth and steam real milk for a Latte or Cappuccino this is a cool gadget. All of this in 60 seconds or so with no clean up. While this will never be a substitute for the religious experience of roasting and grinding your own beans, this unit makes a pretty good cup of coffee when you simply don't have the time. Did I mention it only takes about 60 seconds?

Recently, the unit was redesigned by Bosch. Pretty cool that a coffee machine undergoes a design change after only a few years on the market. Anyways..I HAD to have a new one after enjoying the old one so much. So I bought one and here's my mini-review.

It's quite a bit more compact and leaner than the outgoing model. The counter footprint is much smaller. The overall style is also much cleaner...less bulbous. I like! The water reservoir in the back is also square this time around (old one was a cylinder) and has a nice grab handle so it's easy to carry once full. Mine does NOT have a water filter, since I have filtered water in the kitchen anyways. And besides it's $50 more for the version with a filter..and the filters themselves cost around $10 USD. So I skipped the filtered version. Also tucked in the back behind the water reservoir is a neat pocket for storing the Cleaning/Descaling T-Disc. Nice touch.

At the front of the machine, the cup holder is different. It has a nice thumb slide for ratcheting up the cup height. And better still, the cup riser removes completely so you can get tall travel mugs in there. This is great since it was not possible with the last model. The same single button control is there from the old one, but now has different colour LEDs around it to tell you the status. Again...just a sleeker, cleaner design. Modern.

Brewing...is MUCH faster than the old one, and the old one was pretty quick. The old one would pre-heat the water then brew. The new one is instant. It must have a clever compact version of a tankless water heater in it. And quieter too! The old one was a bit loud...one of the things I didn't like. It kinda chugga-chugga-chugged as it brewed. Not REALLY loud..but louder than a coffee machine should be. This has been addressed with this new version. It's really quiet. You can just barely hear the pump on start-up, and after that you really only hear the coffee pouring into your glass. Unless you are frothing milk...then you hear a quiet "whoosh". Also gone is the little pool of water that used to collect in the over-flow at the bottom of the cup holder (if you own a Braun Tassimo, you know what I'm talking about). It's bone dry now....another one of my complaints that has been addressed completely!

Overall I'm really VERY pleased with the new version. It is better in every single regard. If it's as reliable as my old Braun (never a malfunction in the many hundreds of cups of coffee) then they will really have outdone themselves.

Bosch really put alot of thought into this re-design and it shows. It's nice to see the replacement is superior to the outgoing model.

[germantown rob]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

Out-standing machine review in 603 words. Well composed and well thought out. If you don't work for Bosch marketing then you should, 'Rocks - great eye for detail. However, if this was a cigar review it would be equal to 601 words about a Xikar cutter and two words about the Phillies Blunt you snipped. I concede convenience has merit but the coffee a Tassimo spooges out MUST be worth more than two words. Or not?

I never met a pod that was better than pretty good.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by germantown rob

I never met a pod that was better than pretty good.

Comprendo. That, and I was going to say "Gxxxxa" instead of Blunt but I'm too old to survive the sxxxstorm.

In fairness to RRocks', he stipulated "convenience" but buried the kindly "pretty good" coffee standard. Having tried a Tassimo shot a while back I wouldn't have been so kind as "pretty good" but times, machines and factory pods change.

[RRocket]

In the beginning, there were only a few coffees and they were so-so (as others have pointed out). There are MANY now available. It really depends on the pod. Some are crap-tastic. Others are quite good. If you like Starbucks (4 kinds) or Seattle's Best (3 kinds), pods for those are available and are quite good and replicate the taste nearly identically. Here's a quick blurb from an online coffee review about the Starbucks:

We simply can't tell a big difference between coffee made from our drip coffee maker, the House Blend served at Starbucks, and the coffee produced from the Starbucks House Blend T Discs for Tassimo. This is one of the top coffees we've had for Tassimo, and we can safely say because of the amount of coffee inside the giant T Disc it had better be good. Okay - we need to say it again - this is good coffee.

• Aroma - 9 - just like in the coffee house
• Acidity - 8 - a little more acid than we like all the time but good
• Body - 8 - medium body with a good bite
• Flavor - 9 - classic Starbucks roast - vibrant and rich
• Mouth Feel - 8 - medium in stature
• Coffee Drinker - Medium to dark roast coffee drinker

I'm fond of the Lattes. The real milk has a pleasant lightly buttery taste on my palate which I like. Some of the Euro coffees are quite good too. Some espressos have that big acidic bite that some people like so much. And you can get decaf versions of the cappuccinos and espressos if you are in it just for the taste and don't want to be wired. Want a Cafe Crema? It does these too. It also makes a pretty decent (though sweet) Chai Tea Latte if you enjoy those.

Like I said...there are over 40 different drinks that can be made. Coffee, like cigars, is very subjective. Some may like one that others may despise.

I like several of these coffees very much...as much as some coffees from a coffee shoppe. And the big bonus is...you get pretty close to coffee shoppe taste in about 60 seconds. For about .50-$1 a cup. I've had a few coffee snobs grudginly admit that they were rather impressed with the taste of the bolder blends.

Will it ever taste as good as coffee made by a Coffee Fanatic? Likely not. But seriously...I know very few people who can make an exceptional coffee. This machine makes good coffee easily and quickly.

[RRocket]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

I concede convenience has merit but the coffee a Tassimo spooges out MUST be worth more than two words.

Look at it this way. It would be like me reviewing a humidor. I'm talking about the design and quality of the humidor..perhaps the features; not the tasty sticks on the inside. Same thing with this Tassimo. This was a review of the machine only.

[Snake Hips]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

Out-standing machine review in 603 words. Well composed and well thought out. If you don't work for Bosch marketing then you should, 'Rocks - great eye for detail. However, if this was a cigar review it would be equal to 601 words about a Xikar cutter and two words about the Phillies Blunt you snipped. I concede convenience has merit but the coffee a Tassimo spooges out MUST be worth more than two words. Or not?

Haha, "spooges."

[Random0813]

I received one of these last year as a wedding gift...screw the china and silverware...this was the best gift of all (except the cash, of course). We use it damn near everyday and I have yet to run into a bad drink! Might have to trade up to the new one...maybe for the office.

Originally Posted by RRocket

I've had one of the original Braun Tassimo that were originally introduced in 2005 or so. Despite a few minor annoyances, this is a great single serve coffee machine. With 40+ different drinks available plus the ability to froth and steam real milk for a Latte or Cappuccino this is a cool gadget. All of this in 60 seconds or so with no clean up. While this will never be a substitute for the religious experience of roasting and grinding your own beans, this unit makes a pretty good cup of coffee when you simply don't have the time. Did I mention it only takes about 60 seconds?

Recently, the unit was redesigned by Bosch. Pretty cool that a coffee machine undergoes a design change after only a few years on the market. Anyways..I HAD to have a new one after enjoying the old one so much. So I bought one and here's my mini-review.

It's quite a bit more compact and leaner than the outgoing model. The counter footprint is much smaller. The overall style is also much cleaner...less bulbous. I like! The water reservoir in the back is also square this time around (old one was a cylinder) and has a nice grab handle so it's easy to carry once full. Mine does NOT have a water filter, since I have filtered water in the kitchen anyways. And besides it's $50 more for the version with a filter..and the filters themselves cost around $10 USD. So I skipped the filtered version. Also tucked in the back behind the water reservoir is a neat pocket for storing the Cleaning/Descaling T-Disc. Nice touch.

At the front of the machine, the cup holder is different. It has a nice thumb slide for ratcheting up the cup height. And better still, the cup riser removes completely so you can get tall travel mugs in there. This is great since it was not possible with the last model. The same single button control is there from the old one, but now has different colour LEDs around it to tell you the status. Again...just a sleeker, cleaner design. Modern.

Brewing...is MUCH faster than the old one, and the old one was pretty quick. The old one would pre-heat the water then brew. The new one is instant. It must have a clever compact version of a tankless water heater in it. And quieter too! The old one was a bit loud...one of the things I didn't like. It kinda chugga-chugga-chugged as it brewed. Not REALLY loud..but louder than a coffee machine should be. This has been addressed with this new version. It's really quiet. You can just barely hear the pump on start-up, and after that you really only hear the coffee pouring into your glass. Unless you are frothing milk...then you hear a quiet "whoosh". Also gone is the little pool of water that used to collect in the over-flow at the bottom of the cup holder (if you own a Braun Tassimo, you know what I'm talking about). It's bone dry now....another one of my complaints that has been addressed completely!

Overall I'm really VERY pleased with the new version. It is better in every single regard. If it's as reliable as my old Braun (never a malfunction in the many hundreds of cups of coffee) then they will really have outdone themselves.

Bosch really put alot of thought into this re-design and it shows. It's nice to see the replacement is superior to the outgoing model.

[RicoPuro]

We just got one. Man, this is a fantastic new toy!! Coffee refills are pricey but I'd like to think I'm not wasting as much as before since my wife and I don't drink more than 4 cups per day between the two of us. The taste of freshly brewed coffee and espresso is coffee-shop quality.

Jorge