Tassimo, Senseo, Keurig---faves and reccos for pod coffee makers?

I'm looking to acquire a new pod-based/single cup coffee maker, with the intent of being able to enjoy a cup of good coffee (or choco), somewhat Euro/Espresso-like, without a lot of muss and fuss.

I've been through the whole mini-espresso maker routine, and quite frankly found out that while I enjoy a good cup, the whole idea of engaging in the full ritual of espresso-ing and steaming and such means the macchina usually gets shoved down underneath the kabinet after a couple of months, only to gather dust.

So.....any favorites mongst the Senseo, Tassimo, Keurig sets available out there? Pros and cons? Expense factors? Anything?

[Robin Garr]

any favorites mongst the Senseo, Tassimo, Keurig sets available out there? Pros and cons? Expense factors? Anything?

A good buddy of mine bought a Senseo recently after doing considerable research, and she really likes it. I'll try to nudge her to come in here and comment in detail, or at least to give me some info to pass on.

[Jenise]

Let me make sure I understand: first you downsized the old homestead, and now you're done with grinding beans. What's next, a Dodge Dart? Free cheese at the Senior Center? Geritol?

Let me make sure I understand: first you downsized the old homestead, and now you're done with grinding beans. What's next, a Dodge Dart? Free cheese at the Senior Center? Geritol?

Depends.

Let me make sure I understand: first you downsized the old homestead, and now you're done with grinding beans. What's next, a Dodge Dart? Free cheese at the Senior Center? Geritol?

Worse than that, Jenise: I (weep a tear) sold my little Spyder. No more Cali Convertible. sigh I drive a station wagon now. Just like Yaniger's, actually.

Now that you've succeeded in seriously bumming me out, I think I'll go home and put Buddy Guy's rendition of "I Done Got Old" on continuous loop.

Hiya, Hoke! I'm Robin's friend. I'm a Purser for Northwest Airlines, and about once a week I work a trip from Memphis to Amsterdam (and back, it goes without saying <g>). The crew hotel in Amsterdam lets us rent lockers, and I do love a cup of coffee in my room, so I went out and bought a Philips Senseo. It was on sale for 59€, which is about $81 on today's exchange rates.

I am very, very happy with it. It's fast and makes more than decent coffee. It heats the water in just a couple of minutes, and it's actually *hot* water. It brews a cup from a pod/pad (I've seen them called both) in about 30 seconds, and the coffee has a thin layer of crema (No! Not foam! <g>) on it.

It came with 4 different flavors of Senseo pods. I like the dark roast, but the only thing with Senseo pods is that they're not Fair Trade. This is surprising since Philips is headquartered in the Netherlands, which was one of the first countries to jump on the Fair Trade bandwagon.

So, instead of buying Senseo pods, I buy the store brand from a large Dutch chain, Albert Heijn. I can't tell a difference in the pods, and AH's are Utz Kapeh certified responsible.

The coffee maker will make one or two cups at a time -- for a large mug, I use two pods and press the two cup button. I keep another, smaller (and cuter!) cup for when I'm about coffeed-out in the morning. ;) This one only needs one pod, and I press the one cup button. I have to be careful when I wake up and make that first cup, as I'm prone to put the small cup under the spout and press the two cup button and then wander off. (Aaaauuggghhh!!! Quick! A towel!)

Hope this helps some!

Thanks, Karen. I appreciate the feedback on the Senseo.

I've actually used one once---it was in the hotel room in a place in Phoenix, and it was actually quite nice, although the coffee was not dark roast, so it tasted a little bland to me. I'm a major dark roast/Starbuck's/Vienna Roast/French Roast-extra scoop sorta guy, you see. I like my coffee with substance.

The major difference I've seen between the Phillips Senseo and the Braun Tassimo is the Braun uses a different system called a T-Disc, rather than the pad the Senseo uses. Keurig, I think, uses a larger cup thingie, but I'm not sure.

Since Senseo is the only one I've tasted yet, I'd like to try the Braun Tassimo. I think it's in the same pricing sphere.

I also think Braun's system is supported by more producers (like Douwe Egberts, Green River, and several others). My ideal would be something that would use Illy Cafe (my fave), but then I think I'd have to step back up to espresso machine levels (and costs).

On the other hand, if I get can brand varieties in the Senseo that might be doable as well.

Once again, thanks for the input, Karen.

FWIW, one of the groups I work uses a Senseo. There are 8 or 9 people in the group and at least 3 or 4 use it on a daily basis. They've had it for well over a year now with no reliability issues. Seems like it must be reasonably well made, although I haven't had coffee brewed with it.


Mike