Starbucks T-Discs for Tassimo Coffee Makers

If you have a Tassimo Single Serve Coffee Brewer, and wish you had more choice in the beverages you brew, here is some good news for you.

On December 16th, 2009, you’ll be able to choose from a range of new Starbucks coffee beverages for the Braun and Bosch Tassimo brewers.

The new arrivals from Starbucks include cappuccino, latte and a range of regular coffees, including their famous Breakfast Blend.

You can re-order now and have your Starbucks T-Discs delivered well in time for the holidays.

Get your Starbucks Cappuccino Primo T-Discs at Amazon.com…

Check out the full range of new Starbucks coffees for the Tassimo at Amazon.com…

Our review of the Braun Tassimo TA 1400 Hot Beverage System…

Disclaimer: One Cup Coffee Reviews has an affiliate relationship with Amazon.com

Nespresso Essenza with Milk Frother

Why am I writing about a one cup espresso machine on a website usually focused on one cup coffee machines? Because the lines between the two are becoming seriously blurred.

For instance, the line of Tassimo brewers makes regular coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, as well as cappuccinos and lattes. It is both a coffee maker and an espresso drink maker.

I’m writing about the Nespresso in particular because of its quality. Unlike many one cup beverage makers, it doesn’t feel like it was made by a toy manufacturer. If you find the Nespresso Essenza on display in a store, get your hands on it, move the lever on top, and you’ll immediately feel just how solid the construction is.

Maybe it’s just me, but I really appreciate modern kitchen appliances that feel they will last for years, and not break within the first few weeks of use. Nice and solid.

Back to the Nespresso. As with all Nespresso machines, the Essenza uses sealed, proprietary coffee capsules. You simply lift the lever at the top of the machine, drop in the capsule, lower the lever and then press the brew button. Once you are done, the used capsule is ejected into an empties container as soon as you lift the lever again.

When you buy both the Essenza and the Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother, you’re ready to make some great lattes and cappuccinos.

Consider the Nespresso if you really enjoy good espresso and espresso drinks. And also if you appreciate good design and solid construction.

What do people think about this machine? Have a look at the buyer feedback on sites like Amazon and you’ll see that almost everyone is delighted with their purchase. In fact, I don’t think I have seen quite so much positive feedback for any other brewer or espresso machine.

This won’t be for you if your primary interest is in making regular coffees. But if you like espresso based drinks, then this is a great choice. Clean, simple and mess-free.

Find the Nespresso Essenza Automatic Single-Serve Espresso Machine with Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother for a good price at Amazon.com.

Keurig K-Cup Brewers

A year ago it was a tough call as to which of the one cup coffee formats would come out on top.

Now the picture is a little clearer. Keurig’s K-Cup coffee makers are flying off the shelves.

This isn’t just a story of success for Keurig. The coffee pod format took a big blow in April when the Senseo line-up of brewers was withdrawn due to some safety concerns. I wrote about this in an earlier post.

Senseo was leading the charge for the coffee pod format and plenty of other manufacturers were happily creating their own pod brewers. And a ton of roasters were offering their coffees in the pod format. With Senseo out on the sidelines, at least for now, a lot of the momentum for coffee pod brewers has been lost.

So how about the other proprietary one cup coffee formats, like the Tassimo with its T-Discs, the Nespresso with its coffee Capsules, and others?

These formats and brewers are fine, but they lose out to the Keurig brewers in some important ways.

First, they don’t offer as broad a range of different coffees.

Second, they don’t have an equivalent of Keurig’s My K-Cup, which allows you to use your own, loose coffee with the Keurig brewers.

Third, the brewers, and the T-Discs and capsules cost more.

Fourth, the Keurig brewers are better built. They are totally solid compared to the flimsy feel of the Tassimo brewers in particular. (That said, the Nespresso brewers are very nicely made, but you have to pay a lot more for them.)

Keurig has achieved excellent penetration with some outstanding brewers and coffees. Even when Senseo comes back, it may be too late for the coffee pod format to catch up.

Keurig brewer reviews:

The Keurig B60

The Keurig B70

The Keurig B40

The Keurig B30

The Breville BKC600XL