Customer Reviews

Bodum Coffee Solo Personal 10-Ounce Drip Brewer Set with Cup and Filter

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For a long time now, I've been hooked on single-cup brewing with a certain plastic cone-shaped mug-top device, but this little guy took me by surprise. My favorite thing about it is the plastic-inside-plastic design of the top, which all photos advertising this thing anywhere completely fail to demonstrate.

Coffee grinds go into the black container, the bottom of which is a flat metal mesh filter. A second plastic container slides tightly inside, without pressing down on the coffee, with an evenly perforated bottom. When you pour in the hot water, it drips through, distributes evenly through the grinds (no floating!), then filters to the included mug (or any mug).

With NO need for specialty paper filters or hand-washing (like more popular single-brew gadgets these days), and a price at or below ten bucks (if you can find it--if Amazon doesn't bring it back, check your favorite kitchen store or outlet), this is yet another nail in the coffin of electric auto-drip machines.


I value a 'cons' section in all reviews, though:

1) I've had mine for a very short time. I can't say anything yet about durability, but if it seems to wear, stick to hand washing.

2) Includes one set of instructions on the box, and a completely different set on the product itself. Not sure about coffee:water ratio? Stick to a tablespoon for every 3oz H2O. Medium-fine grind.

3) Having to boil your own water. I've noticed this puts off a lot of auto-drip addicts. Once your water boils, though, let it rest for a few seconds before pouring. Or do what I do, and plug your kettle into the opposite wall of the kitchen. Walk it back leisurely. :)

4) You'll feel guilty when a guest comes over and you're just not in the mood to bust out your vacuum pot, and the thought of auto-drip now makes your tongue cry.

Yeah. I hate it when cons are just pros in disguise, too.

This is an excellent alternative to using a french press (press pot). This is the pour-over style of brewing, sometimes called Melitta-style.

The mesh is fine and can work with drip-ground beans. It produces a fine cup of coffee quickly.

Most importantly for me--it's easy to clean! I hate cleaning press pots, and this gives me an excellent alternative.

I only drink one cup of coffee a day and just in the morning. And the scoop-in coffee or single bags were not cutting it for me. Tired of wasting coffee in my big machine, I gave this a try. It's awesome. The coffee is as good or better than what's brewed in a coffeemaker in my opinion. I've used several over the years, two Braun, two Krups, a Philips, etc. It's easy to rinse off for the next day and in pieces is very compact. You can use any mug that the dripper fits into. It comes with a screen filter, so you don't have to buy anything extra. The down side is that you'll have to boil or microwave your water. I use a tea kettle myself. After you pour it in, the coffee is ready in about 30 seconds-2 minutes depending on how fine the coffee is ground and how clean the holes are where the water pours through.

I was looking for an alternative to a French press because I really dislike the grit it produces in the bottom of your mug. Tried the Bodum Solo and I'm very pleased. The only down-side is the coffee isn't as strong as that made in a French press...but the good news is: no grit, very easy to use and clean, produces a good-tasting one cup (smallish mug) of coffee. A few tips: use coarsely ground coffee (like you would with a FP); after pouring in the water, give the water filter and the coffee filter a firm press which really slows down the drip, otherwise the coffee will be much too weak.

I decided to purchase the Solo after seeing a positive review on a coffee centric website. I have been using it at work 1-2 times every day and am very happy. A friend has a press pot and does not use it all that often, as clean up is time consuming. I have a press pot I sometimes use at home and can relate. The solo is very easy to clean and the taste / quality of the coffee is not noticably diffrent. For those occasions when all you need is a single cup of well prepared coffee, this is the ideal solution, as it is much less expesive then single serving press pots, but the coffee is just as good (IMHO).

Absolutely fantastic for when I'm in a hurry, and want only one cup of freshly brewed coffee. No filters to buy, and the coffee brews right into the cup. I like it much better than my French Press. I'm so happy that I got this.

Edit: March 3, 2010. The cup broke, but I don't really mind since the filter fits into almost any sized mug. I use this on a daily basis, a couple times a day, and I gave my french press away. I like this much better. I am so pleased that I got this.

I've been looking for an alternative to one-cup brewers (electric) because I've burned two out by forgetting to turn them off... Also, they tended to brew bitter tasting coffee vs the large 10-cup variety. Only drinking one cup when making 10 was a waste. Coffee left too long in a heated carafe was bitter and stale, and I ended up throwing out 9 cups of coffee just to get one good one. Lastly, cleanup of these big machines is a royal pain just for one cup.

Then I found this little gem! What a find! By the time I get the boiling water into the reservoir on this item, it is just right--it has had a chance to "breathe" and the coffee brewed is much better as a result.

I heat just enough water (fill the coffee cup and then heat the water in a "Sunbeam Hot Shot Beverage Machine," which I have used for years)--the coffee is brewed in less time than the one cup brewers--and I don't have to remember to turn it off!! Perfection. Coffee is neither too hot to burn your mouth, or too cold--just right.

One tbsp coffee works best for me for 1 mug of great coffee. I've found that the one tbsp of coffee grounds will give me two really good cups of coffee by just adding more water to the reservoir and brewing a second cup. Three cups from this gem will not work--get a 4-cup brewer for that one!

One more note: press the water reservoir tightly against the grounds for the best brew. Then clean after you're done in hot soapy water, taking care to clean out the reservoir holes and filter mesh. I soak mine in dishwater while reading the paper, so clean-up is incredibly easy. Could not be simpler! Am planning on ordering a second one soon!

just bought this ting from target and I love it!!! Very small, very easy, and very yummy!

Unless I'm doing something wrong, it does not really 'brew'. The water goes through immediately except maybe the last portion which drips out or if cup is full, pushes water to mix with beans above filter to allow 'soaking'. But for the most part, all the water comes out right away only washing a bit of the beans. Taste of coffee was okay.

I'm sticking to my french press.

This drip coffee maker works reasonable well and having the cup saves time. However, the water does quickly go through the coffee which may not maximize the complex flavors of your coffee.