Customer Reviews

Bosch TAS1000UC Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer, Anthracite

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

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 price b) 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.

Aug 2010 - this machine has been updated somewhat. The newer machines are a bit smaller, taking up a bit less room yet, on your counter. This is mainly due to a redesign of the tank. I just bought my second machine and will be taking the older one to use at work.

Apr 2011 - I just had an opportunity to compare the Tassimo system to a Keurig. To be fair, the Keurig was the single cup model, which requires you to add water each time. I found the Keurig to be incredibly slow to brew, in comparison with the Tassimo. I don't know whether it's the single-cup model or whether all Keurigs are that slow. I didn't like the coffee, but do realize that different brews can be found in the K-cups, other than the one that I was provided with (Timothy's).

Tassimo has just released more T-disks, there are now decaf cappuccinos available as well as a black tea disk. As for the Starbucks disks being discontinued, I'm not aware of that as they are still widely available in Canada.

July 2011 - I can now voice displeasure at Tassimo customer service. In Canada, when you purchase a brewer, you are promised coupons for two packages of free disks. I registered for my coupons, yet several months later had not received them. I contacted customer service again, now several months ago and was promised replacement coupons which I also have not received. If you purchase one of these brewers, DO NOT expect free disks with them. If you get them, bonus.

As well, I've noticed a swing in t-disk availability. T-disks seem to have dropped off drastically in popularity in terms of being available in local stores. K-cups have increased greatly. Though I still think the Tassimo is the better machine, I have now purchased a Cuisinart K-cup machine. At present I continue to use both. The K-cup advantage is the ability to use your own coffee blends, which Tassimo still does not offer.

I have to say this item has impressed me more than any other kitchen appliance I have purchased in the last fifteen years.

Like all new "concepts", you tend to raise your eyebrows a bit about a new method of preparing an age old food preparation, whether it be a blender, chopper, or in this case the traditional coffee maker. Frankly, my only real concern was the future availability of the Tassimo Coffee "T-discs" as without them, the system becomes useless of course.

But after my father passed away two years ago, my mom began to drink "instant coffee" after being a brewed coffee devotee for over 65 years. Brewing 8 cups of traditionally made coffee for a single elderly person just seemed to be a big waste of time, as well as unused coffee. She seemed to be, a perfect candidate for this unique individual cup coffee brewer. Having tried this item once in an upscale Resort Hotel on a business trip, I was convinced to give it a try as an answer to my Mom's particular situation.

The coffee was absolutely WONDERFUL! She has fell in love with Starbucks Columbian "pods", but I also purchased the Verona, Cappucino, as well as the Expresso Pods and will continue to purchase new blends as they beome available. As my tea drinking Sister lives nearby and visits often, I also purchased the Twinings Chai Latte as well as the Earl Grey Tea "T-Discs" so she could enjoy a hot beverage with our Mom while they are together.

Although I traditionally grind & brew my own Gevalia Coffee Beans here at home in a 8 cup brewer, I decided to purchase an additional Bosch Tassimo maker for my home as well; as the availability of Expresso and Cappuccino brews is something I can now enjoy as I desire. Now, my Sister's best friend who lost her husband recently has tried it at my Mom's home, and they purchased her a new Bosch Tassimo maker for her home for her recent birthday gift.

Incredibly easy to operate, my 87 year old mother has no problem in brewing the wonderfully fresh hot brewed coffee she had enjoyed for over 65 years.

I want to thank Amazon.com for once again searching out yet another unique and quality made kitchen appliance that has become a big winner for our entire family of coffee and tea lovers. I just received an Email from Amazon notifying me of a new shipment of Tassimo T-discs that has arrived at their central warehouse which is just another way this fine Internet Products purveyor does an outstanding job for their regular customers.

THANK YOU AMAZON!!!

Easy to use, great tasting latte and cappuccino, much cheaper than coffee house, what more could I ask for? The answer is: nothing. Okay, maybe a smaller unit I can buy as a 2nd unit to keep on my desk at work.

Instead of spending $4-$5 dollars everyday for a coffee house latte on the way to work; I just make a double or triple latte straight into my insulated travel mug and I'm all set for the morning.

I also enjoy the bolder brews such as the Starbucks Verona T-discs. The Twinning Chai Latte is also excellent as an alternative to the daily espresso. If you go more for hot chocolate, I definitely recommend the Milka over the Suchard (which is way too sweet for my taste). Either works well to make your latte into a mocha. For espresso and latte; I prefer the Gevalia.

Maintenance so far has consisted of a descale after 9 months.

I've owned one of these for a year, purchased at Bed, Bath, & Beyond (I guess this qualifies as "beyond"). I'm not very impressed by this product, in spite of the hype and high price.

I bought this (instead of Senseo or Keurig) because it was totally automated, and had this way cool bar code reader. Huh... I also wanted Starbucks coffee, which wasn't available from the other brands.

First off, I've found that the coffee tends to be either too weak or too strong. The remedy for too strong is to manually add hot water, which is fine if you like standing next to the coffee maker with your finger holding the button for 15-20 seconds. There is no remedy for too weak other than not buying that product. There is no provision for manually determining the portion size; this is set by the bar code on the pod automatically.

Second, the pods are quite expensive, and not easily available. None of the grocery stores around where I live carry them, and very few "boutique" stores carry the coffee types I like, including the BB&B where I bought the maker originally. I've had to buy the pods mail order, mostly from Amazon. I've ordered a few items directly from Tassimo, and found that their service leaves a lot to be desired. Their shipping charges are high, even for ground shipment, and the items took over a week to arrive the last time I ordered.

Third, the "head" of the thing (whatever it's called) seems to require frequent removal and cleaning with soap and water. This can be a pain in the neck.

Fourth, there is no way to use your own blend of coffee or make your own pods as there is with the competition. You're stuck with whomever Tassimo negotiated. (For example, they don't sell a REAL cocoa mix; it's "chocolate FLAVOR", which tastes like crap to me). I also found I didn't really like the selection of coffees, even Starbucks.

In conclusion, I'd recommend one of the alternatives if you want a single-cup brewer. I just bought a Keurig from Amazon, and so far I'm impressed. I'm selling my Tassimo...

I like coffee but I don't drink it everyday. To me the coffee tasted pretty good. My wife loves coffee but drinks only like a cup a day. So take my review for what it's worth. If your lucky enough you can try a cup or sample if you know someone who has one or catch it on demo somewhere. The main competitor of this is the Keurig coffee maker which you can also catch on demo. These machines are great so you don't have to wash a coffee pot everyday for just a cup or two of coffee. If you drink a lot, then stick with the pot. These machines advertise no clean up. Yeah right... You need to rinse any parts that come into contact with liquid and wipe it. Still easier than washing a pot and filter tub. If you don't then your coffee will taste off and the build up will cause problems later. And not to mention that is just gross.

The difference between the Tassimo and the Keurig is that the Tassimo reads a barcode on the coffee discs and it adjusts the brew temperature amount of water, pressure,etc. and by doing this you can have a regular cup of coffee, espresso, make a latte, americano etc. with the milk discs. So you can make different types of coffee drinks. It won't be as good as the rob you blind coffee shops but still decent. Imagine how much money you would save after a month. But keep in mind, most of these type of single cup coffee makers make about 8 ounces of coffee. Most orginated for the European market and they drink like 4 ounces. You can manually press a button and send more water through but your coffee will be watered down. You don't have the option of buying your favorite flavor with a larger serving. There are only a couple coffee flavors out there that makes an average Amercian mug sized serving.

The Keurig is basically a drip machine. You choose from like four programed drink sizes and the machine will dispense as such. The premeasured coffee grind cups are more suited for the smaller serving. The bigger the size, the more watered down the flavor will become. Since this is more of a drip machine, it can't make an espresso or latte style drink. The coffee on the Keurig also tasted decent.

Here are some points that might help in the decission proccess.

Tassimo can make drip, lattes, cappucino, americano, and espresso type drinks. But remember, it won't be like from a real coffee shop. Just an imitation. Keurig, only drip. Both offer teas as well.

Tassimo small selection of varieties compared to Keurig. Keurigs offerings is huge. Keurig also has a reusable cup filter that you can put your own coffee grinds in and make your own so basically your selection of coffee is limitless. It comes included with the machine depending on where you buy it.

The Tassimo coffee is not as available in stores. You can find them mainly at Bed Bath & Beyond and Target. And they carry only a small selection. The Keurig coffee you can find just about anywhere and more selections.

If you drink mainly just drip coffee more than lattes, espressos, etc. Then probably better off with the Keurig and treat yourself to a real latte, espresso, etc. at a real coffee shop because it will taste better. If you like changing up and can live with it's not the real thing but better than paying $$$ for a cup. Then maybe the Tassimo. If a good cup of coffee with the fancy names is the world to you and you can afford it, then stick with what you are doing now.

I didn't bother to mention the other single cup disc/cup coffee machines out there because they are not as popular and you might be stuck with a machine that you can't find coffee for. Hamilton Beach now makes a single cup coffee maker unit and also a dual single cup / 12 cup coffe maker called the Scoop and the Dual. The single is a small unit that comes with two premeasured reuseable filters that you use to scoop your grinds in and then place directly into the unit but it doesn't have a timer. The dual unit is a full size coffee maker with a seperate single serve maker on the side. The dual does have a timer function that works for both sides. Both units have two brew strengths to choose from. The units can take the senseo coffee discs also, but be aware that the senseo discs are designed to be used with a pressurized system. The Hamilton Beach does not use pressure and you won't get the full intended flavor out of them. The reviews have been pretty positive on the Scoops.

So bottom line is flavor and availabilty of coffee. You can buy online also if you can't find what you like in the store. Something you should take into account if you don't live near any stores that carry your favorites. And mind you, the stores carry only a limited selection of offerings. You have to go online if you want the full line of flavors. And with Tassimo you are really limited in the stores compared to Keurig. Next time you go to a store, take a look at what they have and you will get an idea of what I am talking about.

Update: Starbucks did not continue thier contract with Tassimo, so your selections is dwindled down even more now with Tassimo. I down graded my review from 4 stars down to 3 stars now because of the even less limited varieties of coffee available for Tassimo.

I have both a Tassimo and a Keurig. For products that do essentially the same thing, they're quite different in fact. The Keurig is the one I wanted to like the best - because it has the option of brewing my own coffee using an optional adapter, without using a throw-away pod - and I'm a very "green" person. Plus the Keurig pods are more readily available at local stores, as well as online. However, the coffee from the Keurig is weaker (despite selecting the smallest of the two sizes available on my model) - and the adapter that allows me to use my own coffee is difficult to clean. I have to wait until the coffee grounds are dry to tap them out... or hold it under the faucet to clean the adapter and let the grounds go down the garbage disposal. This means the only thing in favor of the Keurig is the availability of the prepackaged pods.

Also an advantage of the Tassimo is that it is ready the instant I turn the switch on. No warm-up period. No standing in the kitchen waiting for the blue light to come on. The coffee - I use Maxwell House or Gevalia - is strong and rich. Even the decaf.

The taste and strength of coffee is (obviously) the reason I brew coffee in the first place. I use the Tassimo whenever I want quick good coffee. I do wish they'd make an adapter allowing the use of a person's own ground coffee. The only time I use the Keurig is when I want a cup of (weaker) specialty coffee not available in pods and fill the adapter with my own ground coffee.

I'll keep both - luckily I have plenty of room on my kitchen counter. But the Tassimo is my machine of choice.

This machine arrived unannounced on my doorstep. I haven't figured out if that's because A) I write articles about food sometimes or B) I'm on the Nespresso mailing list under "sucker."

The Tassimo worked just fine out of the box (after I figured out that you need to pull a yellow plastic disk from the rear of the machine and insert it as if it were a t-disc in order to run a cleaning cycle.)

I have only run single process American coffee t-discs by both Starbucks and Gevalia. Both were quite good. I haven't tried any of the fancy latte / chocolate products, because to me the idea of a freeze dried deluxe milk beverage just sounds gross.

The Good:
The coffee made by this machine is nice and hot, which I think is really important.
The operation is simple and idiot-proof. A house guest this weekend was able to figure it out without instruction.

The Less-Good:
The t-discs cost just the same or MORE than Nespresso, which I can hardly believe is possible. Nespresso isn't exactly cheap. And if you buy your refills at Target (where I got my Starbucks discs) they very helpfully calculate the price per pound. Are you ready for this? $53.00 a pound! The plainest product is $0.55 to $0.60 a pod. Fancy drinks cost double.
The machine is quite a hunk of plastic. It looks hulky next to my sleek Nespresso machine. The adjustable cup stand seems especially flimsy. The pods have a LOT more plastic on them than Nespresso's. T-discs are not a "green" choice, not by any stretch.
While it would be ridiculous to say that the clean-up process is tricky (just grab the old pod from the machine and throw it out) it isn't quite as efficient as Nespresso. The old pods don't fall into a bin for you. You have to remove them manually. And this cannot be done immediately, because you'd burn yourself.
Finally, it's not really true that the size or strength of the drink is adjustable. In fact, I must have slightly undersized coffee cups, because they're always filled to the brim. I gingerly bring them to the sink, dump out a little, and then add the milk. But of course I have to swab the cup then too. If only I could just touch the "start" button when the cup looks full, and end the brew process.

It's winter time and where I live, it can get really, really cold. One of my favorite things about the cold weather is sitting down with a hot beverage. When I was told that I had the opportunity to review the Tassimo T45 Hot Beverage Machine, I immediately thought "Merry Christmas to me!" This fancy little machine allows you to make whatever type of hot beverage has your mouth watering. This machine uses Tassimo Discs (or T Discs) so you can make hot chocolate, coffee, cappuccino, latte and more. The T Discs tell the machine how much water is necessary, what temperature to use and how long it takes to make the perfect cup of that particular drink. All you have to do is place the T Disc in it's proper place and then press a button. And viola! You are ready to drink. Plus, if you like your coffee stronger, you can customize it by taking advantage of the manual function. One of the best things about this machine, besides making yummy drinks, is that most of the movable parts can be washed in the dishwasher.


Overall, this is one of the best machines in my house currently. It's right up there with the dishwasher, yes, it's that awesome.

I love this product. It's the base-line model and I would see no reason to trade up. I was careful to follow the quick-start directions and ran 5 batches of water through it (with the service disk in) before I attempted to make any drinks. And my drinks taste perfect.

I've been making only cappucinos (Starbucks Cappuncino Primo) so far and they are very tasty with great froth. The unit overall runs pretty quiet. I was a little nervous the first time I turned it on to run water through it because it was loud and I have this at work. So I turned it off immediately and tried it again- quiet! Been quiet ever since. It may have been where I had it placed on my desk- who knows? It is very simple to use and does not take up much space on my desk. Love it!

This is our first experience with a Tassimo coffee maker and we're delighted - almost feel as though we've emerged from the Stone Age to the 21st century!

We're very much of the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" thought, so we felt no need for a new coffee maker. But, curiosity and favorable reports got the best of us and we now have this Bosch. What a treat!

The printed directions accompanied by illustrations are easy to follow. The booklet holds directions in several languages as well as Troubleshooting pages. (To date, we've had no trouble - only great coffee). The cleaning process is simple and quick, and the piercing unit is easily rinsed under running water.

So far, our favorite T-discs are the Starbucks Caffe Verona and the Carte Noir Breakfast Blend. Life is good but better with this Bosch!

Recommended!

- Gail Cooke