Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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77 of 79 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Really Nifty Machine!, December 15, 2005
I won't attempt to compare this machine to the other brands out there, but I CAN attest to the fact that Flavia is darn good coffee.
My office has the great big Flavia machine that automatically disposes of the used packs, and is plumbed for water. Right beside that machine we have a coffee maker that is only brewed with Starbucks. For the past three years, the Flavia machine is ALWAYS more popular. It's just fun to use also.
For anyone considering the middle of the line SB100 machine, keep in mind that it does NOT handle multiple-pack brews. That means no creamy toppings.
This machine comes with the Drinks Medley for $20 extra. I couldn't find the contents of that Medley anywhere, so here it is:
2xHouse Blend
2xHouse Blend (Decaf)
2xColumbia (my personal favorite)
2xSumatra
2xRoasted Safari Nut
2xFrench Vanilla
2xHazelnut (Decaf)
2xEspresso Roast
2xChoco
6xCreamy Topping
2xEnglish Breakfast Tea
2xGreen Tea
2xRasberry Spark
2xLemon Calm
2xExotic Chai
2xCaramel Syrup (very thin, sugary syrup)
2xVanilla Syrup (very thin, sugary syrup)
2xChoco Sprinkles (very tiny pack)
2xCinamon Sprinkles (very tiny pack)
You also get a Travel Mug (a standard-issue tall mug with no handles. Slider on top is not spring loaded. You could pick one up at the store for about $7).
So, you get 34 brew packs worth about 45 cents each, plus the syrups and sprinkles (about $2 more), and the travel mug (worth about $7). That's about a $24 value for $20. The Medley is definitely NOT worth the normal price of $30.
The Flavia does have one BIG downside (hence 4 stars) - there are very few places that carry the brew packs. Worse, most of the on-line stores can only sell to certain states per their agreement with Flavia. So, you may very well be forced to buy your refills from Flavia.net. A 'rail' of 20 coffee or tea packs runs about $8.50-9.50. The creamy topping is 25 cents a pack. Add shipping and tax, and that creamy cappuccino with sprinkles costs over a buck for a 7oz cup. The going rate at E-bay is 40 cents a pack before shipping. Once Amazon starts selling Flavia coffees, this machine will get 5 stars.
UPDATE:
I've made about a dozen cups of coffee with this machine. The adjustable height of the dispenser is really handy; if you lower till it touches the rim of your cup, there will be no splashing. You really should dab a paper towel underneath the dispenser after you use it (especially if you just used creamy topping or choco). I can see how the machine can get yucky if you don't do this. The machine IS surprisingly noisy, but only for about 15 seconds per cup. Flavia makes great brew packs - they do not leak when you remove the used ones. Of course, if you squeeze a used coffee pack, it will leak.
The medley kit comes with a travel cup, yet the cup is too tall for the machine as pictured. You need to remove the overflow tray to make it fit. The travel cup holds 14 ounces (two brew packs worth) comfortably.
If you are going to be buying disposable cups for this machine, I recommend getting 8 ounce and possibly 16 ounce cups. This way, you can keep the volume setting on the machine at 7 ounces, using one or two coffee packs, respectively. If you use your own coffee cups, you're going to have to constantly be changing the volume setting for different cups. We bought cheap styrofoam cups from our local warehouse store and keep a stack (with lids) nearby.
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51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'M SO HAPPY I BOUGHT THIS UNIT !!, January 4, 2006
I almost bought a Tassimo, but glad I read the reviews, which is what caused me to look into this unit instead. I read all it's reviews and couldnt find anyone who had a bad experience with it. ONE NOTE...... the TRAVEL MUG that comes included in the MEADLY PACK DOES FIT. You have to read the instruction manual which most people dont. It specifically says on PAGE 9, and I quote " THE DRIP TRAY CAN ALSO BE REMOVED TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR TRAVEL MUG". Reading ALL of the isntruction booklet is highly recommended.
Anyway, the best part of this machine is that it accepts any size mug or cup by way of it's sliding head adjustment. It slides down covering your container opening, so there is absolutely no splash out as the beverage is dispensed directly into your container.
I love the removable water reservoir, which will holds 32 oz of water...or about (6) 7oz cups of your favorite brew.
You can use or not use the optional water filter. Your choice.
The BEST part of this unit is it's simplicity. Slide your selected beverage packet into the holder, close the lid, push a button and PRESTO, in 30 seconds you have a wonderful fresh brewed drink, then open the head and dispose of the empty packet. I can go from making a cup of Columbian Coffee, to Lemon Calm tea and then make a cup of Hot Chocolate Cappuccino and not have to "clean" out anything. There is no way to transfer flavors from one brew to the next. No drippy pods to fool with, no filters to trap flavors, no splash back, no post beverage dripping.
The Flavia Fusion is actually better than their SB100. Like the others said, you cant brew the two packets which makes their Cappuccinos and other "speciality" drinks, like Chai Latte, Milky Way Chococcino. Pumpkin Pie Latte, Irish Cream Mochaccino, Milky Way Latte and a fabulous Chococcino.
The unit is smaller than the Tassimo and some others, but you'll still need some counter space. But, It's well worth it.
The Maximum drink volume the packet can make is up to 7 oz.....which to some may look small. I've found that I can immediately "re-use" the same packet for a second brew cycle to double the volume of the coffee and tea drinks.
Flavia has 30 different beverages available, and some can be used together to create speciality drinks. They are also in the process of creating more products. Flavia is a division of Mars Inc.....the same people who make Milky Ways, Smickers, M&M's and other confections. I wonder if they'll come up with a Snickers Latte??? in the future.
As my Title says, I'm so happy I bought this unit. It's a tea, coffee, hot chocolate, latte, espresso cappuccino machine all rolled into one, WITH NO MESSY CLEAN UP of the unit or your counter inbetween drinks. Just pop a new packet in and you're good to go.
I hope Amazon.com will look into selling the drink packets.
For someone who likes variety, and doesnt want to have a half dozen machines laying around......take a hard look at the Flavia Fusion. You wont be disappointed.
UPDATE.......... FLAVIA PACKETS..........
If you go to bfcoffee.com and email them about Flavia coffee's and teas, they will send you back their current price list. They will sell to individuals, but the minimum order is a "case" (which is 100 packets of Coffee, 72 packets of Cocoa or 140 packets of Tea)...but the good news is they do offer a VARIETY CASE, which allows you to mix and match flavors to make a case of Coffee's or a case of Teas.
I know a case sound like a lot, but once you get hooked on Flavia's ease of use, you'll find you'll have that late evening cup of cocoa, decaf coffee or tea, or a second cup of Java in the morning. Prices per case start around $34.50 for the Coffee's and $36.60 up to 58.50 for the teas. The cocoa is going for $29.95 a case. So, between Flavia's web site and this vendor, and ebay, you should have no problems finding replacement packets.
March 25, 2006
Flavia machine still going strong. I use it at least 2-3 times a day. Have already had to re-order packets, like the Chai Tea, Cocoa, Froth packet and Breakfast Blend coffee. BFCOFFEE.COM is the best place for prices anywhere....even better than Flavia's own site. I'm sipping a cup of Columbia coffee right now. Americans dont usually like a "strong" cup of coffee, so after the unit brews the packet the first time, I just re-push the light and let it brew again in the same mug. It comes out just the right strength for me. I would buy this unit again, without a second thought. It's that good.
May 13th.....
Thought you might like to see my unit and how I store my Flavia Packets...so look for my 2 photos under " customer photos" just below Amazon's picture of the Falvia Machine.
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48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply the easiest one-cup coffee maker on the market!, October 27, 2005
As the only person that drinks coffee in our home, I have used a one-cup coffee maker for over 20 years. I have tried them all, most recently the pod ones, but this one beats them all. It is so simple and quick. All you do is load a packet, hit a button, and voila, coffee that is comparable, if not better than that sold at coffee houses. In addition, the Fusion offers options to just coffee in the way of Tea, Hot Cocoa, and other "wellness" drinks.
The only drawback is that you are limited to puchasing the coffee packs from Flavia as there are no generic options available. None the less, their selection is superb and their prices are reasonable (about 40 cents per cup). I'm hooked.
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by Barbara Ehrenreich
