Tassimo by Bosch T20 Single Serve Coffee Brewer, White Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)As a Vine reviewer, in addition to this unit I also received the four Color Accessory Kits (Lime Green--looks like Yellow, Mint Blue--looks like Aqua, Hazelnut Brown--looks like Dark Chocolate, and Strawberry Red) and four packages of T DISCs none of which are included with the standard purchase of this machine. The T DISCs and other accessories are sold separately. Each unit does, however, come with an offer to receive two complimentary packages of T DISCs that will be sent to you after you register your Tassimo.

My first impression is WOW, this Tassimo is gorgeous, especially with the interchangeable color choices for the front fascia of the machine. The machine is also simple to use but the initial instructions are not totally clear or organized logically. Before you even try to use the machine, my recommendation is to read all the instructions, not just the Quick Start instructions on the throwaway cardboard spacer or the confusing folded instructions that come with the cleaning DISC.

Before you use the unit, you must clean it first. There's a plastic cleaning T-DISC that you need to remove from the back of the unit and insert into the T DISC brewing chamber. During cleaning I had a problem where the unit ran on and off continuously dispensing hot water for 30 minutes. I kept emptying the cup of water. At first I thought this was expected but when the brewing cycle never ended, I called customer service to see if this was normal and he assured me it was not. They are available until midnight E.S.T. and the service was excellent. The technician was ready to send me a new machine since it was my first time using it (he did not know I was a Vine reviewer). However, I encouraged him to let me try the cleaning cycle again and it worked--guess the unit was just quirky the first time.

After cleaning the unit the first time, the brewing process is simple:
- Fill the water tank
- Plug the unit in
- Place a cup on the cup stand
- Turn the power on
- Open the brewing unit and insert the T DISC (writing side down) then close the lid
- Press the large round STOP/START button
- The unit will brew; when done the Manual icon (that's the cup with a plus sign above it) will display green and if you want to add more water you have 20 seconds to press the STOP/START button again
- You are now ready to drink; throw away the used T DISC and either brew another beverage or turn off the unit
- The entire process takes less than 2 minutes

If you are making hot chocolate or a latte that includes both the milk disk and chocolate syrup or coffee then you will have a two-step process because you have to go through a cycle for each disk.

Once you familiarize yourself with this machine, it's a great convenience but it comes at a cost of about 60+ cents a cup depending on the drink. What's also great is that you have a variety of T DISCs to choose from so if your family has varying tastes, a selection of tasty beverages is available.

The PROS:
- It's a beautiful single serve brewer that comes with the option of purchasing interchangeable colors to personalize your unit. I'm really smitten with the colors which are easily interchangeable. You can even mix four colors in one unit (not that you'd want to) if you have three color accessory kits because the overflow tray, the tray's top, and the backsplash are three separate pieces.
- The machine is easy to use once you get the hang of it
- The cup stand is adjustable so you can fit 3oz to 16oz cups in the unit
- Their customer service is fantastic and immediately responsive (at least based on my first and only experience)
- You have a variety of T DISCs available for purchase
- The unit is a great convenience
- You have a hot beverage variety right at your fingertips
- The drinks are good--for instance the Tassimo Milka Hot chocolate was very good and the Starbucks Lattee Primo was out of this world. In fact, I don't notice any difference in taste between hot beverages made the old fashioned way and what gets dispensed by the Tassimo.
- As long as you are not using a descaling solution at the same time you are using the "cleaning T DISC," you will be able to use this disk to brew hot water for your own drinks (tea bags, powdered hot chocolate, etc.). I just called Tassimo and spoke to a lady named Juna on the 1-877-834-7271 number to verify. I do caution you, however, that the temperature of the hot water will be the same all the time using the T DISC and different teas should be brewed at different temperatures (such as 180 degrees Fahrenheit for green tea, 212 degrees Fahrenheit for black, etc.). With the T DISC you don't have the option to set the temperature since it's pre-programmed.

The CONS:
- Each T DISC only brews a 6 oz beverage; of course you can add more water for a weaker beverage or use another T DISC for a double shot (12 oz)
- When purchasing lattes or hot chocolates, the package comes with 16 T DISCs but that is only good for 8 hot chocolates or lattes because you have to pair the milk DISC with the syrup or the coffee DISC
- You should really run one cleaning cycle after you make any drink with milk or syrup because the piercing unit that pierces the T DISC and the brewing chamber become slightly soiled. They even recommend running the cleaning cycle in the book.
- Purchasing the T DISCs can become expensive if you are a hot chocolate or latte drinker
- The instructions could be better organized and written

In summary, I think this unit is great but not for everyone. If you are a casual coffee, tea, latte, hot chocolate, etc. drinker this machine will offer you convenience and variety in a beautiful package. However, if you are a heavy hot beverage drinker, this unit is still great but your habit can easily become expensive especially for the drinks that require 2 T DISCs to make such as hot chocolate and latte.
Nov. 28, 2010 Update - My boyfriend tried this machine and gives it FIVE STARS. He loves it. He thinks it makes a great cup of coffee (he tried the Maxwell House Cafe Collection House Blend Coffee (Medium), 16-Count T-Discs for Tassimo Coffeemakers (Pack of 2)) and thought it was great. He also didn't feel that the cost of the T DISCs was a CON since people would know this before purchase. According to him, it's great for a household that has varying hot beverage tastes or one where only one cup of coffee, tea, or other hot beverage is made per day. It is simple, fast, and clean-up (if any) is easy.

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The Tassimo TAS2001 brewer is a revolutionary new concept in small appliances which allows you to personalize your brewer with any one of 4 color kits (Strawberry Red, Mint Blue, Lime Green or Hazelnut Brown) .These color kits allow you to mix and match any one of the 4 colors kits to design a brewer that fits you. Each color kit sold separately.

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