Coffee Break with Tassimo

I stepped out on a hot summer’s day from my work world into Andaz Fifth Avenue, a sleek yet comfortable new hotel in NYC and was beyond ready for a coffee break.

Tassimo sponsored a reviewing of their new line of single serve coffee makers and as a professional working mother, I look forward to my rare breaks. Many folks rely on their morning, afternoon and evening coffee to function. Considering that coffee beans are the second most globally traded commodity behind oil, I’m glad I’m not alone in my quest for a quick and satisfying cup of Joe.

So what is “it” exactly that drives us in droves to pump billions of dollars annually into the coffee industry?
Is it the smell, taste, caffeine rush, possibility of anti-oxidants preventing cancer, that only a cup of Joe can deliver?
All of the above.

One thing is for certain, the demand for coffee will continue to spawn new and innovative ways to brew and serve our drink of choice – coffee.

Years ago I first encountered the Keurig single serve coffee maker. The Tassimo brand is well known throughout Europe and is now burgeoning in the United States. Tassimo will likely encroach on Keurig’s market share with its all in one “hot or cold” drink machine that churns out single servings of tea, hot chocolate, straight up coffee blends, milk based hot specialty coffee drinks (Cappuccino, Café Au Lait, Lattes) and Espresso. All that’s required is water, T-disc and the push of a button.

Meet Chuck

Chuck Routar, Tassimo’s Associate Principal Scientist, whose been doing coffee for over 30 years, explained the complexities and careful planning of producing a fast, consistent and delicious cup of Joe to satisfy the global market.

First off, Chuck shared how American’s prefer sweet and creamy while Europeans prefer rich flavors. Figures. Tassimo’s (parent company is Kraft Foods) array of coffee and tea selections consist of globally established companies such as Maxwell House, Starbucks, Gevaila, Twinnings and international brands such as Kenco, Jacobs, Suchard and Milka. So the tastes are familiar and range from pedestrian to upscale. Perfect.

The Taste Test

My super sweet American taste buds were ready to dive into the elaborate spread.

My first selection was a cup of green tea. I needed to test whether you could have a pure cup of tea brewed right after a cup of coffee. I concentrated really hard and so wanted to find the trace of coffee in my cup of tea so I could nail Chuck, but alas, there was no taste transfer and my Twinnings green tea was perfectly brewed. Did it rock my world, no, but quick, dependable and satisfying, yes.

Okay, I’ll get Chuck next with the Cappuccino.

I was entranced. You pop in the milk T-disc first (yes, it’s real milk!), press the button and voila, milk is steamed into your cup. Then you take the Cappuccino T-disc pop it in, press the button and voila, your Cappuccino is ready. The Cappuccino was my favorite. It was perfectly blended and smooth in less then 2 minutes. Kudos, Chuck!

The iced Mocha worked the same way. Suchard liquid chocolate first, press button, then pop in Espresso T-disc, pour over ice (not included) and voila, iced mocha. Not bad, not bad at all.

Okay so which model do I get?

Even the most basic T20 model ($129) sends my 10+-year-old Mr. Coffee machine packing to the Stone Age. Each model is intuitive and innovative. Each model is quick, unfussy, messy-less and fool proof.

Up the line of residential models – T-20 ($129), T-45 ($139), T-65 ($199) and the commercial models T-300 (contact Tassimo for price), the added bells and whistles got me ooing and ahhing and naturally, I had Chuck walk me through each (I’m a lawyer married to a rocket scientist so he had to prove his case dollar for dollar).

There’s the chrome finish, water filter, self-cleaning disc, LCD screen and the all-important light (to aid your midnight sampling).

My favorite is the top of the line residential model the T-65, simply because it’s cuter and more techie. It has an LCD screen that tells me what to do and since I prefer conversational machinery and like pictorial guides, like the unnecessary coffee mug with a measuring line that shows me when my cup is full, this works for me.

The machines are pricey as a one-time purchase and the T-discs are sold separately, but not out of the average person’s $4/day coffee budget.

Size Matters

The difference in the size of each model is negligible, except for the T-300, which is a mini monster. The commercial T-300 has over a gallon size tank for water or the option of a direct water line hook up.

The models should fit in your kitchen. If your kitchen is tiny, you may considering swapping your toaster or microwave for a Tassimo.

Speaking of size, a few coffee selections (Latte, Gevalia Espresso, Suchard Hot Chocolate) can brew a nice 12 -18 ounce travel size which is key for us on the go!

Consistency

Chuck promises consistency from your 1st to your 500th cup of coffee. This is what sets the single servings apart from making your own pot of coffee. If you can’t make a pot of coffee to save your life, then don’t walk, run.

On the flip side the individualized servings detracts from the socialization around brewing and sharing a pot of coffee or tea. If you are a social server or a French Press snob, you may resist these individualized and simple machines – there is only one button!

T-Discs

This part is awesome.

Each single serving is replete with it’s own bar code number. The Tassimo models reads the barcodes and knows exactly how to set itself to the perfect water temperature, volume, flow rate and time it takes to prepare each cup; it has beauty and brains.

Environmental Impact

Of the coffee selection, two are Rainforest Alliance Certified (Gevalia Columbian medium roast and Gevalia Breakfast Blend dark roast). As more brands become readily “organic” and certified, this number will increase.

Tassimo works with “Green-Track” to enforce a recycling collection program for its commercial model customers. Considering their manufacturing plant produces 1,000 t-discs a minute this is reassuring. The manufacturing facility is wind powered and certified as “Zero Landfill” in that the facility waste is either recycled or used to produce energy.

Where to find it?

The Tassimo residential models are or will be available in mass market US stores – Target, Wal-Mart, Bloomingdales, Macy’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, Lowes, Sears, etc. And you can always order the models or the T-discs directly via www.Tassimodirect.com

Guest Post by Cynthia Litman. Cynthia Litman is a working mom of two delicious children and is the spiritual and visionary guide of Mommas Pearls. Cynthia began Momma’s Pearls in 2009 when her grandparents passed away as an outlet to remember and pass down their wisdom and provide support to other everyday busy parents. Mommas Pearls has since dovetailed into the Mommas Pearls blog,talk radio show and M’S Gems.

Cynthia is also an entertainment lawyer with a niche in spiritual entertainment. Her firm Cynthia R. Litman, Esq., PLLC caters to the spiritual entertainment market. She is a founding partner of The Spiritual Cinema Circle, a DVD club for spiritual films, Executive Producer of the Independent films “Lost In Sunshine” and “Boost”, production attorney for “Conversations With God” (film based upon the books by Neale Donald Walsch) and distribution attorney for Debbie Ford’s documentary film “The Shadow Effect” and Nicole Clark’s documentary film “Cover Girl Culture”.

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