February was the month of all things Tassimo in Europe here at Single Serve Coffee. Bosch and Tassimo are pulling out all the stops to get the buzz going in Europe, and we can only imagine what Bosch and Tassimo will roll out here in the US this Fall. Tassimo has also been busy with their Office inspired campaign - Bob's Big Break - Tassimo in the Office. It's really funny and sure to pick up your single serve coffee morning at work.
Eric Favre is the creator of Nespresso. Eric Favre patented the Nespresso process in 1978, the first step of the amazing story of an inventor turning his idea into one of the world's most successful single serve espresso and coffee products. We found some very interesting pictures and videos from the Lift Conference, and think if you can handle a little french - the video is very interesting. Even if you can't speak french, the pictures and feel of what Eric is communicating is there.
It's really not a coffee mug, but it is an interesting way to connect your iPod in a single serve coffee speaker. Yes - you read that right - a single serve coffee speaker. There's only one speaker in this coffee mug. The coffee looking mug is actually a pure white cup with a tiny stereo input you connect to your iPod. You can pick yours up now for just 3,990 yen ($18.98) here.
Keurig Single Serve Coffee Makers at Shaw's Supermarkets
We recently visited our local Shaw's supermarket, and was pleasantly surprised to see a rather impressive set of single serve coffee available in the bakery area. Not only was the selection really amazing - over 25+ coffees, but the area was well designed. It's was also really nice to see the Keurig B200 single serve coffee maker live.
Check out your local Shaw's by using their store locator and maybe while you shop you can get a nice cup of single serve coffee.
Tassimo is at it again with a rather interesting and unique piece of marketing here in the US. Bob's Big Break is a set of webisodes promoting the Tassimo Hot Beverage System. The humorous series follows the misadventures of Bob, the guy in the office who has appointed himself in charge of special projects that have little to do with actual work. Each episode gives viewers the chance to determine Bob's future at the office and also to submit their own stories of "Bob-like" characters in their own work places. The winning viewer submission will be filmed as the next "Bobisode." The series can be viewed at www.whohiredbob.com and via targeted Google placements.
We hope this leads to a real spot on The Office for Tassimo. Imagine Dwight and Michael having an espresso show down? One thing we noticed was how the webisodes and site try to make it the point that Tassimo is not really for the "office" per se, but is a home machine. We think the concept of the webisodes being so "Office" like, had to override the fact the Tassimo is truly a home hot beverage system.
Expect a hint of cinnamon, followed by rich flavors of maple and golden toast butter. The only downside - this coffee may make you hungry for the real thing. Wait? Is that really a downside?
A few more new videos (all in French, of course) of the new Bosch Tassimo machine. These videos showcase some of the new buttons and lights of the Bosch Tassimo.
From SH:
The first video is a promotional clip from the Bosch Project Director where he describes how the machine is sleeker, how it'll be available in 4 colors which he describes in English (still can't figure out why he doesn't just say "rouge" "noir" and "argenté" instead of black, red & silver), he goes over some of the new features such as the lights for water refil & descaling. He also notes how the new machine will be available on France retail shelves in April 2008. He noted the goal of the project was to introduce a new Tassimo which was much more modernized & design-oriented to fit into contemporary settings/decor. I'm guessing that's why they decided to get rid of the see-through window on the top of the T-Disc chamber... because they thought it wasn't "sleek enough" or perhaps detracted from the machine's overall design?? You also get a good view of what size mugs/cups can fit on the cup stand.
Review: Keurig B130 Single Serve Coffee Maker for Hotels and Small Businesses
The Keurig B130 is the most interesting Keurig single serve coffee maker we've reviewed to date. Right up front we want to make sure you know - the Keurig B130 is only available to hotels or similar businesses that want to offer the use of a single cup K Cup brewer to guests, and that's what makes it the most interesting. Getting rid of those terrible small coffee pots in hotels across the country, and having a perfect cup of single serve coffee simple thrills us.
The design is also really interesting. This Keurig brewer is the smallest Keurig available, and the footprint alone makes it perfect for your camp, camping, travel trailer, or at the office on your desk. That's if Keurig ever releases this brewer to the general public and not just hotels.
We've looked around for any President's Day sales we could find, and so far CoffeeWhiz.com is one of the few. You can get Timothy's Coffee pods for $6.25 per box instead of $9.50 per box. We really have enjoyed many of the Timothy's coffee pods especially the Rainforest Espresso.
Can Sugar Substitutes in Your Coffee Make You Fat?
Photo credit: MICHAEL A. KELLER / CORBIS
It's tough to think that using a sugar substitute will lead to you becoming fatter than thinner, but the proof is in the sugar free pudding. Apparently when you ingest a bit of sugar, your body thinks and tells you that more food that's sugar sweet is on the way. This will lead to most people seeking out sugar sweet or fatty food, thus eating poorly even though they are using a zero calorie alternative. Bummer. We only use real sugar and take our calorie lumps with every cup of single serve coffee, but have always believed if we could just stomach a little artificial sweetner things would be a bit thinner in our middle area.
Nespresso E350 Romeo Single-Serve Automatic Espresso Coffee Machine and Espresso Glass Set
The Nespresso Romeo is one of the most unique single serve espresso and coffee makers around. It features a little balcony where your Nespresso capsule disappears, and then turns into an amazing shot of espresso. The Nespresso Romeo is also pretty high in price - debuting in the $800+ range. Now you can get this bundle at just $699 and it comes with 2 double walled Bodum Assam espresso glasses. That's a pretty amazing deal for a very unique espresso machine. You can read our full review of the Nespresso Romeo here.
Coffee Machine Can Taste the Difference Between Good and Bad Coffee
Sometimes we want the future to arrive, and this is one of the machines of the future we'd like to have built into every single serve coffee maker. This machine can taste the quality in your cup of espresso, and can identify coffee types nearly as accurately as a panel of trained espresso tasters.
The machine analyzes the gas espresso gives off when created, translating combinations of ions into descriptions like "roasted, flowery, woody, toffee and acidity." It was created by chemical engineers at Nestle in Switzerland, and will be used as a quality control device in the coffee industry, and perhaps even now is being used for Nespresso coffees.
Review: Melitta MES5B Javapod Single Serve Coffee Brewer System
There's a new Melitta One:One single serve coffee pod brewer in town - the Melitta MES5B Javapod Single Serve Coffee Brewer System. It's nice to see Melitta join the rest of the single serve coffee pod world, and offer a brewer with a reduced price and the ability to use any 62mm coffee pod. The machine has been totally redesigned from the earlier Melitta One:One - one of the first coffee pod brewers available in the US, and we think many of the choices in the new design are quite good.
The box design and machine are more straight forward than the earlier One:One
One of the big changes is the ability to use a single pod or use the double pod holder. Also the electronics are a bit different - with brew sizes in the 5, 8, and 14 oz range. We wish they would have gone with 12 oz - on the 14 oz size it's hard to get a really good cup of single serve coffee, but overall these changes are nice additions. The hidden cord storage is nice, and the overall footprint of the machine is on par with other single serve coffee makers, but a bit narrower.
N.O. Brew - New Orleans Style Fresh Cold-Dripped Iced Coffee
N.O. Brew claims to be the country's first, fresh cold-dripped bottled iced coffee. We're not sure if that's true, but we've been following coffee concentrates for quite awhile here at Single Serve Coffee, and we've heard of many other concentrates before N.O. Brew. The iced coffee concentrate is made with N.O. Brew's blend of Arabica beans and their proprietary cold-drip process. Best of all - N.O. Brew contains no artificial flavors or preservatives. Each 64 oz. bottle makes up to 24 fresh iced coffees at home, and you can also purchase 32 oz bottles direct from the N.O. Brew site.
We're always looking for something different in the coffee world to do with our weekend. Besides travels to see fabled single serve coffee machines like the Clover, we often look for coffee treats and snacks. We came upon a recipe for Espresso Souffle the other day, and thought for any of our readers who have a Nespresso, Tassimo, Lavazza, or other single serve coffee makers that make a nice espresso shot, this recipe would make for a very yummy and caffeinated treat.
Many of the staff here at Single Serve Coffee play guitar, drums, and other instruments, and we've all longed for the perfect coffee table for our jam space. We think we've found it - the Fender Stratocaster Coffee Table. You don’t need to be able to play the guitar to enjoy this, and a cup of single serve coffee is going to look amazing on it right after you finish a good 20 minute jam with your coffee drinking friends.
Quick Coffee Picks: Fratello Brazil Santos Premium Coffee Pods
It's been about 2 years since we last had a really interesting rich cup of Brazil Santos coffee. Back in 2005, we reviewed Podhead's Brasil Santos, and it was one of the best coffee's we'd had in the single serve coffee pod world. Now Fratello has another extremely tasty and interesting cup of Brazil Santos coffee for your single serve coffee pod brewer. Made from some of the finest Brazilian coffee - you can expect a very sweet, mellow coffee with a bite in the mouth of amazing flavor.
More Tassimo from Bosch Sightings - Pictures and Video
SH from Canada is at it again with even more interesting thoughts on the new Tassimo designed and created by Bosch. He's noticed a Flickr gallery of photos taken by one of the bloggers at the Tassimo Bosch brunch event.
The blogger's name is Cyril Attias and he has a ton of pictures:
From SH: Notice anything missing? No water run-off spout! Unless the spout has been moved further below so that it's covered by the cup stand, I'll take a wild guess that maybe this new Tassimo no longer leaks water. Remember, this is all just pure speculation on my behalf. Also interesting, water reservoir is the width of the machine (explains how they made it 2L) and it appears there's holes integrated into the lid so that you can fill water while the lid is still on.
Starbucks Caffè Verona Coffee T-Discs for Tassimo System
We've yet to officially review the Starbucks Caffè Verona T Discs for Tassimo, but you can read our earlier reviews here and here of two other Starbucks T Discs. Like the other coffees we've had from Starbucks for Tassimo - the Verona T Discs produce excellent coffee. These also come packed in - 2 - 12 count boxes for just $19.99.
These T Discs will work in the Tassimo TA1400 and TA1200 hot beverage systems.
Reading the phrase, "I Am Not A Paper Cup" - makes one think paper cups around the world have somehow become sentient. Well, that's not the case, but you can be assured making all things a bit more planet friendly and eco-safe is the way even paper cups are headed. This rather interesting double walled porcelain cup has silicone top and looks just like the cup you throw out each day at Starbucks. This cup howeve ris eco-friendly and reusable, plus you can put it in your dishwasher safe.
Review: Wicked Winter Blend Extra Bold K Cups for Keurig
We've been sampling the Wicked Winter Blend Extra Bold K Cups for Keurig over the past week. These K Cups are not only extra bold - but extra sweet in flavor and profile. The Wicked Winter Blend Extra Bold K Cup brings together Indonesian coffee with Central and South American beans. The result is a toasty, very caramelly cup with a chocolate body, and an explosion of nutty sweetness in the finish.
What we like? This is Green Mountain's first-ever seasonal coffee offered as an Extra Bold, with 20% more coffee in every K-Cup, and it' Fair Trade too. And you can really taste the difference in each cup.
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February 2008 Round-Up for Single Serve Coffee
February was the month of all things 
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Review: Keurig B130 Single Serve Coffee Maker for Hotels and Small Businesses
