Does anyone have experience with the Senseo coffee makers? It seems like it brews coffee the same way a coffee shop I worked at a few years ago brewed (press brewed), and I really loved that coffee. However, I haven’t had any opportunity to try any made with it. Anybody have one of these? Do you think it’s worth the price? Any recommendations on what type of coffee to use in it?
A friend of mine has one of these things. She brewed me a beautiful cup of coffee in it once (Medium roast)! I’ve thought about getting one, but I haven’t yet found myself willing to shell out $60 for it. As far as the type of coffee to use, you have to use the pods, but there are several different varieties. And I’ve also heard you can make your own pods or use other brands, although I’m sure Senseo doesn’t recommend it.
We’ve got one at my office. I don’t think it’s really like a coffee press; the grounds are packed somewhat tight in there, but the hot water seems to be forced through them rather sitting there in the pot with them (which is why I don’t like press-pot coffee). I’m not sure how it works exactly, but the coffee comes out foamy somehow.
It’s wonderful and I, as an extremely heavy coffee drinker*, recommend it.
*Meaning “I drink coffee heavily,” not “I drink coffee and I am heavy.”
I like mine. Though it would be nice if the amount you made could be adjusted. You either get 2 cups or 1. Not sure if it’s a real 8oz. Two cups fills up a pretty big mug.
I’m not a coffee snob at all, but I will say I think it makes good joe.
Ah, so this wonderful Dutch invention has finally made it Stateside? Designed in close cooperation between Philips and Douwe Egberts (coffee brand), I think over a five year period. Easy to clean, very nice detacheable water reservoir, and it looks very pretty.
I had one of the first series, back in 2001 when I got my house. I asked my dad to get me one as I liked the way it looked and since I don’t drink coffee myself, that and the fact you can quickly make one cup or more, without having to open a separate pack, really makes it perfect for me and more importantly, my guests.
There are a lot of different tastes and yes, more than just the ‘official brand is available’. And no, as far as I know, they don’t warn against using other brands.
Pads generally turn out to be a little more expensive than in traditional machines, so if you are a heavy coffee drinker and want to save money, I don’t recommend it.
Also, I noticed that outside of the Netherlands, even in European countries like our neighbour Germany, pads are often much more expensive than here. So ask your Dutch friends to bring you some if you can, or it might be worthwhile to see how expensive sending some packages over by slow mail is. 
Thanks all! It looks like I’ll be getting one of these little guys once I get a job, then.
It also appealed to me because my fiance doesn’t drink coffee, so I don’t really see the point to having a big coffee maker around when I’ll fill it halfway at most. We also have very few guests who will want coffee, so a pot isn’t useful for that, either. I have a 4-cup coffee maker, but I think I got spoiled by the press-brew.
Why not just get a French press? I got one because I dont’ really like coffee but I wanted to be able to make it for guests, so I got a Bodum press and a grinder, because the whole beans keep longer. I didn’t want a big appliance in my small kitchen, and I didn’t want something that might not work if I haven’t used it in awhile. They’re inexpensive and, even for somebody who doesn’t like coffee, they make one hell of a good cup of coffee. Mine just makes enough for one.
Another Dutchie chiming in. As an espresso fan, I wholeheartedly HATE the Senseo hype. Not going to blame Arwin, as he’s not a coffee drinker, but I’ll take my fresh espresso (Illy) from my Saeco 15 bar espresso maker, thank you very much.
My parents own a Senseo, and while it’s not BAD coffee, it’s nowhere near a good espresso.
IMHO. 
We have one in the office. I love the smooth creamy coffee it consistently churns out. Get one.
I have one. I read some terrible reviews of it on a coffee snob website, so I almost didn’t buy it, but I’m actually pretty happy with it. No, it’s not as good as a freshly made coffee drink from an espresso machine, but I don’t have the time to do that except on weekends, and I’m damned if I’ll brew a whole pot of coffee with my regular drip machine when I can only take one cup with me to work. The Senseo makes me one cup, fast, and it tastes better than instant crap. I personally prefer the flavored varieties, whether they are made specifically for the Senseo machine (the Parisian flavor is my favorite) or are by another company (Yuban makes a good hazelnut flavor). And they’re a little more expensive than bulk coffee, but cheaper than buying it at Starbucks (or your preferred substitute).
Flavoured coffee! :eek:
Jus’ kiddin’, carry on.
I have one already, it’s not the same type of coffee that I’ve had from the Senseo-type coffee makers.
From Senseo’s website:
But it seems others have had luck with other brands. Senseo probably says this because they want you buying their pods.
Hmm… I’m looking up at these Google ad links all advertising Senseo coffee makers… and I can’t… resist…
[QUOTE=YaWanna]
And they’re a little more expensive than bulk coffee, QUOTE]
::: follows link at bottom of page:::
Lets see, pod sampler 20 cups of coffee $9.99. :eek:
A little more expensive? Right, and World War Two was just a minor disagreement among friends.
Christ, the way I drink coffee, this sucker would put me in chapter 11 in months.
[QUOTE=Rick]
Ehm, even from one of the Google ads you can get it a lot cheaper … :
And of course here in the store (in the Netherlands) I pay euro 5,99 … for 72 pads.
So I don’t know where you’ve been looking, but it shouldn’t be that bad.
Ooh, I’ve wanted of these for ages. May have to ask for one for Christmas, without telling my boyfriend who “doesn’t think we have the counter space.” Pah.
I have a Senseo machine, and I like it, but I like my Bunn My Cafe machine better. The Senseo works best with the Douwe Egberts pods which make a mediocre cup of coffee at best and you only get a 4oz cup per pod. A few other brands of pods work somewhat well with the Senseo, but the taste is about the same and still only 4oz/pod.
I found that there are better pods, but they don’t work well with the Senseo. Brands like Baronet, Green Mountain and others make pods with more variety and better quality coffee. And, although they are slightly more expensive than the Douwe Egberts, they are packed with more coffee (10gm as opposed to the DE’s 6gm). The 10gm pods will make 10oz of very tasty coffee in the right machine. So, on a per ounce basis, the 10oz pods are less expensive than the 6ounce DE’s. I chose the Bunn My Cafe machine because it accepts all pods and will output 2,4,6,8,10, 12 or 14 ounces of coffee (it also brews tea very well). In my opinion the Bunn is better constructed and less prone to problems (my Senseo vapor locks once in a while). The downside is that the Bunn is more expensive (~$175). Also, the Bunn does not form as much foamy crème on top as the Senseo, but I find the crème somewhat gimmicky so I don’t mind its absence.
Mr. Tibbs
I have a Flavia model SB100 (www.myflavia.com). It uses its own patented vacuum-sealed packets; I like it a lot.