I’m really intrigued by the new “one cup” coffeemakers I’m beginning to see everywhere - you know, the home cafe , the Senseo and the Melitta One-One . You use a special little “java pod” instead of measuring loose coffee and the brewing process uses pressure instead of a percolate or drip method and this, supposedly, makes a really good cup of coffee.
Has anyone tried any of these? I don’t ever use my big coffeemaker but even the french press that I do use doesn’t keep my second cup hot, plus it’s a hassle to deal with the grounds. I am really thinking about buying one of these. But I kinda wonder if they’re worth it and whether they really make a good cup of coffee. I see these everywhere lately (even Target carries all the various brands), but I wonder if it’s just faddish or if it will catch on - I’d hate to buy one and then, a year down the road, have to abandon it because they don’t make them anymore and it’s impossible to find the little java pod thingies. And of course, since you do have to use these java pods, the per-cup cost increases. I think it costs $5-$6 to buy a package of 18 pods which is certainly not cost effective.
I’m reading in with interest as I’m in the market for a swish coffee machine for Christmas and my birthday combined. I have exactly the same issue with the French press.
My parents’ have one of those machines. I think the Senseo one, definetely one with the pod thingies. The coffee is just gorgeous IMO. You get the little creamy layer on top and it leaves my French press in the dust. Perhaps some coffee connoisseur will come in a say it’s rubbish, but I have been drinking decent coffee all my life and wouldn’t fault that machine for quality. They order the pods online and they arrive without a problem.
This system has been gaining popularity in Holland for a few years now. But of course there’s always the risk it will go out of fashion. Personally, I am looking into one but am veering towards a Gaggia Baby which also does one coffee at a time, but will let you use loose coffee. Even though the pods come in a variety of nice flavours, I’d like to be able hunt out and try out different coffees. I will probably end up cheaper and you don’t run any risk your supply becoming unobtainable.
I looked at them when I was in the market for a coffeemaker, and still think they’d be great for work, but I have the same exact concerns about the availability of the pods once the fad-ness wears off. What I really, really wish I could find again is the little “personal” coffee maker I had from Black & Decker; it was about 20 bucks, brewed fresh coffee directly into a stainless steel thermal mug. It was the greatest thing. Then in moving jobs, I somehow misplaced the basket and could never find a replacement; now I can’t find the unit at all, and haven’t seen any since. If I found one of those again, I’d buy it in a heartbeat.
It’s the whole pod thing that really makes me hesitant about this - every company makes their own pod and I can’t find any info. that tells me for sure that the pods are interchangable (i.e. that I could use a home cafe pod in my melitta). I want to buy the flavor/blend that I like and I don’t want to have to choose the machine based on which pods it offers.
I like the look of the Melitta best (lime green or red!), but I’ve heard good things about the Senseo, and I’d bet the home cafe would be offer the best chance for buying the coffee since both Folgers and Millstone are making pods for it.
If they want these things to catch on with home users, they had better make serious upgrades to the quality of the coffee - single-cup brewers have been around for years in offices. My experience with them has been less than fabulous - think of it as very consistent mediocrity.
I think you are thinking of a different thing altogether. Well, at the least the one my parents have is seriously high quality coffee. It does better than a French press with high quality coffee and much much better than a drip machine. I’m not saying there isn’t better out there, but this one is seriously not of the iffy office variety.
I don’tr know if they’re interchangeable with the one cup makers or not, but 10 years ago I was using little premeasured espresso “pods” in the espresso maker at the restaurant I worked at. I think these coffee pods have been around and will continue to be around for some time.
Where have I been? I have the Melitta dual-single cup coffeemaker and wonder if they would work in it also? I will have to look for them.
You can brew 2 single stainless/thermal mugs or one if you prefer. Problem occurs when you go to make coffee in the morning and realize the travel mug is sitting on your desk at work.
TellMeI’mNotCrazy - Yeah, I know. I meant that Melitta makes a similar coffee maker to the Black and Decker coffeemaker that you were describing - a single-cup “regular” coffeemaker that drips into a travel mug.
smartini See the links in my first post -there are at least three different companies (more than that, actually) that make these new single-cup coffeemakers that use some kind of pressure technique to brew the coffee instead of a percolate or drip method - instead of loose coffee and a filter, they all use these pre-formed “pod” things. Home Cafe’s site shows you what one looks like (http://www.homecafe.com/whatis.shtml ) I would assume they all look similar.