What would you say if a very nice person marketing Bosch Tassimo T20 coffee brewers emailed you and was all, Hey, do you want a free coffee maker for yourselves and one to give away on your blog? You'd be be all, heck yes! Send it over!
Yeah, that's what we said. We live in Seattle, after all. We love our coffee. And we covet shiny, new brewers.
So, a few days before Christmas, a large box containing a gorgeous, gleaming, black machine showed up on our doorstep. Complete with two hefty packages of T-discs.
This is where the needle bounces across the record though, because neither of those packages happened to be decaf. Scriiitttccchhh.
We are the weirdos who can't have caffeine, lest we jitterbug ourselves through the day and a whole night, too. Because we are delicate daisies who are super sensitive to stimulants. Don't get us wrong, we ADORE coffee. The ritual, the smell, the flavor. We like it black and strong. But we have to have unleaded.
Before we could break in the new brewer, we had to set out to find decaf T-discs. And, while many of our favorite companies support T-discs, like Starbucks and Seattle's Best, the only decaf we could find at one of several local stores we tried was Maxwell House. Hmph. Okay. Maxwell House is drinkable. We'd go with it for a couple weeks.
And that’s exactly what we did.
In all honesty, we have mixed feelings about this Bosch Tassimo T-20.
Pros:
• It's pretty. And did we mention shiny? And it doesn't take up much counter space.
• The T-Discs are convenient as all get-out. You just pop one in, and, when you’re done, pop it out and throw it away. No filters to fumble with. No sloppy coffee grounds to compost.
• It's quiet. And fast.
• The water tank is large enough that you don't have to fill it after every cup or two. One tank should be good for at least five 10-ounce cups.
• The cup stand is adjustable so you can brew a small amount of coffee or a large, 16-ounce mug full.
• The Tassimo T20 is not limited to simply making coffee. You can make hot chocolate, espresso, cappuccinos, tea, lattés, and, get this, caramel macchiatos.
Cons:
• Lack of decaf T-Discs, at least locally.
• Plastic T-discs. We like convenience as much as the next person, but not at the expense of adding more to landfills.
• There's virtually no way we know of to make your own T-Discs with your coffee of choice.
(With Senseo, at least, which has it's own list of pros and cons, believe you me, you can make your own pods (with paper filters) and it's much cheaper and better tasting than being a slave to the store-bought pod.)
• Our husband said the latté, made via a clever set-up wherein you use a milk disc and an espresso disk to brew lattés, tastes like "machine coffee". It is machine coffee, of course. But we can dream.
Our reservations aside, a whole lot of folks love the Tassimo T20. All you have to do is the read the reviews on Amazon to see for yourself.
So, since Bosch has kindly offered a Tassimo T20 to one Half Assed Kitchen reader in the U.S. (sorry, no exceptions), leave a comment on this post by Wednesday, January 12th at 10 p.m. PST to be entered to win.
Transparency statement: I received my Tassimo T20 in exchange for a review and all opinions expressed in this blog post are my own.
Good luck! We'll choose our winner at random and announce who it is on Thursday, January 13th.
Updated: The winner of the Tassimo T20 is Amyella. I'll be emailing you shortly.
Oh my...I would love to see the Tassimo T20 replace my tiny little 4-cup wonder!
Posted by: Lori Jeske | 01/09/2011 at 10:10 PM
My husband and I have different coffee tastes and both love OUR coffee. With the Tassimo T20 we will be happy coffee drinking campers.
Posted by: Wendy Shea | 01/09/2011 at 10:10 PM
Thanks for offering this chance to win! I've recently started thinking about getting a single cup brewer, but wasn't sure where to start. I appreciate your review!
Posted by: Melodye M. | 01/09/2011 at 10:11 PM
Half-Assed Kitchen, the sun rises and sets on your blog. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for making me feel less guilty for not cranking out a five-course gourmet meal every night while juggling two jobs, three children, one husband, and two hyper dogs. Sometimes just getting dinner on the table will suffice, and I feel completely validated because of your site. I AM NOT ALONE!
Posted by: Jennifer D. Stern | 01/09/2011 at 10:11 PM
I love your honesty about the machine...and I love my coffee too. Luckily, I can do the caffeine, and I like it! =)
Posted by: Margie Nelson | 01/09/2011 at 10:12 PM
I would love to have this machine. It looks so much better than the 1 cup brewer I have now!
Posted by: Yonttotoo | 01/09/2011 at 10:15 PM
Ooooooh coffee coffee coffee...yes please!!!
Posted by: Sally M. | 01/09/2011 at 10:15 PM
Well never had a coffee machine, instant all the way here...help me change that!!
Posted by: Nina Paavonpera | 01/09/2011 at 10:16 PM
Love your blog! I so desperately need a new coffee maker!
Posted by: Brenda Bradford | 01/09/2011 at 10:16 PM
I have a BUNN, and I love it but sometimes it would be nice to only make 1 cup! Here is to a great HONEST review and who knows, maybe for once I will win something!
Posted by: Bobbi Allison | 01/09/2011 at 10:16 PM
I am the only coffee drinker in the house, so it is senseless for me to use a huge coffee pot (I only drink 1 or 2 cups a day). I am tired of reheating coffee in the micro because I don't want to waste it, but in turn I end up pouring it down the drain anyway because it tastes so bad. I too drink decaf (only because I am nursing right now) and have been looking at this system for awhile (just haven't had the funds to purchase it yet) and have noticed that Gevalia makes a decaf as well. Although I do LOVE my caramel macchiato's form starbucks and I noticed that they have this as well. So, needless to say, I would love to win this as I love my morning, and sometimes afternoon, cup of coffee. Thank you for giving me the opportunity.
Posted by: Amy | 01/09/2011 at 10:16 PM
Love your blog, it's honest & fun. Would love to have a Tassimo T20!
Posted by: Melissa H. | 01/09/2011 at 10:16 PM
I would really love to have this! I'm a single parent and one cup at a time is perfect for my needs.
Posted by: Cajundharma | 01/09/2011 at 10:17 PM
Great blog!!!! This looks like a great coffee maker; hope to have the opportunity to have my own!
Posted by: Denise Ellington | 01/09/2011 at 10:20 PM
Yes, please!
Posted by: Kris | 01/09/2011 at 10:21 PM
I'd love to have one of these! I've had experience with one before and I agree that anything made with the milk T-disks tastes like liquid cardboard, but it's still convenient and cool. Also, I think Nabob has decaf.
Posted by: Ada | 01/09/2011 at 10:22 PM
JAVA! Thanks Half-Assed for a great blog and this contest. It would really help me out with homework!
Posted by: Matt | 01/09/2011 at 10:24 PM
Thank you for your review on the Tassimo T20 coffee maker. My husband drinks regular coffee & I drink decaf. Having this would be so much easier for us to be able to enjoy a cup of coffee together, drinking what we prefer.
Posted by: Janet Corbin | 01/09/2011 at 10:28 PM
I love the Half-Assed blog! I would love a chance to have a Tassimo T-20. I'm a 5th grade teacher and I need all the coffee I can get. I love Starbucks but I'm not always able to partake on a teacher's salary. Thanks for the opportunity for a chance.
Posted by: Sharon | 01/09/2011 at 10:31 PM
I have been coveting the Tassimo for ages! I've tried the Senseo. I've tried the Keurig, yet that Tassimo keeps showing up making
Me want it!!
How cool that Tassimo is helping us all be a little more half assed in our morning routine!'
Posted by: Jennie B | 01/09/2011 at 10:31 PM
Oui merci :)
Posted by: Nini | 01/09/2011 at 10:33 PM
My 10 year old AEG Coffee maker just broke so i would love a new one :-) Thanks for this wonderful opportunity!!
Posted by: Audrey Schelan | 01/09/2011 at 10:35 PM
Awesome! Sign me up.
Posted by: Gretchen Knaggs | 01/09/2011 at 10:38 PM
I have no coffee maker at this time. It's Dunkin' Donuts or Starbucks or nothing. I would like to have this coffee maker!!!
Posted by: Anna Dixon | 01/09/2011 at 10:42 PM
Oh I hope I can win this my poor little coffee pot screams when I turn it on
Posted by: Donna Thompson | 01/09/2011 at 10:44 PM