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.
I love your honest review! I would LOVE this coffee maker! I am the only coffee drinker in my household and I spend way too much money at Starbucks. Yikes!
Posted by: Marie | 01/09/2011 at 10:49 PM
My coffee maker just broke down am now using percolator from my camping supplies..YUCK...Would love to win this...Cant afford a Tassimo I'm a student...PICK ME
Posted by: Trisha | 01/09/2011 at 10:50 PM
Thanks for the pros and cons in your review. And thanks for this offer!
Posted by: Cammie harris | 01/09/2011 at 10:50 PM
have been wanting to go with a single cup coffee maker that is easy. My pour old traditional one doesn't get used much now because there is no time in the morning to mess with it. But I'm a coffee addict and getting coffee out costs a fortune. This would be a welcome relief on the ole budget!
Posted by: Moria Harmon | 01/09/2011 at 10:51 PM
I would love, love, love the Tassimo T20 Coffee Brewer!!!!
Posted by: Sarah Ruiz | 01/09/2011 at 11:01 PM
Sure could use one of these!
Posted by: Manny Ruiz | 01/09/2011 at 11:02 PM
This sounds really great for the fact there is no wasted leftover coffee remaining in the pot. I've been looking for one like this. Have to have that coffee in the morning and after dinner!
Posted by: Beth Rose | 01/09/2011 at 11:02 PM
Oh how I live for and love my coffee!
Posted by: Ruthie | 01/09/2011 at 11:03 PM
I would love this as I am the only one in my house that drinks coffee and I have been dreaming of being able to brew just one cup at a time!
Posted by: Maria | 01/09/2011 at 11:18 PM
I would LOVE this!
Posted by: Maura | 01/09/2011 at 11:27 PM
I love your blog! Thanks for your honest review of this coffee maker. I've always wanted one! Please enter me into the contest. Thank you!
Posted by: Shei Fortunato | 01/10/2011 at 12:15 AM
It would be nice for my afternoon, one-cup pick up. Now that I have read your starkly honest review, however.....hmmmm. I won't just die if I don't win.
Posted by: Melissa Benson | 01/10/2011 at 12:28 AM
This is a great review & giveaway - thanks! I would love an espresso maker with a larger water tank - super feature! Also like that it makes various beverages and has an adjustable cup stand.
Thanks again!
karen
theartofheart [at] cox [dot] net
Posted by: karen | 01/10/2011 at 12:29 AM
This would be heaven if I won this. I have been oogling this coffee maker on Amazon but I'm a poor one. Pick me please. :)
Posted by: Dee | 01/10/2011 at 12:48 AM
This would be amazing to win.
Posted by: Stephanie | 01/10/2011 at 01:17 AM
Mmmm...since I'm re-doing my basement office/craft space this would be a great addition since it will help me avoid my children by not having to go upstairs for refills ;)
Posted by: Heather S. | 01/10/2011 at 01:26 AM
This is a great coffee maker, i had one a few years ago , but it got broken when we moved house :(
it was the best morning coffee ever and my kids loved the hot chocolate..,
i would love to have another tassimo :))
Posted by: michelle taylor-headon | 01/10/2011 at 01:48 AM
As I am the only coffee drinker in my home, I tend to just stick to instant rather than go to all the bother of fresh coffee. But the instant really is a poor substitute. So, I put one of these on my birthday wish list but still failed to get one. Guess this will be my only chance for a long while. So fingers crossed! x
Posted by: Andrea Ellwood | 01/10/2011 at 02:13 AM
Great review. Like the pro's and con's. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Angel S. | 01/10/2011 at 02:18 AM
Read the reviews, would love to win this!
Posted by: caroline mcclellan | 01/10/2011 at 02:49 AM
I just discovered disk coffee at work and love it!!!! Pick me!
Posted by: Kristin swartz | 01/10/2011 at 02:51 AM
bring on the caffeine, please!
thanks for the chance!
Posted by: erica | 01/10/2011 at 02:56 AM
pick me!!!! I would love to try and blog about your product!!! thx for the consideration!
Posted by: dorothy miller | 01/10/2011 at 03:19 AM
Coffee. 'Nuff said.
Posted by: Ingrid O'C | 01/10/2011 at 03:19 AM
My brother and sister have one of these and I've wanted one ever since using theirs. Since they live in different states it would be nice to have my own :)
Posted by: Jamie | 01/10/2011 at 03:28 AM