• Simple & Quick
• The Coffee Pods
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Simple & Quick

Many people would agree that the worst part of brewing a cup of coffee is cleaning up after the grounds. Senseo avoids this mess by using packaged pods. The user can choose to make one or two cups of coffee by choosing between a shallow one pod holder or a deeper two pod holder.

This system is ideal for anyone who enjoys a brewing a basic cup of coffee without any fuss. The machine itself is almost foolproof. Anyone—even children or people with a limited range of motion—can operate it. The various components detach easily and rinse clean with water. A freshly brewed cup takes less than a minute.

This is not a coffee connoisseur’s machine. You are limited to pods branded by the manufacturer and some other brands. Unlike with espresso pods, the finer beans sought by aficionados are not yet available for this system—although this may change with increasing market penetration of the Senseo.

That being said, the pods that are available make a perfectly fine cup of coffee—as good as you’d get at the average restaurant—and we’ve been happily drinking it and serving it to guests—who like it—for a month.

Taste Test: The Coffee Pods

After a thorough tasting of all the Senseo blends—made in Belgium by Douwe Egberts, a Dutch coffee roaster founded in 1753—we found that the best choices were the unflavored coffees. The mild, medium, dark and decaffeinated roasts delivered as expected, and were equally tasty. Unfortunately, the recently introduced (Spring 2005) line of International Flavored coffees does not measure up as well. Paris, a vanilla-flavored blend, and Vienna, a hazelnut-laced brew, were lightly flavored; drinkable but nothing special compared to other flavored coffees. Killarney, which held the promise of Irish cream, definitely fell below par. We didn’t taste the compatible pods made by Folgers, Maxwell House, Melitta and Millstone; but through experimentation you may find your perfect brew.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 2007: Since our initial review, Senseo has added a variety of blends: Brazil, Colombia and Sumatra, and a Cappuccino flavor. The Cappuccino just doesn’t work: both coffee and milk are included in the same pod, and if anyone has had success in making anything that resembles cappuccino, we’d like to hear from you. However, we have discovered two companies that make excellent coffee pods: Cool Beans and Java One. Read our review of these coffee pods for the Senseo and other single-serve machines.

Part of the Senseo’s charm lies in the froth called crema (photo above) that tops each cup of coffee, as you’d expect with an espresso but never with a regular cup of coffee. Senseo uses a mild-pressure brewing process, and the crema is formed when the coffee passes through the frothing chamber—an added bonus not provided by standard machines.

Aside from a limited choice in gourmet coffee pods, the main drawback the Senseo system is that a standard mug doesn’t fit under the spout. Evidently, mugs are not popular in Europe, since nothing larger than an eight-ounce can be used. You can make two eight-ounce cups at once; but if you like to drink your coffee from a large mug, you’ll have to pour the coffee from the standard cups into the mug (i.e., this system isn’t for you). This system also isn’t for big coffee-drinking families or voluminous drinkers who chain-drink cup after cup, unless money is no object; because it it will end up costing you five times as much for coffee. On the other hand, the neatness factor may be worth it to you, as well as the convenience of letting everyone choose his or her preferred blend (caf/decaf, flavored/unflavored).

• Simple to operate, with the neatest clean-up imaginable (the pod is almost dry when finished and it doesn’t drip like other pod systems we’ve tried).
• The fastest way on earth to get a basic good, brewed cup of coffee.
• Takes up less counter space than other coffee makers.
• Great for home, small office, or dorm.

And it’s a combination of efficient and cute. You’ve just got to like it.

SENSEO COFFEE MAKER

• Coffee Maker Starter Set
  Machine at right with pods, canisters Raven Black, Red, Senseo Blue or White
  $69.95 (suggested list price)
• Senseo Coffee Pods
  UNFLAVORED
  Brazil Blend, Colombia Blend,
  Mild Roast, Medium Roast,
  Decaffeinated, Medium Roast,
  Sumatra Blend,
  FLAVORED
  Killarney, Vienna Hazelnut
  4-packs of 16 to 18 pods (70 to 72 single- serve pods)
  $14.99 at Senseo Store
• Cappuccino Pods for the Senseo
  Machine
  $14.99 for 4-packs (40 pods)
• Individual packages
  $4.99-$5.99 at retail stores