The Tassimo Hot Beverage System is solidly built and dispenses a wide variety of specialty coffee selections and other hot beverages with the touch of a button. Made by Saeco International with technology developed by Kraft Foods, the Braun Tassimo Hot Beverage System is designed to satisfy each person's beverage preferences by creating one cup at a time. Whether you prefer tea, espresso, cappuccino, latte, hot cocoa or plain old java, this machine delivers your beverage of choice quickly and without fuss.

The unit consists of a silver and black igloo-shaped base that stands approximately 16 inches tall and has a 10X15-inch footprint. The machine has an adjustable cup stand, drip tray and removable 68-ounce water chamber (enough to make about six to eight beverages). The cup stand can accommodate different sized cups, from demitasse espresso cups to oversized travel mugs.

The Tassimo uses a unique T DISC brewing mechanism, which features microprocessor technology that actually reads the bar code printed on each disk and adjusts the brewing functionality accordingly. What's nice about the T DISC is the ability to customize each beverage; designed exclusively for the Tassimo machine, each T DISC is a perfectly measured blend of coffee grounds, tea leaves, cocoa flavorings or real liquid milk sealed in a disposable plastic wrapping. An assortment of T DISC can be found online and cost between $7-9 (plus shipping) for a package of 14 discs. A line of Starbucks-branded T DISCs is launched in December 2007.

We were surprised at how authentic the espresso drinks tasted. The espresso itself is boldly flavored with a nice layer of foamy cream on top. With the addition of a liquid milk disc, you get a creamy layer of froth to blend into your cappuccino or latte drink, without the hassle of using a steam wand or frothing attachment. We also like the fact that you can mix and match different T DISCs to achieve a truly custom blend. For example, mixing an espresso disc, a cappuccino disc, and a hot chocolate disk produces a tall cafe mocha.

The machine is remarkably uncomplicated, and each beverage takes less than a minute to prepare. You simply choose your disc, insert it face down in the disc holder and press the start/stop button to begin brewing. There is a short heat-up phase, followed by a "ready to brew" signal. Based on the bar code on the T DISC, the machine employs the precise water quantity, brewing time and temperature specified for that beverage. The Hot Beverage System makes a moderately loud humming sound during brewing, but nothing we'd consider bothersome. There are several indicator lights -- standby, heating, manual, and auto.

One of the real advantages to using this unit is the freshness it provides. Because each disc is individually prepared and sealed, there's no blending of flavors and no messy cleanup; you simply remove and throw away the used disc. The machine also comes with a cleaning T DISC, which can be used to run an intensive rinse cycle.


Pros: Cup-at-a-time brewing, wide variety of beverage choices
Cons: Only works with Tassimo T DISCs

Warranty
2 years, limited