Single Serve Coffee

Review: Nescafé Taster's Choice Single Serve Instant Coffee Packs

2010-02-09T12:18:36Z

With the recent arrival of some new Nescafé Taster's Choice Single Serve Instant Coffee Packs, it can only mean it's time for another one of our "mega reviews". Apologies in advance to our readers if this article seems rather long, but we're reviewing over 6 different flavors at once, so keep that in mind.

As we had previously noted, we always thought of Taster's Choice coffees as being something along the lines of our parents' bland freeze-dried crystals and the brand itself has been around since forever, but it appears they've taken a new competitive approach towards Starbucks' VIA instant coffees as they claim the samples they sent us were made from 100% pure coffee beans and their marketing is obviously aimed against Starbucks.

The main difference between these Taster's Choice packs and the VIA packs would be the amount of hot water required to brew a cup... Nescafé only calls for 6oz in order to obtain maximum flavor. Add any more and you risk watering-down the taste. Further evidence they're taking aim at Starbucks is present when you take a look at the sample sleeve as it asks what would you rather have? "A lot of hype" or "A lot of flavor"? Need further proof? Check out the clever ad video they have posted on their site (see link at bottom of review)

So, DO these packs offer a lot of flavor? Let's have a go at all 6 to find out. We won't use our usual scoring scale for this review but will instead provide our general impressions/likes/dislikes for each flavor.

Taster's Choice Original

The tried & true "old timer" of the bunch. This is the classic original Taster's Choice flavor which has been around since our parents started drinking it back in the '70s. Nescafé even claims they're the original "inventors of instant coffee" and a quick Googling of "World's first instant coffee" yields a Nestlé page showing that they did indeed introduce the World's first commercially-available instant coffee in Switzerland back in 1938. So with such history & family tradition behind it, we naturally had to start our review with this flavor.

The granules of Taster's Choice coffee from the packet.

The granules are the same stuff you can get in the glass jars at most supermarkets and as expected, the flavor still tastes somewhat watered down despite using the recommended 6oz. Billed as between mild & medium roast, this one is definitely more on the lighter side of things with a slightly sour finish. Not what we were hoping for, but for those who like the original flavor, this is bang-on identical to the jar variety but in a more convenient "carry anywhere" format. We think only the die-hard fans of the brand will care for this flavor.

Taster's Choice Decaffeinated

This is the same as the original, minus the caffeine. What more can we say? On the bright side, they did manage to capture the same flavor as their "original" without making it taste any further watered-down than it already was. The taste profiles and characteristics are pretty much identical. Once again, we feel the die-hards will prefer to use this as their decaf option.

Taster's Choice Gourmet Roast

Billed as their "boldest, darkest blend" between medium & dark roast, we were expecting a bold aroma & taste. Aroma-wise, we found the scent to be a bit bolder than the original but nothing out of the ordinary. It all but disappeared a few seconds after we stirred the cup. As for flavor, this is indeed bolder than the "original" but still nowhere near what we'd get from a K-Cup. That might be comparing apples to oranges, so we won't hold Nescafé too much at fault here since we don't usually drink instant coffees in the Single Serve Coffee kitchens.

After all, a look on the Nescafé site does show this as falling between medium & dark, so we suppose it can't really be considered a true dark roast. Flavor is somewhat woodsy/smoky with a VERY faint hint of mocha undertones. Finish is less sour than the "original" likely due to reduced acidity. Unfortunately, as far as bold flavor goes, we hate to say that Starbucks VIA has them beat.

Taster's Choice 100% Columbian

Labeled as having the taste of 100% pure Arabica, this flavor turned out to be 10x stronger & bolder than the aforementioned "gourmet roast". If ever there was a bold flavor in this lineup, THIS is it & it's definitely more in line for what we were hoping for. The aroma put us off at first since bizarrely enough, it came across as somewhat oily, but the taste more than made up for it. Lots of smoky notes here with dark, almost molasses-like characteristics throughout.

If we had to pick an unflavored selection as our favorite out of the bunch, this would be our top pick. We had some orange-infused almond cantuccini (mini biscotti) with a cup of this coffee and the flavors blended together quite well. Acidity was a bit more pronounced but still in check. Finish was smooth overall. Yep, we're really liking this flavor a LOT and will likely use the coupon from the sample pack to purchase a box for when we're on the go. Really not bad for an instant coffee & given the past 3 flavors, way above our expectations. Good job Nescafé!

Taster's Choice Hazelnut

We've had some bad experiences with flavored instants in the past... some REALLY bad experiences which make us cringe just thinking about them. We're glad to say this experience was a little bit better. While not overbearing, the flavoring is rather on the sweet side of things (hmm... maybe we should have saved our cantuccini for this flavor?) but the hazelnut flavoring is too bland for our liking... we felt like there should have been a bit more flavoring and less sweetener. At least the aroma was spot-on full of rich hazelnut scents, but the texture of the grounds however was not the same as the previous flavors... this was more a mix of the crystal-style bits and a micro-grind powder (the flavoring or sweetener perhaps?)

The overall flavor was just a bit too light for our tastes. After searching the website for nutritional info, we found out that the artificial sweetener in these flavored varieties is ace-k (acesulfame potassium), something some coffee drinkers might not care for. If that doesn't bother you, then you'll find that the hazelnut flavor is complemented by very faint hints of caramel and low acidity. The finish was clean with little aftertaste.

Taster's Choice Vanilla

The second of the flavored varieties, this offering is also sweetened with ace-k and is done much in the same style as the hazelnut flavor, however, since some of us here at the Single Serve Coffee kitchens don't care too much for vanilla, the milder flavoring actually appealed to us and we found ourselves enjoying the flavor more than the hazelnut. Bizarre, yes, but totally unexpected.

Sweet vanilla scents are present in the aroma while as noted, a light vanilla flavoring is present throughout. Once again, low acidity and a clean finish are present with little aftertaste. Those of us who actually prefer vanilla were in the same boat as the hazelnut crowd, wishing that more flavoring had been present.

Overall conclusion

Overall, we think this is a hit or miss venture by Nescafé which will appeal more towards its already established fans & perhaps those who have never tried or those who are curious to see just how this stacks up to the VIA packs. The strongest flavor, being the 100% Columbian, was a welcome surprise while the flavored varieties such as Vanilla & Hazelnut will definitely appeal to the fans' wishes for a flavored version of Taster's Choice which they can now carry anywhere.

The 2 advantages these packs have over Starbucks VIA? No micro-grit at the bottom of the cup when you're done drinking it! There's nothing more disconcerting than to see something which was supposed to be 100% soluble turn out to be the exact opposite, so Kudos to Taster's Choice on that front. The main advantage & reason we still recommend giving these packs a try has to be the price. Not only because Nescafé is offering free samples (see below) but mainly due to the fact that you won't go broke buying them at your local supermarket if you decide to do so.

Do these Taster's Choice varieties beat Starbucks VIA offerings? Price & grit-wise, definitely but strength & boldness-wise, no. We still think the VIA flavors are the darker & bolder of the bunch which taste more like traditional coffee without any watered-down taste. Still, you shouldn't let that fact deter you from at least giving these flavors a try. Who knows? Maybe you'll end up preferring them over the VIA after all. Everyone's tastes are different & we have a feeling most readers will prefer more exotic offerings such as Trung Nguyen's G7 lineup (see our review here), so we can only suggest you use this review as research towards your purchase and not "the final word" on the product.

In closing, we would like to thank Nescafé for sending us these sample packs for the purpose of this review. You can find more info about Taster's Choice Single Serve Instant Coffee Packs via their official website at Smart Choice where you can even register to receive a free 6-flavor sample pack of your own (while supplies last).

USB Powered Travel Mug Keeps Your Coffee Warm

2010-02-08T12:35:00Z

This travel mug can use the power from one of the USB ports on your computer or usb hub to keep your coffee warm. It also has a 12V car adapter to keep beverages warm in the car, so when you're on the go you can stop worry about ice cold coffee (unless you are drinking iced coffee). The Electronic USB Travel Mug fits most drink holders, and the mug holds 16 ounces of your favorite beverage. This features a spill-proof lid, and the rubberized handle makes for a comfortable hold. Works with both PC and Macintosh computers and is USB ready.

At Random Good Stuff at Taylor Gifts

Cuisinart SS700 Single Serve Brewing System Pictures

2010-02-05T12:59:03Z

We've got a ton of pictures from Bed, Bath, and Beyond to share with you on the Cuisinart SS700 Single Serve Brewing System that uses K-Cups. This brewer comes with a charcoal water filter, and has a My K-Cup reusable filter stored away in the side of the brewer. The Cuisinart SS700 Single Serve Brewing System is compatible with all K-Cups including the coffee, tea, and hot cocoa K-Cups. Pricing is set at $199.99.

We should have one of these brewers to review very soon, so stay tuned in the mean time enjoy the pictures.

The controls look very familiar, and you can see it has an
Iced-coffee setting.

Look for a this box if you want the Cuisinart SS700 Single Serve Brewing System.

The brew chamber takes K-Cups and the My K-Cup
reusable coffee filter.

The side has a push and pop open My K-Cup stored
within.

Pac-Man Hot/Cold Coffee Mug - 8-Bit Coffee Action

2010-02-04T12:42:23Z

Somedays the stars align to create the perfect coffee mug, and today is one of those days. The Pac Man coffee mug is blank when cold, but then shows you Pac Man and ghosts when the mug is hot. We love the 8-bit style graphics, and long for the days of table top arcade games at your favorite pizza palace. There is also a Space Invaders version, but in we're a bit more partial to Pac Man.

Via Random Good Stuff at Think Geek

Keurig B150 and B155 Touch Screen User Interface Single Serve Coffee Brewers

2010-02-03T12:28:33Z

The Keurig Commercial Series B155 is specially designed for use in small to medium sized businesses, medical offices and home offices and offers more ways to personalize the coffee brewing experience. It includes a new one-of-a-kind, interactive touchscreen interface that allows users to walk through a variety of functions, and an easy to fill, removable water reservoir - their largest at 90 ounces - can make up to 18 cups of coffee before needing a refill.

Like all Keurig brewers, the B155 uses Keurig's patented K-Cup portion packs eliminating the hassle of grinding beans, measuring coffee, handling filters and messy clean-up while brewing a gourmet cup of coffee or tea in less than one minute. With over 200 different coffee, tea and hot cocoa options to choose from, everyone in the office can find something they want to consume.

The B155 is available through a Keurig Authorized Distributor, or online at www.keurig.com for $249.95. Make sure to check them out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/keurig to enter their Photo Contest to win a year's supply of K-Cups (through Feb 7.)

You'll need a small to medium business to purchase one, but we like the giant reservoir, and we think the touch screen interface will be a welcome addition to the single serve coffee world. We should have one of the B155's to review soon.

Update: Several readers have written in and it appears you can order one of these regardless of being a small business owner. So if you need the features - you can enjoy the B155 in your home as well.

Keurig Introduces First Single-Cup commercial Brewers with Touch Screen User Interface

Mid-Size Office Models Provide New Features to Personalize Gourmet Brewing Experience Reading, Mass. (February 2, 2010) - Keurig, Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) and a leader in gourmet coffee brewing both at home and at the office, is enhancing its commercial brewer product line with the introduction of the Commercial Series B150 and B155 brewers. The versatile brewers are specially designed for use in small to medium sized businesses, medical offices and home offices and offer even more ways to personalize the coffee brewing experience. The new models include a one-of-a-kind, interactive full-color touch screen that allows employees, clients and patients to customize the temperature and strength of brew to their liking. "We designed the new B150 and B155 brewers specifically with small to medium-sized businesses and home offices in mind," said Dave Manly, General Manager, Away From Home division for Keurig, Incorporated. "The Commercial Series B150 and B155 make it easy to choose, brew and enjoy the perfect cup of coffee in less than a minute, with virtually no mess to clean up. The interactive touch screen allows users to tailor their cup of coffee and walks them through the simple brewing process step-by-step." Like all Keurig® Commercial Series brewers, the B150 and B155 provide offices the ability to deliver fresh, gourmet coffee with ease. The full-color, interactive touch screen interface with step-by-step instructions in English, French, or Spanish makes it easy for even new Keurig users to enjoy. Additional features of the B150 and the B155 include:

A variety of brew sizes and strength options to please everyone's tastes. The B150 brews five different cup sizes - 4 oz., 6 oz., 8 oz., 10 oz., and 12 oz. and the B155 brews four different sizes - 4 oz., 6 oz., 8 oz., and 10 ozA 90 oz. water reservoir that makes up to 18 cups and is Keurig's largest available reservoirA UL-rating for household and commercial useA drainable internal hot water tank for easy transport and storageEnergy Saving Program which allows brewers to turn off automatically two hours after the last cup is brewedAbility for the whole office to choose from a wide variety of coffee, teas and cocoas offered by over a dozen of the world's finest coffee brandsCustom accessories to keep coffee stations looking put-together and organized The B150 allows for greater placement options in an office as it also features a direct-line plumbing option that eliminates the need to refill the reservoir. The B150 is available through a Keurig Authorized Distributor. The B155 is available through a Keurig Authorized Distributor, or online at www.keurig.com for $249.95 and also includes a variety pack of 12 count K-Cup® portion packs.

Cuisinart Keurig Brewer Materializes at Bed Bath and Beyond

2010-02-02T12:28:54Z

Update: We've received several pictures and we'll have more details this week with a full feature set of this new Keurig Cuisinart Brewer

That's right - reader Chris has written in to tell us the new Cuisinart Keurig Single Serve Coffee Brewer has materialized at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

From Chris:

Hey guys, just a heads up -- stopped by Bed Bath & Beyond today and noticed that they're now selling a Cuisinart Keurig brewer. It's $199, has an iced drink mode, has a dedicated hot water button, and comes with a 12 K-cup sample pack.

Have you seen this mysterious new Cuisinart Keurig Single Serve Coffee Brewer anywhere? Have you seen it at Bed, Bath and Beyond? If so - send us in a picture and we'll post it right away.

January 2010 Monthly Round-Up for Single Serve Coffee

2010-02-01T13:14:11Z

January 2010 was another month of amazing single serve coffee news and reviews. We're looking forward to the rest of 2010 and all the new single serve coffee stuff to come. If you're new to our site and single serve coffee you can also follow Single Serve Coffee each month on Facebook and Twitter for the latest single serve coffee news, reviews, and deals.

Coffee Concentrates & Extracts

Taster's Choice Single Serve Coffee Packets Arrive for Review

Coffee Cups & Travel Mugs

Coffee Gadgets & Accessories

Coffee Tables

LED Illuminated Coffee - You Pick the Design

Espresso Pods

Review: MyPressi Twist Portable Single Serve Espresso and Coffee Maker

General News

Keurig & K-Cups

Monthly Round-Up

December 2009 Monthly Round-Up for Single Serve Coffee

Nespresso

Review: Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker and Milk Frother

Portable Single Serve Coffee

Reviews

Senseo

Senseo Single Serve Supreme Coffee Machine Returns

Single Serve Coffee Machines

Review: MyPressi Twist Portable Single Serve Espresso and Coffee Maker

2010-01-29T13:06:26Z

Portable and easy to use espresso machines are all the rage, and the MyPressi Twist is the latest in this growing category of single serve coffee and espresso. The folks behind MyPressi Twist lent us one for just over a week to try and use for this review. It's very much like the Handpresso, except it uses N02 cartridges instead of a built in pump. We've been big users of our Handpresso over the past year, and having seen the MyPressi was hoping for an improvement over the Handpresso or perhaps something different that it would offer. What did we find?

The MyPressi is on the left and the Handpresso is on the right.
The MyPressi is much heavier and larger.

What we found compared to the Handpresso is a much more complicated device that essentially does the same job. There are 5x the amount of parts and things to make the same shot of espresso and the Handpresso is much lighter and more environmentally friendly requiring only a little muscle to pump it versus using NO2 cartridges in the MyPressi Twist - but more on that later.

How the MyPressi Twist Works

How does the MyPressi Twist work? To operate the mypressi TWIST, simply insert a cartridge into the pressure chamber, fill the basket with fresh ground coffee or a coffee pod, and fill the upper compartment with hot water. With a simple pull of the trigger the TWIST produces one or two shots of espresso perfection ready to be enjoyed alone, or as the base for any coffee beverage. The TWIST has an easy-to-clean design that is also dishwasher safe, ensuring even after months of use that there are no left over oils to oxidize or spoil subsequent shots.

All the parts - but the brew head needs to be
dissembled to pull a shot each time.

That's how it works, but is it easy to use and setup? No. We found the the parts you had to fit together to be like some kind of crazy espresso maker puzzle. The MyPressi Twist head unit contains a ton of part from the ESE pod holder, to the base, to the top you put water in - to sealing the chamber - just endless puzzles, and when you're dealing with hot water - not fun.

Just some of the parts that make up the brew head. You
need to redo this sandwich making process of brew head and
espresso pod each time.

You may think us crazy, but the Handpresso only has one thing to take off and on - the part that holds the espresso pod or grounds. It much simpler with you pouring in the water, putting the pod in the holder and screwing it into place. The MyPressi is similiar but then there's also the N02 cartridge, and the weight.

After finally getting it put together we pull a shot.

The MyPressi Twist is 2x the weight and heft of the Handpresso making it really heaving to hold in your hand to support the large brew chamber.

How good is the Espresso from the MyPressi Twist

Honestly once you figure out the crazy puzzle of getting it together, filling it, and then pouring a shot, the espresso produced is quite good. Is it better or easier than the Handpresso - alas no. They are on par with each other, with a slight edge on the Handpresso for just being 5x easier to use and repeat the process.

The result is a very nice shot of espresso.

We tried a variety of ESE pods from Starbucks to Illy - the results were all good. But yes - we are beating a dead horse here - using the MyPressi is just not as fun or easy as the Handpresso - and the mess with water and filling was also quite noticeable over using the Handpresso for the same number of shots. Also because the process takes longer to turn over, the brew temp of the espresso shots varied much wider than the HandPresso.

Conclusions

You're going to have to spend $149 or so for the MyPressi Twist, and you'll only pay $88 or so for the Handpresso. You won't have to buy refills of N02 cartridges for the HandPresso, but you don't have to pump the MyPressi as it uses the N02 cartridges to produce the pressure needed to pull a shot of single serve espresso. It's a trade off, but the Handpresso is so much lighter and easier to use, we'd rather pump a shot any day over having the bulk and mess of the MyPressi Twist and it's complicated brew head puzzle.

At MyPressi and MyPressi Twist

Caribou Coffee Mahogany K-Cups - Molasses Flavored Bold Coffee

2010-01-28T12:30:57Z

We were told about this amazing K-Cup over the weekend by our loyal Single Serve Coffee reader and friend Len. He described the K-Cup as simply the richest and boldest K-Cup he's had in quite some time. So we purchased some earlier in the week, and they arrived yesterday. Len was dead on. The Caribou Coffee Mahogany K-Cups produce a bold molasses, spice and semi-sweet chocolate cup of coffee combined with a very bold dark base. We simply love this coffee, and we think you will too. The Caribou Coffee Mahogany K-Cups are available fresh from the roaster when you order them direct online.

These K-Cups will work in your Keurig Elite B40 Brewer, Keurig B50, Keurig Special Edition Ultra Elite B60, Keurig Platinum B70 Brewer, Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer, and other Keurig K Cup brewers including the Keurig Mini B30.

At Caribou Coffee Mahogany K-Cups

DIY Magnetized Coffee Sleeve - Stick On Coffee Cup Sleeve

2010-01-27T12:38:41Z

The magnetized coffee sleeve started out as an attempt to create a plastic, magnetized cup holder that would let you stick your cup to the nearest available metal surface. However that seemed to be a bit much given coffee cups you get at Starbuck's or other coffee nooks, so it came to be more of a reusable sleeve with magnet features.

You can easily make your own version of this by snagging reusable coffee sleeves online, or making your own with perhaps some strips of fabric. All you'll need to do is attach a couple of strong magnets, and insert your favorite coffee beverage in a cup.

Via Lifehacker at Magnetic Coffee Sleeve

Coffee Quotes App for iPhone and iPod Touch

2010-01-26T12:30:27Z

Looking for some memorable quotes for coffee talk? There's an app for that. The Coffee Quotes App includes quotes by famous politicians, celebrities, random people and anonymous coffee lovers. The developer even has one of their own quotes , "Behind every successful iPhone developer is a substantial amount of coffee."

We downloaded this app for iPhone and have to say - it's neat. You simply push to see the next quote, and the quotes are solid. The developer promises to add more coffee quotes in the future, and the app is only $.99.

At Coffee Quotes and Sayings

Newman's Special Blend Extra Bold K-Cup

2010-01-25T10:42:18Z

We've not had the pleasure of sampling this hearty, full-bodied blend of medium and dark roasts from Newman's Own Organics, but we're anxious to. Supposedly bold yet refined. Strong, yet smooth. This coffee is Fair Trade Certified, organic coffee and now available in an 80-count box. If you don't want 80 K-Cups, there is also a 24 count box available. We'll see if we can drum up some of these K-Cups to review soon.

At Newman's Special Blend Extra Bold K-Cup - 80 ct

Taster's Choice Single Serve Coffee Packets Arrive for Review

2010-01-22T12:43:08Z

In our mind here at Single Serve Coffee, Taster's Choice represents the original instant coffee in a packet. Starbuck's VIA is the new kid on the block, but is Taster's Choice as good as this new kid? We'll let you know as we sample Taster's Choice this week and also some more Starbuck's VIA. We were also never sure what exactly Taster's Choice was growing up besides something instant, but according to the web site it's 100% pure coffee.

The big factor here is price - with Starbuck's VIA at around $.83-1.00 a cup, Taster's Choice single serve packet's will only set you back $.25 per cup of single serve coffee. There's also more variety with Original, Decaffeinated, 100% Colombian, Gourmet Roast, Vanilla, and Hazelnut, but like we always say - it's going to depend on if the flavor and taste is there. We'll have a full review soon.

At NESCAFE TASTERS CHOICE

Senseo Single Serve Supreme Coffee Machine Returns

2010-01-21T12:26:17Z

Unavailable until recently, the Senseo’s Supreme Single-Serve gourmet coffeemaker boasts an array of improvements designed to enable the consumer to further personalize their coffee experience at home. We really liked the Senseo SL7832/55 Single Serve Supreme Coffee Machine, and it's nice to see this more upscale model of the Senseo available again. The Senseo Supreme coffeemaker enables consumers to select their desired coffee size by using an interactive LCD display.

Unlike the original Senseo coffeemaker that brewed a maximum of 8 ounces, the Supreme can brew up to 10 ounces. The Supreme model also comes with an adjustable spout, which can raise and lower to accommodate different size mugs. You'll also be taking less trips to refill the reservoir because the Senseo Supreme features a 33% larger water reservoir - which means you can now generates four 8-ounce cups from a full tank. The Senseo Supreme is only available in chrome silver.

At Senseo SL7832/55 Single Serve Supreme Coffee Machine - [SSC Review]

Top 10 Best Selling Single Serve Coffee Makers - January 2010

2010-01-20T12:36:07Z

We've been crunching the numbers for our Top 10 Best Selling Single Serve Coffee makers and machines, and 2010 is bringing some surprises. Keurig is still dominating the top 4, and you'll notice the Senseo single serve coffee pod brewer is finally on the list. The Tassimo TAS 65 has also shown up on the list right behind the Tassimo T45 Suprema model. Also a newcomer to the list is the Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker and Milk Frother.

Do you think these coffee makers represent the best selling or the best? What single serve coffee makers do you think should make a best of list regardless of sales? Sound off in the comments and let us know.

If you'd like to see a list of all the single serve coffee makers we've reviewed - check our Single Serve Coffee Maker Reviews roll-up. You may also want to check out our Cost Per Single Serve Coffee Cup: Coffee Pods, Keurig K Cups, Tassimo T Discs, and Nespresso Coffee Capsules article.

LED Illuminated Coffee - You Pick the Design

2010-01-19T12:33:29Z

We like anything LED, and now we can finally own the coolest LED thing on the planet - a custom designed LED coffee table. You can switch out any graphic and choose whatever you want on the top. LED lighting is also customizable using interchangeable filters. You need to pay a hefty price for such coolness: £2000.00 (or £2500.00 for custom image) and get it from SUCK UK.

STAINLESS STEEL AND TOUGHENED GLASS
Independently controlled illuminating table top and down light.
Built in power connection.
Select your own colours with interchangeable filters or choose graphics for the table top (union Jack or whatever you want!).

Via HomeTone at SUCK UK

Poem Coffee Cup and Saucer - Write Your Coffee Opus

2010-01-18T10:52:51Z

We're always wondering where our pen has gone when we have a cup of single serve coffee, and this coffee cup fixes the issue. This cup is meant for the list takers of the world and poem lovers, that sit down with their cup of coffee and write away (like ourselves). Perhaps the next version of this will have an iPhone dock to make it a little more modern - or perhaps the rumored Apple Tablet.

Via Foolish Gadgets at The Curiousity Shop

Review: EZ-Cup for Keurig Single-Cup Machines - Make Your Own K-Cups and Use Your Own Coffee

2010-01-15T13:01:17Z

The EZ-Cup and EZ-Cup Filters allow you to make refillable K-Cups with a filter sleeve that fits inside the EZ-Cup, and then fits into the brewing slot in your Keurig Brewer. Unlike the Perfect Pod Holster which allows you to use coffee pods in your Keurig brewer, the EZ-Cup allows you to use any ground coffee in your Keurig Brewer.

The EZ-Cup filter paper.

Update: Many readers have written in asking if you could use your Perfect Pod Holster with the filters. We have tried this and the spring inside the two different products is well - different. The Perfect Pod Holster has a very strong longer spring and the EZ-Cups is shorter to make room for the filter sleeve. We recommend buying the EZ-Cup and not trying to make the Perfect Pod Holster work. We did not get good results if we used the Perfect Pod Holster - it's for coffee pods not for use with the new EZ-Cup filter sleeve.

It's different from the My K-Cup reuseable K-Cup because you don't have to wash out a filter basket, after you're done filling the EZ-Cup and brewing, you simple open the top and pop out the spent filter basket made of paper. This makes disposing of the coffee grounds really easy, and the entire popped out coffee filter and coffee are able to be composted.

We've had the EZ-Cup now for a few weeks thanks to the folks at As Seen on TV Products sending us one to review, and we have tried a variety of coffee grounds with various success - all of the coffee produced being really quite good. We find the darker finer ground roasts to be our favorites.

How Does the EZ-Cup for Keurig Work?

In a nutshell - you're making a coffee pod in the EZ-Cup but it's a perfect match for the Keurig brewer instead of a real coffee pod pitched up inside the Perfect Pod holster. Pricing is $12.95 for the EZ-Cup and $4.95 50 EZ-Cup filters. You'll need to order both of these to start using the EZ-Cup System.

A filled EZ-Cup and EZ-Cup filter paper.

To make a cup of EZ-Cup coffee using your Keurig brewer you'll do the following:

Get the EZ-Cup and open it up. You'll notice the spring inside sits lower then it does in the Perfect Pod Holster because you're going to be putting the filter inside the cup.
Put a filter inside the EZ-Cup
Put your favorite coffee inside the filter inside the EZ-Cup
Close the filter top by putting the flap over the coffee
Replace the EZ-Cup lid and thus sealing the coffee inside the filter
Put the entire EZ-Cup into the brew slot and brew
After brewing open up the EZ-Cup and pop out the used coffee filter and coffee - no mess.

One thing of note if you have multiple Keurig users in your household - make sure they don't throw out your EZ-Cup by mistake. We've had to fish it out of the countertop trash can a few times because we're used to throwing away K-Cups.

A filled complete EZ-Cup ready to brew.

The EZ-Cup fits in the Keurig brewing slot just like a regular K-Cup.

Brewing is the same when using the EZ-Cup.

The used EZ-Cup filter can be thrown away easily or
used in your compost too.

The EZ-Cup is clean after use and is ready to go.

Conclusion

The EZ-Cup and EZ-Cup Filters are a perfect addition to your single serve coffee brewing setup allowing you to use your own coffee, and to have no mess doing it. The time to make a cup of single serve coffee using your Keurig brewer is slightly increased, but if you're set on making your own K-Cups, then this is easily the best method available. We like the eco-friendly nature of the EZ-Cup, as the spent coffee filter and coffee just pops out right into our countertop compost bin, and then is easily transferred to our larger compost.

The EZ-Cup will work in your Keurig Elite B40 Brewer, Keurig B50, Keurig Special Edition Ultra Elite B60, Keurig Platinum B70 Brewer, Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer, and other Keurig K Cup brewers.

At EZ-Cup and EZ-Cup Filters

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters - Success, K-Cups and the Environment

2010-01-14T12:33:15Z

We've had a number of readers write in regarding the lengthy article on Green Mountain Coffee and Keurig that was recently run in the Boston Globe. The article highlights the rise to single serve coffee prominence of the companies, along with the environmental issues regarding K-Cups not being 100% recyclable (though you can recycle the lid and the coffee plus filter within each K-Cup which the author seems to miss).

There's some really interesting facts including shipping brewers this past year with numbers of 2.3 million, and 1.6 billion K-Cups have been sold in the past year too - wowser. What we like is the history and we think you'll enjoy this read.

At The Boston Globe

Do You Heat Up Your Coffee Cup Before Making a Cup of Coffee?

2010-01-13T12:46:25Z

We realized that we're always heating up our coffee mugs here in the Single Serve Coffee test kitchen when reviewing coffee, or just having a cup of our favorite single serve coffee. Since we use clear glass coffee cups, we simply rinse the cup out a few times under our instant hot dispenser to get the temperature up so the coffee stays hot longer in the cup. Another method we have used with non-clear cups is to simply microwave a coffee cup that is microwave safe but tends to heat up.

Other methods include using the cup warmers on various machines when we have them out in the test kitchen. We often heat up all of our espresso cups using the cup warmer on top of our Nespresso cube or the like - or we'll use the steam wand on our Gaggia to also heat up a cup or two.

Do you do this? Do you heat up your coffee cup prior to use? Do you think it makes a better cup of single serve coffee? Sound off in the comments and you can let us know via Twitter and Facebook as well whether you practice the art of coffee cup warming.

MyPressi Twist Portable Single Serve Coffee Maker Arrives for Review

2010-01-12T12:27:22Z

We finally have gotten our little single serve coffee hands on a MyPressi Twist. What is the MyPressiTwist? Using a unique pneumatic engine, the sleek portable MyPressi TWIST eliminates the coffee-line wait, the high price tag for quality machinery and the on-the-road "where am I going to get my coffee" quandary. It's very much like the Handpresso, except it uses N02 cartridges instead of a built in pump.

The MyPressi is on the left and the Handpresso is on the right.
The MyPressi is much heavier and larger.

We'll have a full review soon.

At MyPressi and MyPressi Twist

Zipper Coffee Cup Mug

2010-01-11T12:20:14Z

We've seen some strange coffee cups in our time, but none with a zipper on the side. These cups are supposedly to be about bonding and a relationship, but we think they could just look cool too. You can purchase these in sets of 2 with 2 coasters included at $40 per pair through Molla Space.

Via Foolish Gadgets

Review: Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker and Milk Frother

2010-01-08T13:10:00Z

Nespresso has continued to expand it's single serve espresso and coffee offerings this year with the CitiZ line, and we're kind enough to send us along a test unit to review here at Single Serve Coffee. CitiZ Nespresso machines are sleek and have modern colors along with exceptional design lines that enhance not only your kitchen, but your coffee morning. We reviewed the CitiZ stand alone machine earlier this year, and we we're impressed. How much does the milk frother add to the equation and footprint?

We think if you're going to be using the Aeroccino a ton for making lattes and cappuccinos, having it integrated with the machine gives you a larger footprint, but the aesthetic is killer. It was hard to let this one go off the test kitchen counter, and the powder coated black frother blends nicely into the landscape of the coffee base.

Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker and Milk Frother Features Include:

Single-serve automatic espresso maker for use with coffee-filled capsules
Integrated Aeroccino Milk Frother
Automatic and programmable volume control
An energy-saving mode
1-liter removable water tank
Removable drip tray, and folding cup support (one position for a cup and one position for a macchiato glass).
The 1710-watt espresso maker and milk frother measures 14-3/5 by 9-2/7 by 11 inches.

Coffee Capsules for the Nespresso CitiZ

It's also good to note you can only use Nespresso coffee capsules with the Nespresso CitiZ. This is by design, and you'll also need to sign up for the Nespresso club to do you ordering or stop by a Nespresso boutique to get some new ones. Like the earlier review of the the CitiZ standalone we tried a variety of Nespresso capsules including the new 2009 Variations flavors - as expected all the espresso and lungo coffees we tried were excellent, and worked great with this machine.

Brewing a cup of Espresso or Larger Lungo Cup of Coffee

To begin you can fill the Aeroccino with the desired amount of milk and press the "start" button, open the lever, insert a capsule and close the lever, fill a glass with the hot milk froth and place the glass under the coffee outlet,. You then press the Espresso or Lungo button--and combine the two for a latte of your own making. The flow of coffee depends on the coffee variety selected, and up to 11 used capsules collect in the capsule container for later disposal.

We tend to stick with the size of the drinks the machine ships with by default, but this CitiZ is programmable if you like a little more in your cup when it comes to the larger Lungo sized drinks.

Conclusions

We really like the addition of the Aeroccino milk frother, and the integrated design is very pleasing. As with all Nespresso designs, you need to pick one that's fit for your coffee tastes and aesthetic. We think you can't go wrong with any of the Nespresso CitiZ given the small footprint on your counter, and the amazing coffee and espresso they provide.

At Nespresso and Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker and Milk Frother

Battery Powered Portable Espresso Machine - Portable Espresso

2010-01-07T12:45:40Z

Portable espresso is all the rage the last few years with entrants to the field like the Handpresso and the My Pressi. We do think this Espresso machine from Stelton looks pretty interesting, as the unit is battery powered, and runs on ESE pods to deliver a cup of espresso wherever and whenever you need it during your day. At a little under 180 GBP, or about $290US, the unit doesn't come cheap. Then again, what high quality espresso device does?

Via Single Serve Espresso at Stelton

Fair Trade Golden French Toast K-Cups - Breakfast in your Coffee Cup

2010-01-06T12:31:46Z

We love breakfast, and we really love breakfast in a coffee cup. Green Mountain Coffee has their mid-winter Seasonal K-Cups on sale right now which includes one of our yearly favorites - the Fair Trade Golden French Toast K-Cups (read our review here). With a fresh sparkle of maple syrups meets buttery coffee goodness, the Golden French Toast K-Cups will keep you coming back for more breakfast in your coffee cup each morning. The Wicked Winter Blend K-Cups are also on sale right now as well.

At Fair Trade Golden French Toast K-Cups

$850 Newco Coffee Pod Brewer - Uber Pod Coffee

2010-01-05T12:29:40Z

The Newco Coffee Pod Brewer is for commercial use,
but don't you just want one?

Newco's $850 Newco Coffee Pod Brewer isn't really for home use but it does have a ton of interesting features that might make you shell out big bucks just to have one at home. Also at 1750 watts of raw coffee pod brewing power, you'd better have this on it's own circuit and we think a big one. You can even use it as a hot water source for soups, and perhaps it even has warp drive.

One feature we really like that it has is the SMART brewer technology. The SMART CUP brewing system has been designed to allow for different brew settings for each kind of coffee or tea. Since all products are brewed the same way, the brew time greatly affects the taste of the drink. The shorter the brew time, the milder the beverage. you have the choice once you select the type of POD to select the strength. The individual POD holder, with its sensor technology, alerts the brewer to use the correct brew recipe for your beverage.

The SMART CUP brewing system offers the user three different strength selections (mild, classic & dark) based upon brew time and cup volume to produce three distinct taste profiles for each kind f coffee or tea pod brewed. The SMART CUP brewing system remembers the unique brewing recipes for up to 15 different pod holders.

Other Features include:

Easy programming with the lCD screen.
Brew strength buttons, brew it your way.
Hot water faucet for soups, hot chocolate, or tea.
Sensor technology knows what you are brewing.
Over fill lever alert.
Additional pod holder sizes available.
Magnetic Profiling Technology: Based on this patent pending technology, the Pod brewer automatically recognizes the beverage profile of the inserted cassette, extracting the perfect cup by optimizing the profile's three key aspects to brewing: water temperature, water volume, and water contact time.
Touch of Choice: Your customers' only decision is the strength of the beverage they choose. They can choose mild, classic or dark with the same amount of volume, with the single touch of a button.
Clean System: Open design, removable cassette and sink/dishwasher safe components allow for easy cleaning. Air flush system eliminates post brew dripping.
Single Cup and Thermal Container Brewing: Featuring "side car design". Our stand alone pod brewer has the modular convertibility to brew into thermal containers. Your customer can brew one cup at a time, 12 cups at a time or both at the same time. One brewer to fit both needs.
Commercial Quality: Stainless steel cabinet with proven tank system (large capacity) makes a true commercial brewer.

Via SingleServeCoffee.com Forums at Newco Pod Machine

iMac Meets Mac Mini with Single Serve Coffee Maker in the Middle

2010-01-04T12:31:10Z

Thought we'd kick off the New Year with something we'd thought we'd see in the year 2010 as youths - how about a single serve coffee maker with a computer all in one case? Yes! Klaus Diebel put together this incredibly useful device that will make your coffee, play some thumping tunes, and do your computing tasks as well. Now the single serve coffee maker in question that fits inside is the WMF - we've featured it before but have never used one. We'd like to think a mac-mini and coffee pod brewer housed in an imac is a great idea - but the you'd better not spill your coffee inside the computer or they'll be single serve coffee trouble.

Via TUAW at Klaus Diebel

December 2009 Monthly Round-Up for Single Serve Coffee

2010-01-01T14:34:49Z

Happy New Year! December 2009 was another month of amazing single serve coffee news and reviews. We're looking forward to 2010 and all the new single serve coffee stuff to come. If you're new to our site and single serve coffee you can also follow Single Serve Coffee each month on Facebook and Twitter for the latest single serve coffee news, reviews, and deals.

Classic Coffee Makers

Aeropress Single Serve Coffee Maker - Press Your Coffee

Coffee Cups & Travel Mugs

Unique Coffee Mugs for Your Caffeine Minded Friends and Self

Coffee Gadgets & Accessories

EZ-Cup for Keurig Coffee Machines - Make Your Own K-Cups and Use Your Own Coffee

Coffee Pod Reviews

Review: Indian Mysore Coffee Pods from The Coffee Artisan

Coffee Pods

Coffee Tables

General News

Home Cafe

Folgers Coffee Home Cafe Pods Classic Roast and Decaf

K Cup Reviews

Keurig & K-Cups

Krups Nescafe Dolce Gusto

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Single Serve Coffee Machine - Round and Funky

Mailing List Promotions

Newsletter Reader Theresa Wins Two Years of K-Cups from Single Serve Coffee

Monthly Round-Up

November 2009 Monthly Round-Up for Single Serve Coffee

Nespresso

Reviews

Senseo

Senseo Single-Serve Gourmet Coffee Machine Back In Stock at Amazon and Others

Single Serve Coffee Machines

Tassimo & T-Discs

Happy New Year and What Not to Do in the New Year with Single Serve Coffee

2009-12-31T14:30:52Z

We thought we'd share an article our good friend Jess sent in by someone who thought drinking 10 macchiatos in one day was a good idea. Come on people! Drinking too much of anything especially in one day is not good, but the article is very telling and very funny and worth the read on this day before the new year.

It had never seemed like a good idea. It had, in fact, always seemed like a terrifically bad idea. But with climb-the-mountain-because-it's-there logic, we kept talking about the idea until it became inevitable and the inevitable formed into a plan: 10 cafés, 10 macchiatos, one morning, by bike.

At A Terrifically Bad Idea by Elisha Cooper

Seasonal K-Cups and Cafe Express from Green Mountain Coffee

2009-12-30T14:55:53Z

For some of our readers new to the K-Cup world, we thought we'd let them in our two of our favorite single serve coffee offerings. One is the Seasonal K-Cups at Green Mountain Coffee. Each Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter Green Mountain offers special blends of K-cups to meet your seasonal needs. Right now Spicy Eggnog is our favorite, but soon in the seasonal K-Cups will change and we'll have to pick another

The other great offering over at Green Mountain Coffee is their Cafe Express program. The program allows you to sign up and have K-Cups delivered each month, thus leaving you to worry about what K-Cups to drink and not to order.

So check them out and get all your K-Cups needs met in the coming New Year.

At Seasonal K-Cups and Cafe Express K-Cup Club from Green Mountain