Ok, so I hate the new Tassimo "improved" latte milk pods...

JohnN

JohnN

Suspended / Banned
Messages
6,359
Name
John
Edit My Images
Yes
Well the title says where I'm coming from - I liked them before but now I just don't :(

There are a couple of problems, firstly I'm lazy - I really like the pop in a pod and let it do its thing (I online game so like to just press the button and grab it when its done), so no frothers or manual faffing... I like hot chocolates and chai lattes, so that could be restuctive.

So my options....

1) Give up on coffee at home
2) Go for Dolce Gusto (automatic) - it should do it all in theory
3) Go for Nespresso and look to compatible pods.

Now as I understand it (not being an expert at all), with Nespresso the initial machines can be quite expensive (as I'd need the Lattissma range to do the milk for me), but afterwards the coffees much cheaper (23p per drink vs around 50p on the Tassimo), and theres a £75 voucher thing going on - although I have seen a used Lattissma EN860 pretty cheaply but am a little wary as its used...

That said the Golce Gusto seem pretty much what I'm used to.

I have to say I'm tempted with the Nespresso but £210 (link) is a big whack to fork out, but then the Dolce Gusto at £75 (link) is so much cheaper....

What are your thoughts\findings if you've compared.
 
A cafetiere, a nice bag of coffee and a bottle of milk.

About a quarter of your costs, result!:banana:
 
True, but you forgot the lazy bit ;). Filters, bah...
Plus not so great for hot chocolate or lattes.

Gotta live a real first world problem :)
 
Watching this...I've been after one for ages but want a 'no flaffing about ' one..
Also kids like hot chocolate so a do all is good
 
Nespresso machine and s separate aerator for your milk will be cheaper.

Genuine Nespresso capsules are around the 35p each - give or take. Compatible ones are cheaper, but be sure they'll work - I tried some snd they were a plastic body construction and yes they worked, but you really had to put force to close the lid, whereas the genuine ones are a foil body, so easy to close....

I've no regrets with Nespresso and there are some very nice coffees there. :)
 
Cg_Girl said:
Watching this...I've been after one for ages but want a 'no flaffing about ' one..
Also kids like hot chocolate so a do all is good
Click to expand...

Nespresso don't do hot chocolate, although they've a Christmas limited edition chocolate ginger coffee out, which is very nice
 
andyred said:
Nespresso don't do hot chocolate, although they've a Christmas limited edition chocolate ginger coffee out, which is very nice
Click to expand...

That does sound very nice...

I'll have to make sure I look into what I'm getting. My last one was great, not a pod one but had the milk frother arm which was ace, only downside was I think it was espresso as you could only get tiny cups under it....
 
andyred said:
Nespresso machine and s separate aerator for your milk will be cheaper.
Click to expand...

That it is but a bit of a faf, plus extra washing up (I have one somewhere that doesn't get used).

Annoyingly I've seen some hot chocolates but they're imports from the US (link), the other ones look to be mocha variants.

Thanks for the heads up on the pods, I didn't realise there was much in it between foil and plastic bodies but I guess if they get squashed a little in there to keep their seal there could be.
 
Cg_Girl said:
That does sound very nice...

I'll have to make sure I look into what I'm getting. My last one was great, not a pod one but had the milk frother arm which was ace, only downside was I think it was espresso as you could only get tiny cups under it....
Click to expand...

Oh yes much so.

Pop into Nespresso store and you can try one for free :)
 
Latte = milk + microwave.
Stir in coffee with a cold dry spoon and it froths up nicely. :)

Get a proper mug full too. ;)
 
JohnN said:
That it is but a bit of a faf, plus extra washing up (I have one somewhere that doesn't get used).

Annoyingly I've seen some hot chocolates but they're imports from the US (link), the other ones look to be mocha variants.

Thanks for the heads up on the pods, I didn't realise there was much in it between foil and plastic bodies but I guess if they get squashed a little in there to keep their seal there could be.
Click to expand...

Don't forget though, you'll still need to clean the Latisimo milk side if you opt for that.

The aerator is very easy to clean - honest :)
 
JohnN said:
True, but you forgot the lazy bit ;). Filters, bah...
Plus not so great for hot chocolate or lattes.

Gotta live a real first world problem :)
Click to expand...

What filters are they then?o_O

Just need to clean out the cafetière every year or so.
 
lol, you live and learn - I though they used filters :)
 
andyred said:
Don't forget though, you'll still need to clean the Latisimo milk side if you opt for that.

The aerator is very easy to clean - honest :)
Click to expand...
Oh god yes, imagine not steaming it though before the first cup... yuk!
 
andyred said:
Nespresso machine and s separate aerator for your milk will be cheaper.

Genuine Nespresso capsules are around the 35p each - give or take. Compatible ones are cheaper, but be sure they'll work - I tried some snd they were a plastic body construction and yes they worked, but you really had to put force to close the lid, whereas the genuine ones are a foil body, so easy to close....

I've no regrets with Nespresso and there are some very nice coffees there. :)
Click to expand...

Bukeela mmmmmmmmmmmmm. Love my Nespresso!
 
What is it about the new ones you don't like, John? I've found that the milk needs stirring up before adding the coffee but so did the old ones. Being a heathen, I add some vanilla syrup to it and I can't tell the difference between the old and new having done a back to back blind test. I do like the reduction in packaging that the smaller milk pods allow as well as the reduced space the empties take up before getting delivered to the place that recycles them. (For Tassimo users who aren't aware, the pods and foil packaging can be taken to some places and if there's a charity involved [our local collection place is an RNLI shop], the charity gets 2p per item that's being recycled.) Not sure if any of the Latte options still use the big pods.


Cg_Girl said:
Watching this...I've been after one for ages but want a 'no flaffing about ' one..
Also kids like hot chocolate so a do all is good
Click to expand...

The Cadburys hot choc option for the Tassimo is delicious but a faff - 2 pods again. The Suchards version is even nicer but the pods need to be warmed before use - we keep ours on a radiator!

viv1969 said:
Latte = milk + microwave.
Stir in coffee with a cold dry spoon and it froths up nicely. :)

Get a proper mug full too. ;)
Click to expand...

A Tassimo Latte overflows a standard mug.
 
Nod said:
What is it about the new ones you don't like, John? I've found that the milk needs stirring up before adding the coffee but so did the old ones. Being a heathen, I add some vanilla syrup to it and I can't tell the difference between the old and new having done a back to back blind test. I do like the reduction in packaging that the smaller milk pods allow as well as the reduced space the empties take up before getting delivered to the place that recycles them. (For Tassimo users who aren't aware, the pods and foil packaging can be taken to some places and if there's a charity involved [our local collection place is an RNLI shop], the charity gets 2p per item that's being recycled.) Not sure if any of the Latte options still use the big pods.




The Cadburys hot choc option for the Tassimo is delicious but a faff - 2 pods again. The Suchards version is even nicer but the pods need to be warmed before use - we keep ours on a radiator!



A Tassimo Latte overflows a standard mug.
Click to expand...

Odd. Mine has never filled a standard mug which is the main reason it's gathering dust in a cupboard.
What was I doing incorrectly?
It's an original MK1.
 
I use the Costa latte pods and they overflow most of my mugs (I have a couple of 3/4 pint mugs which they don't quite fill as well as some latte glasses which just hold one serving.)
 
@Nod why 2 pods? And are they at different intervals? I have no idea how these pod ones work.

I do remember my eldest saying he'd had the suchards at how nice it was
 
With the pod machines, is it possible to try different beans & roasts?

If not, the chances are that you'll get bored of the coffee again and a few months down the line you'll have another expensive white elephant sat in the kitchen.

If you don't want to go for a method that uses real beans (whole or pre-ground) then if I were you I'd stick to instant coffees.
 
Last edited:
IIRC it's a milky one and a choccy one - too much of a faff for us, hence us now using the Suchards ones which are a single (thick and gloopy!) syrup. None of them are really a cheap option but oh, so easy!!!
 
ZoneV said:
With the pod machines, is it possible to try different beans & roasts?

If not, the chances are that you'll get bored of the coffee again and a few months down the line you'll have another expensive white elephant sat in the kitchen.

If you don't want to go for method that uses real beans (whole or pre-ground) then if I were you I'd stick to instant coffees.
Click to expand...


Several options for the Tassimo. Costa, Carte Noir and others, with a few options from each. IIRC they're all Kraft brands. FWIW, we've got a couple of "proper froffy coffee" machines up in the loft, sitting beside the filter machines and the little espresso aluminium stovetop things.
 
Nod said:
Several options for the Tassimo. Costa, Carte Noir and others, with a few options from each. IIRC they're all Kraft brands. FWIW, we've got a couple of "proper froffy coffee" machines up in the loft, sitting beside the filter machines and the little espresso aluminium stovetop things.
Click to expand...

Yes, I guess everyone's different.

Personally, I've had the same stove-top moka pot for years and still use it very often. I like the fact that I can choose any bean and roast (I roast my own too sometimes) so the possibilities are endless.

They're a classic old tried & tested design. Apparently every Italian grandmother has a stove-top moka and by God they know their coffee! If it's good enough for them then it's good enough for me.
 
Last edited:
lol, a few replies.

@Nod Its the flavour and consistency - I've done the pod shaking and so on and just don't like it and I'm far from alone - check out the facebook page and the comments under the new and improved press release. I will confess I managed to make one out of a full box that wasn't awful, but I didn't do anything different from the time before, so no idea whats going on - fool that I am I'd bought a couple of boxes too :(

@ZoneV I didn't get bored they changed the formula to one I don't like, so hopefully the elephant herd should stay pretty small :D

Regrading cup sizes I got a Costa cup with mine and that fits well, also a few glasses from Aldi if I recall correctly and they're pretty much spot on too - just a case of looking at the ml's when buying.
 
ZoneV said:
Yes, I guess everyone's different.

Personally, I've had the same stove-top moka pot for years and still use it very often. I like the fact that I can choose any bean and roast (I roast my own too sometimes) so the possibilities are endless.

Apparently every Italian grandmother has a stove-top moka and by God they know their coffee! If it's good enough for them then it's good enough for me.
Click to expand...

Yes the proper stove ones are awesome.. My ex in laws were Italian and you always got the best coffee....well that plus homemade wine and amazing dinners :D
 
Cg_Girl said:
Yes the proper stove ones are awesome.. My ex in laws were Italian and you always got the best coffee....well that plus homemade wine and amazing dinners :D
Click to expand...

Mmmm, I can imagine. :)

I'm going to have to grind some beans. Right now.
 
One other good thing about the new ones - they don't seem to burst in the packaging and leak! Had about 10 of the milk pods in one delivery from Amazon burst and half a dozen or so in another batch as well as a couple in a pack from both Tesco and Sainsburys. Amazon replaced the whole order (3 boxes of 5 packs!) the first time and refunded one box the second time and the supermarkets also replaced - all absolutely no quibble.

John I don't do the farcebook thing so haven't read the comments but have just looked at the Amazon reviews. Maybe they'll listen and change them back! Looked at the Carte Noir latte comments as well and it seems that they're new and improved as well... Looks like Jacobs and Kenko might be the same.
 
neil_g said:
wait, what? every year? I always rinse the wire mesh and clean the pot after use.
Click to expand...

Me too, then I leave it full of cold water.

However, no need for a Brillo and pressure washer until a year of use!:rolleyes:
 
ZoneV said:
With the pod machines, is it possible to try different beans & roasts?
Click to expand...

In a round-about sort of way you can with the Tassimo. Once you've used a pod, keep it (leaving it to cool down - I normally leave it till the next day) and drill a hole in the side of about 9-10mm. Tap the used coffee out, and use a funnel to put your choice of coffee in. Fit the rubber bung and away to go. It is a bit of a faff, so probably not an option for the OP (and I've not tried it with milk lol).

I did buy a couple of pre-done ones with starbucks coffee in them but the seller hasn't listed anything for a while. Started doing my own now and experimenting with different pods and different coffees. I love Illy dark roast done in a Carte Noir Cafe Long Delicat Pod. delish :love:.
 
@JohnN I have some Chai Latte's here which I tried but don't like tbh. Not sure how many there are but if you'll cover the postage you're more than welcome to them...? They are the old style milk pods btw as I've had them since August last year :oops: :$. Tried our local FB selling sites but no one wants them lol.
 
ViciC said:

In a round-about sort of way you can with the Tassimo. Once you've used a pod, keep it (leaving it to cool down - I normally leave it till the next day) and drill a hole in the side of about 9-10mm. Tap the used coffee out, and use a funnel to put your choice of coffee in. Fit the rubber bung and away to go. It is a bit of a faff, so probably not an option for the OP (and I've not tried it with milk lol).

I did buy a couple of pre-done ones with starbucks coffee in them but the seller hasn't listed anything for a while. Started doing my own now and experimenting with different pods and different coffees. I love Illy dark roast done in a Carte Noir Cafe Long Delicat Pod. delish :love:.
Click to expand...

Custom refills? Brilliant. :D

I imagine it's very handy for folk who want the convenience to be able to buy them and pop them into their machine but if you're making the refills yourself, wouldn't you be better off just using a "proper" coffee machine like a Gaggia or whatever?
 
Last edited:
ViciC said:
@JohnN I have some Chai Latte's here which I tried but don't like tbh. Not sure how many there are but if you'll cover the postage you're more than welcome to them...? They are the old style milk pods btw as I've had them since August last year :oops: :$. Tried our local FB selling sites but no one wants them lol.
Click to expand...

That is really kind, but I'll be moving away from Tassimo so it'd be a waste, again though really appreciated and a very nice offer.
 
ZoneV said:
Custom refills? Brilliant. :D

I imagine it's very handy for folk who want the convenience to be able to buy them and pop them into their machine but if you're making the refills yourself, wouldn't you be better off just using a "proper" coffee machine like a Gaggia or whatever?
Click to expand...

It depends on my mood, amount of time I have, and where I am lol. I have a Bodum One Cup thing where there is a filter/cup which sits on top of a cup and lets the hot water flow through the coffee, great on my days off when I have the time. The Tassimo is perfect for work days when I am in a rush having to get 6year old to school as well (loving my travel mug lol). I also have a combined Filter, espresso and Cappucino machine at work. Yes, I like coffee lol.

I tend to do the refills in batches, makes it a bit easier time-wise. I find it quite a relaxing routine iyswim. Grind beans (if necessary), line up my pods, measure out, fill 'em up.

@JohnN No problem. Damn, I thought I'd managed to get rid of them then lol.
 
For coffee I use a cafetiere cylinder, a long spoon and a separate fine sieve, then just pour the well stirred coffee through the sieve into a cup.
For horlicks , chocolate or ovaltine I just make it in a mug with a thorough stir.
no faff no fuss no problem. Just quick and easy.
The quality comes from the ingredients you buy, not elaborate contraptions.

Special Tip.... if you tap the edge of the sieve with the edge of the cafetiere, it drains through instantly.(that is science)
 
I don't think Coffee tastes as nice as it smells, only Coffee I really enjoyed was what my mum made in her old percolator. As kids we loved watching the Coffee glug glug inside the glass dome :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top