Single Cup Coffee Brewers — The differences
Coffee Cup Maker Single, Single Cup Coffee Maker
There are many types of Single Cup coffee brewers available in the market today. Each one has advantages and disadvantages. Clearly all make good coffee and are convenient, but some (in fact most) are closed systems that require you to lock into a fixed selection of coffees for the long hall. Below is a breakdown be brand:
Flavia (Filterpacks): Flavia Coffee machines use Flavia Filterpacks. There are currently 18 coffees and 9 teas. The product is only available from Flavia or thier distribution network. Current retail cost is about $0.39 for teas and $0.46 for coffees. On-line retailers may save you a few pennies a cup.
Advantages:
- Ease of use
- No flavor transfer
Disadvantages:
- Closed system - You can only use Flavia products
- Limited selection
Tassimo (T-Disks): Uses Tassimo T-disks, available through limited distribution. Over 40 coffees, teas and hot chocolates available. Multiple coffee and tea suppliers, includes brands like Starbucks, Gevalia, Twinings, Seattles Best and others. Current retail cost starts at about $0.49 for teas and runs up over $0.87 for select coffees. On-line retailers may save you a few pennies a cup.
Advantages:
- Ease of use
- No flavor transfer
Disadvantages:
- Closed system - You can only use Tassimo licensed products
- While greater selection than Flavia, still a limited selection
Keurig Brewers (K-cups): Uses Keurig K-cups. Available directly from Keurig, directly from roasters, through on-line retailers and some brick and mortar stores. Multiple coffee and tea suppliers including Tully’s, Caribou Coffee, Diedrich Coffee Roasters, Gloria Jeans, Timothy’s, Celestial Seasoning and RC Bigelow. Retail cost for for coffee and tea K-cups is currently $0.55 to 0.58 cents per K-cup (on-line reatailers are currently selling for about 15% to 20% less).
Note: Keurig technology is also licenced by Breville.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
- Closed system - You can only use Keuirg licensed products
Pod Brewers: Uses coffee pods made by a wide variety of roasters. Pods are an open standard that is still being settled, the pod size that fits the Senseo coffee brewer seems to be the standard that has emerged. Great coffee is now being roasted and packaged for these brewers.
With pods, the selection of coffees are wide. There is coffee for $0.20 per pod, up to over $1.00 per pod. To a great extent you get what you pay for…. The pods found in grocery and discount stores are often just not very good, do not be detered. Find a roaster or online retailer that carries many brands and try some different coffees.
One of the really cool emerging trends is that super-premium coffees are beginning to show up for Pod brewers. Coffees like 100% Kona coffees are being produced in pods by independent roasters. Coffees from Baronet Coffee and Aloha Island are proving pod brewers to be a great way to make premium coffees.
Popularity: 100% [?]
admin @ June 22, 2008