If you follow me on Twitter, it’s no secret that recently I was given a Tassimo coffee maker. You know the ones that do single cups at a time of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, lattes etc? Ya, one of those. Pretty awesome right? They are valued at over $180 plus it came with a boat load of discs to try. I was stoked. Now, I’ve had it for a month and I want to share my review with you (note: while I ‘won’ the machine on Twitter, it was with no strings attached. I’m choosing to review it for you in case you are in the market or looking for Christmas gift ideas)
The Promotion
When I first read that people were winning these things on Twitter, my first thought was ‘how do I score one too?!’. After a quick read through tweets, it wasn’t really clear. Basically, if you followed Tassimo and tweeted to them/about them/asking for a system, you stood a chance of winning.
More tweets from @TassimoCanada suggested that if you had a huge number of followers you could win, but eventually, many different people, started winning, including myself.
I get it. By giving a lot of the systems, Tassimo did a really good job creating buzz (it was also in conjunction with their Smart Talk event in Toronto) and many people started talking about the giveaway and trying to win. As people get/got their systems, many of us talked about how it worked, whether or not we liked it (and the consensus seems to be most do) etc. Buzz continues on Twitter today.
From a business/money making perspective, they got us. I now have a great system that I may not have otherwise bought that requires further purchases to keep working – the Tassimo works via a disc with an individual serving size. A box of discs ($5 – $11) typically has 8-14 discs in it. In order to keep the Tassimo in use, I have to buy discs – forever. Now, I’ll talk about the cost later, but from a marketing perspective, Tassimo now has a potentially permanent costumer. Smart smart!
My new system – The Tass
Pros
It serves a wonderful drink in an individual size. When I’m on the go, late for something, alone, or just wanting a small afternoon beverage, it’s great. It’s a nice way to make a quick hot chocolate, cappuccino, or my favourite Chai Tea Latte. Sometimes at night I want a coffee but my husband doesn’t. It’s nice to have the option to make just one for me.
The types of beverages I can make is also a perk. Unlike other systems that use pre-mixed ‘lattes’ etc. This makes them much more authentically – add espresso, then the cappuccino mix and it’s perfect. Make a mochaccino by adding a hot chocolate etc. Because of the bar code system, it even knows to read the cappuccino disc differently, and froths it when done. Fancy coffee-store quality.
It’s fun. Kitchen gadgets always are, but this is especially great for entertaining or experimenting like a coffee barista. With the holidays coming up, it will certainly get more and more use. And honestly? We drink a lot of coffee so it will get a lot of use.
Finally, it is very easy to use and maintain.
Cons
There is some environmental concern. There is a lot of packaging. The discs come in boxes wrapped in a wrapper, and each individual disc has plastic and foil – The plastic possibly can be recycled with some work to remove the grinds.
There is a cost factor. If a pot of coffee in our Krups coffee maker costs 50 cents to make and gives us 5 mugs, each 1 disc in the Tassimo costs about 50 cents. So, in the morning, economically, a full pot is still the better buy. However, if you typically go out and buy your coffee from a shop each day, or a fancy afternoon drink, this will, in fact, be a better buy for you.
There is no option for a brew filter. The Keurig, a competitive system on the market, offers that. What is means is that with a filter, you have the option to brew your own grounds, making it a much more effective system.
The amount of beverage you get is a typical 6 oz amount. Most coffee makers/grinds consider 6 oz to be a cup. I do not. It is quite small. 9 oz would be a bit more reasonable, but maybe I want too much coffee! 😉
Overall
I love the system. It’s fun, it’s unique (it’s a gadget so I’m in!) and it does make a wonderful treat with specialty coffees, hot chocolates etc. The lattes especially are well done. I like having the individual, single-serve option this gives me especially when I’m alone in the afternoon, or want a small amount of after-dinner beverage.
I realize that I have to buy the discs, but because I won’t be using the Tassimo to replace my pot of coffee and only as a treat/extra it’s affordable.
However, I”m not sure I would have bought the system if it wasn’t given to me. Maybe because I am too practical and couldn’t justify the ‘bonus’ it gives us, versus any need.
Having said that, for the right people, it’s a wonderful Christmas present. I’ve seen it go on sale at Canadian Tire.
I am thrilled to be an owner of it. I am loving the afternoon fancy coffees. Thank you Tassimo. Your experiment in Social Media Buzz is rather interesting. Time will tell how successful your campaign was, but in the meantime, I’ll gladly enjoy a fresh cup of coffee. 🙂
Note: This picture of me is first thing in the morning. I mean, first thing. I wore that top to bed, I have no make up on and a clip in my hair, unbrushed. Glamourous, no, but accurate 😉
