MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 5,138 Location: Vancouver Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Frankenstein'ed LM Linea Grinder: Anfim Super Caimano Vac Pot: 1922 Silex Drip: Krups Moka Brew Roaster: Hottop
Posted Sun Oct 27, 2002, 2:47pm Subject: What the heck is it? A swiss coffee device by Phillips?
I got this from a fellow CoffeeGeek, it sure does look cool. It appears to only be sold in mainland Europe, and is called the Senseo Crema. I think it uses Pods, but is set up to brew, what, cafe suisse? americanos?
There's a website, but I haven't had time to peruse it today.
jim_schulman Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 3,772 Location: Chicago Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Sun Oct 27, 2002, 3:13pm Subject: Re: What the heck is it? A swiss coffee device by Phillips?
Here's the skinny from the German coffee boards:
It's a filter coffee maker using Douwe Egbert pods (according to the web site with Robusta added). The pods/pads cost 0.12 and 0.18 Euro a piece (single or double portion. The machine sells at 70 - 80 euro.
What's interesting is that it has a 1400 watt heater, good temperature control, preset dosage, and a false crema attachment to put a head on the cup. No steaming, however.
Several people have bought one for their office use and say the resulting drink is better than superauto cafe cremas.
So it seems like a good deal at that price.
But there's no way that silly, drunken curve can be a design; there must have been a meltdown at the art studio or something.
DrDDT Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 34 Location: Amsterdam Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Vibiemme Domobar Grinder: Rancilio Rocky, Bodum... Vac Pot: Bodum eSantor Jr. Drip: -retired- buy a eSantos Roaster: HearthWare
Posted Mon Oct 28, 2002, 2:08am Subject: Re: What the heck is it? A swiss coffee device by Phillips?
It produces coffee, with fake crema, using some ingenious system.
Pro:
- Fast - Easy to clean - Easy to operate - Much cheaper than an Espresso machine
Con:
- Pods are expensive (nowadays, you can also buy 'clone pods' from Albert Heijn, a local super marked. I use the 'italian roast'. - The standard machine produces watery coffee. The water ammount can be regulated using some sort of hack, but will void your warranty (I did it, and the coffee is stronger now).
/edit: I forgot to mention: I have one for over a year now.
Neku Senior Member Joined: 23 Oct 2002 Posts: 130 Location: Brussels Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Vibiemme Domobar Grinder: Mazzer Mini "E", Rancilio... Vac Pot: Bialetti, Hellem Drip: DRIP? are you crazy? Roaster: IMEX Caffe Rosto
Posted Tue Oct 29, 2002, 8:53am Subject: Re: What the heck is it? A swiss coffee device by Phillips?
The pod machines are very popular in Europe now: Illy sells pod machines, Nespresso launched a (succesful) campaign last year, and this Philips thing is the latest addition. I think it produces the white crema'd, 4 oz "espresso for the espresso-challenged", i.e. the large class of ppl that think espresso is too cold, too small and to "strong" for their taste.
It seems to be quite popular: a lady who works in a home appliance shop told me that she was all out of them, and that they wouldn't be in for another six months or so: Philips just can't keep up with production. The price will have something to do with that: at 70 euros, it's about the price that people in Europe are used to spend on drip coffee machines. It's hard to get them to spend more: as far as "real espresso machines" (the Illy, Krups and so on things, not the semi-professional ones like Silvia etc.) go, most are priced within the 250 (basic models) to 500 (full automatic and fake stainless steel design)$ range.
As far as quality goes: I had a Nespresso machine, which should be about comparable (the Nespresso produces even slightly better coffee, I think) but I'm selling it. Fake crema is not the way to go.
DrDDT Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 34 Location: Amsterdam Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Vibiemme Domobar Grinder: Rancilio Rocky, Bodum... Vac Pot: Bodum eSantor Jr. Drip: -retired- buy a eSantos Roaster: HearthWare
Posted Sun Nov 10, 2002, 5:19am Subject: Re: What the heck is it? A swiss coffee device by Phillips?
I'm still willing to write a detailed review about it, so you'll be ready when Philips decide they are going to sell it in the USA (my guess is, the will).
DrDDT Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 34 Location: Amsterdam Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Vibiemme Domobar Grinder: Rancilio Rocky, Bodum... Vac Pot: Bodum eSantor Jr. Drip: -retired- buy a eSantos Roaster: HearthWare
Posted Sun Dec 28, 2003, 11:35am Subject: Re: What the heck is it? A swiss coffee device by Phillips?
I sometimes get requests to clarify how to regulate the amount of water per serving.
Attached is a picture of the underside of my Senseo machine. The arrow points to a hole where the screw is located that regulates the amount of water per serving. There is a piece of cloth preventing you to reach the screw. You have to punch trough that.
Note that I have the very first version of the Senseo machine, it might not be the same on the current models. And ofcourse, tweaking voids your warranty, and is on your own risk.
ccotellini Senior Member Joined: 16 Dec 2003 Posts: 23 Location: netherlands Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Sun Dec 28, 2003, 4:31pm Subject: Re: What the heck is it? A swiss coffee device by Phillips?
To clear things up a bit : this is NOT an ESE machine. It's a very clever marketing plan from Philips and Douwe Egberts Coffee. It only uses Douwe Egberts pods, and I spoke to another Coffee company a while ago and they said there where some lawsuits against different coffee company's because they wanted to make pods that can be used in the Senseo machine. The company I spoke to already had the pods but weren't allowed to sell them yet. Albert Hein is a very large supermarket chain that probably re-brands Douwe Egberts coffee and sells it under their own name.
It's actually so popular in Holland that almost every home has one. It is gradually replacing the drip coffee maker overhere although I don't know what will happen over time when the hype is over.....and it is already coming to an end. People used to stand in line for those things.
But it is a nice *gentle* move towards real espresso. I think it's quite undrinkable, but that's just me so it seems.
There is a newer version already : the senseo 2. There where some problems with the lid, it seems to leak sometimes, so they changed it. It does look very good in real life though!!!!
BellaJava Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2002 Posts: 425 Location: Jacksonville, FL Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Livia 90 Auto Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: Silex, Cory, Hellem, Cona,... Drip: Chemex Roaster: Alp, FR+, HWG
Posted Sun Dec 28, 2003, 8:54pm Subject: Re: What the heck is it? A swiss coffee device by Phillips?
This looks to be almost an identical system to the Melitta system below. Sounds like similar operation, maybe not the "crema enhancing" part but since the Melitta brews under pressure it may produce some crema with out the "fake enhancer". The Melitta uses pods similar to ESE in shape and size, not as tightly packed, you can feel the difference even inside the packaging. I got one for a workmate, his office is in a building where he is the only coffee drinker. He saw the system in a catalog and asked if I knew where to get one. I'll have to give it a try to see what it can do with the sample pods that are included.
DrDDT Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 34 Location: Amsterdam Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Vibiemme Domobar Grinder: Rancilio Rocky, Bodum... Vac Pot: Bodum eSantor Jr. Drip: -retired- buy a eSantos Roaster: HearthWare
Posted Mon Dec 29, 2003, 12:45am Subject: Re: What the heck is it? A swiss coffee device by Phillips?
ccotellini Said:
To clear things up a bit : this is NOT an ESE machine. It's a very clever marketing plan from Philips and Douwe Egberts Coffee. It only uses Douwe Egberts pods, and I spoke to another Coffee company a while ago and they said there where some lawsuits against different coffee company's because they wanted to make pods that can be used in the Senseo machine. The company I spoke to already had the pods but weren't allowed to sell them yet. Albert Hein is a very large supermarket chain that probably re-brands Douwe Egberts coffee and sells it under their own name.
Actually, you can buy cheaper 'clone' pods now from different brands, and I have a reusable filter for my own coffee (uses the 2 cup filter for a one cup serving of coffee)
It's actually so popular in Holland that almost every home has one. It is gradually replacing the drip coffee maker overhere although I don't know what will happen over time when the hype is over.....and it is already coming to an end. People used to stand in line for those things.
But it is a nice *gentle* move towards real espresso. I think it's quite undrinkable, but that's just me so it seems.
I use it for it's speed, not for the good coffee. Serves my coffee need when I'm in a hurry
There is a newer version already : the senseo 2. There where some problems with the lid, it seems to leak sometimes, so they changed it. It does look very good in real life though!!!!
ccotellini Senior Member Joined: 16 Dec 2003 Posts: 23 Location: netherlands Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Mon Dec 29, 2003, 2:33am Subject: Re: What the heck is it? A swiss coffee device by Phillips?
Ah, so you can buy good quality coffee now for the machine? That would really add alot to the machine. I like the system, didn't like the coffee that could be bought. So you say there is a reusable filter now? There's nothing holding the thing back now!
How does this filter work ? Is it metal or plastic? Is it from Philips and where do they sell it?
I must hand it to Philips, they changed the drinking habbits of a whole country with one machine. And that's really amazing when you think about it!
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