Tassimo vivy help?

donnajunkie

http://direct.asda.com/bosch-tassimo-tas1252gb-vivy-coffee-machine-black/001592379,default,pd.html

We are thinking about getting the above. We haven't owned a coffee machine before so are clueless. Is the above any good? Is it easy to use? I have seen people talk about cleaning tablets for cleaning it. Where do you get them from? Is it a pain to maintain the machine? What cups do you use? Do you need costa cups? Where do you get them from? Where are the best shops to buy the pods? I have seen them in supermarkets but is there somewhere better? Anything else we should know?

d0nkeyk0ng

They had several of these in our local currys, all in different colours. We're looking at getting the Joy 2 because it has a water filter. The main reason I didn't like the Vivy was because the plastic jug at the side felt a bit thin and flimsy. The Joy one was a bit better. The Caddy one was even better and front loading but no Brita filter.

Pods - buy direct from tassimo or from amazon or anywhere else you fancy. They have them in our local tescos. The main thing is price.

Cleaning - from what I gather, you load the orange t-disc that comes with the machine. https://www.tassimo.co.uk/tassimo-vivy-cleaning/s-2006/

donnajunkie

d0nkeyk0ng wrote: »

They had several of these in our local currys, all in different colours. We're looking at getting the Joy 2 because it has a water filter. The main reason I didn't like the Vivy was because the plastic jug at the side felt a bit thin and flimsy. The Joy one was a bit better. The Caddy one was even better and front loading but no Brita filter.

Pods - buy direct from tassimo or from amazon or anywhere else you fancy. They have them in our local tescos. The main thing is price.

Cleaning - from what I gather, you load the orange t-disc that comes with the machine. https://www.tassimo.co.uk/tassimo-vivy-cleaning/s-2006/

But how much do those other models cost? This one is £35 reduced from £99. If there's a big difference in price are the others really worth the extra for what improvements they bring?

Crinkmeister

Cleaning - use descaler solution from Boots. The machine tells you when to descale, but if your water is not hard then just run the descaling programme using ordinary water. The machine doesn't know.......

cookie365

Use distilled vinegar, much cheaper than descaler and you're not flushing nasty chemicals down the drain.

Tassimos like all pod coffee makers are pretty meh. If you don't really like the taste of coffee then instant is cheaper and easier, and if you do like the taste of coffee you'll use a pod coffee maker once and never again.

d0nkeyk0ng

donnajunkie wrote: »

But how much do those other models cost? This one is £35 reduced from £99. If there's a big difference in price are the others really worth the extra for what improvements they bring?

I looked into this and TBH the differences are minimal. You can see the models on the tassimo website. The only real differences I could see were:
- size - some models are smaller and others are larger
- water capacity - smaller models hold less water than larger ones
- style - some were available in several colours
- extra features - eg the Caddy comes with T-disc holders, the Fidelity has a Brita filter

Otherwise they all do exactly the same thing. Stick a t-disc in and press a button. It really boils down to what you're after. A basic no frills machine for £35 is a good buy IMO.

Discodave

we looked at the Ninja, £129 from Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ninja-Coffee-Auto-iQ-Brewer-Thermal/dp/B01LXJDMJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478696762&sr=8-1&keywords=ninja+coffee+bar

We've had TWO Tassimo/Bosch machines .. (the 2nd one is going back today), and both have issued whereby the coffee pods were splitting during the brewing process - does not matter if its before or after the milk.

I'm gonna ask for a full refund and put towards the Ninja

Discodave

For Pods wise, you're looking at anything from £3 - £4.75 for a pack of 8 drinks

DavidP24

I think that it is NUTS to buy any sort of "pod" machine, it limits you to their coffee and they screw you on price.

One of the joys of coffee is to mix your own blends from different parts of the world.

To be honest a kettle and one of these will do you fine

http://www.lacafetiere.com/coffee/cafetieres/classic-chrome-cafetiere.html

You can then buy any coffee you want and at reasonable prices

You look at the strength and add as much coffee as you need.

Takes a fraction of the time to make and you do not get ripped off.

donnajunkie

Discodave wrote: »

we looked at the Ninja, £129 from Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ninja-Coffee-Auto-iQ-Brewer-Thermal/dp/B01LXJDMJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478696762&sr=8-1&keywords=ninja+coffee+bar

We've had TWO Tassimo/Bosch machines .. (the 2nd one is going back today), and both have issued whereby the coffee pods were splitting during the brewing process - does not matter if its before or after the milk.

I'm gonna ask for a full refund and put towards the Ninja

Have you owned the vivy?

donnajunkie

DavidP24 wrote: »

I think that it is NUTS to buy any sort of "pod" machine, it limits you to their coffee and they screw you on price.

One of the joys of coffee is to mix your own blends from different parts of the world.

To be honest a kettle and one of these will do you fine

http://www.lacafetiere.com/coffee/cafetieres/classic-chrome-cafetiere.html

You can then buy any coffee you want and at reasonable prices

You look at the strength and add as much coffee as you need.

Takes a fraction of the time to make and you do not get ripped off.

I do like costas coffee though and there were 8 of more different choices of drinks in my local Asda including carte noir coffee. I like carte noir instant coffee so their pods will probably be nice.
Does that machine do cappuccinos etc?