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Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: minute review
The Tassimo Finesse Friendly from Bosch is a compact capsule coffee maker that is an affordable alternative to similar Nespresso and Keurig machines. It works in much the same way as its competitors: it takes branded capsules, punctures them and runs hot water through to create a drink.
It's a well-built and cute little coffee maker, but if you regularly enjoy lattes, you might want to consider learning how to use a compact espresso machine with a manual steam wand. Although the initial cost will be higher, you can save money in the long run if you use fresh milk to make your regular drink instead of capsules. Take a look at my review best espresso coffee machines options in different price categories.
Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: technical specifications
|
Name |
Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly |
|
Type |
Capsule coffee maker |
|
Dimensions (W x H x D) |
6.2 x 10.4 x 14.2 inches / 15.7 x 26.5 x 36 cm |
|
Weight |
6.2 lbs / 2.8 kg |
|
Water tank capacity |
23.7 oz / 700 ml |
Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: price and availability
- List price £89.99 (about US$120 / AU$180) but often discounted.
- Widely available in Europe, but not in the US or Australia.
- T-Pods can be quite expensive, depending on the type.
The Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly is one of the most affordable capsule coffee makers I've ever tested. It has a list price of £89.99 (about $120/AU$180), but is often marked down to £49.99 (about $70/AU$100). This is even less than the entry-level Nespresso Vertuo Pop. Below you will find all the best prices today.
The downside is that while it is widely available in the UK and mainland Europe, it is not currently sold in the US or Australia.
While Finesse Friendly is cheap, Tassimo capsules (known as T-Pods) can be quite expensive, especially if you prefer milk drinks, which require two capsules each. They are widely available online and in supermarkets and include varieties from brands such as Cadbury's, Costa, Kenco, Jacobs and L'OR.
Prices vary greatly depending on the drink you choose. For example, a pack of Costa Caramel Latte T-Pods contains enough pods to make just eight drinks, and has a list price of £7.25 (about $10/AU$15). Coffee-only capsules are much more affordable. At the time of writing, a kit containing 80 Kenco Pure Colombian capsules costs £21.38 (about US$30 / AU$40).
Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: design
- Compact and lightweight
- Easy to clean and maintain
- The water tank holds only 23.7 oz/700 ml.
The Tassimo Finesse Friendly is an exceptionally lightweight and compact coffee maker that is ideal for small kitchens and can easily be stored away in a cupboard when not in use. Its body is made from 60% recycled plastic and is available in four colors: black, white, cream and red. The black option I tested tended to accumulate fingerprints, especially on the matte sides, but they were easily removed with a damp cloth.
Its drip tray can be removed for cleaning and moved closer to the dispenser to accommodate espresso cups without splashing.
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It has one control button that uses colors and flashes to indicate the current state of the machine. A red light means the machine needs attention and usually signals that the water tank is running low.
The tank is attached to the back of the machine and can be easily removed; just tilt it slightly and pull it up. Its maximum capacity is only 700ml/23.7oz, so you'll have to refill it after making two full-size drinks.
Cleaning Finesse Friendly is easy. Simply remove the orange maintenance disc from the slot at the bottom of the machine, place it in the capsule holder with the bar code facing down, close the lid and press the brew button as if you were preparing a drink.
The machine will rinse itself with a cup of hot water, leaving it clean and ready for use next time. It's also worth wiping down the outside of the dispenser if you've made a drink with milk, as it tends to splatter.
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The Finesse Friendly does not have a water filter, but it is easy to descale when indicated by the red status light. Simply fill the water tank to the “rated” line, add two descaling tablets (not included with the machine, but available online), insert the cleaning disc, place a cup under the dispenser and hold the start button for about five seconds.
Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: performance
Tassimo Finesse Friendly is extremely easy to use. Simply fill the water tank to the maximum level, pull the top of the machine up to open it, and place the drink capsule face down in the opening. Close the lid and the light on the control button will turn orange, indicating that Finesse Friendly is ready to brew.
After dispensing has finished, wait until the indicator light stops flashing orange before removing the used capsule.
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I tested Finesse Friendly with a couple of different pods: the Tassimo Cinnamon Roll Latte (which Bosch provided with the machine for review) and the Jacobs Latte Macchiato (which I purchased myself). Each variety came with two boxes of capsules: one with coffee and the other with shelf-stable milk.
While I usually prefer latte macchiatos, the cinnamon roll pods were a clear winner. While it was definitely sweet, the drink had a milder flavor than many other coffee pods I've tried. In fact, it was so good that I bought a second package.
The tiny Finesse Friendly attachment did a particularly good job of steaming milk, creating a long-lasting layer of creamy foam. During my tests, the machine tended to sputter a bit and produce quite a bit of steam after finishing dispensing, but this dissipated by the time the orange light stopped flashing.
In the UK, you can recycle your used T-Pod capsules through Podback (a scheme that also accepts used Nespresso, L'OR and Dolce Gusto capsules). You will receive a Podback bag when you order T-Pods, and you can order more. via Podback website.
You can drop off your Podback bags at most major supermarkets or take your capsules to a recycling center using a Podback container. Find your nearest drop off point.
Is Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly worth buying?
|
Attribute |
Notes |
Check |
|---|---|---|
|
Value |
The machine itself is very affordable, but the capsules for milk-based drinks can be expensive. |
3.5/5 |
|
Design |
Compact and lightweight, made from 60% recycled plastic, but the water tank is very small. |
4/5 |
|
Performance |
Heats up quickly, froths milk well and makes consistently delicious coffee. Easy to clean and maintain. |
5/5 |
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Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: also consider
If the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly coffee maker is not for you, there are two alternatives to consider.
How I tested Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly
I used the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly in my kitchen for three weeks, making an average of two coffees a day. I used tap water and used a maintenance disc with a rinse program to clean the machine between each drink.
I used Tassimo Cinnamon Roll Latte and Jacobs Latte Macchiato pods and used a milk pod for each drink first before serving the coffee through the foam. I compared the results with my own Nespresso Vertuo Pop machine.
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