2/20/08 | Free Senseo Coffee Maker
[ Currently Eating: Homemade Chicken Soup ]
Free. F-f-f-free. Phree. Fwee.
That has a wonderful sound to it, hey? It’s the sound we like to hear the most here on Cheap Eats. But, it always seems there’s a catch to free goodies. Like you have to lend your email to unscrupulous marketers. Or you have to sell out your blogging integrity to thee man. Or you have to walk around like a living sandwich-board advertisement. I haven’t tried that one yet, but the year is still young.
So, I was sent this Senseo Coffee Pod System for free the other day. Now, what is the catch? The catch is that like free cell phones, free dish/cable network installments and free magazines, they want to make it as easy possible to rope you into a monthly “subscription” based type of payment. Sure, the phone is free, but you’ll be paying them a monthly fee that will eventually eclipse the cost of the “free phone” by far.
OK, so you don’t HAVE to sign up for any coffee subscriptions. However, because you need to use the special circular coffee packets with the Senseo machine – it’s pretty similar. They’re just reducing the barrier to entry by making the machine free – getting a lifelong coffee customer is completely worth the $70.
Incidentally, even though I was sent this machine without asking, it’s not like I’m special or anything. ANYONE can signup to apply for a chance to get a free Senseo machine as of right now. You just go to the Share Senseo website and fill out a quick questionnaire. The thing is – you are signing up for a CHANCE to get a free machine. You’re not guaranteed one. Needless to say, I’m told that if you use this link instead of just typing in sharesenseo.com, your application might be, er, expedited. And no, I’m not getting a kickback for sending you to them.
Ok, back to the coffee maker. Yes, so it does require their little “coffee pods” in order to use the machine (I’m debating whether or not it’s worth the effort to try and find a way to circumvent this by “making my own”. Right now, I’m leaning toward it being too much work). Also, you should note that I am NOT a coffee snob. I’ll drink pretty much anything as long as it’s not too burnt tasting. So if you really like coffee, your mileage will vary.
The first thing I noticed about the Senseo machine is that it is really WEIRD looking. To me at least. I wasn’t used to how curved everything was. It sort of looks like a cylinder that is leaning over to touch its toes. Now, I’m all for cool and unusual design – but I have to say that I wasn’t so happy with the way the main cylinder curves over the bottom plate where you put the cup.
I noticed right away when the instructions said to first flush out the device once by putting a bowl underneath to catch the excess water. I couldn’t find a bowl that would fit on it because the curved neck wouldn’t allow a large bowl to sit there without hanging off the edge. (Note: if you do get a machine, to flush it you can simply use a large wide cup that holds at least 10 oz. and you’ll be fine.)
My next complaint is the somewhat “unwieldy” curved nature of the detachable water reservoir. The shape just really makes it awkward to fill up and carry around – it’s shaped like a curved flat cannister, maybe like a warped hip flask or flat canteen. I guess it needs to be that way because the neck is so curved – anyhow, a minor complaint.
If you’ve been used to standard coffee makers, the way this operates is a bit different. It definitely was different for me – I’ve been just using a Bodum lately. You pull up the head of the machine where there is a compartment for you to place the coffee pod, as seen in the photo above. The box that I got was a starter kit that includes the machine, two different coffee receptacles that you change out (allowing you to stuff two coffee pods in there to make more or stronger coffee) and a package of 18 Senseo Douwe Egberts Medium Roast Coffee Pods.
It’s rather nice that everything is detachable, including the reservoir, the bottom metal tray, the plastic undertray for catching excess drippings, the coffee pod receptacle and even the plastic drip spout. In order to brew a cup, you fill up the reservoir up to either the 4 oz or 8 oz lines. You turn the machine on, which heats up the water. After the wait-light stops flashing, you open up the top and put in the correct coffee receptacle (depending on if you are using 1 or 2 pods), place the coffee pod(s) on top of the receptacle, close the lid and lock it.
Next, put a mug on the metal tray and depending on the strength of the coffee or amount, press the 1 cup or 2 cup button. Coffee will almost immediately come streaming out of the two spouts on the head of the machine. It is rather quick and the end result has a “crema” of foam on the top. That’s kinda nice.
Like I said above, I am really not a fan of the lack of space underneath the machine. I often use big tall mugs, and these will not fit underneath the machine. I guess in their defense, since you’re only making 4 or 8oz cups, they figure that most mugs of that size will fit underneath.
Now, being this is Cheap Eats I simply couldn’t believe that it would make a big difference if I used 8 oz water and pressed the 2 cup button with only ONE coffee pod in the machine. To me, 4 oz of coffee is just way too meager. So I tried it – and the results are definitely disappointing. A much milder coffee, even tending toward the watery. I’ve also heard that you can put two coffee pods in and press the 1 cup button in order to get really strong coffee – but I didn’t try that. For the most part I’ve stuck with 1 pod for 4 oz and 2 pods for 8 oz.
I have heard that the actual coffee itself is deemed “light”, at least the ones made from the Douwe Egberts pods. Almost all the serious coffee drinkers seem to think anything but the “strong” variety has no flavor. I’m pretty happy with the “medium” actually.
They also give you a metal cannister to hold your extra coffee pods after you open the package. Some tips I learned about using the machine. The metal plate on the bottom, unlike many of the traditional coffee makers, is NOT heated. It’s just there to hold the coffee. Therefore, you don’t want to turn on the machine and walk away for 15 minutes. Your coffee will be cold by the time you get back.
As well, a lot of people like to add a good amount of milk or cream. I definitely do. If you do, you should heat up the milk in a mug separately in the microwave. Having the milk warmed, as well as the mug, should help keep the coffee hotter.
There is also a technique which tends to make the coffee taste a bit more rich – you can pre-condition the machine by running 4 oz of water plain without any pods in order to heat it up. Then open the top and put a pod or two right onto the slightly wet surface. Close it, and let it sit for a few minutes. Then run the machine as normally. I saw this tip on Amazon, and it does seem to work.
So, in general I am somewhat disturbed (if not outright mortified) at how easily I’ve come to accept the ease of using a Senseo machine in the morning. It makes it very easy to get a good (to my weak palate) cup of coffee. You don’t have to mess around with grinding beans, measuring it out, using coffee filters, etc. It’s easy to wash the parts. I’ve actually gone through all 18 pods that were in the package. And yesterday, I went ahead and ordered some more. So, yes – their insidious marketing of a free machien seems to have worked. I dunno if I’ll be “hooked” for life, but they’ve certainly made me a fan.
However, in good Cheap Eats conscience I just can’t give the machine a high score. I think it’s obvious that if you don’t get the machine for free then it’s not worth it. Even when you get the machine for free, if you continue to use it you’ll have to shell out for the coffee pods. Of course, if you’re already drinking coffee every morning anyhow – then I guess it will depend on how expensive your coffee is and its quality compared to the Senseo coffee pods. A pack of 18 pods come out to approximately $4-6, which is about 25-30 cents each I guess. I have no idea if that’s considered cheap – but I do know it’s a TON cheaper than buying coffee at Starbucks every morning.
(By the way: I’m still wondering how hard it would be to make your own coffee pods…)
Updated: I was told they charge shipping of $15 for the item if you do qualify. For me, this would drop the score to 5/10 instead of 7/10 below.
Price: Free, Normally About $70
Found At: Sent in for Review
Cheap Eats Score: 4/10 (7/10 if Free)
February 20th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Check out this product, which can be found at Linens ‘n Things (linked below) as well as elsewhere:
The Perfect Pod Maker, $39.99
February 20th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I have a different brand of these that my dad gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago. I keep it at the office, it’s pretty good stuff, especially for those mornings when no one else is drinking coffee and I don’t want to be wasteful and brew a whole pot.
One of my tricks I learned from the British tea-addicts. Warm your coffee cup with hot water. It really helps.
I doubt you can make your own pods, but it’d be cool to find out if there are other brands that will “fit”.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:32 am
I think coffee pods are all the rage now a days. I’m sure I even saw that Folgers has some in the grocery store.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:50 am
Got the exact one you did, the same way.
The coffeee is weak; have to use 2 pods to get a decent half-cup. Expensive, too, but if you buy the pods on special with coupons, not too bad. I’ve tried diifferent brands, but despite checking the reviews on Amazon, haven’t found one that’s better than the others. I refuse to spend big bucks for a good cup of coffee!
That podmaker at LNT looks cool, but not for 40 bucks. Maybe $20 but dunno what the paper will cost. Worth investigating.
Yes, it looks weird. It’s European!
February 21st, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I got the machine several months ago for free. I’m not a big coffee drinker, but I like the latte pods, which I only use occasionally. I mainly use the Senseo to heat up water for my tea. Works great for that! My only complaint is that it doesn’t spit out more than 8 ozs at a time.
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:07 am
I got one the first time they offered it. I mainly use it for tea and hot cocoa. It’s great for that!
I also picked up a thing that lets me use my own coffee it in but I can’t get it to work right. It’s called the MyPod or something like that.
February 23rd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I love this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 23rd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I signed up and am fully prepared to receive a torrent of spam so I can get this gadget.
Thanks for the heads up!
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
I noticed they sell atleast one variety of Senseo pods at Walmart to those who want a coffee pod machine but may not want a coffee subscription.
I use a Simply Human single-serve coffee pod machine which is really awesome. It has a more “normal” (less rounded) look than Senseo and was also a bit cheaper. Still a lack of space at the bottom…trying to make us stick with that single-serving size
For a little variation, I recently started using the hot water for a quick, easy cup of International Coffee French Vanilla Cafe… Yum!
February 25th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Thanks for the interesting post! Free is definitely cheap! Amazon has an ecopad device that is basically a reusable pod.
Plenty of reviews here
My interest is piqued in the machine mostly as a desktop brewer for the occasional guest in the office. Most times when I am working, I am on the run and chugging whatever joe is immediately available.
I think it would be very civilized to offer a cup of shade-grown responsibly marketed Nicaraguan coffee to clients and guests.
Could we get a close up photo or comment on the model # senseo brewer that is included in the package? If there are different sku for the boxed set and the brewer label itself, that would also be interesting to know.
Anyhow, it will be interesting to see if I get a Senseo brewer. My two kids will be scratching their heads as to why they got the spam though *grin*.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I just got a Senseo recently myself and I didn’t care for the senseo brand pods but Wal-Mart sells Foldgers brand – I’m not a coffee snob either. The foldgers tastes much better than the senseo!
February 27th, 2008 at 2:18 am
Went to their website and answered their questions and they are going to be sending me one of these machines. I work in a small office and end up brewing a whole pot that often goes to waste at the end of the day.
However, I am on the handle for $15 shipping and handling. So…. Not fantastic.
But $15 is much less than the $60 they charge at the store.
Thanks cheapeats!!
February 27th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Anon – I should have suspected someone thought of it already! Cool
Cybele – I find the problem is that it doesn’t seem to make enough coffee for me. Yes, I have a drinking problem. It does help to warm the mug up, you can do it by running water thru the machine. That also primes the pod holder.
Andie – I did see Folgers at the store! I’m so behind w/ the times…
Rich – I think I’m still in the minority – I think it’s a bit strong for me.
Peny – Yeah, I’ve been thinking of maybe trying tea.
roach, kelly – hooray senseo!
red – I sincerely hope you don’t get much spam. I use an email forward w/ all of these things so I can cut it off after I receive the goodies…
skibs, sarah – cool, I will have to make a trip to Walmart…
john – the ecopod is definitely something i’d like to try out…
peter – Hm.. I wasn’t aware they charged shipping and handling! So I guess it’s not completely free…
February 27th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I qualified, but they told me that I have to pay $15 shipping
February 27th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
red – hm, yes that is what i’m hearing from everyone. I wonder if they had to change it cause there were too many people taking advantage of the deal? I guess it is better than paying full price if someone was planning to buy one anyhow. But the “just get it on impulse” feel is sorta gone if you have to pay for shipping.
February 29th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Yes, it’s $15 shipping, but they also include a few coupons, so no biggie.
If you find the Senseo coffee strong, then with all due respect, you’re probably not much of a coffee drinker, and instant coffee would probably suffice.
Not for me, though.
And I don’t shop at Wal-Mart either, so…
March 10th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I qualified for the “free” (+$15 dollar shipping) Senseo. I used to own a Senseo, but after some intense usage (5-6 times a day) it expired.
Honestly, the coffee that comes out of it is pretty good. And it is economical in the lack of waste (single servings), and the quality of the coffee (just a few pegs below coffee shop grade). But if you want to optimize your money saving, then you should make your own coffee pods.
There are several sites that have instructions on how to make your own pods–which will save you plenty, and make this a pretty good deal.
Here’s a site…
Thanks for the heads-up on the machine!
March 13th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Heh, my sister’s been on me to get a coffee machine (she likes the “free” Gevalia machine) – and when I got this offer in my inbox, I signed up, paid $15 for s&h. She said I should get it just for guests (I do entertain a lot, tho there’s a Starbucks AND a Dunkin Donuts less than a block from my new place). Well, I’m glad I read this – I didn’t think about how I can use it for the tea I actually drink myself! Yay! Also, I saw at Target last week, on the endcap clearance, a bunch of Senseo pods to make mochachinos, vanilla lattes, etc. for $3-4? But you need coffee pods in addition to those pods for some reason. *shrug* I was going to buy them, but my machine still hasn’t arrived…
March 14th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
my evil roommate had one of these last year, and the coffee was so bad. one pod, two pods, it didn’t matter. i do not recommend this method of coffee drinking at all!
March 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Gang,
If you like using pods, make sure to try some gourmet aftermarket pods — they fit the Senseo, typically make twice as strong a cup, and cost only a few cents more. You can get coffee out of your Senseo that rivals any coffee shop if you use the right pods.
At BetterCoffee we carry over 160 flavors of Senseo compatible pods… http://www.bettercoffee.com
There are actually quite a few vendors out there selling compatible pods. You can find them with a quick Google search for “coffee pods.” I hope that’s helpful and not too spammy
–David
March 25th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Ok, I got my machine and I noticed at Target they had a sale on Senseo coffee pods. So I bought some medium brew for $3.50 (18 pods) but the real winner was the cappucino pods, which unfortunately only brew 4 oz at a time, but I find with 2 Splenda, quite yummy! $3.50 for 10 of them, on sale.
March 31st, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Yvo,
At Target they have their own brand of pods: Archer Farms. They are quite good (I think they come in about 12 varieties) and really demonstrate the quality you can get out of your Senseo. It’s a great place to start for anyone trying out the Senseo.
Folks who are trying different coffees for the first time should note the following:
- Coffee comes from three major regions in the world: South America, Africa, and Asia Pacific
- Each region has it’s own flavor profile, so if you like Colombian coffee for example, you will probably not love Sumatra/Indonesian coffee at first.
– South American = bright, light, and sharp clear flavors
– African = citrusy, dry
– Asia Pacific = Earthy, full bodied
For each of these regions, the roast level (dark, light) can make a big difference for what you get. Experimentation and sampling is important.
–David
http://www.bettercoffee.com/
May 4th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Go to Amazon.com and enter search word Ecopads. You fill them with your own coffee or tea then wash and use again. You do not need to buy paper filters, but just the reuseable 2-pack Ecopads which cost about $4.00. You could use one for tea and one for coffee.
May 10th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I consume my majority of coffee from work (free) so i can’t see spending $15 even for shipping.
At home my family likes using very little grounds so its extremely bitter, and i can’t drink it.
I end up using instant crystals when i want a cup of coffee, which is not too cheep or tasty, but not bad.
May 25th, 2008 at 6:07 am
I just started searching for a single cup coffee maker for my mother who’s going into an assisted living facility (they don’t allow big coffee makrers with heating elements).
I found your review and the comments very helpful. Thank you.
About using your own coffee- I did see an item on eBay to use your own coffee. You may want to try that.
Hope this helps.
Dave
July 21st, 2008 at 8:46 am
The coffee is not strong at all.
July 25th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
I drink coffee everyday. I love it.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:18 am
My doctor suggested this coffee maker to help me cut down on the amount of coffee I drink on a daily basis. I love this product. I am consuming less coffee each day and am on track for a healthier life.
This coffee machine rocks! Thanks for helping me cut down on the amount of coffee I drink daily. I haven’t been to the local coffee shop for months and currently am taking less medication and no more issues with sleep deprivation. Who knew this coffee machine would provide a healthier, green living life experience. Thanks, Senseo.
September 18th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
The party is over – I got the following response:
Thank you for your interest in the Share Senseo® promotion.
Due to overwhelming response, we have exhausted our supply of Senseo® kits and the promotion is over.
Please visit SenseoStore.com or Amazon.com to buy your own Senseo® Coffee Pod System.
January 10th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
I found on Ebay two eco pods so you can use your own coffee – they are re-usable and washable
March 14th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I got one for my husband. I found by searching the internet a product to be able to use your own coffee. This will reduce the cost of using the pods a lot. They have little filters you use with it, but we wash out the filter and use it a few times thus eliminating the cost of having to buy more as soon. It was about $15.00 I think for the holder and filters. It works great and enables you to use your own coffee. I seldom drink coffee and love the Senseo pods they have. I use two to get the strength I like. It’s more like a latte if you add hot half n half.
I LOVE THIS PRODUCT !!!
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:01 am
I love this coffee pot. I didn’t think the $15 handling fee was at all outrageous, considering you get a free coffee pot. Target almost always has the pods on sale, but not a big variety. I go to coffeewiz for my pods. A little cheaper, but if you buy a quantity, shipping is free, I think. I also have a Keurig one-cup coffee maker at work, and don’t like that at all compared to the Senseo. I wish I had stuck with the Senseo. Even at $60-$70, it’s a much better cup of coffee, and the K-cups are really expensive. I wish they would have the promotion again. I’d get one for my son.
May 7th, 2009 at 4:41 am
I cannot find the website to try for a free Senseo coffepot. I just came back from Europe and fell in love wth them.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Hi everyone – thanks for all the comments on this post. I got several comments and emails recently to the effect that Senseo has closed their promotion of the free senseo maker. I’m going to close the comments so there’s no further confusion about it.