Well I finally found some pods.. Folgers at Walmart. The machine works great but the Folgers coffee leaves something to be desired. Expensive cup of coffee, the pack of 18 pods was $5.30.
I remember being rather appalled at the crop of pod coffee/espresso machines that hit the market a couple of years ago. I was not happy at the thought of having to buy a couple teaspoons of coffee at a time, enacsed in a complex paper product, whereas with a more traditional coffee machine I could grind beans in bulk and only be out a simple paper filter at most.
But then I spent my early adult years in Berkeley, where many people refused to use teabags because they killed trees
On the other hand, I *used* to have my own special kind of latte with a home espresso machine... I'd foam the milk first, in a glass mug, and then layer the espresso on top of it, so it made a pretty patter of white foam on top, then a dark band of espresso floating on a mocha colored swirl of hot milk underneath. So artistic I would hate to add sugar and stir it. The biggest problem I had was finding an espresso machine that was tall enough to allow a glass mug to receive the espresso directly.
Overhere in the Netherlands the Coffee pod machines are very popular. Mainly ofcourse Philips and Douwe Egberts are Dutch companies. I don't think there is an appliance that has become so popular in such a short time. Everybody overhere seems to have one. I bought a Philips Senseo because I live alone and I'm not drinking a lot of coffee. The price of a bag of 18 Douwe Egberts coffee pods is around $2.- here.
Ron, I have one of those B&D Cup at a Times, or I did have, because I left it at the office in my drawer and now I'm 'retired' so someone else can use it now. Actually you're right it was a great little machine for just one cup.. not a huge bother either. I'd buy those smallest Melitta paper cones, the #1's I think they were, and it was fast. I never like coffee made with the permanent filters.
I love my Tassimo. I bought it off amazon.com for a very good price. I don't know if they are still offering it discounted. I got 4 free packs of t-discs also. SO far everything we tried is very good, tea, coffe, latte, cappachino, and hot chocolate. I am hoping they come out with some flavored coffee for holidays.
The Senseo pods provide better coffee than the Folgers.
There is a Philips machine that works well and produces a very good cup of coffee. The Black and Decker works O.K. but seems to develop intermittent problems after a while, like you have to push the button several times to get it to work.
I think it's a great modern convenience...I usually don't drink more than one cup of coffee before leaving the house for work so it is quick and easy to use.