Overflowing Tassimo Coffee Maker. Again!
I just wrote a post about my free Tassimo Coffee Maker, and went to make a cup of coffee using one of my remaining free T-Disks. The thing overflowed all over my countertop, for the SECOND TIME in just 10 uses. That’s a 20% failure rate!
The first time was about a week ago. I loaded the T-Disk, placed my cup, and walked away while the thing brewed me a cup of coffee. Or at least that’s what I thought it was going to do. What the machine actually did was brew coffee all over my countertop, ruining a pretty expensive piece of electronics that was charging nearby in the process. Coffee was everywhere. Coffee grounds were everywhere. My new fancy electronic iGizmo, plugged in & charging nearby, won’t even turn on anymore.
I declined to write about this incident in my last post because I figured it was probably somehow my fault, and I didn’t want to be unfair. I don’t really know how it could have been my fault, the thing is pretty simple to use – you just pop in a cartridge and close the lid. Still, I gave the Tassimo the benefit of the doubt.
But it just happened AGAIN. Fortunately, I caught it early this time and was able to turn the machine off before it made too much of a mess.
I’ve used this thing exactly 10 times now, and it’s overflowed & made a huge mess 20% of the time.
So I’m gonna have to add another item to the list of things that Tassimo needs to do to make their system usable.
- Make the T-Disks less expensive.
- Fix the machine so it doesn’t brew coffee all over the countertop 20% of the time.
- Send me a check for $699 to replace my iPad, since now I’m pretty sure that it wasn’t my fault that the machine blew up. Gevalia, Kraft Foods, Bosch,Tassimo: you can use the donation link on the side of the page. Please add 3% to account for processing fees.
Thanks.
January 18th, 2011 at 7:04 am
How did you manage to get coffee grinds everywhere seeing the grinds are in a sealed t-disc?
January 18th, 2011 at 9:16 am
No idea, Shannon, but that’s what happened. When you insert the T-disk, the machine makes 2 holes in it. One is used to hold the T-Disk in place, the other forces water through the T-disk. Obviously something went wrong with the water hole. Twice.
February 15th, 2011 at 8:58 pm
I’ve had mine for 2 years — never overflowed, has worked flawlessly every day. I use the Starbucks discs. I know they do have several models — maybe I got the better model?
February 17th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
I just got a Bosch Tassimo single-serve coffee maker a few months ago. No overflowing problems yet, but I definitely agree on the coffee-is-overpriced sentiment! I do love how fast it is. My rule of thumb now is I only use it if i am in a rush (e.g. on the way out the door). Otherwise I use my Bodum french press with freshly ground beans and enjoy a REAL cup…
Thanks for the review. Also, just enjoyed using your Subway nutrition counter. Nice work.
PS: For what it’s worth, one of the Starbucks T-disc packages (Colombian roast) I’ve bought had one T-disc that had completely opened prior to me opening the package. I contacted Tassimo about it, and they told me to inquire with the place of sale about returns. I didn’t bother, but it seems to me there might be an issue with the general T-disc design. What brand was the T-disc that blew coffee everywhere?
February 17th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Krishen, you may be right that it was a defective T-disc, though I didn’t notice any anomalies when inserting it. (Of course, I didn’t really look that closely, either.)
Both overflows were from the Gevalia-branded T-discs that were included with the free Tassimo maker I received. It’s likely that a single company manufactures all T-Discs. Maybe I got a bad batch.
March 7th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Have used mine daily for 3 years, 80% of discs I use are Starbucks, never had a problem…I agree though, way too expensive !!
March 20th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Ours is a couple of years old and has also leaked all over on 1 or 2 occasions. We used mostly T-discs at first but then switched to using a reusable plastic disc I found on Amazon. I love it because you can use your own coffee in it. I bought a 2 pack about 2 years ago and absolutely no problems with them. Saves a lot of money.
April 28th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Try cleaning all the holes in the piecing unit, the sometimes get clogged and may cause it to overflow. These parts snap off and apart easily.
April 28th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Also if you bought the Nabob breakfast blend , it gives you a couples onces more of coffee than say the Nabob 100% Columbian coffee
May 20th, 2011 at 11:14 am
I use the Nabob latte t-disks, and the machine quite often cannot read the bar code. I’ve also had the milk ones overflow quite a few times. When it can’t read the bar code, I take the t-disk out and smooth the bar code with my thumb – sometimes it takes a few tries but it does eventually read it. As for overflowing problems, I now stand by the machine and wait for it to finish.
May 24th, 2011 at 9:33 am
Did you use the cleaning disk? Mine messes up sometimes when I forget to clean it. I think the book says to do it like once a week if you use it daily. Seemed to fix mine.
August 4th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
New tossimo makes lots of noise with no results! I’m trying to go through the cleaning process for the first time and nothing is coming out. After a few minutes the red lights flash. Help! I really want some coffee
October 24th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
Tassimo user for 3 years. I liked the Seattle Henry’s blend and everything was fine until about 8-10 months ago when I would brew that partiular brand the Tassimo would overflow because the T-Disc would crack. I called Tassimo and they replaced the coffee but the same thing happened. Perhaps that is why they no longer have Seattle coffee. The only other time was when the spout was blocked by a piece of aluminum, from the piercing unit, so now I just use a Q-Tip and run it through the spout. Since then running just fine.
The fact that the Tassimo reads the bar code and can tell the amount of water, temp and brewing time I think is a great feature.
November 3rd, 2011 at 1:25 pm
I had a similiar problem but it was because I had not placed the disc in flat before it was punctured. Because the hole did not line up with the machine, the grounds and water leaked all over the counter & machine.
November 3rd, 2011 at 3:57 pm
To Andrea – Where did you find reusable T-discs? I have been looking for months and never have seen such a thing. Do you have a link or something?
Mine has only overflowed once where the machine did not shutoff – well would have overflowed had I not stopped it.
November 9th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
I´m also looking for the reusable T-disc!? Any news on where to get it?
Thanks!
Dave
December 8th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
I am having issues with it not brewing right and it don’t seem to be steaming afterwards when it’s done. It use to all the time. Also seems not to be hot enough.
January 10th, 2012 at 11:00 am
Mine did the exact same thing! I burned myself trying to stop it from going everywhere. My main issue with the tassimo would be that I have grounds in my coffee almost every time. I’m wondering if it is just the coffee or the machine. Anyone else with is problem?
February 3rd, 2012 at 11:23 am
I’ve had my Tassimo for about 7 months. I really do love my Tassimo. However…
Lately, my milk and hot chocolate discs won’t empty completely, and the machine leaves about 1/4 of the product remaining. If I wait for the yellow light to come on, open the lid to check the disc, it leaks…a lot.
I noticed a vertical crack on the outside front of the lid that you clamp down after inserting the disc. The crack doesn’t go all the way through, so I don’t know if it is just cosmetic or if it affects the seal.
Anyway, to make sure the disc empties completely, I now have to hit the manual button for a second to get it to empty out the disc, but this is annoying because sometimes it makes the drink to watery because you cannot tell without opening the lid if it’s empty and you can’t be super precise with the use of the manual button. I just have to assume it hasn’t emptied.
Anyone else have this problem?
February 3rd, 2012 at 11:27 am
Regarding “exploding” discs:
From the Tassimo Customer Service facebook site:
We have identified a supplier manufacturing defect involving Tassimo Espresso Drink T Discs sold in the US and Canada. This defect involves the way the T Discs were assembled during a limited timeframe. In a relatively few cases, this has caused them to become clogged or burst during or after brewing, posing a burn hazard. We’re working with regulatory authorities to determine appropriate next steps. In the meantime, we’ve asked retailers to take these select Espresso Drink T Discs (http://bit.ly/xf05BV) off shelves, and are also recommending consumers stop using these T Discs. If you have affected Espresso Drink T Discs, please hold on to them. By the end of next week we hope to confirm how you will be reimbursed.
Please note there is no concern if you have already consumed a Tassimo Espresso Drink as this does not impact the beverages themselves.
This issue only applies to Tassimo products containing Espresso Drink T Discs. Our consumers’ safety and satisfaction with our products are our highest priorities, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. We’ll be quick to offer updates as more information becomes available.
February 4th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
Where are you buying the Starbucks discs? I don’t see them for sale in Canada. I know that the Keurig machine has a much wider choice of discs. I don’t really like my Tassimo since I never seem to get a large mug of coffee. I am not into drinking from dainty little cups – I want a full mug. Any solution to the quantity issue?
May 5th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
I have had my Tassimo for years and have no problem. Well until I replaced the piece they told me too, now I have the same problem grinds and coffee everywhere. I used to love this machine now my feelings for it and Bosch can not be publicly expressed out of respect for others.