Tassimo vs Dolce Gusto
Dolce Gusto vs Tassimo, Tassimo vs Dolce Gusto. It seems to be one of the biggest debates in the Coffee Kingdom. Both companies seem to be head to head in terms of competitiveness. They have divided many opinions as they try to become the manufacturers of the best coffee pod machines.
We are constantly getting requests to suggest which coffee pod machine we prefer and to be honest, we are also torn on this. The Nescafe Dolce Gusto and Bosch Tassimo coffee machines are both excellent products that if you have the chance to try both, do it!
For most, it makes sense to only choose one as their go-to, to get that everyday coffee fix. So in this review, we will analyse both products, delving into their advantages and disadvantages, as well as listing the best types of Dolce Gusto and Tassimo coffee machines so you can choose which one is best for you.
Before we get started, it’s important to note that when it comes to coffee pods and coffee machines, the tassimo machine and dolce gusto machines are exceptional. To be honest, you wont be disappointed with either, but that doesn’t mean to say you shouldn’t choose the one that is most likely to provide the best coffee drinks for your preferences!
Dolce Gusto Vs Tassimo Price List
DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Piccolo
Hot and cold drink capability for hot and cold beverages prepared with one easy move of the machine’s manual lever.
Easy to clean as all the coffee grinds stay in the pods there is no mess, no fuss.
Eco mode: Automatic switch off after 1 minute, energy consumption rating A.
Adjustable drip tray suitable for all cup sizes
Tassimo by Bosch Suny ‘Special Edition‘
Choose from over 50 drinks, from well known brands, to enjoy at home with family and friends.
SLEEK AND STYLISH COFFEE POD MACHINE.
AUTO CLEANS between each drink to ensure no flavour mixing between cups and auto shuts off when not in use.
De’longhi Nescafe Dolce Gusto, Genio S PlusEDG315.B,Pod Capsule Coffee Machine
Precisely control the preparation process to create recipes perfect to your tastes (adjustable temperature, drink size & espresso boost).
Easy and fast preparation for over 50 coffee creations and other delicious hot and cold beverage options can be created at the touch of a button.
Bosch Tassimo Vivy Hot Drinks and Coffee Machine
Enjoy more than 35 drinks varieties from famous brands
No heat up time after switch-on; ready to start your drink instantly.
Easy cleaning; automatic cleaning and descaling program and dishwasher proof parts.
Nescafe Dolce Gusto
Let’s start with the Nescafe Dolce Gusto machine and analyse the advantages and disadvantages of this product.
Pros
- Cold and hot water brewing options, perfect for hot and iced coffees.
- Heats up fast and efficiently.
- Easy to insert the pods into the coffee machine.
- Variety of different pod machines available.
- Really nice dolce gusto pods flavours.
- Great aesthetics.
- Can be used for other luxuries like hot chocolate.
Cons
- No water filter.
- Limited flavour options.
- Expensive in comparison to competitors.
Best Nescafe Dolce Gusto Pod Machines
Bosch Tassimo
Here are some of the major benefits and disadvantages that we found from using the Bosch Tassimo pod coffee machine.
Pros
- Variety of flavours and coffee options.
- Aesthetically pleasing, including an excellent cup stand.
- LED lights.
- Heats up efficiently.
- Produces great tasting coffee.
- Can be used for other luxuries like hot chocolate.
Cons
- Other pod coffee machines have better tasting lattes.
- Sometimes it is hard to find the right pods for these coffee machines.
- Weak crema top on some coffees.
Best Top 3 Bosch Tassimo Pod Machines
Comparing Dolce Gusto vs Tassimo
Now that we’ve outlined the pros and cons of both products, it’s time to compare them against each other to conclude which product in particular offers the best all-round coffee experience. By this, we don’t just mean the taste of the dolce gusto pods, or the tassimo pods, but every part of the brewing experience too.
Variety of Pod Machines
We will start by comparing the different machines that both manufacturers have to offer their customers.
Dolce Gusto
When choosing Dolce Gusto or Tassimo, you will want to know the different types of machines they have and decide from that catalogue, which one fills your needs. We’ve noticed that Dolce Gusto’s are normally more expensive than Tassimo. On top of this, the features that they offer at entry level aren’t really comparable to Tassimo. If you’re looking for one of the cheaper variations, then Tassimo would offer more features if going for the cheapest.
As we move up the pricing scale and look at the more advanced Dolce Gusto pod machines, it’s clear that they offer a top of the range product that is certainly competitive and value for money. It has an automatic function and offers a nice selection of different drinks. Being able to customise your own coffee and enhance it that bit more than any other standard machine can will allow you to enjoy the flavours that bit more. These features include the strength of your coffee and also the temperature of it.
Tassimo
When taking a look at the Tassimo pod machines, they also offer a nice range of products. One thing to be aware of is that the cheaper the product is from Tassimo, the less features it will come with. If you are a Tassimo fan and have a small budget, then perhaps something like the Suny would be a good choice of machine.
Similar to the Dolce Gusto, as you get to the high end products in their library you can also customise your own coffees in a similar way you can with Dolce Gustos. As we get to the more technical pod machines, we also notice the price starts to even out slightly. Whereas the lower end products seem to have a significant gap in price.
Machine Variety Conclusion
Based on what we have experienced with both collections of pod machines, for us, the clear winner is the Tassimo machines as they cater for customers with wider budgets.
Pod Flavours
Another big selling point for both products is going to be the different flavours that the pods offer. There’s no reason to purchase a machine recommended by us or anyone else if they don’t have the flavours you’ll enjoy.
Dolce Gusto
Dolce Gusto really steps up to the plate when it comes to pod flavours. A lot of their customers will agree that they are spoilt for choice in that regard. Of course with it being Nescafe what do you really expect? Here are some of the best selling flavours you can enjoy:
Americano Intense, Flat White, Cappuccino, Americano, American Bold Morning XL, Lungo Decaff, Cafe Au Lait, Latte Macchiato, Ristretto Ardenza, Caramel Latte, Chococino, Espresso and many more!
Another huge benefit of Dolce Gusto machines is that they have allowed for other companies to make replica pods that are compatible with their machines. So if you’d prefer not to pay the fee of their own brand and want something cheaper, there are plenty out there to choose from. These can range from as little as £0.25 – £1.50 per pod.
Tassimo
Tassimo pods, also known as “T Discs” come in a variety of excellent flavours too. Some of which include most of the names mentioned above, as well as some extras:
Coconut white chocolate latte, Pure Colombian, Gingerbread Latte, Chai Latte, Green Tea & Mint, Decaff and many more!
Upon further investigation we did notice that Tassimo machines cannot accept pods that are not Tassimo own brand. The reason for this is because there is a barcode on each of the pods and a scanner on the machine which reads the barcode and can tell if the pod is from Tassimo or not. If not, then the machine simply won’t operate. This is quite an annoyance for those on a budget and could perhaps put a lot of consumers off.
Pod Flavours Conclusion
The winner for this category has to be the Nescafe Dolce Gusto machines based on the fact that any pod can work in their machines which puts them at a huge advantage. Similar to the Nespresso machines. Which makes sense as they are owned by the same company.
System Designs
The way in which the machines are designed and the functionality of them is very important, this goes for any type of coffee machine, not just pods, even if it’s one for ground coffee. You want something that is going to look nice in your home and operate nicely, to your standards. This is why we are comparing how both machine types work to see which one would be better suited for consumer types.
It has to be said that both have great designs and aesthetics. We really enjoyed looking over both brands and feeling that they would look appealing in homes. The majority have a modern look about them and the different types of designs means that they have a better chance of being suited in people’s kitchens, especially those that want everything to “fit in”.
We really do like the Dolce Gusto sphere top designs and think that in terms of looking modern and having that more innovative appeal, they would be a preferred choice. We’ve noticed that the Tassimo designs seem to be more box like and as though not much thought has actually gone into the looks. Having said that, the water reservoir design from them is certainly easier to use in our opinion. So really, what would you prefer? Better ease of use or a more slick looking coffee pod machine? The choice is yours.
System Design Conclusion
Unfortunately with this one we were unable to come to a vote for a clear winner, which is why in terms of system designs, we have put Dolce Gusto vs Tassimo as a tie.
Maintenance
The final area we want to examine before settling the debate of Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machines vs Bosch Tassimo is how easy they are to maintain. Overtime, you will notice that constantly making coffee will cause the machine to get dirty and will require clearing. Whether it is the water tanks or the stand itself and just keeping the machine clear of dust.
Dolce Gusto
These machines are very easy to clean. All the components are easy to access and take out of the machine without breaking it, for example the water tank, drip tray and more. We recommend descaling the machine every month if you can. Depending on which variation you buy, you can actually be noted by the more expensive machines on when the descaling needs to happen.
Tassimo
Maintaining a Tassimo pod coffee machine is also very easy and definitely needed if you plan on keeping it working for a long period of time. Similar to the Dolce Gusto, you just need to wash it, descale it, etc. You can find tailor made descaling tablets for this product, as well as a cleaning T-Disc.
Maintenance Conclusion
Due to their similarities, on this front it has to be a tie again. The dolce gusto machine and tassimo machine are fairly simple to maintain.
Settling The Tassimo vs Dolce Gusto Debate
We really enjoyed reviewing both the Bosch Tassimo Hot Beverage machine and the Nescafe Dolce Gusto. We felt both have so much to offer customers and whilst being so similar for many reasons, they also have their own uniqueness which will help to settle this debate. We even felt like throwing the Nespresso machines into the mix but felt that would just be too annoying, even though they are owned by Nescafe, they do also differ from dolce gusto machines.
If you are someone that is short on budget and doesn’t want to spend huge amounts on a pod machine, with your target being set on one of the cheaper varieties, then we suggest the Tassimo machines. Their entry machines are certainly more price friendly.
However, if budget is not an issue and you want the most aesthetically looking model, then we would go for any Dolce Gusto machine. They are more expensive and they look better. So for those not on a budget, this is what we would recommend.
The final factor we consider to be influential in making this decision is the coffee pods and variety. As mentioned before, you cannot use non-Tassimo coffee pods in their tassimo machines, whereas with Dolce Gusto machines, you are able to use any type of coffee pods or milk pods that fit. So for those not wanting to pay for the branded pods and prefer cheaper alternatives, perhaps you have found new flavours that these brands do not offer, then our recommendation here would be the Dolce Gusto.
Some of you may not be convinced by either pod coffee machine. Perhaps you aren’t a fan of pod coffee machines and would like to look at a bean to cup coffee machine. If that is the case then we recommend the Delonghi Autentica as one of the best ground coffee machines.
Tassimo vs Dolce Gusto FAQs
Do You Need To Add Milk To Pod Coffees?
No, you won’t need fresh milk for these coffees. These types of coffee drinks include all the ingredients needed in the coffee pods, which means fresh milk is not required.
Which One Is Your Personal Favourite?
For us, it has to be the Tassimo coffee machines, mainly because this is the brand we’ve had the most. It is perfect for all coffee lovers and we are yet to find major faults with their systems. Some of their compatible pods in our opinion as as good as from a coffee shop.
Is A Pod Machine Cheap?
They are all priced differently, some are cheaply priced, whereas if you wanted a more premium tassimo machine or the best dolce gusto machine then you can end up paying quite a bit, certainly worth the money though if you want quality coffee.
Can The Pod Machines Make Iced Drinks?
No, whether it is a cheap pod machine or an expensive one, they do not make iced coffees.
Are They The Same As A Capsule Coffee Machine?
Yes, this is simply just another name for them.