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Senseo - Get Your Gourmet Coffee Fix Right at Home!

I loooooove this coffee maker! In fact, I just upgraded from my original Senseo HD7810 model (retail about $69) to the super duper Senseo Supreme HD7832 (retail about $139). Either model is an excellent choice. If you're a coffee freak like me, you might want to opt for the super duper model.

The main idea here is the fact that this is gourmet coffee by the cup, using a pod system. You fill the water reservoir, turn the unit on and place either one or two pods in the pod holder, depending on the strength or amount of coffee desired. Next, you place your cup under the spout and press the button. Presto. The machine begins to whir. The water is forced through the coffee and pod holder, producing a delicious cup of coffee, complete with a frothy layer of foam on top. I compare this coffee to a Cafe Americano from a good coffee bar. In other words, espresso with hot water added. It's rich and delicious.

The coffee pods come in a variety of strengths, flavors and varieties:

• Mild Roast
• Medium Roast
• Dark Roast
• Decaffeinated
• Sumatra Blend (New! Haven't seen this in my stores)
• Cappuccino (my girls like this one...)
• Vienna ("a smooth dance of hazelnut, vanilla and mocha")
• Paris ("a simply sweet French vanilla caramel blend")
• Killarney ("Festive Irish cream with a double dose of vanilla")
• You can also buy Pickwick Tea Pods online now, using a special tea pod holder

I love that you can adjust the strength by using only one pod if you prefer a weaker version of the above or two for a stronger version. The super duper version has a couple of extra bells and whistles that I like, as well. The greatest of these, in my opinion, is the addition of a movable spout, so the maker will accommodate a larger, taller coffee mug. The original version (HD7810) did not fit many of the coffee mugs in my house, which was a hassle. The new one fits up to a 4.5" tall mug - still not quite as tall as I think it should allow for but a tremendous improvement. You might measure your coffee cups before you buy this unit. My newer model also came with a pod holder for tea, which my husband thought was pretty cool. However, we haven't found the tea pods locally yet. I'll have to get online and buy some.

Back in November, the best deal I found on the 7832 was on Amazon.com, but Target does have them for about the same price now, too. One other thing to consider is the fact that you are pretty much stuck buying coffee pods to fit in the system. My grocers don't carry this coffee. I have to buy it at Target, Wal-Mart or online. It is more expensive than drip coffee. When I got my first system, I was the only coffee drinker in the house. Now, both my girls are drinking coffee, too, so our habit has gotten a little pricier. However, I go to Starbuck's and my neighborhood coffee joint far less often than I used to because what I can make at home is just as good! So, if you consider that, I probably do have a little cost savings in the long run!