Bosch TASSIMO TAS1103GB Single Serve Machine - Review 🏆

The TASSIMO TAS1103GB is an entry-level single serve coffee machine from Bosch designed for making espresso, regular coffee, and tea. This compact and stylish machine uses patented IntellibrewTM technology and clever T DISCs to deliver barista-style drinks at home with the push of a button.

The TASSIMO TAS1103GB features a sleek curved design with a glossy finish available in black or silver. At just 27.6 x 20.5 x 32.5 cm, its small footprint takes up minimal counter space. The 1050 watt thermoblock heating system only takes 26 seconds to heat up, while the removable 0.7 liter water tank has a viewing window so you can see when a refill is needed.

This basic TASSIMO model provides an affordable option for those wanting the convenience of single-cup brewing without advanced features. Its intuitive controls and auto-cleaning make the TAS1103GB easy to operate. Let's take a closer look at how this compact machine performs.

Appearance & Design

The Bosch TASSIMO TAS1103GB single serve coffee maker has a sleek and modern design that will look great in any kitchen. It has a compact footprint, measuring just 8.7 x 15.7 x 27.6 cm. Weighing only 1.4kg, this coffee machine is lightweight and easy to move around or store away when not in use.

The TAS1103GB comes in a glossy black plastic housing with silver accents, giving it an elegant monochromatic look. The top surface has a smooth black finish while the front display panel has a sleek silver border. There are no other color options available for this model.

Overall, the Bosch TASSIMO coffee maker has an attractive, contemporary appearance. Its slim shape and neutral black color allows it to blend seamlessly into most decors. The small size is perfect for kitchens with limited counter space.

In comparison, the Krups Nespresso XN110B offers a stylish yet functional design, featuring a premium matte finish and a compact layout similar to the TASSIMO. It also weighs just around 2.5kg, making it easy to handle. The Krups machine is designed for Nespresso pods, which provide rich and flavorful coffee with a simple operation. This model includes an adjustable cup holder to accommodate different cup sizes, ensuring a versatile brewing experience.

Features

The Bosch TASSIMO TAS1103GB has some great features that make it stand out among other single serve coffee machines.

Brewing Technology

The TASSIMO uses IntellibrewTM technology to brew each cup perfectly. It automatically detects the T DISC you inserted and adjusts the brewing parameters like temperature, water quantity, and brew time. This ensures optimal extraction and flavor for each individual beverage.

Control Panel

This machine has a simple and easy-to-use control panel. There are just two buttons - one for standby on/off, and one for starting/stopping the brewing process. The panel also has indicator lights that show power status and if the water tank is empty.

Capacity

The Bosch TASSIMO has a 37oz water tank capacity, which allows brewing multiple cups before needing a refill. It can hold up to 9 used T DISCs in the internal waste container before needing to be emptied.

In addition to the TAS1103GB, the Bosch TAS1002 offers remarkable features tailored for coffee lovers. It's designed for smaller spaces but still delivers rich flavors. With a user-friendly interface, the TAS1002 allows for easy selection and brewing of your favorite beverages with just a touch of a button. Its compact size doesn't sacrifice performance, ensuring that you can enjoy your coffee quickly and conveniently.

Ease of Use

The Bosch TASSIMO TAS1103GB coffee machine is very straightforward to set up, use daily, and keep clean.

Setting Up

Setting up the TASSIMO is quick and easy. The machine comes with clear instructions that walk you through the initial setup process step-by-step. All you need to do is insert the water filter, fill the water tank, and prime the machine. The whole process takes just a few minutes.

Daily Use

The TASSIMO is designed to make brewing coffee fast and fuss-free. To use it daily, you simply need to insert a TASSIMO T-Disc pod, close the handle, and press the button for the beverage you want. An autorecognition feature reads the barcode on the T-Disc pod to customize the brew for that drink. Then you just need to wait less than a minute for a fresh cup of coffee, espresso, tea, hot chocolate and more. The flow-heating technology means there is virtually no warm-up time.

Cleaning

Keeping the TASSIMO clean is quick and hassle-free. The drip tray is dishwasher safe. The machine will also prompt you when it needs to be descaled based on water usage. Descaling is a straightforward automated process using the TASSIMO descaling solution. Overall, the TASSIMO requires minimal regular cleaning to keep running in tip-top condition.

Coffee Quality

The TASSIMO TAS1103GB produces coffee that rivals your local coffee shop in terms of taste. The machine uses INTELLIBREWTM technology to control the brewing time, temperature and flow rate for each beverage. This results in an optimal extraction and full-bodied flavor.

The coffee comes out at the ideal drinking temperature - not too hot but still nice and hot. You don't have to wait for it to cool down before enjoying your first sip.

One of the highlights of this single cup coffee maker is that it produces a beautiful, thick crema on the coffee. The crema is key for bringing out the full aroma and flavor of the espresso-based drinks. With each cup you get that quintessential creamy foam topping that espresso drinkers love.

Overall the TAS1103GB delivers on rich, authentic coffee shop quality taste with every cup. The optimized brewing settings result in well-extracted coffee with robust flavor.

Milk Frothing

The Bosch TASSIMO TAS1103GB comes with an automatic milk frother, which is a huge convenience for making lattes and cappuccinos. Simply fill the frother with milk, attach it to the machine, and select your drink. The TASSIMO will froth and heat the milk, then brew the coffee and blend them together automatically.

The frother can make hot or cold milk foam, allowing you to customize your drink temperature. It froths the milk well with a nice, creamy texture. The only downside is that you have to rinse the frother out after each use which takes a little extra time. But overall, the automatic milk frothing works great and makes specialty coffee drinks easy and consistent.

Beverage Variety

The Bosch TASSIMO TAS1103GB offers a wide variety of beverage options beyond just coffee. With TASSIMO T-DISCs, you can make espresso, cappuccino, latte macchiato, hot chocolate, tea and more.

The machine uses intelligent barcode technology to automatically adjust the brew settings for each T-DISC, so you get the perfect cup every time. There are over 40 different TASSIMO pod varieties to choose from major brands like Costa Coffee, Twinings, Cadbury and more. The pods are widely available in supermarkets and online.

You're not limited to the TASSIMO range either. You can use the machine to brew any ground coffee or tea leaves using the detachable manual filling attachment. Just fill it up, attach to the machine and start the manual brewing process. This gives you total control over the beverage strength and size.

With such a vast range of single-serve pods and the ability to brew anything you want manually, you'll never get bored of the drinks you can make with the TAS1103GB. The variety on offer will satisfy all tastes and preferences in the household.

Pros & Cons

The Bosch TASSIMO TAS1103GB single serve coffee machine has several pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Makes a wide variety of hot and cold drinks beyond just coffee, including tea, hot chocolate, and specialty beverages
• Very easy to use with T DISC pods - just insert pod and press start
• Drinks are made quickly, usually in under a minute
• Compact, sleek design takes up minimal counter space
• Automatic pod recognition and adjustable cup height for optimal brewing
• Removable parts are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning

Cons

• Pod-based system can be more expensive per cup than using ground coffee
• Limited control over beverage strength and customization
• Milk frother is not automated and requires manually frothing milk separately
• Water tank capacity is on the smaller side at 0.7 liters
• No brew temperature control
• T DISC pods can only be used in TASSIMO brewers, reducing flexibility

Overall, the TASSIMO TAS1103GB is very convenient and easy to use but lacks some customizability compared to other single serve coffee makers. The variety of drinks available with the T DISC pods is a major benefit for many users.

Price

The Bosch TASSIMO TAS1103GB single serve coffee machine currently sells on Amazon UK for around £125. This puts it solidly in the mid-price range for pod coffee machines.

At this price point, the TASSIMO offers good value for money given its features and performance. Key positives that help justify the cost include:

• Reputable Bosch brand name. Bosch is known for quality appliances.

• Advanced barcode scanning technology for automatic brewing. This makes the machine very easy and convenient to use.

• Wide variety of branded beverage pods available, including big names like Costa Coffee. Lots of choice for drink options.

• Solid coffee quality and customizable strength control. Delivers a good coffee drinking experience.

• Compact, stylish machine that looks nice on the counter. Well-designed appliance.

• Fast heat up and brew times. Makes coffee conveniently and quickly.

So while not the most budget-friendly single serve coffee maker around, the smart tech, quality, and performance of the TASSIMO machine make it worth the investment for many kitchens. The price feels fair and justified for a good mid-range capsule coffee model.

Conclusion

The Bosch TASSIMO TAS1103GB is a solid single serve coffee machine that produces consistent, good quality coffee drinks in a compact and easy to use design. It utilizes TASSIMO's unique T-Disc system to brew a wide variety of coffee beverages, espressos, teas, and hot chocolates with the simple press of a button.

The machine is very straightforward to set up and operate. Its small footprint saves precious counter space in your kitchen. The brewing process is fast and quiet. The coffee it produces is hot and flavorful, though it may lack some of the boldness and nuance you'd get from a high-end espresso machine. The milk frother allows you to make cappuccinos and lattes, but it doesn't produce the finest foam texture.

Overall, the Bosch TASSIMO TAS1103GB is an excellent choice for someone looking for the convenience of single-serve pod brewing with the ability to make coffeehouse-style drinks at home with minimal fuss. It's simple, consistent, and reliable. If you're not picky about getting the absolute highest quality espresso-based drinks, then the TASSIMO will serve you well for all your daily coffee needs. It's compact, easy to use, and can produce a wide range of coffeehouse beverages at the touch of a button. For the average coffee drinker looking for an uncomplicated single serve brewer, the Bosch TASSIMO is easy to recommend.