(Russell writing...) A little mini-review on a self-purchased Xmas present now that we've had it a couple weeks.
CBTL is a relatively new thing in the states and only has limited distribution for the time being (can be found online, at Coffee Bean & Trea Leaf stores, or Bed Bath and Beyond). It's based on the evidently popular Caffitaly brewing system that can be found throughout Europe.
Do I recommend? Well, maybe. If you like espresso, it's worth looking at. Basically on par with Nespresso for less $$! If you're a coffee/tea person only, get a Keurig (although apparently they have widespread reliability issues). If you want it all so to speak, and don't mind "simulated espresso" (and I'm not convinced that I don't), get a Tassimo.
Incidentally, here are my favorite beverages thus far (*all CBTL espresso/coffee capsules are 100% Arabica):
- Italian Espresso: dark, intense, rich, and fairly smooth (least bitter of the espressos). definitely my favorite of all. the machine is worth having in my opinion for this capsule alone.
- Continental Espresso: slightly lighter espresso, but still smooth overall
- Premium Espresso: I was expecting to like this one the best, but it actually seemed quite bitter with an odd aftertaste in comparison to the other two
- Viennesse Coffee: Relatively rich bodied and smooth, but still a bit watery at the preprogrammed 8oz pulls for coffee (I've since adjusted the coffee setting to just over 6 oz...a little bit disappointing that I even have to do that, but oh well)
- Tropical Passion Tea: actually an extremely tasty tea that I have to say I'm a fan of. however, the teas in general suffer from having loose tea particles that get pushed through during the brew process. the word is that CBTL may be redesigning the capsules to improve this issue. i hope so
UPDATE: So, as I mentioned in the review, we haven't been overly impressed with our Contata. The CBTL espressos are bitter and the coffee thin in my opinion, and after a year of use I stand by that. As a matter of fact, Katie and I did a bit of research on the Nespresso systems, the new Keurig Rivo, as well as simple Moka Pots to see if those might be suitable replacements (even did a few visits to Williams Sonoma to do a hands-on taste test with Nespresso and the new Starbucks Verismo, the latter of which we were unimpressed by).
However, before we went and dropped another large amount of money on a whole new single-serve system, I figured I should try at least to see if some of the other Caffitaly capsules you can buy overseas might make the Contata worth keeping around. I had tried before to find an e-tailer who would ship to us with no success, but perhaps this time I would have more luck.
As it happens, the Julius Meinl company now delivers straight to the US, so I bought up a sampler of their Mocca Forte, Decaf, Espresso Symphony, Cafe Crema Melody, and Tango Intense Espresso capsules. I have tried every one of them over the past week, and here's my final diagnosis. The Contata has redeemed itself! CBTL continues to disappoint me with their offering (although I haven't tried their new Carnivale, etc., capsules), but I found every one of the Meinl capsules I purchased to be vastly superior!
One issue remains in that none of the Meinl capsules I bought are intended to be used for a full 6-8 oz cup of drip-style coffee, and all of the CBTL coffee capsules come out thin. My remedy for this is now to use the Meinl capsules as the foundation for making Americanos. A wonderful solve, and you get quite an engaging, smooth yet bold cup from some of the stronger Meinl capsules like the Tango (which packs quite a punch in an espresso shot).
So there you have it. My contention with the Contata has been with the limited CBTL capsule selection in the US rather than with the Caffitaly system itself. Now having tried the Meinl capsules, my opinion has improved immensely! The downside of course is that this raises the cost per capsule since you have to buy them from overseas. Oh well.
My next goal is to somehow track down the elusive Cagliari Superoro capsule, which apparently has a reputation for being the best espresso by far on the Caffitaly system. I'll give another update once I find it :)
Have to say after having several different brewing systems that you mentioned above, the CBTL beats them all by a long shot ; ) The inventory is much more diverse than people realize. Any Caffitaly capsule can be used in the CBTL Caffitaly system. For local availability, Target can now be added to the list. BBB has the best assortment. Since any Caffitaly capsule can be used in a Caffitaly brewer, this opens up the inventory you can actually have. There are Danesi espresso capsules sold in the states. Just put a search in for Danesi espresso and if you order make sure the capsules are for Caffitaly systems. Mienl in Austria has superb hot beverages. Not affordable? Wrong, check the direct Mienl site. The capsules are only $4 something a sleeve. They dropped the Vat system for U.S. Orders, and shipping is so reasonable, you are paying essentially what you pay here in the states for a sleeve of CBTL. Shipping to you from Austria can take less than a week. If that's not enough, there are about 3 places in Canada that carry Ecaffe Caffitaly capsules. I usually order from ECS Coffees. You have to call Kevin at the toll free number listed on ECS Coffees to place a U.S. order. The shipping is still doable, especially to NYS. There's a good assortment of beverages you can buy and ECS also carries those coveted milky froth capsules so many people want. As far as taste of coffees and teas, I love the CBTL Columbian and the CBTL Kona, as well as all the espressos. I've only had one coffee that was weaker than my taste, but that can be another person's preference. Teas, I think are excellent and I love Caffitaly Ecaffe Tea et Foglie and also the Ecaffe Chamomila from ECS Coffees. Both taste like those teas should. I have to say I disagree, considering the above, about the taste of the regular brews. Having had a Tassimo, Keurig, and other single serve machines, the CBTL more specifically the Caffitaly system, makes a superb espresso and has the freshest tasting coffees & teas with a wide assortment of beverages unbeknownest to most ; ) Yep, I wouldn't want to limit myself to just espressos, I want a single serve to brew up great tasting teas and coffees too. Having had 3 Tassimos in the past and having been an ardent Tassimo supporter "in the past", I have to disagree with your assessment, the Caffitaly systems, are in my opinion, far better.
ReplyDeleteBekka, thanks for your comment. If I have it right, I believe I've seen your name all over the internet and single-serve forums talking about espresso machines. You happened to be one of the datapoints I used in deciding to purchase the CBTL. That said, may I ask why so much enthusiasm? No kickbacks right? :)
ReplyDeleteIt's been a while since I wrote the review, but I have indeed tried to purchase a few of the Caffitaly capsules you mentioned to no avail. ECS refunded my order twice since I was in the US (even though their website says they deliver here). Same issue with Danesi via Boston King. I haven't ordered Meinl due to the cost, but per your comment perhaps that's changed.
That said, even if the selection is wider than the current CBTL portfolio, it's still not really comparable yet to the competition (although I hope that changes since the only other single serve I've ever owned is a Senseo). Plus, selection alone doesn't mean much (e.g. Keurig has better selection than anyone). Do you actually like the non-CBTL Caffitaly capsules you've tried? I've read pretty thorough reviews on them on forums where you've actually posted, and it seemed that the Ecaffe ones at least weren't that great.
For now, I still am mostly happy with my CBTL, but I actually do prefer my parents' Tassimo when I go home to visit (they also have a Keurig which they actually use more, but I don't care for it). As for coffee in the Contata, I don't care for it all using a pull greater than 6 oz or so. But that's certainly a smaller cup size than I find optimal!
Russell, I totally agree with your comments on the taste of coffee in the Contata. I just fired up a brand new unit today & brewed my first cup of Decaf House Brew. I anticipated it to taste a little on the strong side since I'm not a big coffee drinker, but man oh man, was it ever watery tasting! I was shocked & SO disappointed after having read positive Amazon reviews, including those from Bekka who can't say enough good things about the unit. I guess I will adjust the level down to 6oz like you did, but with that, I'm going to have to get back up from my comfy chair every morning to go make a second cup. Six ounces just isn't going to cut it. Had I known about this, I would have NOT bought this unit. I am seriously bummed out. I don't see how ANYone can say that the Contata makes good coffee with the standard coffee setting of 8oz. I feel like I got ripped off. JG
DeleteHi Russ, sorry, you have to "call" Kevin at ECS at his toll free number for US orders. Yep, I really like the Ecaffe Cremoso, Bevanda hot Chocolate, the teas, and the Intenso. I also like the Americano which I tried after someone from Singleserve mentioned it was good. Shipping to me from Canada wasn't bad, but that can be because I live in upstate NY. For the Mienl I think shipping runs around $19 to $20. Since the capsules are cheaper per sleeve than CBTL sleeves in the States, the shipping added in still ends up to be less than what we pay per box of CBTL capsules. I'm not so sure CBTL will ever have the number of offerings the K machine does ; ) Although, the company so far has been quite progressive. CBTL Just added two new espressos and four new regular joes. When CBTL markets refillable capsules, customers' choice of beverages will be unlimited and more cost effective to buy your own choice of beans. No kickbacks Russ LOL, other than getting a kick out of yours and others postings surmising I am an employee of CBTL. On the side, I liked several T-disks, when I could get em. Through the years I saw many of my favorite T beverages go on back order, become unavailable, and those drinks never appeared back on the shelves again. I'm not talking SBuxs, I'm talking the Euros & teas that were available when I bought my first T-Braun. Petit Dejeuner, European Variety Pack, Jacobs Monarch, etc. In 2007?, Yuban 100% columbian was T-disks were on the shelf for 2 months, Pouff, gone. Said to be on backorder, never to appear again in the U.S. Not my definition of backordered. More recently Yuban coffee was brought back for a nano-second and pouff, gone? Many of us surmised a long time ago, the T choices would be limited to Gevalia and MH offerings, and maybe even only available via subscription. We were hoping, that wouldn't be the case. Yet Kraft is the owner of MH & their subsidiary, Gevalia. Its natural to promote proprietal products, even if not premium quality. Also a few coffees changed in taste (Nabob Columbian is one example). If an old tassimo board was still up you could read through 8 years of postings, and see the pattern of now you see it, now you don't, and how our great suggestions would be passed upwards. Want em?? We were told to ask our store managers to carry product. Problem is, store managers can not the get product. Tassimo is still posting this. Our old board was taken down; too much negativity. Gotta wonder, how long the Tass Euros introduced to the states after the SB fiasco be available? Made more interesting since they previously said before the fiasco, those euros can't be brought to the states due to limitations of distribution ; ) Funny how that changed. Its the Tassimo aka Gevalia customer service and the way the customers have been treated that gets me. The big difference, CBTL announces new beverages and it happens. You pass a suggestion to the company they will respond we are working on it & it will happen. The company will also say Nope,not doable. Its nice to be able to support a US based company that actually listens to their customers. Bekka
ReplyDeleteI just stumbled across this review today. 2 days ago I orderd a CBTL Kaldi because of the discount coupon (KALDI89) I was able to get it shipped to my house for $90. Now, today, CBTL has the Contata with 60 capsules for 89.99. Added that to the cart, and it also added the 12 free capsules. Used the coupon code MOCHA33 and I have the Contata with a total of 72 capsules shipping to my house for $65 and change! I'll return the Kaldi when I get it because thats a GREAT deal on the Contata. Cant wait to use this system. They brewed be a cup of espresso in a Kaldi at CBTL and it was fantastic.
ReplyDeleteUPDATE: So, as I mentioned in the review, we haven't been overly impressed with our Contata. The CBTL espressos are bitter and the coffee thin in my opinion, and after a year of use I stand by that. As a matter of fact, Katie and I did a bit of research on the Nespresso systems, the new Keurig Rivo, as well as simple Moka Pots to see if those might be suitable replacements (even did a few visits to Williams Sonoma to do a hands-on taste test with Nespresso and the new Starbucks Verismo, the latter of which we were unimpressed by).
ReplyDeleteHowever, before we went and dropped another large amount of money on a whole new single-serve system, I figured I should try at least to see if some of the other Caffitaly capsules you can buy overseas might make the Contata worth keeping around. I had tried before to find an e-tailer who would ship to us with no success, but perhaps this time I would have more luck.
As it happens, the Julius Meinl company now delivers straight to the US, so I bought up a sampler of their Mocca Forte, Decaf, Espresso Symphony, Cafe Crema Melody, and Tango Intense Espresso capsules. I have tried every one of them over the past week, and here's my final diagnosis. The Contata has redeemed itself! CBTL continues to disappoint me with their offering (although I haven't tried their new Carnivale, etc., capsules), but I found every one of the Meinl capsules I purchased to be vastly superior!
One issue remains in that none of the Meinl capsules I bought are intended to be used for a full 6-8 oz cup of drip-style coffee, and all of the CBTL coffee capsules come out thin. My remedy for this is now to use the Meinl capsules as the foundation for making Americanos. A wonderful solve, and you get quite an engaging, smooth yet bold cup from some of the stronger Meinl capsules like the Tango (which packs quite a punch in an espresso shot).
So there you have it. My contention with the Contata has been with the limited CBTL capsule selection in the US rather than with the Caffitaly system itself. Now having tried the Meinl capsules, my opinion has improved immensely! The downside of course is that this raises the cost per capsule since you have to buy them from overseas. Oh well.
My next goal is to somehow track down the elusive Cagliari Superoro capsule, which apparently has a reputation for being the best espresso by far on the Caffitaly system. I'll give another update once I find it :)
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ReplyDelete