I’ve been back in Kansas City this week, visiting my family and taking care of some business, and have had a chance to use their Melitta One:One coffee maker, which uses individual coffee ‘pods’ to brew a cup at a time. It’s a great concept, especially for someone with a coffee intake like mine. At home, I usually brew about 6-8 cups of drip coffee each morning, letting it simmer all day until it reaches a point where it is so toxic I can’t choke it down. With the One:One, I’m able to brew a new cup of coffee each time, which is definitely a better taste sensation. Also, i don’t feel like I’m wasting so much coffee at the end of the day, although I’m sure with the increased price of the Pods (about $5 for 18) it works out to be about the same.
As for the quality of the coffee, it’s certainly adequate, but it’s not the best I’ve ever had. I’ve been drinking ‘Love at First Sip’ Arabica blend and a French Vanilla, leaning heavily on the latter. I tried using one of the tea bag-like Folger’s Singles in the One:One, and while the coffee was okay (it tasted like your standard diner dishwater cup) it wasn’t anywhere as good as the Pods, nor as good as the Folger’s Single brewed normally. Rumor has it other coffee vendors will be producing varieties for the One:One, opening up the range of flavors considerably.
Although there are some teas Pods that are packaged with the unit, I didn’t have a chance to sample any of them. Trying to brew a simple green tea with the bag in the Pod filter didn’t work well at all, producing a weak and flavorless bleh. I don’t think the heated water has time enough to steep the flavor from the leaves before it gets to the glass.
There are two cup size settings on the One:One, and I found the larger of the two to be preferable at all times, simply because I use a big mug. It was a little off to me to have a huge cup only half-filled with coffee, but I suppose that’s the price you pay for fresh brewing per cup.
Anyway, it’s an neat concept, but I’m not sure I’ll be picking up one for myself. I can pick up drip filters and grounds almost anywhere, while the Pods are more difficult to find. That leads to potential scenarios where I might run out of coffee, and that leads to fear. And rehab. The Melitta One:One would be perfect for those that have easier access to the Pods (and the foresight to purchase in bulk ahead of time) or those that drink coffee only occasionally, but for now I think I’ll wait until I can be sure this (admittedly, good) idea will find greater success.
