Be Your Own Barista (Tassimo T20 Giveaway!)

This week I'm hosting a giveaway for US readers. Tassimo asked if I wanted to try a Tassimo T20 Brewbot and give one away to a reader. Since I consider myself a coffee junkie I figured why not, I've always wondered how these machines compare to 'normal' coffee makers. Not to imply that Tassimos are 'weird' but the fact that these machines can read bar codes does put it in a different category. We all know that inventions like this bring us one step closer to the robot uprising, don't we? (Tassimo is never going to ask me to review their stuff ever again so enter the giveaway while you can. Details below.)

First of all I need to tell you that the Tassimo T20 is not a robot despite the fact that it is a brewbot and if you go over to the Brewbot site, the first coffee machine you see on the screen goes all Optimus Prime on what I assume would be my coffee cup. I'm not fooled by that smile.

Anyway. It turns out there is no such thing as a real brewbot which took about four emails to clear up when I was discussing the product with the folks at Tassimo. Good thing they told me this otherwise I'd probably still be shouting at it to get out of the box and get to work because if there is anything I learned from The Jetson's, it's to never tolerate a lazy robot.

Now despite the fact that this machine will not serve me coffee in bed (unless I put it on my bedside table), it does serve me coffee faster than any other machine I've ever owned. It also has served me hot chocolate and it could serve me cappuccinos or teas or espressos or lattes which is something my 'normal' coffee maker can't do.

Poor inadequate 'normal' coffee maker.

Oh I'm kidding my 'normal' coffee maker, you do a great job every morning brewing my daily pot of lifeblood but this here Tassimo T20, you don't need to worry about her. She just makes those little one-offs, 'quickies' if you will, and they don't mean anything baby, nothing at all. Hush now, you aren't going anywhere.

While my 'normal' coffee maker has nothing to worry about, the Tassimo T20 is pretty cool. The Gelivia coffee discs that were included with the machine were perfectly measured to my tastes and if I was single again, this would be cover my daily coffee needs. These days I can see the advantage of having the ability to make a single cup of coffee at midday when I sometimes need just one more cup. It would also be great for guests since I could offer them a plethora of hot bevvys -- not that I ever have guests over but for this exercise I'd like to pretend there is an active social life somewhere in reach.

The drink discs were easy to find at our grocery store, and also priced well for a fast hot drink (around a buck a cup for the more expensive brands like Starbucks, less for others). So far we like the Gelivia coffee and Starbucks Cappuccino but the hot chocolate was meh -- it reminded me of the watery hot chocolate out of the machines at my university student union and that's not a a compliment. Mind you, my husband switched out one of the creamy discs from the Starbuck's Cappuccino and mixed it with the hot chocolate and declared it tolerable. I'm also surprised how much my husband likes the machine. He's really happy that he can fit his thermos mug in the well and brew a hot cup of something before heading out to the schoolyard for pick-up on those days when it's -25.

Overall the coffee drinkers of this household gave it two thumbs up even though we agree it doesn't replace a multi-cup brewing system. Yet the machine gets lots of bonus points for the multiple beverage choices plus ridiculous ease of use.

Now for the giveaway! I will pick one lucky comment via Random.org and they will receive a Tassimo T20 Brewbot (note: not real robot). One entry per email address, residents of the continental US over the age of 18 years, and must be able to provide a valid mailing address (no PO Boxes).

Leave a comment below and include which one of the different beverages would you want to brew first with your new Tassimo T20 if you win -- go here for a list of the of drinks. Contest Closes December 24th, 2010 at 5pm EST. Good Luck!

UPDATE DECEMBER 24th:
CONTEST NOW CLOSED. GOOD LUCK AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY.

FYI: I received the brewer and products at no cost for review and all opinions are mine own. Booyah.