Best Tassimo machine to buy in 2024, tried and tested

There are many reasons why the best Tassimo coffee machines have an army of fans. These hard-working drinks makers offer a range of beverages beyond the usual coffee selection, heat up fast so there’s little waiting around and are convenient – you don’t even need a fridge nearby to whip up a latte. This means they’re ideal for households that want to make different hot drinks from one machine: hot chocolate for the kids, a long coffee on a Sunday morning or a chai latte for the daily commute.

While the basic brewing system and choice of drinks may be the same between Tassimo machines, the price, settings, size, water tank capacity, design and colours can all vary, meaning that one model might suit your needs better than another. We’ve selected the best Tassimo machines you can buy whatever your budget, with selections that will cover all your coffee needs. Read on for our suggestions or, if you have any questions, you can skip ahead to our buying guide at the bottom of the article.

Best Tassimo machine: At a glance

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How we test Tassimo machines

The Tassimo machines we review take the place of an existing coffee machine in our tester’s kitchen for around a week. Each one is tested using the same T-DISCS for making Costa espresso, long black coffee, frothy milk and Cadbury’s hot chocolate to try out a good variety of popular branded drinks. Where possible, the strength of the drinks and the amount of water used is altered to gauge any differences in flavour. Any additional features and accessories – such as boost buttons, drink save settings or Brita filters – are also assessed for their results.

Each machine is assessed for ease of use and design, including cup capacity – if there’s enough width and height below the spout for most standard-sized mugs to fit – the size of the water tank, and how much space the machine takes up in our tester’s kitchen. We also consider whether there are any eco features, such as an auto shut-off, and how much necessary upkeep there is. Value for money is another important consideration, for both the initial purchase of the machine and the ongoing cost of being tied to one brand of pods. As Tassimo machines are suitable for a home office, we also note how much noise and steam is produced.

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The best Tassimo machines to buy in 2024

1. Tassimo by Bosch My Way 2: Best for customised drinks

Price when reviewed: £70 | Check price at Amazon

• Great for… altering settings, saving favourites, including a filter in the tank
• Not so great for… spluttering and spitting at the end of the brewing process, reduced tank capacity

If you love Tassimo coffee but would prefer your shot to be longer, stronger or hotter, this is the machine for you. Unlike many Tassimo machines, with the My Way 2 you’re able to alter the drink settings each time you brew and, if you find a combination you want to revisit, you can save up to four favourites, so there’s no need to toggle the settings every time.

What really sets the My Way 2 apart from many other Tassimos is the integral Brita filter system, which sits inside the water tank. For those living in a hard water area, it’s a godsend, although it has the potential to improve the taste of drinks wherever you live. However, you might find it a little annoying that it reduces the capacity of the tank from 1.3l to just one litre.

The My Way 2 performed really well in testing, and we were impressed by the speed it made personalised coffee, frothy warm milk and hot chocolates. Unfortunately, it did tend to spit and splutter towards the end of the brewing process, so take care not to stand too close.

Read our full Tassimo My Way 2 review

Key specs – Size (WDH): 21 x 32.5 x 27cm; Colours available: Black, white, red, cream; Water tank size: 1.3l; Power: 1,500W

2. Tassimo by Bosch Vivy 2: Best for small spaces

Price when reviewed: £35 | Check price at Argos

• Great for… large cups, just as fast as bigger Tassimos with a much smaller footprint
• Not so great for… refilling, as the tank is small and awkwardly positioned

When worktop space is scarce, you need a machine that will only take up the bare minimum. The Vivy 2 is one such machine, and small enough that it should be able to tuck under your kitchen wall units with little issue.

It’s pleasantly surprising how few compromises have been made with the Vivy 2 compared to other small coffee machines. Thanks to the variable cup platform, the cup platform is wide with enough clearance for even big mugs – you won’t have enough room for tall latte glasses, though – and, like all Tassimo machines, it can produce warm, frothy milk without the need for a separate frother.

As you might expect from such a dinky machine, there are a few size-related issues. For example, the water tank is only 700ml and is awkwardly positioned to the side, making it a little tricky to get in and out. And the tank needs to be removed to be filled, and you’ll obviously need to fill it up more often if you’re making coffee for multiple guests. However, even though it’s small, it works just as hard as the larger Tassimo machines, meaning you’ll be able to make exactly the same drinks without giving up as much space.

Read our full Tassimo Vivy 2 review

Key specs – Size (WDH): 16.9 x 31 x 25.1cm; Colours available: Black, red, pink, cream, grey; Water tank size: 700ml; Power: 1,300W

3. Tassimo by Bosch Finesse: Best for stronger-tasting coffee

Price when reviewed: £119 | Check price at Amazon

• Great for… IntensityBoost for stronger flavours, fast heat-up time
• Not so great for… a small tank, IntensityBoost function is tricky to operate

The Finesse’s standout feature is its IntensityBoost function, which helps it to give your coffee a more intense flavour by brewing at a higher temperature for longer, with grounds that are pre-wet, allowing for a deeper extraction. We found it produced a slightly sweeter and more aromatic Americano and a punchier espresso. Another positive is that the IntensityBoost will only work with coffee capsules, so there’s no need to worry about accidentally activating it when you’re making tea or hot chocolate, for example.

The Finesse heats up extremely quickly and we really appreciated its compact size and lighter weight. On the downside, the Finesse again only has a small water tank of 700ml, which has to be removed to be refilled. While this is plenty big enough if you’re sticking to espressos and shorter drinks, you might find yourself refilling it more frequently than you’d like if you’re making multiple long drinks or frothy coffees throughout the day. The IntensityBoost button is also a little tricky to operate, which is a common issue with all Tassimo machines that have this function.

Read our full Tassimo Finesse review

Key specs – Size (WDH): 15.7 x 26.5 x 36.6cm; Colours available: Black, white, blue, red, cream; Water tank size: 700ml; Power: 1,400W

4. Tassimo by Bosch Happy: Best for colour choice

Price when reviewed: From £43 | Check price at Amazon

• Great for… fast heat-up time, easy operation, being available in bright red as well as more standard colours
• Not so great for… a small and awkwardly positioned tank

If colour brings a smile to your face, you’ll understand how the Tassimo Happy got its name. As well as being available in the usual black, grey and cream shades, you can indulge your inner maximalist with a bright red shade that’s sure to liven up any kitchen or home office.

Like the Suny and Vivy 2, we liked the compact size of the Happy, which can still deliver all the standard-sized drinks. It is a fairly simple machine – you have the option to stop brewing early for a shorter drink, or add extra water while brewing is in progress, but there are no other options. As it’s on the smaller side the water tank is only 700ml, and it’s situated at the side so you can’t refill in situ if water is running low. It’s also a tad awkward to get the tank in and out. That said, the auto-shutoff after one minute and its easy operation make this affordable machine an appealing buy.

Read our full Tassimo Happy review

Key specs – Size (WDH): 17.5 x 30.5 x 26.5cm; Colours available: Black, cream, red, purple, red/white, grey; Water tank size: 700ml; Power: 1,400W

5. Tassimo by Bosch Suny: Best for fast drinks

Price when reviewed: £40 | Check price at Amazon

• Great for… simple starting with a push against the front panel, a fast heat-up time, and a compact size
• Not so great for… noise when it’s about to start brewing, and no eco-off function

The creator of the Suny must be no stranger to bleary-eyed mornings – this compact machine doesn’t even need you to locate the ‘on’ button to get going. Instead, once a T-Disc is inserted, it will start brewing with just the push of a mug against its front panel. No wonder it’s been dubbed “the quick one” by its makers – there’s no need to select a drink, strength or any other options, as the barcoded Tassimo system will dispense exactly the right amount of water for each T-Disc. It’s incredibly speedy and even though it could be a little quieter when it’s about to start brewing, bizarrely, it does calm down noise-wise when it’s actually brewing.

While it’s affordable and easy to use, we were disappointed to see that the Suny lacks the sort of eco mode that many modern coffee machines feature – it’s turned on with a rocker switch on one side and doesn’t turn itself off to save energy if it’s accidentally left on. It also produces a fair cloud of steam as it finishes brewing, which is something to be aware of in a family home, or if it’s housed below kitchen walls units. The choice of colours is limited to neutral tones, but for ease of use, it can’t be beaten.

Read our full Tassimo Suny review

Key specs – Size (WDH): 16.7 x 30.5 x 25.1cm; Colours available: Black, cream; Water tank size: 800ml; Power: 1,300W

How to choose the best Tassimo machine for you

What features should I look for?

Tassimo machines use their Intellibrew system – each T-DISC has a barcode that’s read by the machine so it knows the right amount of water and the correct temperature to use for your drink. For most of the machines in our roundup, this isn’t something that can be easily altered – you either have to stop brewing manually or add water with multiple button pushes – which makes anything other than the predetermined drink volume impractical. However, if adjusting the temperature, coffee strength or drink size is important to you, look for a machine – such as the My Way 2 – that allows you to alter these variables.

Tassimo machines come in different sizes, however none of them are overly big in the first place. If you prefer long drinks, you’d do well to choose one with a larger water tank but if you’re more likely to drink espresso than anything else, one of the smaller models may be a better fit. Some also have a wider variety of colour choices beyond the usual neutral shades.

All the machines use a flow heater brewing system. While this heats up faster than bean-to-cup and coffee pod machines, it’s worth bearing in mind that it won’t produce the same kind of barista-style espresso which comes from using 15-19 BAR pressure. Instead, the flow heater only has a pressure of around 3.3 BAR.

What’s the drinks range like?

One element in Tassimo’s favour is its wide range of drinks, from brands you’re likely already familiar with to more generic Tassimo drinks. You’ll probably find that your local supermarket only stocks a small selection, but there are more than 70 to choose from online.

Employing the Tassimo system means that – unlike Nespresso-compatible machines, where there are multiple roasters to choose from – you’re tied to one manufacturer. For those who enjoy its drinks, this won’t be an issue but if you like to try different blends, you may find it limiting. The T-DISCS aren’t particularly eco-friendly either, as they’re made from hard plastic that you’re unlikely to be able to recycle at home. Fortunately, there is a recycling scheme for these – Podback – and you can order your free bags online from Tassimo.

How much should I spend on a Tassimo machine?

Most of Tassimo’s smaller machines start at around £35-40, giving access to the basic system and a water tank that you may need to top up fairly frequently, depending on whether you prefer longer or shorter drinks. For more control over drink strength, size and temperature, you’ll need to budget for a more expensive machine, such as the My Way 2, which can cost roughly double.

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