Senseo

Senseo is the brand name of the first Kaffeepadsystems, which was in a collaboration between the electronics manufacturer Philips developed in 2001 with the Dutch coffee roaster Douwe Egberts.

The name Senseo stands for one of the machine from Philips, with the coffee roaster Douwe Egberts is prepared, and the other for the Portionierungsform of coffee in special pads that initially only Douwe Egberts, and now also by many other offered manufacturers. Senseo was launched in Germany on the market in 2002. Meanwhile, more than 33 million units have been sold worldwide.

Concept

The coffee is placed in pre-portioned form using so-called coffee pods into the machine. One pad contains 7 g of coffee powder in approximately the amount that is generally recommended for a cup of coffee (even for conventional filter coffee; 1 Kaffeelot or 6-8 g per cup of 125 ml). With a pressure of about 1.4 bar, heated to about 90 ° C water is pressed within 40 seconds through the pad. Due to the short contact time of water with the coffee powder, the device achieves so with the filter coffee produced a composition that is relatively low in irritants and bitter substances, as with all pressure systems, since they remain in the pad.

The Senseo coffee pod machine has a by patents protected brewing system and a special foam chamber, with a similar crema is created on the coffee as we know them from espresso and Schümli coffee. However, the crema is just easier frothed coffee. The Senseo coffee pods designed for the Senseo coffee machine are matched with their form and mixture, degree of grinding and roasting of the coffee beans to the brewing system and since the launch of the system by more and more manufacturers - including discounters - is offered, only offer Philips also Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and Tassimo comparable systems.

After a warm-up time of approximately 60 seconds (after power ) and the insertion of a coffee pods coffee can be made ​​. One or two cups of coffee are brewed at the same time; therefore two different pod holders are included. The device has an automatic power down timer is active after a few minutes of non-use. All removable parts of this coffee maker are dishwasher safe.

Principle of operation

In contrast to the filter coffee machine which continually boils the water and transported (Koch bubbles) up into the filter by its own impetus, the machine of the brand Senseo heats a portion of water initially completely in a heating chamber and pumps it then with a vibration pump through the pad. During the brewing process, the water is boiling not, but prevented by about 90 ° C. brewing temperature evaporation of the roasted flavors of coffee.

To ensure that the heating chamber in the machine is always filled with water, a swimmer is in the removable water tank that allows you to measure the minimal capacity. If the minimum level reached, the heater is switched off by the electronics in the base of the machine and the power-on LED flashes rapidly. This ensures that the tubular heater the heating chamber from overheating. Preventing air contact with the heating element also reduces calcification. If there is sufficient water level to the next portion of water is heated directly after the completion of scalding and filling, which is indicated by slow flashing of the Power LED.

Over a three-way valve between the tank and brewing chamber will prevent the boiling of the water in the heating chamber injects hot water from a possibly open brewing chamber lid - are instead short water pressure surges passed through a back opening out into the water tank overflow. The three-way valve is subject to a certain aging, so older machines tend to promote more and more water is not in the brewing chamber, but directly back into the water tank. Regular descaling counteracts this aging process.

Development

Machine and Accessories

At the launch ( first in 2001 in the Netherlands) there was a further form of Kaffeepadsystems which, however, in contrast to the existing systems quickly found numerous imitators. By May 2007, 15 million coffee pad machines and several billion coffee pods sold by Senseo world. In Germany, where the system came at the end of 2002 to the market, more than five million coffee pad machines and several billion pads have been sold.

Philips and Douwe Egberts attempted to tackle many competing manufacturers to court, relying on the European patent EP0904717B1, which relates to an assembly comprising a container and a coffee pad. This patent was revoked on 30 August 2006 by a Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office, so that other coffee roasters also now can produce and market coffee pods for Senseo coffee pod machine.

After a short time, Philips introduced a successor to the coffee machines which optically but little different from the previous model. What was new was an improved locking mechanism, improved cup footprint (now also suitable for a cup height of 9.5 cm) and the reduction of the power consumption of around 1700 to 1450 watts at the same brewing time by using one existing only in part from stainless steel boiler.

As an accessory, there are commercially a larger water tank with 1.5 liter capacity, which is very beneficial is just at a more frequent use (eg in the office).

In early September 2006, another generation of Philips Senseo coffee pod machines under the name "New Generation" before. The design was revised, also now offers the standard water tank a capacity of 1.2 liters. The newer coffee pod machines are available in three variants, the most expensive variant contains an LC display with input button with which you can adjust the amount of water in three stages, as well as a height-adjustable coffee outlet. The top variant is far more expensive than the original device (manufacturer recommended LVP 129, - € ), but which still remain in the range.

End of 2008, Philips brought the coffee pad machine " Senseo Latte Select " out. This has a built-in removable milk container and an additional pump plus steam generator with a power of 1200 W. This makes it possible to froth milk and milk macchiato as coffee specialties such as latte, cappuccino and cafe latte produce. Nothing has changed on the pads, they are still compatible with older devices.

Since September 2009, is a new machine on the market, the Senseo " quadrants ". Besides the eye-catching, now quadrangular shape Philips has placed emphasis on a more comfortable operation of this machine. So the cup tray is adjustable in height, to avoid splashing; the water tank has a grip recess for easy removal, and the height of the water tank now fits under all standard faucet systems. With the modified design, the pod holder from the typical curved machines are not compatible with the quadrants. The three keys are laid in the lid, its closure position is queried by a Hall sensor.

Introduced in late 2012 a new "twist " generation has been changed greatly in design: The always integrated with the previous types in the machine water tank is easy right standing separately arranged and thus more visible. The previous front / arranged on the lid control buttons have given next to the machine -mounted touch buttons with numerous LEDs. The cup warmer together with the drip tray can be completely separate from the machine now. As an option there is a Brita water filter for the tank as well as models with a built milk frother ( "Twist & Milk ").

Machine Overview

Compilation of machine types and generations of Philips:

Pads

At first you could only between four types of coffee ( mild, normal, strong and decaffeinated ) choose. Since 2005 there has cappuccino pads, since 2006 Espresso pads, since 2007 Tea pads, since 2008 in the Netherlands capsules, with which one hot chocolate milk ( chocomel ) can be prepared in the machine, and since 2010 organic coffee.

There are now commercially available - in some cases also food discounters - a wide range of pads for the Senseo machine and corresponding competing devices.

A special pad variant represent the empty pads is that you can even fill them with commercially available coffee or tea, these are available as disposable and reusable pads.

Since the end of November 2006, there is also the pad variant " Espresso". With these pads and an associated special espresso pod holder can be with all Senseo coffee machine (exception: HD 7800, Senseo machine of the first generation) to prepare espresso. The specially developed Espresso pod holder creates a higher pressure in the machine and provides for a lower amount of water which approximately corresponds with about 80 ml of a double espresso.

Criticism

One criticism in the machines of the first generations was the lack Switch Lock: even if the device was opened, the brewing process could be started. This could lead to scalding. At the urging of, among others, the Stiftung Warentest, the devices have been modified by the manufacturer that customers are better protected.

The Stiftung Warentest criticized the release of nickel into the scalding water, which can be problematic for nickel allergy sufferers.

Next there was the introduction of the charge of the lock- in, ie the introduction of a relatively cheap device, which would be very costly because of the use of only by the developer to be purchased consumables (pads ). Currently one prepared with original Senseo coffee cup of coffee costs 8 to 16 cents. The average cost of a regular cup of filter coffee are ( depending on the price of coffee ) at about 4-7 cents.

Today, however, many Senseo compatible coffee pods competing manufacturers are available that cost much less, partly because there is already a cup of coffee for less than 6 cents.

For a critique of the Padsystemen generally see also Kaffeepadsystem. The filter material used for the Senseo pads, however, compostable and therefore - apart from the outer package - suitable for organic waste bin.

2009, the coffee pod machine was recalled in a large recall because it could burst under certain circumstances the boiler.