Melitta MES1B OneOne Single Serve Coffeemaker, Black
by Melitta

List Price: $69.99
Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary

• One-cup POD coffee system; brews directly into your mug
• Quick and convenient; 2.2 bar steam pump produces rich, full-bodied coffee
• Freedom to choose different blends or flavors for each cup you brew
• Makes one 8-ounce American style or one 5-ounce European style
• 28-ounce removable water tank; makes three mug-size servings before refilling is needed

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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Melitta MES1B OneOne Single Serve Coffeemaker, Black

Customer Review: Works as advertised and worth trying.
Summary: 4 Stars

I decided to try this coffee maker at work, as an option to going out for coffee, and have been quite pleased overall. It works as advertised. It's easy to use and brews a decent, very hot cup of coffee. The java pods are relatively inexpensive, are easy to handle, and produce consistent results. The strongest java pod coffee isn't quite as bold and strong as some of the gourmet shop dark roasts, but it's good overall.

Pros:
- Less preparation and clean up than a traditional coffee maker.
- Relatively inexpensive on a per cup basis, compared to a gourmet coffee shop.
- Good, very consistent coffee overall.
- Makes it easy to try different flavored coffees at the office.

Cons:
- If you don't insert the java pod properly, coffee can dribble out of the java pod chamber when brewing. This happens to me from time to time. It always dribbles down the front and is caught by the drip pan. I now press the java pod firmly into the holder and make sure that the crimped edges of the filter do not stick out much. (There is a flyer insert in the instructions that emphasizes the importance of inserting the java pod properly.)
- If you try to fill a large travel mug, or any very tall mug, you will have to hold it at an angle under the coffee spout during brewing. With a standard coffee mug, you can just let it sit on the drip pan as the coffee is dispensed.
- The machine can be noisy as it brews, as it contains a pump that forces water through the java-pod. The loudest sound it makes when brewing is the pump, which sounds a bit like an aquarium pump.
- Since the amount and type of ground coffee is fixed (sealed in a java pod), it's not possible to make adjustments in the coffee to suit your individual taste.
- There is only one flavor of decaffeinated coffee.

Does it boil water in the plastic water reservoir?
As far as I can tell, no. Yes, water is brought to a high temperature inside the machine, but the cloudy plastic reservoir does not get warm.

Can you use a java-pod more than once?
I tried this several times out of curiosity - brewing the "European" 5-ounce portion each time - and have been disappointed with the second cup. As you might expect, it's quite weak. And the manual doesn't recommend using a java-pod more than once. So, even if you only brew a 5-ounce cup, it's best use a fresh java-pod each time.

How complicated is the priming process?
This is one feature I had reservations about, especially since I wanted to use this product in the office, and didn't like the idea of running several cups of water through it just to prime it. If you're concerned about having water sit in the unit after several days of non-use, you can prime it. But you can run a partial reservoir through it by turning it off (via the power button) as it's running water through the system. You're not forced to run an entire reservoir of water through it each time you need to prime it.

Is the Melitta subscription service worthwhile?
The prices are very competitive at $5.00 per 18-pod box of coffee. However, shipping is about $6 per order, if the order total is under $100. I received no special offers or discounts during the several months I received automatic shipments.
I found their website to be a bit awkward to use, and had trouble maintaining my subscription account online. However, they were very helpful when I called their customer service number.

Description of Melitta MES1B OneOne Single Serve Coffeemaker, Black

Drip Coffee Machines

• Kitchen & Dining > Coffee, Tea & Espresso > Drip Coffee Machines