Coffee Makers - French?

[Lafont]

The breakfast room in our hotel in Paris in July featured a coffee maker such as I've never seen before. I don't really know coffee makers well but have looked in Cleveland area stores and seen nothing like it. It takes these beautiful, disc-shaped objects that fit in a slot. Basically small donut-sized, they appear metalic and the color depends on the flavor. I recall a green and blue-green, for example - six or seven colors in all. Each disc was a beautiful object to visualize each early morning each day. Obviously, the machine does one cup at a time. It also had several buttons with images, which when pressed would determine how much of the cup would be filled.
Is anyone familiar with this type coffee maker? Are these common in Europe or France in general? Who makes them? Have you ever seen any sold in the U.S? Thanks!

 

[hws]

This from what you describe I think is a Nespresso machine.

 

[Lafont]

Thanks. I started looking up "Nespresso." If the discs in this photo are the only type they are not the same shape (and, frankly, don't have the same beauty....):
The machine I'm inquiring about has perfectly round discs like a small donut or bagel. Nespresso flavors shown here are similar, however, like that "ristretto" (whatever that is).

 

[gdl203]

The discs you mention are probably espresso pods - an alternative to Nespresso's capsule system. There are many makers using that standard, including illy, Senseo, etc...

 

[Lafont]

I see another photo of Nespresso "capsules" on Flickr.... These seem to be a different shape and are closer, though I thought the ones I'm searching for are more of a pure donut or bagel shape.

 

[hws]

Lavazza also have pod system, but not flat disc. Now much company, such as Saeco also, offer pod for coffee.
I think is most likely this thing you describe with French machine is Tassimo system with coffee in thing shaped more similar to disc, round.

 

[Lafont]

This is fun; maybe we can get to the bottom of this....
Attached is a photo I found of Tassimo's product, but if this is all they look like they are not the donut shape I seek. From the photo these look more like the containers one finds which contain peanut butter, honey, creamcheese, etc. - round on one side but a flat base. Thank typical bagel but smaller.

 

[Lafont]

I'm seeing the terms "T-disc" and "pods." The pods I'm seeing, such s Tassimo's or Saeco's, are sort of donut shaped but resemble in material a teabag; they are papery and one can sense the coffee inside seeping through the paper material. I don't really know what the objects I'm thinking of are made of but they do look metallic, so they are probably more of an aluminum-foil type of material - and shiny darker colors.

 

[Lafont]

I think I found it - or at least it's extremely similar! Attached is a photo I found of Nespreso coffee capsules. Looks like CAPSULES is the key term, here. Does anyone know this machine? Does it have the little images to determine how much of a cup would be filled? Aluminum they are, apparently.

 

[gdl203]

oh I see - I think that's the commercial use version of the Nespresso system.

You can make short or long espressos with the machine. You can even continue to brew (add more water) after the regular cup size is done.

 

[hws]

Originally Posted by Lafont

This is fun; maybe we can get to the bottom of this.... Attached is a photo I found of Tassimo's product, but if this is all they look like they are not the donut shape I seek. From the photo these look more like the containers one finds which contain peanut butter, honey, creamcheese, etc. - round on one side but a flat base. Thank typical bagel but smaller.
Yes you are correct the Tassimo is in that shape. I have try much coffee system before with pod but in the end I buy simple stovetop espresso device! I think to this subject today, hope I can remember which is the more flat disc, because I remember disc such as this, just not name at the moment.

 

[Lafont]

I guess Nespresso makes capsules the shape I recall - as posted above - and in at least one other shape - probably smaller in diameter and probably flatter on one side. I notice the individual who posted a photo on flickr is enthusiastic about his or her gift Nespresso machine and loves the colors too! The one the hotel had really had a certain elegance, like so many everyday things in Paris....

 

[Lafont]

Yes, yes - that is it - the commercial use version of the Nepresso system: "Grands Crus."
Thanks, everyone!

 

[hws]

Originally Posted by gdl203

oh I see - I think that's the commercial use version of the Nespresso system. You can make short or long espressos with the machine. You can even continue to brew (add more water) after the regular cup size is done.
That's right, I thought it was a version of Nespresso, but I only have this flat type few times.

 

[Despos]

Call the hotel and ask the name/brand of the machine and coffee used.

I have see machines that use those types of coffee packets but brew a single cup of coffee, not just espresso.