We bought our second Senseo coffee machine a couple of months ago. It was the 
second because we took the first one back . . . to Costco. You know: they'll take anything back for any reason, almost at any time. We'd bought the first one and then decided the little bitty cups of coffee you could get out of it weren't worth the hassle. We needed a big old pot of American Java to slurp down every morning.
But then the aesthetics of our Cuisinart 12 cupper began to bother Bob. It was just too big and ugly . . . and it's one of those things you just about have to keep out on the counter. So, one day we were back at Costco and a woman was 
demonstrating the Senso machine. MMMmmm the coffee sure tasted good at 3pm. And the machine . . . it's a work of art. So we came home with Senso #2 and haven't looked back since.
If you don't know, the Senseo system forces hot water through an individual 'pod' of coffee, which makes just enough for one cup. It's a small cup: like 6 oz. or something, but if you want to use 2 pods, you can get a regular mug outa the thing. The coffee comes out quickly and it is frothy, like the layer at the top of a cup of esspresso. But the taste is not esspresso. It's rich and dark, but smoothe and delicious.
We both made the adjustment quite easily. I usually have two small cups each morning 
and Bob will run two cups through a single pod for a milder brew. Our consumption of coffee has decreased, but what we're drinking is . . . special, so we don't feel deprived.
If there is a negative about the single serve system, it's the cost of the pods. They usually come in packages of 18 that sell from 4.99 to 5.99. That means each pod is somewhere between 28 and 33 cents: a lot to pay for home brew coffee. We did discover a special at Longs Drugs a few weeks back: Yuban pods, 2 bags for $6, which brought the cost per cup to 16 cents . . . much more agreeable.
The other day I was cruising around EBay and found a person selling reusable Melita pods marketed in the Netherlands. He said they'd work with the Senso machine,
too, so I did a bid and won the auction. The pods arrived today: two little round plastic disks with a fine mesh creating a central compartment for coffee. The extra bulk of the plastic container requires that you use the two cup attchment on the Senseo, but only brew one cup. The result: very acceptable. My first attempt was a little weak . . . but I was using a regular grind coffee. I bet if I use an esspresso roast/grind, I'll get something closer to what I'm looking for. You can probably find the reusable pods on Ebay by searching for 'reusable pods senseo.'
So what's the verdict on this new way of doing coffee at home? I say 'yes.' Bob says 'yes.' It's convenient, quick, tastes good and is special. And so what if you end up cutting down? Who needs all that caffine, anyway? Costco sells the thing with 85 pods included for about $50. Go on out and get you one.
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