Is it time for cosy coffees yet? This affordable machine makes an irresistible cinnamon bun latte

I know we’re still in the season of iced coffee and summer flavours, but I just tried a cinnamon bun latte made in the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Coffee Machine and I’m ready for autumn.

This coffee machine is quietly recognised as one of the best coffee machines for pod coffee. You’re not tied to branded pods, which means that you can explore the likes of different and fun flavours, including Aldi’s cinnamon bun coffees.

I spend the weekend getting cosy with coffee — I don’t care that it’s still supposed to be summer — and now I’m ready for hearty stews and evenings inside with my giant cup of cinnamon bun coffee in my cosiest jumper. Here's why.

Bosch Tassimo Finesse Coffee Machine review

Before we get into the details of what the Tassimo Finesse Coffee Machine can do, it's good to know a little more about the machines generally. They're tested to make coffee every day for ten years, which is really impressive for a pod machine. Not only that, they're also made of between 35 and 60% recycled plastics (depending on the colour that you choose).

I tested out just a handful of what the Tassimo Finesse has to offer and it was brilliant.

Bosch Tassimo Finesse Coffee Machine Specifications

Who would the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Coffee Machine suit?

Pod machines generally are brilliant when you're looking for convenient, café‑style drinks. The Tassimo Finesse is particularly good here, because the pods on offer span oer 60 different drinks and you have offerings from other brands, such as Starbucks, Costa, and Aldi. Lots of pod machines lock you into very niche, branded pods, but this lets you explore a little more. Moreover, you've also got the 'intense' button that'll make your coffee stronger. So, if you need more than one coffee to wake you up in the morning, this is the one to go for.

It's also handy that this is a really petite machine. It looks good and keeps things compact. Whilst that means there's very little storage on the machine, for a home of one or two people, this is brilliant, this is a real space-saver.

Part of the compact design is the lack of pod bin. Personally, I really like this, because it saves you having to clean out the pod bin every week. However, in a busy home, this could create problems with big build-ups of pods.

Unboxing the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Coffee Machine

The Bosch machine is really neatly packaged. It comes in a lightweight cardboard box that can be flattened and put straight into the recycling. There’s a QR code to scan that’ll help you set the machine up, but you really don’t need it. This is a very simple machine.

The coffee pods come in plastic bags that sit stacks of the pods inside. It’s also worth picking up a recycling bag so that you can dispose of the pods sustainably, but these often come with the pods.

What is the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Coffee Machine like to use?

Making coffee in the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Coffee Machine is really simple. The front part lifts up, you slide your pod in place, clip it down, and press the button at the side. The clever machine reads the barcode on your pod and then automatically adjusts heat and water quantities to brew whichever drink you desire. You'll also be able to spot the button on the side. When pressed, this'll make your coffee stronger.

One of the reasons that I was excited to test this machine was because I had my hands on some of Aldi’s cinnamon bun coffee pods. These are brilliant, because you brew your coffee shot and your milk separately, which means that you can keep your milk really nice and silky rather than have it sitting around.

The first part, the espresso was really good. Whilst the machine sounds loud (63 dB, which is about as noisy as a hairdryer) when warming up, once it starts brewing coffee, it’s much colder. The shot of espresso was the perfect temperature for drinking straight away and the flavours were really nice and balanced. Aldi has been clever here, because the espresso already had very subtle hints of cinnamon in it, setting up a brilliant base for a warming, cosy drink.

Next up, I textured the milk over the espresso. Here’s where I could really smell the sweetness of the cinnamon bun. You can see just how impressively silky the milk is. There is a great amount of foam on top (probably around an inch) and the milk wasn’t burnt or sour. It was beautifully sweet.

The milk and espresso blended wonderfully, leaving me with a lovely, sweet, energising cup of coffee. So, whilst you can make plain coffees in here, it might be hard to tear yourself away from Aldi’s flavours.

I have to admit, I made a fair few of these. Once the doughy, cinnamon scents had wafted up the stairs, each member of my family trailed down the stairs demanding cups of coffee.

For fairness, I experimented with making espressos, Americanos, lattes and other cups of coffee and this was bang on every time. For a pod machine, it delivers exactly what you’d expect. Of course, you are limited to the pods, so those who drink plant-based milks, for example, will be better off finding an alternative model.

Cleaning the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Coffee Machine

I love how low maintenance this machine is. Thanks to the adjustable cup stand, you can keep your coffee cup really close to the brew head and you can also lower the cup right to the base of the machines. This means you don’t get any splashing behind or around the cup.

There’s also no pod bin to look after, so once you’ve finished with a capsule, you put it straight into the special recycling bag. This keeps you from any weekly deep cleaning routines, so your machine will look fresher for longer.

How does the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Coffee Machine compare?

I love the simplicity brewed up by the Bosch, but it’s not the only coffee machine that offers it up. The Nespresso Vertuo Pop is another compact, easy machine to use. It’s a little cheaper than the Bosch, but the Nespresso Vertuo Pop doesn’t come with a milk frother and the pods can be more expensive, so you might need to set some of the money that you save aside. I like Nespresso coffee, as far as pod coffee goes it’s pretty hard to beat. However, the Bosch offers you the chance to try Aldi pods, for example, so Bosch Tassimo Finesse Coffee Machine one that you choose will really depend on how adventurous you plan on being with your pod flavours.

Should you buy the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Coffee Machine?

If you want a simple machine and, like me, you want to be able to make your way through Aldi’s latest and greatest selection of coffee pods, you’re in good hands with the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Coffee Machine. Sometimes, simplicity really is the best option.

How we test coffee machines

At woman&home we have a set process for how we test coffee machines. Pod machines are largely ruled by the pods that go with their machines, but I always make sure to brew an espresso, latte, and an Americano. This means that we've covered all the important aspects of coffee: getting the flavours, adding water, and frothing milk. Beyond that, I make notes on how easy the coffee machine is to use, whether it's simple to clean, and also whether it's noisy. In essence, by the end of each coffee machine review, you should have a really good idea of what your machine is like to use. If you still have questions, don't hesitate to drop me an email.

You can find out more about how we test coffee machines on our dedicated page.