Description
Bosch Tassimo Pod Coffee and Hot Drinks Machine
A 17cm-wide pod machine that reads a barcode on every T DISC and brews espresso, caffe crema, hot chocolate or tea at a single button press.
The Tassimo Style Friendly is Bosch's compact pod machine, 17.1 cm wide and 2.3 kg on the worktop. It works from T DISC capsules covering up to 50 drink specialities, including espresso, caffe crema, hot chocolate and tea. It suits small kitchens, offices and anyone who wants variety without learning a machine.
Intellibrew is the part that does the thinking. Each T DISC carries a barcode the machine scans, then sets the water volume, brewing time and temperature for that specific drink. A flow heater warms only the water needed, so there is virtually no heat-up wait, and five LEDs tell you what the machine wants: standby, automatic, manual, refill or descale.
Ideal For
At 17.1 cm wide, 26.5 cm tall and 32.0 cm deep, it slots into a narrow gap on the worktop. The 90 cm cord keeps the plug run short too.
Up to 50 drink specialities from one machine, so coffee drinkers, tea drinkers and the hot chocolate contingent are all served without anyone having to compromise.
The cup stand is height adjustable and fully removable, with a stainless steel drip tray, so latte glasses and travel mugs fit under the spout.
Key Features
A removable 0.7 litre tank integrated into the housing, enough for several drinks between refills, and a refill LED tells you when it needs attention.
Espresso, caffe crema, hot chocolate and tea are all on the list, each brewed to its own barcode-defined recipe rather than a single generic cycle.
Water is heated on demand rather than held hot in a boiler, which is why there is virtually no heat-up time before the first cup.
Standby, automatic mode, manual mode, refill water tank and descale each have their own light, so the machine's state is legible at a glance.
A cleaning disc purges the system with steam after each brew, and there is an automatic cleaning and descaling programme to run when the LED asks.
Light enough to move for cleaning and narrow enough to live between a kettle and a toaster without rearranging the worktop.
How barcode brewing actually works
Every T DISC has a barcode printed on it. Slot the disc in, press the button and the machine reads the code before it does anything else. From that it sets three things: how much water to push through, at what temperature and for how long. An espresso and a hot chocolate need very different treatment, and this is how one machine gives both without you adjusting a dial. If you want to override it, manual adjustment of drinks is still available.
Keeping it clean without thinking
Pod machines fail in two ways: limescale and stale residue. The Style Friendly handles both without much input. A cleaning disc purges the system with steam after each brewing cycle, so one drink does not taste of the last, and an automatic cleaning and descaling programme deals with the water side. A dedicated LED lights when descaling is due, which is the honest bit: the machine tells you rather than quietly getting worse.
Living with a very small machine
The footprint is the point. At 17.1 cm wide, 26.5 cm high and 32.0 cm deep, this takes up roughly the space of a large mug and a book. The 0.7 litre tank is removable and built into the housing, so filling it means lifting one piece to the tap rather than carrying the machine. The cup stand adjusts for height and comes out entirely for a travel mug, and it sits on a stainless steel drip tray. The cord is 90 cm, so check it reaches your socket.
How It Compares
| Kitchen Need | Bosch Technology | Practical Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny worktops | 17.1 cm width | Narrow enough to sit beside a kettle without the two competing for the same corner. |
| Mixed drink tastes | T DISC system | Up to 50 specialities means coffee, tea and hot chocolate come from a single machine. |
| No morning patience | Flow heater | Water is heated on demand, so there is virtually no wait between switching on and pouring. |
| Travel mugs | Removable cup stand | The stand adjusts for height and lifts out completely for tall glasses and commuter cups. |
| Hard water areas | Descaling programme | An automatic cleaning and descaling cycle runs when the dedicated LED indicates it is due. |
| Guest coffees | Intellibrew barcode | Each disc brews to its own recipe, so a visitor gets the right drink first time. |
Specifications
| Brand | Bosch |
| Model | TAS112EGB |
| Product Type | Coffee Machine |
| Range | Tassimo Style Friendly |
| Type | Capsule (T DISC) hot drinks machine |
| Colour | Black (recycled black) |
| Water Tank | 0.7 litres, removable, integrated into the housing |
| Drink Variety | Up to 50 drink specialities including espresso, caffe crema, hot chocolate and tea |
| Brewing Technology | Intellibrew barcode scanning - sets water volume, brewing time and temperature per T DISC |
| Operation | Fully automatic single-button operation |
| Drink Strength | Manual adjustment of drinks possible |
| Heating System | Flow heater - virtually no heat-up time, heats only the water required |
| User Interface | 5 LED indicators: standby, automatic mode, manual mode, refill water tank, descale |
| Cleaning | Automatic cleaning and descaling programme with cleaning disc and steam purge |
| Cup Stand | Height adjustable and removable, with stainless steel drip tray for tall glasses and travel mugs |
| Auto Switch-Off | Automatic switch-off after brew cycle |
| Connected Load | 1,400 W |
| Voltage | 220-240 V, 50 Hz |
| Plug Type | GB plug |
| Power Cord Length | 90 cm |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 26.5 x 17.1 x 32.0 cm |
| Weight | 2.3 kg |
| Warranty | 2 Year Warranty |
The Verdict
Strengths
- Removable 0.7 litre water tank in the housing
- Up to 50 T DISC drink specialities
- Intellibrew barcode scanning sets water, time and temperature
- Flow heater gives virtually no heat-up time
- Height adjustable, fully removable cup stand and drip tray
- Automatic cleaning and descaling programme with cleaning disc
- Compact at 17.1 cm wide and 2.3 kg
Considerations
- This is a capsule machine: it brews T DISCs only, so ground coffee and beans are not an option.
- The 0.7 litre tank is modest, so a round of drinks for several people will need a refill part way through.
- Descaling tablets are an optional Bosch accessory rather than supplied, so budget for them as part of ongoing upkeep.
What's in the Box
- Bosch TAS112EGB Tassimo Style Friendly machine x1
- Cleaning disc x1
- User manual x1
