A couple of months ago, I picked up a Tassimo machine. I was intrigued by the fact that it makes a variety of drinks–not just coffee, but hot chocolate and tea. I’m partial to a cup of tea in the morning, but don’t want to deal with the boiling water, steeping tea bags, etc. I just want it now.
Anyway. I’m very happy with the Tassimo, although there was a problem with the first one and it had to be replaced. Like most things these days, it has a computer onboard. It’s far more sophisticated than the HomeCafe it replaces, thanks to that computer.
When you place a “T-Disc” in the machine, its barcode tells the Tassimo how much water to use, what temperature, and what kind of pressure to use. For instance, when you insert a coffee disc, it heats the water and percolates it through the disc into your mug. If you make espresso, it superheats the water and lets it mingle in the disc before ejecting it into the cup at high pressure. You can even follow one disc with another, which makes lattes or cappuccinos, or you can give yourself a double shot.
I can only assume that I was an early adopter on this gadget as well, because it wasn’t long until Tassimo called me and asked me to let them do some market research. Eh, why not? I asked myself, and soon Tassimo sent over a new machine that calls home, reporting to the mother ship every time I make a drink. Why I’m so dead-set against the government monitoring me, but have no qualms about the Kraft Foods Company I’ll never know.
Since I am not allowed to use my original machine during the research period, I lent it to Jann, who took it to work. A week later, he’d bought his own and now he’s convinced ten other people in his office to buy one.
So, the upshot of this entry is this:
Dear Tassimo,
I think that you need to have a customer referral program. After the sale of 11 machines, I think I should be swimming in free T-Discs by now, don’t you?
Regards,
Gene Cowan
