News-Probe.com

Although it isn’t a Bean to Cup Coffee Machine, the Philips Senseo HD7860 is the latest incarnation of easy to use, relatively instantaneous real coffee makers, using coffee pads.

We have reviewed the model. First impressions are ….well …. impressive. It’s described as a machine for people who prefer straight lines to curves. It does have one or two curves, as it happens, but is a very good looking, yet compact machine (standing around 17 cm wide, 22 cm deep and 25 cm high). It comes in black or white.

The most important considerations in reviewing the HD7860 are the ease of use and quality of the coffee it produces.

The model comes with two nozzlesand so can produce two cups at one time as well as just one. And has a height adjustable base for the cups, so different cup / mug sizes can easily be used. The height varies from 97 to 117 mm.It takes around 30 seconds to brew one cup, or 50 seconds for two.

The water tank holds 1.2 litres, enough for at least 8 cups, very generous. Each cup is 120ml.

The Philips HD7860/60 shuts itself off after thirty minutes - an invaluable feature I found!

In the past, many of this type of machine have used capsules. The HD7860 uses pads - a much cheaper alternative. Although the Senseo ones are about 15p each, you can get other ones much cheaper, and being pads there shouldn’t generally be a compatibility issue. Any coffee pads need to be circular to fit the Philips Senseo HD7860.We’ve tried both and the quality of the coffee has been superb.

This is a great coffee machine. Its unique selling point is its looks. We think that the HD7860 comes into its own when placed in a relatively modern kitchen or one with dark work tops - it will generally fit in better than the more traditional machines. And it produces great coffee!.