Review Teapot Tealounge system:
I was able to test more than a week, the new system of Tealounge teapot now already. I get it in the color Style Black. This is characterized by a glossy finish similar to piano lacquer. The machine came well packaged with a water filter and cleaning 2 capsules and a starter kit with 20 Teekapseln.
Structure:
After removal of various protective films, especially a white thin films which the stainless steel - the machine is already ready envelops drip. I've rinsed 4x, then used the enclosed filter, and rinsed the machine again. It only came no water and I had the flush button at least 5 times key until the water ran and had then again rinsed 5x safety.
Operation:
The machine is powered up with a button. After about 15 seconds it is ready. It switches off automatically after about 5 minutes, you can you manually by pressing and holding the button also switches off.
At the front a total of 5 buttons are mounted in different colors. Top left a light yellow for making chai latte, including a black with a sort shower icon that is the flush button. By pressing this briefly with 50ml water any tea deposits flushed. Pressing it longer come 200ml at a time eg in order to use hot water for a tea bag.
On the right side are three buttons in black for black tea, green for green tea and red / yellow for fruit and herbal tea. The color of the capsule one always sees which button you have to press. Concealed behind the knobs different Brühprogramme and temperatures:
-Schwarztee Is brewed at about 92 degrees, allow to draw with a break of 30 seconds.
- Green tea is brewed at about 80 degrees, allow to draw with a break of 30 seconds.
- Fruit and herbal tea will leave with two breaks of 10 seconds each to pull in scalded.
- Chai tea is brewed without let, until the milk capsule after the Teekapsel.
In my test of the temperature difference was easily measurable: in a non-preheated glass had black after cooking about 78 degrees, about 68 degrees green tea and herbal / fruit tea almost 75 degrees. The temperature loss of just under 10 degrees I think realistically, in the capsule, the temperatures are reliably maintained.
Each capsule (except for the milk capsule) has at the bottom a flavor protector that must be deducted, then you put the silver lever on the device upwards and raises the capsule into the hole. Inserting wrong is not possible due to the shape of the opening. By pushing down the lever, the capsule is perforated and made ready for the brewing operation. Depending on the size of the cup, the pedestal can be removed and the drip tray can be placed on the bottom of the drip tray. Then press only the corresponding button and the preparation begins, while all the lights blink. When the flashing stops the tea is ready. The default is 210 ml, the amount of water can, however, changed individually (from 120ml to 300ml) and re-programmed. Or you are required with the flush button a little water.
After reconstitution, one folds the silver lever back up, the capsule falls inside the machine into the collection container. After switch on each machine requires only a rinsing cycle with 50 ml of water, therefore this button is then illuminated. This ensures that any residual flavor and do not mix with fresh tea.
Taste:
I've dissected more capsules. Contained in the capsules are tea leaves, fruits and herbs and partially added flavors and fruit juice but no granules Instantpulvertees. The tea tastes overall very good and strong. When mint tea, the amount of water can be doubled without any problems and it tastes more intense. Basically the preset 210 ml are but good sized. I think the tea tastes more intense than teabags. Loose Tea with superior quality is comparable. No sweeteners have been used in some varieties makes licorice root for a slightly artificial aftertaste, but which is typical of this plant. The milk capsule in Chai Latte was added sugar.
The varieties are many, but certainly still expandable. Currently there are 24 varieties, including 7 different black teas pure and flavored, 5 different green teas pure and with fruit / flavored, 3 different fruit teas and herbal teas with various 6 different flavors but also pure, such as mint and chamomile. In some varieties flavorings to enhance the taste, others are pure tea-fruit-herbal mixtures without flavors. Teapot keeps still covered with respect to new varieties, for example, for Christmas on Facebook, according to the formulation but there will probably more.
I find all varieties very good, especially pleased with Sencha Flower with apple / elderflower, Pai Mu Tan Peach (white tea with peach), Wild Berry, Mountain Harmony (herbal tea, among other things with cinnamon, mint, Roibuschtee), Mint Experience and Finest Darjeeling as Classic breakfast tea.
The chai latte I can not abgewinnen much personally, it tastes to me only if I reduce greatly the amount of water in the Teekapsel. I guess I'm used to very sweet and milk-heavy version of Dolce Gusto. High is the definitely high quality of teapot, because working with real tea and no soluble powder.
Cleaning:
Every day empty the capsule container and drip Schaler and rinse every 14 days use a cleaning capsule. When using milk capsules should be done more often. With water filter needs to be descaled once a year, without it should be done monthly. The filter itself should be changed every 3 months. The accessories can be found online on the homepage of the manufacturer or teapot K-Fee.
Accessories / Price:
The capsules and accessories can be obtained in the long term probably only about [...]. In individual Media Markt stores probably will be available individual varieties. The starter kit costs described machine as here in the test 79 Euro. From 27 euros the items in the store is free shipping.
8 Teekapseln cost 2.79 euros, chai latte capsules cost 16 pieces (8x milk / 8x Chai) 5.59 Euro, the water filter 10,99 €, 4 cleaning capsules cost 3.99 euros, the Descaler 500ml 12,99 Euro.
Using other capsules:
The system is of K-Fee and therefore all capsules from the same manufacturer may be used for example Aldi Expressi. There is chai latte and hot chocolate, 16 capsules of 2.99, however, providing a capsule only 110 ml thus you need for a full glass of 2 capsules. In Aldi there since short also cleaner and descaler for 3.99 on offer, this would also be available for Tealounge.
In addition, K-Fee seems to plan to bring Teekapseln for Aldi to market. Expected end of 2014 / Anfang2015 they should be available.
The coffee capsules of Aldi Expressi also fit and have been tested by other testers as well. According to the manual, the machine has 19 bar pressure and should be able to brew the coffee properly. However, the warranty does not apply use of coffee capsules. The machine is designed only for tea and milk drinks.
Rating
+ Intuitive operation by color capsules
+ Narrow and visually attractive machine
+ Fast heating, much faster than a kettle
To ensure fast + tea without drawing on hours
+ Very good result, compared with loose tea
+ Good selection of teas
+ Everything is integrated receptacle beautiful tidily, you do not always equal to the trash or has as the Dolce Gusto still stand by a vessel.
-high rates of nearly 35 capsules-cents per cup
-only Online ordering possible
-Höherer Cleaning effort, device can not be seen-you can not see which of tea / milk inside comes into contact. At Dolce Gusto it flows out of the capsule into the glass, therefore no risk of mold / pollution especially with milk residues.
Conclusion:
This machine is a piece of luxury, without question you can prepare delicious tea much more affordable. However, if the time is in the morning or just one is just a bit lazy and will soon enjoy a delicious tea, then the machine has its moment of glory. No wait until the water boils, the tea its 3-8 min. attracts only about him forgetting and then cold and bitter to be found, as often happens to me. Therefore, I will use almost every day at least once a machine with capsule. In addition, I can use tea bags and loose tea with the hot water button, because I use the time with capsules also is too expensive.
I hope the teapot on the price nor change something or just tasty varieties brings K-Fee at Aldi on the market. 16 capsules for 2.79 I found a very good value for money and would afford the luxury of secure permanent.
