Bosch is a well known brand where quality tools and garden equipment are concerned, but they also offer a great range of home appliances including coffee makers. The company has recently been awarded the prestigious Which? ‘Best Domestic Appliance Brand’ award for 2009. Bosch also maintains that their products, including coffee makers, are highly energy efficient, which is useful to know.
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Finding the website
You can visit the Bosch home appliances website by going to www.bosch-home.co.uk .
Finding the section on coffee makers
On the left hand side of the start page is a list of Our Products, or you can use the keyword search or product search to the right. Click on coffee. This brings up the drinks machine site featuring five items under the Tassimo by Bosch name. Each of the products shown is designated a hot drinks machine as it makes hot chocolate and tea as well as a variety of coffees including café crema, cappuccino, latte, macchiato and espresso.
Alternatively if you go to Bosch generally and find their home page at the top left of the home page is a Web Assistant link. Click on this and go to Search or Site Map. Click on Site map. This brings up a list of products and services. Click on household appliances. This brings you to the start page. On the left is the list of products. Click on coffee.
The selection available
Bosch offers five variations on the hot drinks machine theme.
Information provided on the site
The drinks machine page lists all of the products available with a picture of each. It gives the product serial, or model, number, by which it is known – for instance TAS8520GB. It also notes the colour and whether it has Brita water filtration. There is a ‘more’ link that takes you to a second page dedicated to the individual product. You can sort by product code or product feedback. On the left hand side is a list of links that might be of use including dealer location (discussed below), brochures, product advice line and download product manuals. The last is particularly useful for those of us in the habit of losing them.
Clicking on ‘more’ features individual products. You have a choice of overview, technical specs or additional documents. It’s the overview that is most helpful, though. It outlines new product features that, on the TAS8520GB model, include touch-of-a-button operation, LCD display, Brita water filtration, cup stand illumination and quiet brew technology.
There is a list of the drinks available, which in this case includes all of the above mentioned varieties and a list of features including Button operation, a barcode system that ensures a perfect drink every time, manual adjustment of drinks, height adjustable cup stand and auto de-scaling function.
The technical specs link showed nothing additional while the additional documents link offered a PDF download.
On the right of the page is a quick links list offering compare product, product guide and ‘where can I buy’. The ‘where can I buy’ page features a search link where you insert either the town you want of the postcode. This brings up either the number of outlets or the lack of any. There is also a product review link where you can add your own product review.
In the unlikely event that something in your coffee machine should break down you can order spare parts online by going to www.bosch-eShop.com . Enter your full model number in the search box. This displays a list of spare parts for your machine. You can also click on the ‘display service parts’ link to look at a diagram of your product if you need to. You then just highlight and click on the number next to the part you need and add it to the basket below the diagram.
No prices are given.
Where to buy
Click on the ‘where can I buy’ link on the left hand side of the page. Enter your postcode or town in the search box.
Buying from the website
To shop online for accessories go to the product advice line link on the left of the page and click on that. Click on Go to Bosch eShop. There are a couple of accessories for coffee makers listed, including a Brita replacement filter.
Finally
The Bosch website is well laid out and easy to use. The pictures of the products are relatively clear, even when enlarged. There is enough information given to make an informed decision on purchasing; alternatively you can use their advice link.