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While single-serve coffee systems continue to gain popularity, there have always been drawbacks: weak coffee, the ability to brew only a small cup at a time, and most notably, flawed coffee capsule designs and water heating systems. Touch Coffee & Beverages is re-inventing the single-serve coffee platform with the release of its ground-breaking Touch® T526S brewer and re-engineered capsules. Not only do Touch's easy-to-use systems brew superior-tasting, coffee shop-quality coffee in significantly less time than current machines, but they are also open platform. This means that the brewers are fully compatible with any cup at all—from existing Keurig K-Cups® to generic cups, in addition to Touch's ground-breaking XBold Cups™, XLarge Cups™ and reusable Refill Jumbo Cup™.
According to the National Coffee Association USA, the brewing water temperature for a good cup of coffee is "between 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal extraction." The Touch® T526S brewer reaches this ideal temperature by using its Flash Heating system and starts brewing in under 20 seconds after being off all night. Plus, Touch heats just enough water for the selected cup size as opposed to the entire tank of water, and the machine turns itself off after using, making it more energy efficient than its competitors.
Touch's superior coffee quality is also due to the fact that the hot water has more contact with the coffee grounds, which ensures that all of the coffee flavor is extracted. Other machines take much longer to warm up and then shoot water through the coffee grounds too quickly, so you end up throwing away untapped flavor with the used capsule. Even with a slower, more deliberate brew, when factoring in the warm-up time, the Touch® T526S still turns out a cup of joe in a fraction of the time.
Compared to most K-Cups®, which only fit up to 12.5 grams of coffee, XBold Cups ™ pack up to 15 grams of coffee and XLARGE CUPS™ provide up to 18 grams of coffee. Flavor Grooves swirl the coffee grinds to release bold aromas and flavors. The Refill Jumbo Cup™ packs up to 40 grams of your favorite coffee grounds—ideal for filling a carafe or large travel mug.
With Touch, you can customize your coffee experience and brew larger cups of coffee without sacrificing flavor. The T526S brewer allows you to choose from eight cup sizes (6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, or 18 ounces and carafe). Plus, its removable 90-ounce water tank has a greater capacity and is shorter in height than its counterparts, meaning you will be refilling less often, and it will be less awkward when you do.
The Touch® T526S brewer, which comes with a reusable Refill Jumbo Cup™ and 26-ounce carafe, is currently available online and has an MSRP of $249.99. For additional information about Touch's brewers, accessories and coffee, please visit www.TouchBeverages.com.
My Thoughts
I am a huge coffee drinker. It's pretty much either coffee or water for me, but 99% of the time it's coffee. There's a cup sitting beside me while I type up this review. Since I'm the only one in my house who drinks coffee 24/7, a one cup brewer has been on my wish list for quite some time. The Touch® T526S brewer is the best option that I've found to date. It uses ground-breaking technology to bring you one of the best cups of coffee you can get from a single-serve brewer. Forget about coffee that is too weak or having to use three k-cups to get the amount of coffee you really want. The Touch® T526S brewer heats the water perfectly and allows you to customize your options. The result is a great cup of coffee every time at an affordable price.
The Touch® T526S brewer is lightweight and easy to use. It comes completely assembled and doesn't take up too much space on the counter. The water reservoir allows you to fill it enough to make a few cups at a time and you can choose between 6-18 ounces or you can use the carafe. Personally, I found the 10 oz was the perfect strength for an average K-cup. Once filled up, you simply stick your K-Cup in the slot, select your brew size, and you're ready to go. The brewing process takes only a few minutes and when its done you have a fresh tasting mug of coffee. This is a much better alternative to coffee that's been sitting on the warmer for hours. Plus, with the Touch® T526S brewer, you can actually use ANY size K-cup. It doesn't matter what model it was designed for. Any size cup fits and with the customization options, you get the perfect cup each time. You can also use it with any size mug including travel mugs.
While I do love the individual K-cups, I know for me that the cost of the individual K-cups was one of the things that deterred me from getting a machine. If this is a concern for you, it doesn't have to be. With the Touch® T526S, the reusable filters are the perfect way to get the most out of your coffee and Touch Coffee & Beverages offers several different sizes. These mini filters allow you to take advantage of the great coffee this machine can brew at a fraction if the cost. Of course the K-cups offer the convenience of no clean up, but the option to choose is there. All in all, I love the Touch® T526S brewer. Making coffee the way I like it has never been easier and I get the perfect cup every time I brew!
The Giveaway
One lucky winner is going to receive a Touch® T526S brewer. To enter, just fill in the Giveaway Tools form below. This giveaway will end on 03/06/16. Open to the US only. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to the sponsor for offering this fantastic prize.
