Tabletop drinks brewer

The new compact Flavia SB100 from Four Square is a tabletop fresh filter drinks brewer.

The machine operates by means of filterpacks. Each pack contains a single portion of vacuum-sealed filter coffee or leaf tea.

The packs are opened automatically by the machine and hot water is then pumped through the pack which has its own miniature filter.

Beverages can be delivered straight into a china, plastic or paper cup in under 45 seconds and the brewer automatically disposes of the used filterpack, so there are no messy coffee grounds or tea bags to clear away.

There is a range of seven coffees and six teas. The "Essential Selection" is a variety of strong, medium and delicate teas, while the "Speciality Selection" comprises Earl Grey, Darjeeling and Herb Red - a new fruity, caffeine-free herbal tea.

The coffee selection ranges from Italia through to rich Arabica including a decaffeinated and a speciality hazelnut coffee. A smooth chocolate drink is also included.

The price is about £249 (excluding VAT) including two cases of drinks - 100 filterpacks of premier coffee and 140 English Breakfast Tea.

The KLIX 900 is the latest addition to Four Square's range of Klix drinks machines. Designed by a team from Mars, led by Sebastian Conran, the machine has a backlit display and one touch selection buttons.

The machine offers 12 top brands of drinks including Nescafe Gold Blend, Alta Rica and Cappuccino coffees; PG Tips tea bag; Pepsi Cola; Dolmio Tomato soup, as well as two new summer drinks - Starburst Orange and Starburst Lemon.

It works using the In-Cup system. All ingredients are pre-measured and sealed in the cup. The machine simply adds water. To refill the machine, a new stack of cups is inserted.

Four Square