Best Machine for Latte & Cappuccino?

MacMiniBoy · 27 Oct 2015 at 21:06

been using a dolce gusto melody 3 and before that a circollo, never been a big fan of the tassimo, recently I have been eyeing the Lavazza Fantasia and the Lastisima machines.

has anyone tried the drinks from them all?

Pho · 2 Nov 2015 at 17:02

If you want to do it properly a couple of weeks ago I picked up a second hand Gaggia Classic for ~£80 off eBay. You can pick them up for about £100 second-hand generally though and given they RRP for around £250 that's still a good deal.

They're pretty awesome and highly regarded, and all the spares/upgrades are easily available, cheap (e.g., a new pump is £15), and simple to fit

.

Rich_L · 2 Nov 2015 at 18:26

There's a good thread somewhere on those machines - I have the Lattisima Plus, as most people conclude its not going to blow your socks off with incredible coffee, but you can be sitting down with a decent enough latte after one button press and a 2 minute wait.

MacMiniBoy · 3 Nov 2015 at 12:09

Pho said:
If you want to do it properly a couple of weeks ago I picked up a second hand Gaggia Classic for ~£80 off eBay. You can pick them up for about £100 second-hand generally though and given they RRP for around £250 that's still a good deal.

They're pretty awesome and highly regarded, and all the spares/upgrades are easily available, cheap (e.g., a new pump is £15), and simple to fit .

and they appear to be not very reliable too

Participant · 3 Nov 2015 at 12:37

MacMiniBoy said:
been using a dolce gusto melody 3 and before that a circollo, never been a big fan of the tassimo, recently I have been eyeing the Lavazza Fantasia and the Lastisima machines.

has anyone tried the drinks from them all?

Do you want convenience / ease and a passable latte, or a bit more faff and an excellent one?

From your OP I'm assuming the former, in which case my only experience is my parents' Magimix Nespresso machine, which with its milk frother makes a pretty decent latte imo.

Scottland · 3 Nov 2015 at 12:43

If you want convenience try a Delonghi bean to cup. They might not produce as good coffee as something like Pho mentioned - but they're really reliable and still better than a pod based machine.

I had mine for over 5 years, never went wrong.

Pho · 3 Nov 2015 at 14:06

MacMiniBoy said:
and they appear to be not very reliable too

From what I understand the new ones (2015) aren't good, but the old Italian made ones before Phillips bought them out are good.

.. if mine (Italian made I believe) now breaks, I'm blaming you

MacMiniBoy · 3 Nov 2015 at 20:05

Participant said:
Do you want convenience / ease and a passable latte, or a bit more faff and an excellent one?

From your OP I'm assuming the former, in which case my only experience is my parents' Magimix Nespresso machine, which with its milk frother makes a pretty decent latte imo.

define abit more faff?

MacMiniBoy · 3 Nov 2015 at 20:07

Pho said:
From what I understand the new ones (2015) aren't good, but the old Italian made ones before Phillips bought them out are good.

.. if mine (Italian made I believe) now breaks, I'm blaming you

this is the problem with stuff these days, the brand use to make their own stuff now its all licensed out.

how do you know you are getting an original italiano?

Participant · 3 Nov 2015 at 21:22

MacMiniBoy said:
define abit more faff?

Pho said:
second hand Gaggia Classic

Look into what it involves making a latte with that ^ and you'll have your answer. YouTube is a good start.

It's a whole bloody science and I personally cannot be arsed, by any stretch.

Razor-BladE · 3 Nov 2015 at 23:58

That's a lot of grinding for just one coffee!

MacMiniBoy · 4 Nov 2015 at 07:39

yeah the grinding puts me off

D.P. · 4 Nov 2015 at 12:39

MacMiniBoy said:
yeah the grinding puts me off

Making a cup of coffee is like making love to a beautiful woman. It's got to be hot. You've got to take your time. You've got to stir... gently and firmly. You've got to grind your beans until they squeak. And then you put in the milk.

MacMiniBoy · 4 Nov 2015 at 18:01

**** off swiss tony

are any of the auto grinders any good?

(make sure you put the "e" in when you type grinder lads or it could get very lively in here.)

Raymond Lin · 4 Nov 2015 at 18:06

Razor-BladE said:
That's a lot of grinding for just one coffee!

MacMiniBoy said:
yeah the grinding puts me off

Grinding takes about 5 seconds for me...

monkeyspank · 4 Nov 2015 at 18:36

How long for cleaning up, getting things out etc ?

Shimmyhill · 4 Nov 2015 at 18:40

I use a bean to cup - best ratio of quality v convenience I've come across by a country mile.

Still have the gaggia and dozens of other devices but no more instant ever!

MacMiniBoy · 4 Nov 2015 at 19:17

Raymond Lin said:
Grinding takes about 5 seconds for me...

Are we still talking about coffee?

im confused :confused:

TechMinerUK · 4 Nov 2015 at 19:45

MacMiniBoy said:
Are we still talking about coffee?

im confused

Yes, "Hot Coffee"

Seriously though, for a reasonably quick cup of coffee that tastes good would one of the Dolce Gusto/Latisima/Tassimo devices be worth investing in or is it just better to go with a bean to cup device and by the flavourings/additions necesary to go with it for a good latte?

MacMiniBoy · 4 Nov 2015 at 19:51

TechMinerUK said:
Yes, "Hot Coffee"

Seriously though, for a reasonably quick cup of coffee that tastes good would one of the Dolce Gusto/Latisima/Tassimo devices be worth investing in or is it just better to go with a bean to cup device and by the flavourings/additions necesary to go with it for a good latte?

i have been heavy dolce gusto for years, i like them, but I have had restaurant coffee which I imagine is B2C which is definately better, and B2C is cheaper longterm i think?