Nespresso

Hatter The Mad · 7 Dec 2010 at 16:38

Who has one and how is it?

I'd love to think I'd hate it because it doesn't allow me to go blend and grind my own coffee, isn't proper and will make me hand over my money to Nestle, not the best of companies.

However.... as nice as the opposite of all that would be, I don't really have the time and the novelty of grinding and cleaning wears thin with me after a while.

Nespresso looks like a very well engineered piece of kit and the selection is broad.

Does anyone have one and how did you find it?

Cosimo · 7 Dec 2010 at 16:44

I don't have one because there is a danger of being hit by a grand piano if you buy one.

Sagalout · 7 Dec 2010 at 16:52

I haven't actually tried the Nespresso yet, but have had a Tassimo and currently have a Krups Dolce Gusto machine.

Out of those two, the Tassimo makes the better coffee, but the Dolce Gusto is the nicest to use, as there's no cleaning involved and its easier to be flexible with the volume. The Tassimo lasted about 18 months before it died.

Overall, neither are as good a proper bean to cup coffee machine, but its a lot better than instant, especially in the office. At home I actually tend to use my Italian Stove Top, which makes a good cup with not a lot of hassle, more than the machines.

Defiled · 7 Dec 2010 at 16:55

I have a Tassimo and can't fault it, barely any cleaning involved and from pushing the button to having coffee it's about 2 minutes max from cold. The carts are also quite cheap imo.
I also try and stay away from giving any money to Nestle as much as possible and Tassimo allows me to do that

Raumarik · 7 Dec 2010 at 16:58

They are handy but quite expensive compared to filter coffee or grinding beans and blending. Parents have a Tassimo which gives a very decent cup of coffee

I doubt that the Nespresso would be any worse.

sanaxe1 · 7 Dec 2010 at 16:59

Nespresso. What else?

Sagalout · 7 Dec 2010 at 17:08

Defiled said:
barely any cleaning involved

Ours was like that for the first year, then it started leaking and blowing up some of the pods - then its a lot of cleaning!

The Tassimo definitely has a few design flaws that will give it a finite life span. We bought 2 machines, one for home and one for the office, and the window that reads that bar codes has gone cloudy on both of them, so it can take quite a few attempts to get the button to go green.

But yeah, it does make a surprising good drink.

MuvverRussia · 7 Dec 2010 at 17:09

Bought one today. Dropped £150 on the machine and another £50 on coffee for it.

Used the professional one last week, was seriously impressed. Sure, it's expensive, but it's so much easier than having to clear up coffee grinds etc and the espresso it produced was seriously impressive.

mark66 · 7 Dec 2010 at 17:13

We got ourselves a Nespresso 11300 at the beginning of the year and can't fault it. Very quick, easy and clean to use and coffee tastes good. The 11300 comes with a milk frother so I can make nice Cappuccinos too.

I am sure there will be coffee purists out there who hate the idea, but I am not one of them and just fancied something nicer than instant with minimum fuss that can deliver quickly when we are all rushing around in the mornings!

Skidder · 7 Dec 2010 at 17:38

I have one and have had it for 2 years. Can't fault it. Coffee is great and the hassle factor is minimal. I had a real machine before and just don't have time to mince about everytime I want a coffee (and don't drink filter or instant). I work from home and it has been a godsend having easy, nice coffee in the absence of coffee shops.

MoBo · 7 Dec 2010 at 17:48

I'm the same as Skidder.

Got mine about 2 years ago, was walking through John Lewis & was offered a free coffee, (my wife calls me a coffee snob as I only drink espresso) & I really liked it & it only took 2 coffees to convince me to buy it.

I had a Gaggia before & it was very messy compared with a nespresso machine, which gives imho great coffee every time I use it whether its for 1 coffee or 10.

There is a good choice of coffee, it seems expensive when you have to buy 100 capsules at a time, but its cheaper than any coffee house.

The only downside is the very pretentious club magazine, but it can be recycled!

Raymond Lin · 7 Dec 2010 at 17:53

I tried one on holiday, the hotel had one and you just help yourself and i did quite a few times and it does make a nice drink, was and fast. Even froth the milk too....would i buy one? Probably not, because i can get beans anywhere and those pods comes from only one place and when they stop making it, I would be left with a giant doorstop.

Bennie-Mac · 7 Dec 2010 at 17:55

Im getting their Citiz machine for xmas after trying their coffee in Hanna and Browne, i previously wanted a Tassimo which my mum has, as the coffee was reasonable and there was the usual no hassle etc etc.

However the Nespresso range of coffee is delicious, far nicer than you'd find in any coffee chain thats for sure.

Im glad i tried it as i swore never to even consider one because of their awful tv advert

MoBo · 7 Dec 2010 at 17:59

Raymond Lin said:
... Probably not, because i can get beans anywhere and those pods comes from only one place and when they stop making it, I would be left with a giant doorstop.

I doubt that Nestle will stop making Nespresso.

Raymond Lin · 7 Dec 2010 at 18:03

MoBo said:
I doubt that Nestle will stop making Nespresso.

If the sales drop enough, they will. But i do agree he chances are slim lol

There will however always be coffee beans.

Also, i like experimenting and experiencing different type of coffee beans around the world. You cant do that with pods.

MoBo · 7 Dec 2010 at 18:08

I do miss buy different types of coffee, there is a great coffee shop in Norwich market which sell beans.

Crowort · 7 Dec 2010 at 18:10

From what I'm reading just in this thread the machines don't even last so long (unlike some 20 year old drip types I know people still use) for them to discontinue the pods before it 'blows up'...

Bennie-Mac · 7 Dec 2010 at 18:15

Crowort said:
From what I'm reading just in this thread the machines don't even last so long (unlike some 20 year old drip types I know people still use) for them to discontinue the pods before it 'blows up'...

The only mention of a broken machine in this thread was Sagalout saying his Tassimo machine will occasionaly leak, not a Nespresso. I was under the impression that Krups were a very reliable make which is who make most of the Nespresso machines.

Raymond Lin said:
Also, i like experimenting and experiencing different type of coffee beans around the world. You cant do that with pods.

Nespresso seem to release many different variants of their espresso from different regions etc, so theres certainly more variety than the other pod machines. However beans will always win in the variety stakes, im just simply pointing out that Nespresso doesnt limit you to "Coffee Strength 4" pods.

Flibster · 7 Dec 2010 at 18:16

MoBo said:
I do miss buy different types of coffee, there is a great coffee shop in Norwich market which sell beans.

Norwich Market?

I know Wilkinsons in Norwich *near Thorns* and The Window *near Elm Hill* - not aware of anywhere on the market selling beans. Hmmm.

I'll stick to going to Hayley at The Window though - she's lovely and the coffee is superb.

Sagalout · 7 Dec 2010 at 18:40

Crowort said:
From what I'm reading just in this thread the machines don't even last so long (unlike some 20 year old drip types I know people still use) for them to discontinue the pods before it 'blows up'...

That was a Tassimo, which does, in my opinion, have a slightly flimsy and overcomplicated feel to it. The Krups is much better, although only time will tell