Pod / Capsule Coffee Machines
Discussion
I've been looking at these recently as my coffee machine has broken.
Now, I'd really like a bean to cup but:
a) I'm not spending that much on a machine now - maybe once the extension is done.
b) I don't actually drink that much coffee at home - mainly pick one up when I'm out.
because of b I find coffee grounds tend to go stale and are therefore wasted (hence the b2c idea)
So, as a possible middle ground I'm looking at the capsule machines - but I have to decide on a type first. It seems there are a couple of choices:
Pure coffee/espresso capsules like nespresso and a few others. With these I guess I need a milk frother etc
Or the drinks machines like tassimo and dolce gusto which offer all manner of drinks as well as coffee.
So, any recommendations?
Also, I don't know if I like any of the options taste wise - anyone know of anywhere I can go to try them?
Now, I'd really like a bean to cup but:
a) I'm not spending that much on a machine now - maybe once the extension is done.
b) I don't actually drink that much coffee at home - mainly pick one up when I'm out.
because of b I find coffee grounds tend to go stale and are therefore wasted (hence the b2c idea)
So, as a possible middle ground I'm looking at the capsule machines - but I have to decide on a type first. It seems there are a couple of choices:
Pure coffee/espresso capsules like nespresso and a few others. With these I guess I need a milk frother etc
Or the drinks machines like tassimo and dolce gusto which offer all manner of drinks as well as coffee.
So, any recommendations?
Also, I don't know if I like any of the options taste wise - anyone know of anywhere I can go to try them?
What sort of coffee do you normally drink? No need to get a fancy machine that can do macchiatos or the like if you don't drink them. I have a simple bean to cup machine that produces a big pot of coffee every morning on a timer, was pretty cheap considering: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00155PUQ8/ref=pd_luc_...
Decent bag of 1kg beans (lasts a family of four about two weeks with one large pot of coffee a day) is £15 to £20. I really don't like the rubbish sold in supermarkets that was roasted months ago, I buy from small producers who ship the same week or better from when they roasted the beans. This also means you don't want beans sitting around for ages before being used.
Do you have a nespresso store nearby? https://www.nespresso.com/uk/en/store-locator they are great for sampling. Pods are great if you do fancy a fancy coffee with low effort and a great taste, but I find beans cheaper for the style of coffee we drink.
Decent bag of 1kg beans (lasts a family of four about two weeks with one large pot of coffee a day) is £15 to £20. I really don't like the rubbish sold in supermarkets that was roasted months ago, I buy from small producers who ship the same week or better from when they roasted the beans. This also means you don't want beans sitting around for ages before being used.
Do you have a nespresso store nearby? https://www.nespresso.com/uk/en/store-locator they are great for sampling. Pods are great if you do fancy a fancy coffee with low effort and a great taste, but I find beans cheaper for the style of coffee we drink.
Good point on what do we drink
Daily I'll grab an americano with a splash of milk
Also quite like a latte or often a macchiato
Missus likes an occasional latte
I make bambiccinos for the kids (hence I like having a milk frother) and they occasionally have a hot chocolate
I appreciate the kids requirements are not coffee related and making those things is easy but machines like the tassimo can do them too - but maybe the quality/taste of the coffee is rubbish!
Daily I'll grab an americano with a splash of milk
Also quite like a latte or often a macchiato
Missus likes an occasional latte
I make bambiccinos for the kids (hence I like having a milk frother) and they occasionally have a hot chocolate
I appreciate the kids requirements are not coffee related and making those things is easy but machines like the tassimo can do them too - but maybe the quality/taste of the coffee is rubbish!
Got a Tassimo last month. I use Costa Americano pods, and what comes out tastes exactly like the ubiquitous Costa coffee in filling stations/cafés. It's not gourmet but it works.
The Kenco Columbian pods have a bit more depth.
Chief benefit is convenience in the morning. One Americano with milk fills an Ikea coffee mug.
I get the pods in bulk from Amazon. Tried most of the varieties but prefer the Americano. Machine was £39 'on sale.'
I also have Bialetti stove-top mocha pot. That does produce coffee with more depth/crema, but the Tassimo is more convenient.
The Kenco Columbian pods have a bit more depth.
Chief benefit is convenience in the morning. One Americano with milk fills an Ikea coffee mug.
I get the pods in bulk from Amazon. Tried most of the varieties but prefer the Americano. Machine was £39 'on sale.'
I also have Bialetti stove-top mocha pot. That does produce coffee with more depth/crema, but the Tassimo is more convenient.
Personally I'd put myself in the same boat as you, enjoy a coffee from time to time but not a massive consumer. I went the Nespresso route and got a Lattissima machine as it make lattes / cappuccinos at the touch of a button using fresh milk. I like the range of coffees they do. I'd recommend it and really enjoy mine but there may be better alternatives now?
Turn7 said:
Nespresso for ease of use,total flavour repeatability,choice,
Downside is mail order adds a fiver and its 50 capsules minimum.
Wouldn't be without ours.
Downside is mail order adds a fiver and its 50 capsules minimum.
Wouldn't be without ours.
I buy mine at whichever supermarket has the best price for Taylors of Harrogate: https://www.taylorscoffeecapsules.co.uk
(usually...)
We get through a lot of coffee here.
Had a Nespresso machine for a few years and i think they produce great tasting coffee.
It's not cheap, but the pods are very consistent in terms of flavour and freshness, the ordering process online couldn't be easier and most of the time you get the pods next day delivery. Current favourite are Dharkan and Bukeela.
https://www.nespresso.com/uk/en/grands-crus-coffee... good way of seeing current pod flavours.
Recommendation for any machine you go for - follow cleaning and descaling routines to schedule. You tend to find coffee machines do not get as hot when scaled up if you live in an area of hard water. Have to descale ours every 2-3 months but then you notice the difference in both speed of delivery and temperature.
Had a Nespresso machine for a few years and i think they produce great tasting coffee.
It's not cheap, but the pods are very consistent in terms of flavour and freshness, the ordering process online couldn't be easier and most of the time you get the pods next day delivery. Current favourite are Dharkan and Bukeela.
https://www.nespresso.com/uk/en/grands-crus-coffee... good way of seeing current pod flavours.
Recommendation for any machine you go for - follow cleaning and descaling routines to schedule. You tend to find coffee machines do not get as hot when scaled up if you live in an area of hard water. Have to descale ours every 2-3 months but then you notice the difference in both speed of delivery and temperature.
Riley Blue said:
Turn7 said:
Nespresso for ease of use,total flavour repeatability,choice,
Downside is mail order adds a fiver and its 50 capsules minimum.
Wouldn't be without ours.
Downside is mail order adds a fiver and its 50 capsules minimum.
Wouldn't be without ours.
I buy mine at whichever supermarket has the best price for Taylors of Harrogate: https://www.taylorscoffeecapsules.co.uk
(usually...)
Turn7 said:
Riley Blue said:
Turn7 said:
Nespresso for ease of use,total flavour repeatability,choice,
Downside is mail order adds a fiver and its 50 capsules minimum.
Wouldn't be without ours.
Downside is mail order adds a fiver and its 50 capsules minimum.
Wouldn't be without ours.
I buy mine at whichever supermarket has the best price for Taylors of Harrogate: https://www.taylorscoffeecapsules.co.uk
(usually...)
Riley Blue said:
Turn7 said:
Riley Blue said:
Turn7 said:
Nespresso for ease of use,total flavour repeatability,choice,
Downside is mail order adds a fiver and its 50 capsules minimum.
Wouldn't be without ours.
Downside is mail order adds a fiver and its 50 capsules minimum.
Wouldn't be without ours.
I buy mine at whichever supermarket has the best price for Taylors of Harrogate: https://www.taylorscoffeecapsules.co.uk
(usually...)
LivingTheDream said:
Good point on what do we drink
Daily I'll grab an americano with a splash of milk
Also quite like a latte or often a macchiato
Missus likes an occasional latte
I make bambiccinos for the kids (hence I like having a milk frother) and they occasionally have a hot chocolate
I appreciate the kids requirements are not coffee related and making those things is easy but machines like the tassimo can do them too - but maybe the quality/taste of the coffee is rubbish!
I'd buy a standalone milk frother in that case, easier to use, easier to replace just that bit if it goes wrong. Its also possible to get a frother with a separate cold reservoir that you can leave the milk in all day. Just combine it with a machine that will do expressos and you are all set. Daily I'll grab an americano with a splash of milk
Also quite like a latte or often a macchiato
Missus likes an occasional latte
I make bambiccinos for the kids (hence I like having a milk frother) and they occasionally have a hot chocolate
I appreciate the kids requirements are not coffee related and making those things is easy but machines like the tassimo can do them too - but maybe the quality/taste of the coffee is rubbish!
counterofbeans said:
We just bought this to replace a little Krups machine which started leaking. Usual bomb proof Kitchen Aid quality:-
Unfortunately, all the internals of every single nespresso machine are exactly the same... I say unfortunately, but it means you can get a great machine (and their warranty and aftersales service is superb) for not much dosh.
I've had a lattissima+ for a couple of years now. Absolutely superb.
Volumes are programmable, and it's easy to do a bambicinno or hot chocolate with it too.
If/when it dies, I'll get the lattissima pro - fully programmable, bigger reservoirs, similar footprint.
Buy the pods in bulk and you skip postage. I typically get 300 or so for about 70 quid 2-3 times a year (I mainly like the 'pure origins' single source ones, which are a few pence extra per pod). The limited editions are often great - they did one called 'monsoon malabar' where the beans are dried in shacks on the Atlantic coast, and there's a nutty saltiness that was just sublime. Unfortunately I only got 20,but the memory lives on!
The other pod machines are significantly more expensive per cup, especially for lattes etc., use powdered milk which I can stand, and the coffee isn't as nice either. Machine is cheaper though, which is why they're quite popular purchases I'd imagine.
Trustmeimadoctor said:
the wife loves her lavazza a modo mio capsule machine its the fantasia plus you can get 3rd party pods
Yeah Mrs 51mes is loving our one - we got it to replace a nespresso machine after yet another aerochino death. The Modo Mio milk machine thingy is much much better, and we got a deal from lakeland that had one free with a basic modo mio machine. What 3rd party capsules are you using and finding good - I'm likin gthe lavazza ones currently.
S.
51mes said:
Yeah Mrs 51mes is loving our one - we got it to replace a nespresso machine after yet another aerochino death. The Modo Mio milk machine thingy is much much better, and we got a deal from lakeland that had one free with a basic modo mio machine.
What 3rd party capsules are you using and finding good - I'm likin gthe lavazza ones currently.
S.
me non i cant stand coffee What 3rd party capsules are you using and finding good - I'm likin gthe lavazza ones currently.
S.
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