Pod / Capsule Coffee Machines
Discussion
Thanks for all the advice folks
So as an update - the thread confirmed what I already knew - its very subjective.
I couldn't find anywhere to actually try the different options - so I've been a bit stuck.
I'm no coffee connoisseur, but I do like a nice coffee, I also like different types of drink, espresso, macchiato, long americano type and lattes, as well as others occasionally.
So.....
Nespresso - seems to be for the connoisseur, it looks fab but maybe too much about the coffee varieties for me, plus the machines with milk bit included are £200 odd. Close to the price of the cheapest bean to cup - although with the ability to have different bean varieties. Verdict - I'd be very tempted but until I know the difference between the options (taste wise) it's difficult to pick over a b2c machine
Bean to cup - thanks to those who pointed out the cheaper machines which I wasn't aware were available. This is probably the option I thought I wanted, but I have a nagging doubt over this where I lack the instant variety choice that capsule machines offer.
Other Capsule - I've looked at the options and, well, who knows - there's loads of options. The Nescafe Dolce Gusto didn't appeal.
So, I've decided the only way is to try the options,
I can buy a Tassimo machine and a variety of capsules for £75, so my break even point against buying from the mobile coffee man is 30 days - so I'm giving it a go, for 30 days or more.
If the tassimo doesn't work for me then I'll change without losing out too much, I am tempted with a nespresso machine.
I'll use this thread to offer my opinion if people are interested
So as an update - the thread confirmed what I already knew - its very subjective.
I couldn't find anywhere to actually try the different options - so I've been a bit stuck.
I'm no coffee connoisseur, but I do like a nice coffee, I also like different types of drink, espresso, macchiato, long americano type and lattes, as well as others occasionally.
So.....
Nespresso - seems to be for the connoisseur, it looks fab but maybe too much about the coffee varieties for me, plus the machines with milk bit included are £200 odd. Close to the price of the cheapest bean to cup - although with the ability to have different bean varieties. Verdict - I'd be very tempted but until I know the difference between the options (taste wise) it's difficult to pick over a b2c machine
Bean to cup - thanks to those who pointed out the cheaper machines which I wasn't aware were available. This is probably the option I thought I wanted, but I have a nagging doubt over this where I lack the instant variety choice that capsule machines offer.
Other Capsule - I've looked at the options and, well, who knows - there's loads of options. The Nescafe Dolce Gusto didn't appeal.
So, I've decided the only way is to try the options,
I can buy a Tassimo machine and a variety of capsules for £75, so my break even point against buying from the mobile coffee man is 30 days - so I'm giving it a go, for 30 days or more.
If the tassimo doesn't work for me then I'll change without losing out too much, I am tempted with a nespresso machine.
I'll use this thread to offer my opinion if people are interested
Turn7 said:
I guess I was looking at the all in one machines for ease - but you're right, that machine looks good. Nespresso seems to be coffee only though and I liked the idea of making other drinks as well.
DUMBO100 said:
We got a Dolce Gusto on Groupon for £59. (50% discount) If you buy the Grande Intenso pods it's a surprisingly decent coffee
The Tassimo was £61 so similar and I suspect both are very similar in taste but I chose the Tassimo over the Dolce Gusto purely on brand (Nescafé doesn't appear to me) - this is the problem with not being able to sample all the options, you end up making arbitrary decisions.We will see
I drive to France every six months and stock up with the Carrefour Arabica which I prefer, but the Tassimo Kenco Columbian (Arabica) is a close match.
It's about 24p a cup in bulk from Amazon.
I made the mistake of trying Tassimo Oreo, a two-pod blend of what tastes like paint mixed with fertiliser.
There's plenty of choice for the Tassimo, and it cured my habit of buying the Costa stuff from my local filling station at £1.30 or so for a cup.
I have a Brita water filter which seems to improve the taste of what comes out of the Tassimo, other than Oreo.
It's about 24p a cup in bulk from Amazon.
I made the mistake of trying Tassimo Oreo, a two-pod blend of what tastes like paint mixed with fertiliser.
There's plenty of choice for the Tassimo, and it cured my habit of buying the Costa stuff from my local filling station at £1.30 or so for a cup.
I have a Brita water filter which seems to improve the taste of what comes out of the Tassimo, other than Oreo.
That's 6p a cup more than nespresso, for coffee that's widely regarded as being lesser quality...
There is a reason places like the Fat Duck serve nespresso!
I've tried dolce gusta extensively, and tassimo at my folk's - both were more expensive and less tasty.
A lot of kitchenware shops will have a demo machine to sample.
There is a reason places like the Fat Duck serve nespresso!
I've tried dolce gusta extensively, and tassimo at my folk's - both were more expensive and less tasty.
A lot of kitchenware shops will have a demo machine to sample.
Those of you with a De'Longhi Nespresso Lattissma Touch - do you really have to clean the milk bit after every coffee or can I make, say 4 in a row and then press the clean button or just once a day or something? I like the idea of one of these for the office but chances of people cleaning every time is pretty slim
Sway said:
Again, about 25% more expensive than nespresso.
Yet it seems to be considered the expensive option?
Not trying to be contrary, merely confused!
Well, 26p a cup might be too expensive for some, but it's £1.00 more than the lukewarm Costa from the Shell station. Yet it seems to be considered the expensive option?
Not trying to be contrary, merely confused!
The Tassimos seems to be on offer everywhere. Sainsburies have them for £50, which is still a lot more than the £38 I paid two months ago. Though that includes £20 of 'free' pods.
Dolce Gusta machines are there at £90.00 with £10 of free pods.
Sway said:
Again, about 25% more expensive than nespresso.
Yet it seems to be considered the expensive option?
Not trying to be contrary, merely confused!
Nespresso's own pods are 29-33p a capsule https://www.nespresso.com/uk/en/order/capsules/caf...Yet it seems to be considered the expensive option?
Not trying to be contrary, merely confused!
so not sure how you can get to them being 25% cheaper. £4 for 16 comes out at 25p a capsule, so between 1/5 and 1/3 more expensive? My premium lavzza modo mio pods - are between £4.20 and £5.29 for 16 depending on the coffee. so slightly cheaper to the same price.
Having said that nespresso compatibles can be cheap - LIDL do 10 for £1.79 and they are not half bad.
S.
olimain said:
Those of you with a De'Longhi Nespresso Lattissma Touch - do you really have to clean the milk bit after every coffee or can I make, say 4 in a row and then press the clean button or just once a day or something? I like the idea of one of these for the office but chances of people cleaning every time is pretty slim
With mine, on a weekend morning I'll usually have 3-4 cups before lunch - I'll only 'clean' the carafe at lunchtime. Carafe will then go in the fridge. The routine cleaning cycle is perhaps 5-6s of pressing a button so the spout can be flushed with steam.
Every few days I'll dismantle the carafe and put it in the dishwasher - which takes seconds.
HTH.
51mes - you're correct, apologies. I was confusing the prices for the lidls pods as opposed to the nespresso ones I actually buy... My mistake, and I've suitably chastised myself!
It's worth pointing out that it's common for nespresso machines to be sold with £75 of pods free - certainly the last few years that offer has been coming out in the run up to Christmas...
Sway said:
With mine, on a weekend morning I'll usually have 3-4 cups before lunch - I'll only 'clean' the carafe at lunchtime. Carafe will then go in the fridge.
The routine cleaning cycle is perhaps 5-6s of pressing a button so the spout can be flushed with steam.
Every few days I'll dismantle the carafe and put it in the dishwasher - which takes seconds.
Thanks, ordering!The routine cleaning cycle is perhaps 5-6s of pressing a button so the spout can be flushed with steam.
Every few days I'll dismantle the carafe and put it in the dishwasher - which takes seconds.
Slushbox said:
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.
TBH I love my Bialetti - though it is a bit of a faff. I find the tassimo useful for a quickie but given the choice (tassimo was a pressie) I'd have gone the Nespresso route (they seem to taste a little 'richer')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.
Our Nespresso Dolce Gusto thing is OK. Get the right pods and the coffee's fine.
I just find the temperature a bit lacking. If I have some hot water in the kettle I'll warm the mug up with that first and then the cold china doesn't rob the heat. Otherwise your coffee can get a bit cool too quickly. Same issues with a caffetiere to be fair...
I just find the temperature a bit lacking. If I have some hot water in the kettle I'll warm the mug up with that first and then the cold china doesn't rob the heat. Otherwise your coffee can get a bit cool too quickly. Same issues with a caffetiere to be fair...
Slushbox said:
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.
I am not a coffee snob but that is a low bar, in fact that is a bar that fell to the bottom of the Marina bloody Trencholimain said:
Those of you with a De'Longhi Nespresso Lattissma Touch - do you really have to clean the milk bit after every coffee or can I make, say 4 in a row and then press the clean button or just once a day or something? I like the idea of one of these for the office but chances of people cleaning every time is pretty slim
We only use ours (older version not the touch) at the weekend where it will make 4 espressos and 4 milky things for the missus. The milk section gets cleaned (dishwasher for most bits) at the end of every weekend so 4 in a row is fine over 2 days. Press the button to steam clean the internals before each day's session.Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff