Nespresso - Citiz v Pixie, Krups v Magimix?

Nespresso - Citiz v Pixie, Krups v Magimix?

Author
Discussion

Adam B

Original Poster:

27,309 posts

255 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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I have decided to get a nespresso machine for christmas, it won't be used heavily, once a day or so. I am sure the coffee cognoscenti will cringe but it suits may needs perfectly.

So can anyone advise whether the Citiz is worth the extra over the Pixie?

Also it seems both Magimix and Krups make these machines and they look very similar with a few minor styling changes - is one of them better than the other in terms of build quality?

Thanks

Turn7

23,661 posts

222 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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Dont know those twop, but we have a quite old Krups machine thats still working fine. Not sure I would trust the Magimix for quality ?

DoctorX

7,314 posts

168 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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They look identical apart from the name, wouldn't be surprised if they're built in the same factory. Think the citiz has more dispense options over the pixie, can't fault mine (Magimix Citiz).

Andy_GSA

518 posts

183 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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I've also got a Magimix Citiz and am very happy with it. We looked at both Krups and Magimix and Citiz and Pixie and the decision was more aesthetic than anything else (as in didn't like any of the Pixie colours). In any case there's a 3 year warranty so I'm fairly happy with the prospect of it lasting at least that long. I also had a good look at the reviews and couldn't see anything that favoured one brand over the other.

Adam B

Original Poster:

27,309 posts

255 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
quotequote all
Turn7 said:
Dont know those twop, but we have a quite old Krups machine thats still working fine. Not sure I would trust the Magimix for quality ?
Can you explain why? Have you seen the Espresso range as they look identical.

bennyboydurham

1,617 posts

175 months

Monday 19th December 2011
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Citiz here, does the job well. Nespresso were very keen to fix it when it went wrong last year as they make the big bucks out of selling the pods. No machine = no pod sales so they'll look after you.

Turn7

23,661 posts

222 months

Monday 19th December 2011
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Adam B said:
Turn7 said:
Dont know those twop, but we have a quite old Krups machine thats still working fine. Not sure I would trust the Magimix for quality ?
Can you explain why? Have you seen the Espresso range as they look identical.
Sorry, I dont think I can ?!? Its just a feeling, and probably a wrong one.

Ive looked at a few various Nespresso machines in the sheds over the years, and some of them do look to be very cheaply made - not saying I could tell you if any were Magimix or not tho.

Buy the one you feel happiest with, the end product is definitely worth it !

f13ldy

1,432 posts

202 months

Monday 19th December 2011
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I have the Magimix Citiz + Milk.

Approaching a year old and running perfectly.

Although I do religiously rinse the milk frother out after it's cooled and dry upside down as apparently it is the weak link in the machine.

Ben Jk

1,615 posts

167 months

Monday 19th December 2011
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I've got a Citiz & Milk.

I love it. Mines a Krups. Went for a Krups because I thought it was a bit more on brand than Magimix but both machines are made in the same factory for Magimix and Krups. Slight aestheical differences but not huge.

The Pixie is designed to me more portable, and is smaller. So if you think you might end up taking it on holiday or something then its ideal.


As for service etc. All machines come with 3 year warrenty from Nespresso, doesn't matter what make it is. They also provide a loan machine whilst yours is being fixed.

Edited by Ben Jk on Monday 19th December 08:55

Carlton Banks

3,642 posts

237 months

Monday 19th December 2011
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Andy_GSA said:
I've also got a Magimix Citiz and am very happy with it. We looked at both Krups and Magimix and Citiz and Pixie and the decision was more aesthetic than anything else (as in didn't like any of the Pixie colours). In any case there's a 3 year warranty so I'm fairly happy with the prospect of it lasting at least that long. I also had a good look at the reviews and couldn't see anything that favoured one brand over the other.
Same, it's a bloody good machine.

Just make sure you descale it periodically!

phatmanace

670 posts

210 months

Monday 26th December 2011
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I am still slightly in two minds. I sampled the coffee as they were doing a live demo in John Lewis, it was really good - but I seem to have a natural aversion to the lock-in, and whilst it's 10x cheaper than a high street chain, it's probabaly 10x more than a cafetiere (which I know is slightly different, as it's not expresso) , or a machine where you just put the powder in like a francis francis

Having said that, my wife hates the crap in the sink when you use a cafetiere, so the big attraction is the minimal waste

I also keep reading that there patent is going to run out next year, so one is likely to see competitors making the pods.


jamiebae

6,245 posts

212 months

Monday 26th December 2011
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You can buy knock off pods in France and Spain already, I'm surprised you can't get them here yet.

As for the cost issue, it expensive, but the coffee doesn't go off so you never wate grains/beans which are past their best, or have to put up with a coffee which doesn't taste right as the beans are too old. I was regularly binning half full £5 cans of Illy coffee before I got a Nespresso machine.

bennyboydurham

1,617 posts

175 months

Monday 26th December 2011
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jamiebae said:
You can buy knock off pods in France and Spain already, I'm surprised you can't get them here yet.

As for the cost issue, it expensive, but the coffee doesn't go off so you never wate grains/beans which are past their best, or have to put up with a coffee which doesn't taste right as the beans are too old. I was regularly binning half full £5 cans of Illy coffee before I got a Nespresso machine.
Yup, me too. Got a link for the knock off pods?

jamiebae

6,245 posts

212 months

Monday 26th December 2011
quotequote all
bennyboydurham said:
Yup, me too. Got a link for the knock off pods?
You can buy them in Carrefour, Leclerc etc, Cote d'Or brand I think, but they're not actually that much cheaper, only a few cents a pack.

Adam B

Original Poster:

27,309 posts

255 months

Tuesday 27th December 2011
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Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Beans to Cup machines - and now there are some good deals
Care to elaborate please?

Adam B

Original Poster:

27,309 posts

255 months

Wednesday 28th December 2011
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AHa. Very nice but double the price, and I am an infrequent coffee drinker so do beans go off over time, or only when ground?

51mes

1,501 posts

201 months

Wednesday 28th December 2011
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Adam B said:
AHa. Very nice but double the price, and I am an infrequent coffee drinker so do beans go off over time, or only when ground?
And there's the rub, and the advantage a pod machine has over anything else for a low volume drinker. Ground coffee should be used within days a week after opening - and even if frozen the beans within a month - or they will be beyond their best. A pod machine provides sealed pods each opened as you use them - I have one or two cups a day at home - when I'm at home - combined with the cleaning regime for a full bean to cup process (grinder, steam block etc) - it's just too much faff for my lifestyle.

This way I get a consistent brew very nice thankyou with almost the ease of instant. It helps I'm within 20mins of the Trafford Centre so replacing pods is a whenever I'm there and need them sort of thing.

Having said that a friend bought me a selection box of "aftermarket" pods - something to try at when I'm home, will feed back on how good they are when I do.

Has anyone seen the sale item in comet Magimix nespresso down from 179 to 69.99 might be worth a punt (was in the torygraph yesterday).

http://www.comet.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/S...

I have the nespresso with the combined milk heater/frother jug - not too sure about these "with milk" machines - seems to re-introduce the faff that I didn't like with my briel...

51mes


Adam B

Original Poster:

27,309 posts

255 months

Wednesday 28th December 2011
quotequote all
Not a big cappuccino man so not sure about the milk thing, is it built in and therefore bit of an arse to clean ?

Don't be fooled by that Comet deal, RRP is fiction and amazon have same model reduced from 100 to 70