Recommend me an espresso machine (max £200)
Discussion
I'm sick of messing around with a stove top espresso maker in the mornings and fancy an upgrade.
I have been looking at the Magimix 11300 M190 Nespresso machine and was wondering if anyone would has any experience of ownership, or alternatives?
It would only really be used for espresso's, maybe something with milk in should I have guests but not a big influencer on the decision. Seems to be a myriad of potential options out there!
I have been looking at the Magimix 11300 M190 Nespresso machine and was wondering if anyone would has any experience of ownership, or alternatives?
It would only really be used for espresso's, maybe something with milk in should I have guests but not a big influencer on the decision. Seems to be a myriad of potential options out there!
I have a gaggia cubika plus. Paid £130 for it. Makes a nice espresso, came with an adapter for the espresso pods and has a milk frothing function. Looks pretty good too!
EDIT: Have you looked at the availability of Nespresso capsules. Fine if you live in an area where your supermarket sells them, otherwise you need to order them in, and they are pricey.
EDIT: Have you looked at the availability of Nespresso capsules. Fine if you live in an area where your supermarket sells them, otherwise you need to order them in, and they are pricey.
devnull said:
I have a gaggia cubika plus. Paid £130 for it. Makes a nice espresso, came with an adapter for the espresso pods and has a milk frothing function. Looks pretty good too!
EDIT: Have you looked at the availability of Nespresso capsules. Fine if you live in an area where your supermarket sells them, otherwise you need to order them in, and they are pricey.
Can't get them from Supermarkets unfortunately; a handful of Nespresso shops or order on line (which is hassle-free)EDIT: Have you looked at the availability of Nespresso capsules. Fine if you live in an area where your supermarket sells them, otherwise you need to order them in, and they are pricey.
I have a krups nespresso pixie machine, does everything you need and looks half decent to boot. There is an optional milk heater/frother thing, but I tend to drink espressos or americanos, so didn't bother with it. There may be better options if you want bells and whistles, but for making espresso, I can't see what else you would need. They were on offer from debenhams for 100 notes recently, not sure if they still are, think they are normally about 140
You need to buy the pods from nespresso, but it is a relatively painless exercise, it comes with a selection and you order more of the ones you like - easy.
You need to buy the pods from nespresso, but it is a relatively painless exercise, it comes with a selection and you order more of the ones you like - easy.
cqueen said:
ringerz said:
I'm sick of messing around with a stove top espresso maker in the mornings and fancy an upgrade.
Normally I'd recommend getting a Gaggia Classic, but if it's the messing around that's annoying you then yeah, fair enough, go for a pod machine.My recommendation, my full on hearty recommendation (!) is a Gaggia Classic from Amazon. Two tins of Illy espresso ground coffee (dark red label) also from Amazon and you're good to go. Cup height (from memory) is a maximum of 6cm (I can check if needs be) and there are some really very good and cheap larger/wider espresso/cappuccino cups also from Amazon to give a longer coffee or cappuccino. You won't get a mug under it, which is why I mention that bit.
I messed around for about 2 years with stove tops and three different pod machines (Tassimo, Nespresso and Philips). Finally thought I'd try the Gaggia.... It really is very good. Coffee at home tastes better than coffee out. There's a reason Gaggia have had this same design for so many years, it just works.
Switch machine on (takes 4 minutes to heat), put the required ground beans into the cup thing, whack that on, press the button and there's your perfect espresso. I love it!
Edited to add: It has a proper milk frother for those girlie mornings. Eeek!
Edited by NDA on Tuesday 11th September 20:59
We have had a few Gaggia machines over the past 15 years of coffee drinking, and now settled on a Gaggia Classic. It's by far and away the best machine I've used.
Every now and again, Amazon seem to have them at £150 (which is what I paid for mine). At that price I'd say it was a bargain. They've been making the Classic for years and years and it has a good reputation.
Steve.
Every now and again, Amazon seem to have them at £150 (which is what I paid for mine). At that price I'd say it was a bargain. They've been making the Classic for years and years and it has a good reputation.
Steve.
cqueen said:
I've just got my friend a Gaggia Classic and I spent time showing him how to use it. I don't think he realised how much mess/faffing around is involved. If it's convenience you're after and not the quality, you should get the pod machine, in my opinion (and I hate pods).
As far as I remember from looking around, the pods do work out significantly more expensive (than buying ground coffee or beans) per cup though? This is what put me off last time I was tempted to try them.stevesuk said:
As far as I remember from looking around, the pods do work out significantly more expensive (than buying ground coffee or beans) per cup though? This is what put me off last time I was tempted to try them.
Yup, but then all you have to do is 'insert pod, push button'. Don't get me wrong, I hate pods - I just don't want this guy to buy a proper espresso machine and then end up having to dial in a grinder at 6am when he should be ironing his shirt.Does anyone have any idea on actual cup prices of coffee at home using the various methods - ie from basic instant through to bean to cup.
We have a Nespresso machine, and the coffee is good, but I find it a tad too expensive to run for a daily brew.
Id love to get a bean to cup, but I suspect it would work out as dear to run.
Im not including capital expenditure here, purely runnign costs.
We have a Nespresso machine, and the coffee is good, but I find it a tad too expensive to run for a daily brew.
Id love to get a bean to cup, but I suspect it would work out as dear to run.
Im not including capital expenditure here, purely runnign costs.
You pay the premium for the convenience - you can get a decent cup in a minute or so from switch on and there is no prep, no clean up. I agree most pods are gash but I think Nespresso is different from the rest. I quite fancy one if those Gaggia's but I just know that 9 times out of 10 I wouldn't be arsed for the sake of the arguably small improvement and certainly not first thing in the morning.
I've done the machine thing and as an adhoc user (3-4 times a week) it wasn't working out. My last gaggia cubika was great but I found I couldn't be arsed to do cappuccino and the coffee is going stale as soon as its opened - even if is stored right.
I was a pod snob. Then I bought one and I havent looked back. In fact we've known three people who have bought one having tried ours. I bought a Krups citiz version with the aeroccino and it's just so easy and quick to use - and. Think the machines look good The coffee tastes great too :-) I also now have lots of iced coffee in the summer and it's no different to the stuff they pull your pants down for in starbucks IMO.
Some of the best restaurants around use nespresso (including (allegedly) the best in the uk - Heston bluementhals fat duck) so I guess thats a good sign!
I was a pod snob. Then I bought one and I havent looked back. In fact we've known three people who have bought one having tried ours. I bought a Krups citiz version with the aeroccino and it's just so easy and quick to use - and. Think the machines look good The coffee tastes great too :-) I also now have lots of iced coffee in the summer and it's no different to the stuff they pull your pants down for in starbucks IMO.
Some of the best restaurants around use nespresso (including (allegedly) the best in the uk - Heston bluementhals fat duck) so I guess thats a good sign!
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