Pod/Capsule to coffee machine - Dolce gusto or alternative?

[xyz123]

Hi - OH wants to get a POD/Capsule to coffee machine. We have limited space available and dont actually drink a lot of coffee (maybe 2/3 cups a day). Appreciate that these are expensive to run compared to bean to cup but with kids around prefer to have ease of Pod/Capsule machine.

I was set on buying nespresso mini essenza but then OH found that other companies like Nescafe dolce gusto do a more wider choice of pods, especially hot chocolate for kids.

I had a look at nescafe dolce gusto Genio and looks ok for what we need. Wanted to get some feedback if anyone has got it and also are there any compatible pods other than nescafe's own?

I saw dolce gusto has 15 bar pressure vs nespresso has 19 bar. Dont know if this makes any substantial difference.

ta

[jet_noise]

Worked with well traveled Italian chap. He said molto presseri is betteri when discussing the one thing he said he could not do without - proper Italian coffee. (/reinforced stereotype).

I have had:
Lavazza mini - expensive, leaked so was returned but coffee was very good, limited compatible pods.
Branded nespresso mini at my partners, passable. Biggest choice of compatible pods.
Best however is a standard size Lidl nespresso machine.

TLDR - don't bother with minis, Lavazza nicest coffee but expensive & limited compatibles, Nespresso best balance of coffe/price/choice of compatible pods

[sgrimshaw]

xyz123 said:

I was set on buying nespresso mini essenza but then OH found that other companies like Nescafe dolce gusto do a more wider choice of pods, especially hot chocolate for kids.

Having had Tassimo and Dolce Gusto as well as Nespresso, from a quality / cost perspective the Nespresso is streets ahead.

FWIW ... there are loads of different chocolate / hot chocolate pods from third parties for Nespresso now.

[xyz123]

sgrimshaw said:

Having had Tassimo and Dolce Gusto as well as Nespresso, from a quality / cost perspective the Nespresso is streets ahead.

FWIW ... there are loads of different chocolate / hot chocolate pods from third parties for Nespresso now.

Thanks. i had heard that nespresso is better for quality but i was swayed by more choices for dolce gusto and i thought i can get better quality coffee by using pods other than dolce gusto brand. i didnt know about nespressor compatible hot chocolate pods. i will try to find out where to get those. ta

[sgrimshaw]

xyz123 said:

Thanks. i had heard that nespresso is better for quality but i was swayed by more choices for dolce gusto and i thought i can get better quality coffee by using pods other than dolce gusto brand. i didnt know about nespressor compatible hot chocolate pods. i will try to find out where to get those. ta

Amazon do some chocolate ones.

Edited by sgrimshaw on Tuesday 18th August 11:40

[anonymous-user]

DGusto is my choice

[JimbobVFR]

A proper Nespresso, not the new machines that use a different pod but one using original Nespresso pods. Mines a delonghi (sp?) Which gets regular use multiple times every day.

My wife actually got ours against my advice, I intended to keep using my old espresso machine and separate grinder, there's still a perverse pleasure in doing it properly but the Nespresso has me converted.

[S6PNJ]

OP, have you found this thread yet? https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... Whilst it might only be about Nespressos (I've not read it but know about it), it might give you some good pointers.

[xyz123]

S6PNJ said:

OP, have you found this thread yet? https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... Whilst it might only be about Nespressos (I've not read it but know about it), it might give you some good pointers.

Thanks. I hadn't found that. Will have a read through it.

[xyz123]

mgsontour said:

DGusto is my choice

Do you use their milk pods? I know taste is subjective but do they taste any better than typical vending machine? Ta

[flight147z]

I wouldn't rule out a ground coffee (i.e. non pod) machine. I've had both types of machine and prefer machines that don't use pods.

Variety is basically endless as you can put whatever ground coffee in it you like

They are also generally cheaper per serving and better for the environment if you care about that

Interesting article on Nespresso (I don't normally read the Guardian)

[HairyMaclary]

I've had a Senseo, Dolce Gusto, Tassimo and got myself a Nespresso recently.

I only drink decaf so have limited my choice but the Tassimo is the best of the bunch for making a decent full cup of decaf coffee but the Nespresso is better for a espresso shot.

[UnclePat]

Experiences from regular use or ownership:

- Nescafe Dolce Gusto - good all-rounder, compact & made good espresso. But no auto water shut-off or programming. And eventually broke down. Messy though - when I removed the pods they were annoying still full of coffee & water, dripping it everywhere on way to bin or sink.

- Lavazza A Modo Mio - really compact, made maybe the nicest (or at least, strongest) long cup of coffee. But pods harder to find, operation not as slick & not much space for a larger cup.

- Nespresso - best all-rounder, great selection of pods

- Tassimo Suny - current machine. Quite big, blocky & ugly compared to the above, but makes a 'frothier' - if unexciting - cup of coffee. Huge selection of pods though, including hot chocolate, Costa etc. Terrific to operate - plenty of room for big cups, machine reads the bar code on the pod, dispenses exactly the right amount of water & to start you just shove the cup against the back wall of the machine which acts like a big button to start filling. Pods also come out of the machine dry/empty which is less messy.

[davek_964]

Had a Dolce Gusto for several years - I don't drink a huge amount of coffee, but very happy with it.

Aldi do compatible pods - although obviously a limited range.