Nespresso owners - Get in Here!!!!!

[RobbieTheTruth]

Let's discuss our techniques, recipes etc.

Just got a machine (Nespresso Lattissima) - have made my way through the box of 16 samples. Hated most of them but the light roasts are perfectly fine.

After having about 12 lattes in two days, I fancied doing a normal cup of coffee - what is the best way to brew an Americano?

I did a long shot of espresso followed by a long shot of water. Do you do the same? I'm considering programming by long shot to fill a mug of coffee through the one pod, maybe that will be too strong?

Would love to hear from fellow Nespresso users.

[RobbieTheTruth]

Pints said:

Are Tassimo owners welcome?

I'm afraid not

[RobbieTheTruth]

mybrainhurts said:

Can't see the point of buying a machine that locks you into their coffee. Isn't this over expensive, like printer ink, or have I missed something?

I agree, and really wanted a machine that takes any coffee, but as far as I know, the Latissima is the only 'one touch' latte machine available.

From my research, I knew Nespresso makes good espresso - it's the only espresso Heston Blumenthal serves in the Fat Duck for £8 a shot etc.

Most other machines have a separate milk frother, then you add the frothed milk yourself. With one touch, this sends a measure of foamy milk and the espresso coffee into your cup. The milk container can be removed and put into the fridge - you don't need to keep emptying.

To clean it - you just press a button and it runs a hot water shot through the machine.

Nespresso recently lost a court case and now have to allow competitors to manufacture Nespresso capsules, including disposable and reusable ones. They also lost a case where they tried to make using 'non branded' pods invalidate the warranty. This has led to several manufacturers making their own pods and the options are only going to increase.

Hopefully, I can use my own freshly ground coffee in the disposable pods.

[RobbieTheTruth]

mybrainhurts said:

RobbieTheTruth said:

Stuff

I see they do six with the same name, including a "Pro". Which one are you talking about?

The Latissima in general.

As far as I know, there are 2 - plus and pro. The difference seems to just be a digital display screen and slightly larger pod disposal space on the pro.

The reason you see 6 is just different colours, and they charge different amounts for the different colors.

I got a 'plus' in white because it was cheapest - got it for £159, so it's not gonna be too bad if end up not using it much. I like it up to now though.

[RobbieTheTruth]

sgrimshaw said:

Best not to put too much water through the pod, much better to s run a long or short shot without a pod like you already did.

Rather than Americano I prefer a Long Black. You put the hot water in first .... it keeps the Crema intact.

Thanks - does putting a full cup through one pod make it too strong?

Do you do a large shot of water then a large espresso?

I have run out of my samples and awaiting new capsules so can't use trial and error.

[RobbieTheTruth]

TX1 said:

The machine in the Hotel was a GEMINI CS 200 PRO which in my opinion is not appropriate for heavy duty usage because the machine could not really reach its required temperature because of the amount of people queing to use it, so heating a cup was out of question unless one wanted to annoy the people queing even more.
Other main problem is it is not plumbed in so one of the stuff was all the time filling the water reservoir.
I can see the machine being a success in an office but not for Hotel use.

Agreed - they are meant for the home kitchen. The small water tank means it needs filling up every 5-6 times.

Have heard a lot of people complain about temperature but I think it comes out perfect. I do a long shot of water which heats the machine and the cup at once, then do the drink.

[RobbieTheTruth]

My first £25 voucher arrived via email today - going to order 200 Bukeela la Ethipia. Most of the strong stuff isn't much better than Starbucks/Costa/Nero/Supermarket etc but the light roast stuff is really good.

Still deciding over the best Americano. If you make an Americano using a Nespresso, which of the following do you prefer:

A - small shot of coffee, small shot of water
B - small shot of coffee, large shot of water
C - large shot of coffee, large shot of water
D - other (explain)

[RobbieTheTruth]

hornetrider said:

The Lidl ones are 1.59 for 10 and could easily be one of the nespresso varieties.

I have heard good things about the Lidl ones.

I bought some M&S Colombian Single Origin Strength 6 the other day - they are pretty poor. Burnt like every other Supermarket coffee.

Nespresso use aluminium for freshness - the others seem to use plastic, which is porous and lets air through.

[RobbieTheTruth]

CoinSl0t said:

I foolishly got 10 tubes of Columbian (I liked the idea of number 13 strength), it's not very nice, although the sugar helps to take off the sharp edge a little.

The Big Cup Little Cup pods are ok, but hardly any cheaper so I've been buying Nespresso pods again and find them hard to beat overall.

Yeah those strong (intenso) ones are awful. I had a Kazaar (strength 12) and had to tip it down the sink, even after sugar and milk.

I think people confuse strength of roast with caffeine content, and think they are not getting the 'hit' if they taste a delicate light roast but this is not the case. There can actually be more caffeine in the lighter roasts because they are cooked less.

[RobbieTheTruth]

bulldong said:

Lol. No.

My point was simply that it is a cult of people who have been marketed to in the most fantastic way, and in a way in which I can only take my hat off to the person who devised the scheme. It's crap coffee and overpriced but if it works for people then that's fine by me.

It's not crap though - and that is why it has taken off the way it has.

It performs in taste tests. Peoples main gripe is that you are locked into the Nespresso pod coffee with a pod machine, very few dislike the coffee.

I like light roasts so I dislike the vast majority of the Nespresso range, but the Bukeela ka Ethiopia is delicious. I don't like their most popular selling pod (Apreggio).

Obviously it does not make the worlds best Espresso, but if you find one that suits your taste, a Nespresso espresso or latte is going to far exceed a Starbucks, Costa, Nero, McDonalds, Greggs etc

[RobbieTheTruth]

DSLiverpool said:

Went to Lidl, it had a bakery and the papers! But no nespresso it's not on the stock list for the region - boo

I get them from the Liverpool City Centre branch all the time.

[RobbieTheTruth]

Nickbrapp said:

Has anyone tried the new 3 flavours made to be drunk with milk?

Yes, there are 3. The lightest of the 3 is the best coffee Nespresso have released in my opinion.

I'm a fan of light roasts, and good independent roasters and coffee shops seem to agree. Has Bean, Pact, Neighbourhgood all seem to roast consistantly light.

I've always said Nespresso is good for a nice 'instant' coffee, and better than Starbucks, Costa etc - but if you got it in a good coffee shop you'd be disappointed. The new light roast is the first time I've tasted a Nespresso where I'd be happy to pay £3 for a latte of.

[RobbieTheTruth]

Chilly for June said:

Hi guys, got a Nespresso machine last month just the Krups entry level one.

90% of the included Nespresso pods (10 pack included in the box) failed and wouldn't pierce when out in the machine. They then fall into the waste bin and no coffee.

Machine was replaced and got it home last night and again the free Nespresso pods are failing.

I have tried Aldi and Starbucks (by Nespresso) in both the original and new machine and they work every single time.

Is this a case of a bad batch of free Nespresso pods? Anyone with views / experiences of this?

TIA

I'd say so.

I've had several pods from other companies fail, but never an actual Nespresso one.

[RobbieTheTruth]

alistair1234 said:

They got back to me, charged the £250 fee, which is fine, I expected that. But it was that simple, so £251 for the machine instead of £370.

Make a much better drink than my old machine with the steam wand instead of the aerocinno and is far more customisable.

Glad you're happy, but £250 is outrageous for a Nespresso machine!!!!

[RobbieTheTruth]

tim0409 said:

I have been a long term Nespresso user, and we've just received a Vertuo Next as an early Christmas gift (John Lewis deal) from my mother in law. The rationale was that we sometimes use two of the original pods in a mug; I have a large mug, fill it up with hot water so it's more like a long black/Americano. I've just tried the mug sized (230ml) Vertuo pods but the problem is that it's tepid after I had the milk. I'm now thinking a double espresso vertuo pod is the way forward, with hot water. Anyone have a similar experience?

Yeah, just put the mug with a splash of milk in the microwave for 30 seconds. Then let the pod pour onto the hot milk/warm mug.

[RobbieTheTruth]

Raymond Reddington said:

Hi all,

I've had a delonghi Bean to Cup machine for around 18 months or so. It's certainly had its use and I've enjoyed it but I find it a little inconsistent and a bit of a faff. The grinder is probably the weak point in the machine.

I had thought about nespresso in the past but when we moved in with GF's parents a few years ago to save for a house, I couldn't stand coffee from their expensive kitchen aid nespresso machine.

My mums just been given a little Magimix machine from her neighbour. I tried it out with some cheap Aldi pods she had bought, used the 'big cup' button, added a bit of milk and sugar and the coffee was fantastic. I rinsed her for a few more coffees before I went home and now I quite fancy getting shot of my bulky B2C and getting a nespresso machine. Not sure why I didn't get on with the in laws machine, maybe it was just the pods they had?

I was thinking of the Sage jobby with auto frother as my mate has a sage barista and it's been great (also would look good in the kitchen). I like a longer milky coffee from time to time so definitely want milk thingy.

My question is, is this machine worth the premium over similar you can get for half the money?

Edited by Raymond Reddington on Sunday 14th February 17:34

OP here.

Sounds like it's time for you to ditch this thread and join us over here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[RobbieTheTruth]

Tyre Smoke said:

That thread is full of stuck up aholes.

Apparently if you buy something you want and like, but it isn't some faffy bean to cup thing, you're stupid. And no doubt very working class and council.



Anyway, I made the mistake of posting my new arrival in there. I'm very pleased with it...

Just to correct you - we hate Bean to Cup machines over in that thread. They are an upgrade on Nespresso but leagues below manual, and are very much speed/convenience over taste.

That said, enjoy your Nespresso. I still have mine, and use it in the office and it's better than Nescafe!

[RobbieTheTruth]

Tyre Smoke said:

I didn't hang around long enough to find out what you do or don't like over there. I was made to feel very unwelcome and a pariah for having a Nespresso!

I'm really enjoying the convenience of it and the variety. The big plus for me is the speed and immediacy without any faff.

Haha yeah I know!

You might follow my journey mate - I was buzzing when I first got my Nespresso. They when it becomes the norm, you might fancy an upgrade.

[RobbieTheTruth]

loudlashadjuster said:

Yeah, I've owned and used most kinds of coffee machines over the years, and unless you're prepared to put up with some faff then little matches Nespresso on the taste/convenience curve.

A lot of these have been bean-to-cup machines and almost all have chucked out poorer coffee than a Nespresso, including the ultra-expensive Jura machines we currently have in our office. They are something like £5k each fgs!

Yeah, Bean to Cup are poor and get similar results to Nespresso.

Manual is a completely different league, but it's expensive to get into.

It's not a huge faff when you know what you're doing, but I understand the argument for Nespresso.

[RobbieTheTruth]

Turn7 said:

The thing with Nespresso is the pure ease and total repeatabilty of the end product.....


Coffee at that level becomes pure geekery that also involves a lot of the same BS as top end Audiophile bs.....


As Robbie says, thou, you start wanting more, and then it gets interesting....I was alsways lead to belive B2C was the holy grail, but I dont think it really is now.

I want to find a quality coffee shop so I can try true espresso before I decide on my journey going forward.

I kind of disagree with the audiophile comparison, although there are very diminishing returns the more you spend.

I can immediately tell the difference. I'l get a coffee from a coffee shop, and it's very, very apparent on the very first sip if they are 'third wave' or standard.

Standard being Nero, Costa, Starbucks, McDonalds, Costa, John Lewis cafe etc etc - over roasted beans poorly extracted.

My journey was to find the cheapest way I can make a coffee I'm delighted with, and I would happily serve to any coffee expert in the world knowing they'd be reasonably happy with it.

I think I found the entry point, and it's not thousands.