Now I don't mean to generalise (yes, it's an 's' - I'm British!), but I can imagine all you coffee geeks out there plotting to destroy me and my family for mentioning the word 'Nespresso'. If you don't, then all the better but even if you do, please answer my question first so I can die without the answer bothering me...
I'm getting married soon and my cousins who are caterers have offered to get us a Nespresso machine (I don't know which) as they can get a great deal on one. At first, I thought I should ask them not to because I thought I'd want to try different coffees and not be limited to buying (and paing the prce for!) Nestle's own coffee capsules. But now I'm thinking - would I, not being the geekiest coffeegeek, never get round to looking after the machine, grinding coffee and clearing up the mess each morning. Perhaps it's better to get it and get good coffee regularly rather than get a different one and get great coffee (once I've figured out how to make great coffee) rarely.
Have any of you tried a Nespresso espresso or a Nespresso machine? Are they good to use? It looks easy. C'mon guys - if you give me a good answer, I'll send you a baseball bat and my family's address... ;)
Have any of you tried a Nespresso espresso or a Nespresso machine? Are they good to use? It looks easy. C'mon guys - if you give me a good answer, I'll send you a baseball bat and my family's address... ;)
Apparently you have already done some reading (hopefully we can all respect that). At least you already know that using pods will be better than many cafe's but not nearly as good as the results from fussing with the fresh roasted, freshly-ground (messy) home espressomaking operation.
Is the machine one that accepts the "standard" pod or does it take "capsules"? IIRC there are several sources for pods so at least you could have a little variety. The pod machines have been making huge gains in popularity, and while they are not good for the purist it may be a good solution for you.
Have any of you tried a Nespresso espresso or a Nespresso machine? Are they good to use? It looks easy. C'mon guys - if you give me a good answer, I'll send you a baseball bat and my family's address... ;) Paul
Hello Paul. No need for the bat. I'll try to share my experience without too much geekiness. ;-)
I actually used to use a Krups/Nespresso Automatic in my office because of its simplicity. In fact, it's still sitting on my credenza, sporting a layer of dust these days. I was a regular buyer of their various no fuss no muss capsules (names like Livanto, Ristretto, Arpeggio, Roma, Volluto) for several years! Their system was always neat and clean, but oh so very bland tasting. Their crema was single colored and thin. Body was light -- thicker than instant coffee, but not by much. Although their capsules had different names and colors, their flavors were all pretty much the same. But, to be fair, I kept using that machine and their capsules because it was so darn clean and easy in an office setting. At home I had a Rancilio Audry with the famous Rocky grinder. I always used freshly roasted beans made for espresso by a local roaster. That was my training in espresso geekdom. Every morning (and evening), as a ritual, I made (or tried to make) the best possible shot I could. Sometimes it was truly amazing, sometimes it was what we call a sink shot. But there was always a reason for the succeesses and failures, and thanks to a lot of the info on this site, I persevered. Eventually, I got pretty consistent and learned how to make an even thicker espresso called a ristretto (less output in the same time because of the restriction of a finer grind). Seeking even greater ristretto consistency, I up-graded this year at home to an Elektra Micro Casa Semi-Automatica (see the CoffeeGeek's Review on this site from March) and a Mazer Mini Grinder. My shots immediately became richer, more flavorful, and best of all, much more consistent. Almost no sink shots. My ristrettos became so delicious that I'd want to make two rather than one. I moved my old Rancilio equipment to the office -- just to see if I'd be able to use it there and enjoy ristrettos at work. I found, to my surprise, that my past worries about office cleanliness being an issue were unfounded. I've never used the Nespresso again -- therefore the layer of dust.
At first I did a shot-to-shot comparison between the Audry and the Nespresso, using Illy Nude cups so I could see everything as it developed. Visually, if you like crema, and you should, the Rancilio, using freshly roasted beans blended for espresso and ground to near perfection by Rocky, seconds before use, produced a cup that initally was 100% crema. The crema lasted for the three swallows or so needed to down the result. The Nespresso, even using their so-called Ristretto capsule, produced crema that almost immediately collapsed to a skin about 1 mm or less at the surface. Nespresso's capsule named "ristretto" is actually a pretty cruel joke. I could go on comparing the taste and enjoyment differences between the two, but to what end? There's just no REAL comparison. We'd be speaking about two completely different types of coffee.
As if this isn't enough, I must add that I've recently started using the so-called "bottomless portafilter" (see threads on this site). Both my Elektra and Rancilio armed with this improvement now produce a thicker sweeter brown nectar that would make the Nespresso pour resemble a sink shot. Well, maybe not quite that bad, but you'd have to experience the difference between the two to understand my emotion.
Now, if there's ever a Nespresso Automatic that can take three scoops of freshly roasted beans, grind them to perfection without mess, tamp them to perfection internally, and then dispense the extraction through a bottomless portafilter in a single honey like stream that starts out black and remains brown and gold stripped to the end of its pour, yielding a thick cup of ristretto crema that lasts the time it takes to drink ... well I'd sure give it a try! The one available today isn't even in the same book, let alone in the same chapter.
But for some, the path to espresso geekdom starts at the bottom and works upwards over a great many years. If learning grinding and tamping isn't your thing quite yet, starting out with a Nespresso Automatic isn't really all that bad a place to be. It's just that for the same investment and a chunk more in the case of an Elektra, you could be in a completely different ballgame. Life's so short that if you have any way to start higher, and you enjoy espresso, why deprive yourself? The best and most memorable wedding presents are those that you continue to use for decades!!
I agree with the previous poster about the flavor. I owned one for maybe a year. The Nespresso, though extremely consistent, produced decent but bland coffee. And yes, it's entirely dependent on the Nespresso pod system. And these pods aren't that cheap. I recommend getting an E61 machine and pod adapter. There are non-Nespresso pods that can be used in E61 machines. My friend, who sells La Valentina equipment, made me a shot, and compared to the Nespresso, it was so much more flavorful. Plus, you would have the flexibility of making a mess with fresh beans when you want to.
OK - so I'm gonna keep my mind open and have a look at various other machines. I've been looking on eBay but it all seems to be Gaggia / Krups. Can you suggest some brand names that I should look at? I realise each machine is different and that the specs I need (5 shots max at at time) are specific but there must be some brands to look at and some to avoid (although this too I'm probably gonna get lynched for - actually you guys aren't as scary as I thought!). Remember I'm looking at the bottom end of the market!
Cheers, Paul
p.s. If you have any suggestions as to where to buy, that'd be good too - remember I'm in the UK though!
p.p.s. Just read MOSFET's reply - that answers a bit of my question - it would be great to be able to do both. What is this E61 machine though? Who makes it? Does anyone know of other machines that can use pods AND freshly-ground coffee?
I have a Nespresso machine in my office for pure simplicity. The coffee is way better than the standard office pot in the kitchen or the Starbucks from the cafeteria. I generally drink amricanos or long 'cafe cremas'. Nespresso sells a Loungo capsule now that does a good attempt. I like it, but it comes nowhere close to my home hand pulled shots, but that's not the point for this application. If I were to do it all over again I would go with a Solis sl70 and buy pods. You will get better shots with minimal fuss and mess.
E61 machine is a type of Heat Exchange brewing system invented by Faema probably in 1961. It has great temperature consistency, and you can brew shot after shot after shot, at the same time you can steam the milk.
This E61 patent has been sold to many espresso machine manufacturers. You will be impressed in the size of the brewing group, which guarantee a quality product.
E61 has some draw backs too, such as overheating the brewing group when you leave it too long. Just flush about 3-4 ounces off, then you'll get back in the right brewing temperature.
For a good and cheap E61 machine, i would recommend La Scala Butterfly, because I have one and I don't regret for the money I paid. I even plan to use it in light commercial environment.
...my cousins who are caterers have offered to get us a Nespresso machine (I don't know which) as they can get a great deal on one. At first, I thought I should ask them not to because I thought I'd want to try different coffees and not be limited to buying (and paing the prce for!) Nestle's own coffee capsules.
Perhaps it's better to get it and get good coffee regularly rather than get a different one and get great coffee (once I've figured out how to make great coffee) rarely.
Have any of you tried a Nespresso espresso or a Nespresso machine? Are they good to use? It looks easy.
I don't want to hurt you, honest! (now about those cousins of yours...) I tried a sample from a Nespresso Pod machine from a rep who was demo'ing the unit in a Cooking store a few months ago. I felt like I needed an Alka-Seltzer and a mouthwash after drinking it. Better yet a stomach pump! Furthermore ...I don't even consider myself a discriminating coffee taster (though I believe I can make a really good espresso). Paul you can make a much better cup (if you do it right) with a french press ...or better yet, if you live near Southwark street go here and learn how to make a good cup:
...see you have an advantage over us - we don't live there in London but you do ! Just make sure your beans are good quality and freshly roasted and freshly ground !
I used to use one as well in my Antwerp office. It made a great coffee --- good taste, no mess - very quick. It was a foil pack pod. If you want quick and easy and nice - they are fine. If you want *real* espresso you'd have to go for a real espresso machine.
hander Senior Member Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 4 Location: London Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun Oct 17, 2004, 3:30am Subject: Re: Nespresso (don't hurt me!)
I had a similar problem. Someone actually bought me a magimix nespresso machine as a present but I'm not too keen on buying Nestle products so had to take it back.
However, I tried my mum's machine (the same one), who has no such calms, and I have to say that I was impressed by it. Yes, it's not one for the purists but I tried three different coloured pods, all of which produced good crema and were v.tasty.
Not for the purists, as I said, but if I didn't have a problem with Nestle, I would probably have kept it. Now I've got no machine and am periodically searchin ebay for a gaggia classic or silvia rancilio. Both of which I know will be a lot more work!
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