I'm after a capsule espresso coffee machine for domestic use.

[GeriatricWanderer]

I know there are numerous brands around with a variety of good and pad points.
I'm not as interested in the make or features of the machine as much as the choice and quality of capsules offered for that brand.
My coffee intake is quite small so I'm also not necessarily looking for the cheapest capsule - just the ones with the best flavours and strengths.

All recommendations, reviews and opinions will be welcome - thanks.

 

[mariner]

Had a Tassimo which was excellent and I used to get the pods discounted eBay.
It went, when I sold the house but I wish I had kept it.

 

[Billy23]

Scary really, I looked at your post a while ago, next time I looked at MF refreshed page and in the Google adverts on my page was an advert for....?a coffee machine. Big brother or what! And some people worry about an ID card.

 

[scotjimland]

Scary really, I looked at your post a while ago, next time I looked at MF refreshed page and in the Google adverts on my page was an advert for....?a coffee machine. Big brother or what! And some people worry about an ID card.

you need Adblock ..

 

[Billy23]

you need Adblock ..

Not worried about adverts, just pointing out that big brother must have known.......da....da....da....da....

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[Gooney]

Tassimo Vivy is a good machine but shop around I got mine on offer from Curry's under £50, since seen it in Tesco, John Lewis and Amozon for £99, the prices for the machine (and the pods ) fluctuate all the while, bide your time!

 

[Violet1]

Got a Tassimo as well, if you like costa coffee great, Lots of choice but no decaf if you prefer, found it cheap to buy on the continent as well

 

[hilldweller]

Don't do it, do the job properly.

 

[Chris]

We have a Nescafe Dolce Gusto.

I have tried a lot of the rest - this is the best.

The pods aren't cheap though.

 

[Robert Clark]

Nespresso make perfect espresso drinks, consistently high quality every cup.
Cheaper machines are available, but good coffee is worth paying that little bit extra for

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[GeriatricWanderer]

Don't do it, do the job properly.

I have been doing it properly for years but as I get older, although I still love my coffee, my intake has reduced dramatically which means that I open a nice fresh pack of coffee but before I'm a quarter through it, it's lost much of it's flavour - and yes, I do keep it in a sealed jar, in the fridge.
So, capsules sound a good route for me but only if the coffee produced is good. I'm of the opinion that the capsule quality is far more important than the machine quality which, after all, is just a kettle. That's why I'm asking for recommendations on the coffee produced rather than the machines

 

[bubble63]

tassimo do promotions, ....often....... I got a machine and £20 coffee token for.... £30
so look out via hot deals uk http://www.hotukdeals.com etc etc other sites are available
they come often

 

[GeriatricWanderer]

We have a Nescafe Dolce Gusto.
I have tried a lot of the rest - this is the best.
The pods aren't cheap though.

Yes, I have my eye on one of these but have read reports that the coffee is not very hot and that you have to stand over the machine while it's working - don't understand this - does it not turn itself off when the procees has finished?

 

[Popeye]

Nespresso make perfect espresso drinks, consistently high quality every cup.
Cheaper machines are available, but good coffee is worth paying that little bit extra for

I was so impressed with my Nespresso machine at home that I managed to get the slightly smaller machine for the van.

I will not put up with second rate coffee.......

Broken Link Removed

 

[Popeye]

after all, is just a kettle.

That is the whole crux of the matter, it is not just a kettle, it produces steam which travels through the capsule at high pressure to produce that magnificent taste.

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[Chris]

Yes, I have my eye on one of these but have read reports that the coffee is not very hot and that you have to stand over the machine while it's working - don't understand this - does it not turn itself off when the procees has finished?

Its hot enough for me. You need to make sure the light is green before you start.

You did have to stand over the old ones but the new ones automatically cut off. They have a little lever with lines that you match up with the lines on a pod to give you the perfect cup.

We have one at home and one in the van.

Been using them for about 5 years every day and wouldn't go back.

Its the only coffee machine I have ever owned than hasn't found itself pushed to the back of a cupboard.

 

[Popeye]

Its the only coffee machine I have ever owned than hasn't found itself pushed to the back of a cupboard.

I'll second that....... and I've had coffee out of Dolce Gusto, it's every bit as good as the Nespresso

 

[icantremember]

Another vote for Dolce Gusto .... good on line ordering with free delivery on 4 or more boxes. I often order on Sunday and get delivery on Monday.
We keep around 20 different varieties including some cold ones for the summer.

 

[spitfire]

I'll second that....... and I've had coffee out of Dolce Gusto, it's every bit as good as the Nespresso

Dulce Gusto for us too

 

[Bailey58]

We have a Nescafe Dolce Gusto.

I have tried a lot of the rest - this is the best.

The pods aren't cheap though.

Deja vu Chris, bit like gassing and A frames?

Dolce Gusto for me too. Buy the pods on Amazon on a subscribe and save deal and get 15% off. I juggle my orders and occasionally miss a month to make up the five items needed to qualify.

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[magicsurfbus]

By some weird coincidence I've been looking at the same sort of thing for my workplace, and have discovered an unused Tassimo machine in our kitchen, given to us a while ago.

What sort of unit price are we looking at for the pods if bought from a discount source? Nothing fancy - tea, basic coffee, chocolate.

 

[Bailey58]

I would add that we've just bought the Mini Me for the motorhome, beats the Philips Senseo we did keep in there for convenience and choice of flavours.

 

[Chris]

Another vote for Dolce Gusto .... good on line ordering with free delivery on 4 or more boxes. I often order on Sunday and get delivery on Monday.
We keep around 20 different varieties including some cold ones for the summer.

My wife drinks some weird and wonderful flavours.

I am just hooked on the cappuccino light which keeps me looking slim and young looking

 

[Gooney]

Tassimo has a bar code reader built in that identifies the type of pod you have inserted and adjusts the variables accordingly. I had a Gaggia coffee machine prior to this tTassimo and that was a machine that DID get pushed to the back of the cupboard just too much hassle to use it then clean it afterwards.

 

[truffs]

Dolce Gusto for me have one for home and a smaller one for the van, great variety of drinks

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[Langtoftlad]

If the OP @GeriatricWanderer has been making coffee "properly" for years then I strongly recommend he samples pod coffee...
Pod coffee is highly controversial, always elicits strong polar opinions .

Personally I have both Nespresso & Tassimo.
Nespresso is best for espresso style.
Tassimo for longer drinks (Costa style)

I think coffee is such a personal thing, it's be best to try both out to see if either would be acceptable.
Supermarkets often do taste tests & you can try out Nespresso at their Boutiques or some Department Store outlets.

I've been put off Dolce Gusto by rumours some pods are filled with "instant" coffee.

Nespresso pods are monopoly priced regardless of source, no bargains. In my experience the compatible pods are significantly inferior.
Tassimo & Dolce Gusto in all supermarkets, often on promotion. Other drinks as well as coffees.

If price is no issue, its all about taste - and only you can make that decision .

 

[Speve]

Dolce Gusto excellent coffee I don't drink a lot but reckon its closest to a good shop bought cup.

 

[hilldweller]

That's why I'm asking for recommendations on the coffee produced rather than the machines

We have a Tassimo in the back of a cupboard. We love Cappuccino. Tassimo Cappuccino is grim.

Clever machines though.

 

[Popeye]

I am just hooked on the cappuccino light which keeps me looking slim and young looking

I think you have to pay many many thousands of pounds to get the miracle machine that @Chris has obviously purchased.

 

[GeriatricWanderer]

I think you have to pay many many thousands of pounds to get the miracle machine that @Chris has obviously purchased.

Well coffee may not make you slim but I've been knocking it back for years and it's definitely kept me looking young

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