Getting a nice coffee maker or espresso machine for your pad allows you to satisfy your overwhelming need for coffee in all its forms, especially when you work from home. Like many, we love a hot cup of java, and getting the right machine has always been somewhat complicated, thanks to the plethora of rigs available. We find that a simple cup of coffee is easy to make with minimal gear, but putting together a great cup of espresso is harder.
1. GRAEF ES91 Espresso Machine: This machine is at the top of GRAEF's product line and comes with an espresso gauge, programmable temperature and water volume, removable 3L water tank, and a cup warming plate. There is a double pump system which includes a 16-bar espresso pump and a 6-bar steam pump. This one will cost you close to a grand.
2. Senseo Viva Café Coffee Machine: This coffee machine can make 1 or 2 cups of coffee at the same time using Philips' coffee pod system. The ease of making a good cup is why these pods are so popular. The design is also quite striking. It sell for around $150.
3. Fontana Nescafé Dolce Gusto: This futuristic coffee machine is quite slim and will serve a variety of coffee types, from espressos to macchiatos, thanks to the Nescafé Dolce Gusto pod system. It sells for around $170.
4. Caffitaly Nautilus: Even though it looks quite strange, this machine still brews good java. It uses a capsule system and cost about $240.
5. Gaggia For Illy: This machine only works with Illy espresso capsules and costs about $300. That's not so bad considering the overall design and the certainty that it will brew a good cup of espresso.
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Comments (6)
I have been wanting, actually needing a new coffee machine and these look beautiful and I am sure they all brew a fine cup of caffeinated elixir. My two concerns with the machines that use pods are:
1) The cost of the pods. What do these break down to cost-wise per cup?
2) Will the pods always be available for a particular machine? Otherwise if they stop making the pods, my $240 machine becomes useless.
Any thoughts?
Well, Nespresso here in Europe is very popular and they cost around 31 cents of Euro each... It's far too expensive IMHO
The big advantage of pod machines is that they're simple and easy to use, but they'll never make great espresso. The cost really isn't that bad, good whole bean coffee can cost as much per shot as the pods. They key (for any kind of coffee really, but espresso in particular) is to have good quality beans, freshly roasted and grind them yourself. That's why next to the big espresso machine in every Italian cafe there's a big grinder filled with beans.
Coffee will start to oxidize and go stale as soon as it's ground (actually, the beans are slowly de-gassing and oxidizing as soon as they're roasted - never trust a bag of beans without a 'roasted on' date). When they make the pods they'll try all sorts of things to slow down the process, like filling the pods with nitrogen, but they'll never be the same as fresh beans.
There are nice entry level machines and grinders from Gaggia, Rancillo and Baratza - some of the same companies that make the big commercial machines in cafes. And there are a whole host of other Italian (and some Spanish and even USA) companies making machines designed for the home barista, starting at a few hundred and going up to a few thousand dollars.
With some practice, and good beans of course, anyone can be making espresso that will be better than what you can get in 90% of the cafes in the states.
I find these pod machines reprehensible. I make espresso every day, and it's perfectly easy to scoop a little loose ground coffee into the "thing" (what does one call that thing where the coffee goes in an espresso maker!?!?!!?). No wasteful plastic and paper pods for each cup, and the coffee is always freshly ground in my house. Easy and delicious!
A Nespresso machine showed up in my apartment as a gift...
It does make very good espresso, but I hate the waste it produces. It's so awful. Also, ordering the pods is irritating since they don't sell them anywhere but online and in inconvenient boutiques (there is only 1 in all of Ontario). Making it is very easy though, and you don't have to clean anything but the cup you drink out of.
I would have never bought one, and I wouldn't replace it if it were stolen, but I like having it around.
I love my illy capsule espresso maker. It is the perfect size for a smaller kitchen, and since I don't make lattes, my version without the steamer is perfect for me.
In retrospect of my purchase, I do wish that I would have gone with a version that takes grounds, instead of only the capsules. Then I could customize my morning joe without too much hassle. But I wouldn't trade my machine for anything.