Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Talk to me about coffee machines..

64 replies

kimkimc · 16/04/2022 23:00

We currently have a Tassimo and I hate it! The coffee tastes crap and the pods are extremely expensive, and there are no cheaper alternatives. It also doesn't fill the full cup and is hardly warm.

I like the look of the Nespresso ones but not sure what the coffee tastes like from those either or if it's the same issue with the heat.

Can anybody recommend?

OP posts:
Thesunrising · 16/04/2022 23:05

Aeropress - cheap, small, low-tech, easy to clean, easy to travel with. All you need is a good quality coffee, ground to right size.

loobylou10 · 16/04/2022 23:14

Def recommend our Nespresso. We have a Nespresso virtuo and use it daily. We have a separate milk jug and use the strong espresso pods - makes an amazing flat white.

Original poster
kimkimc · 16/04/2022 23:15

@loobylou10 I read that Vertuo pods are more expensive though and can only be purchased direct from the website, is this right?

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food
VVKills27 · 16/04/2022 23:19

I’d recommend buying a machine that takes freshly ground coffee rather than pods. Less expensive in the long run and infinitely better quality coffee. Better for the environment too as pods are usually plastic. Greater choice of coffee. Takes a little more effort to use but I really enjoy mine. ☕️

MaryAndHerNet · 16/04/2022 23:23

Simple Cloth filter is the best imo.
It's a handle and bit of cloth. Bung the ground beans in and pour hot water on. Simple.

Next I'd recommend aeropress. Very nice. Takes a bit of practice, i like the inverted method.

VVKills27 · 16/04/2022 23:35

Or you could forgo an espresso type machine and get a lovely cafetière. Or maybe a basic filter coffee machine. So many better options than getting a Nespresso in my humble (ahem, highly educated on coffee matters) experience…

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 16/04/2022 23:36

If you like ground coffee, have a look at the wacao range. I’ve got the nanopresso (with dg and nespesso additions) and the pikamokka - which I use daily. Lovely, easy to make coffee and the gadgets are portable.

Pinkflipflop85 · 16/04/2022 23:42

[quote kimkimc]@loobylou10 I read that Vertuo pods are more expensive though and can only be purchased direct from the website, is this right?[/quote]
Yes, that is right. It is why I got rid of mine.

OhIKnow · 17/04/2022 00:41

I used to have a Nespresso which I loved. Now have a burr grinder to grind my own beans an a mokka pot. Game changed, no waste, really easy to use and delicious coffee.

PickAChew · 17/04/2022 00:44

I use a clever coffee dripper. It's a cone that uses a filter paper, with a valve to allow it to steep for a minute. Low tech, low faff and delicious.

Kezzie200 · 17/04/2022 03:57

I have a SAGE nespresso that uses the old style pods. I like ringing the changes on coffee strength and decaff so it suits me well as pods stay fresh even if I don't use them for a while. I buy pods from different places as its the old style.

If I had to replace the machine and get caught by only buying nespresso pods, I'd probably get a bean to cup machine.

ThisIsNotARealAvo · 17/04/2022 04:36

We've tried tassimo - I got it for the kids to make hot chocolates but they've gone off hot chocolate now and the coffee pods were expensive and terrible quality coffee. I have a Nespresso machine at work, but it only takes the Vertuo pods and they are 40-60p each and can only be bought from Nespresso. The other type of Nespresso pods are better as supermarkets make them. I have also tried aeropress, stove top espresso maker and filter coffee machine. But now I just use the good old cafetière. I usually buy ground coffee but I'm thinking of getting a grinder and grinding the beans freshly.

Okkie · 17/04/2022 08:26

@VVKills27

I’d recommend buying a machine that takes freshly ground coffee rather than pods. Less expensive in the long run and infinitely better quality coffee. Better for the environment too as pods are usually plastic. Greater choice of coffee. Takes a little more effort to use but I really enjoy mine. ☕️
This

And if I had to recommended the best machine for cheapest price it would be sage barista express. £325 from back market (£600 full price) so better for environment too. Bean to cup will give you much better tasting coffee literally like store bought.

If you have the time and inclination have a watch of some James Hoffman videos on YouTube

Bimblesalong · 17/04/2022 08:34

I switched from a Tassimo to nespresso (little pods) and love it. You can pick up the pods from the supermarket and the coffee is always fresh. Mine has the milk attachment so we can make whatever latte etc we want. Certainly beats takeaway coffee prices.

I tend to drink black coffee only so take a coffee out in a chilly bottle. I put hot water into the chilly bottle or cup I’m going to have my tea or coffee in and it ends up a hotter drink (& better).

Gemster19 · 17/04/2022 09:19

We switched from the Tassimo to a Breville One-Touch as I was fed up with the waste from a pod based system, and wanted to be able to drink a decent decaf coffee (if there is such a thing!) whilst pregnant. The machine is clearly a bigger cost initially, but nowhere near the cost of a bean to cup option, and it then runs on ground coffee (my favourite is from Lidl at about £2 a bag) and normal milk, and you can customise the strength/frothing as etc.

SoupDragon · 17/04/2022 09:24

Go for a ground coffee one. You then get to pick from a huge range of coffee rather than being tied to whatever your particular pod system offers.

I have a DeLonghi Dedica which is great. Has a nice small footprint on the worktop.

Polkadotties · 17/04/2022 09:25

I’ve had my smeg espresso machine for 4 years and it still works perfectly.

Iamnotamermaid · 17/04/2022 09:26

Love my Nespresso Pixie. you can get capsules from lots of different places, not just Nespresso themselves. I only drink black coffee in case you were wanting frothy milk options.

Aeropress also good but maybe a bit fiddly.

Mumdiva99 · 17/04/2022 09:28

If you can afford it bean to cup machine. If you can't a cafetier or mokka pot.

TuxedoJunction · 17/04/2022 09:33

Another vote here for a ‘bean to cup’ machine. IMO - they are worth the investment.

AnyFucker · 17/04/2022 09:37

What’s your budget ? If you can splash out you will find the difference massive.

We have a DeLonghi Magnifica bean to cup machine and use it several times a day. It has more than paid for itself in saved pods and Costa purchases. The quality rivals that of the big coffee chains.

DaydreamerBetty · 17/04/2022 12:12

I too recommend bean to cup machine.
I have Delonghi Authentica.

Lightning020 · 17/04/2022 12:16

Oddly enough I like the flavour of my Tassimo coffees but perhaps I am strange lol.

Twizbe · 17/04/2022 12:19

We've got a delongiie bean to cup machine (not sure which one)

Really good coffee and it has a milk steamer which I love. It's saved us money for sure.

It's a bit of a faff to maintain but it's not horrifically hard.

IllDoItButOnlyForTheAttention · 17/04/2022 12:20

When my filter machine broke I went back to using a cafetiere until I could afford a new one. Turns out I prefer the good old cafetiere, so never replaced the machine.

More counter space and the coffee tastes great. But then I've never been into lattes and so on, I just like black coffee, occasionally a drop of cream.

Swipe left for the next trending thread