Nespresso?

[ditavonteesed]

My much loved and excessively used Nespresso machine has died. Before I rush out to replace it this morning are there any alternatives that are better. When I've looked the price has gone up massively, the vertuo one is cheaper but you can't seem to get compatible pods anywhere. I'm thinking I just need to replace it but wanted to cover any other options first.

We have had it about 5 years and use it at least 4 times day so it's earned it's keep.

Have you looked into the subscriptions? I got my machine (uses old style pods) for a £1 then pay 25 a month for capsules.

I have just replaced our old small Nespresso machine with the Nespresso citiZ which takes the small capsules. It cost £1 if you sign up for a £25 monthly subscription for two years. I already have a monthly recurring order for coffee which comes to £26, so for me it works out. I have canceled the recurring order and will use the £25 credit for the coffee. So the machine was free for me.

Sage make Nespresso machines for the old style capsules. I have a Sage espresso machine and love it. I’d be more tempted by the old style Nespresso than the Virtuo, as with the Virtuo you can only buy capsules from Nestlé, but with the old style ones there’s much more choice available.

I looked at the subscription but I don't really want to be tied to extra monthly outgoings, tend to get pods from b&m when they have cheap Starbucks ones so don't spend much on the actual pods. Itnis tempting though. I am looking at the citiz, mine is so pretty I shall miss it.

It's not really extra monthly outgoings though as you don't pay for the machine. It's more like spreading the cost of the machine over many months. Do the sums as I don't think the terms are quite so favourable now but when I got mine it would have been 229 to buy the machine. Instead I'm paying 300 over 2 years and that includes the pods too.

I’ve just got a L’Oréal capsule machine. It’s great. Takes the old style Nespresso pods. It’s great

nit happy with Nespresso basically forcing people into the virtuo and locked into the expensive pods by pushing up the machine prices hugely

L’or not L’Oréal 😂

Grr went to shop in shopping centre a week befor Christmas and they don't even stock them. Only got the vertuo ones. Might have to buy a jar of instant while I think it over.

@Helenloveslee4eva can you tell me about the L'Or one? I was looking at it yesterday but it seemed like it would also only take the own brand of pod. Does it take the fake Nespresso ones without any problems?

I love my aeropress. The paper filter goes into food waste with the coffee grounds. Quick wash of all the plastic parts under the tap & leave to drain. Much more economic friendly.

*eco friendly

John Lewis still stock machines that take original pods.

We’ve used Aldi capsules. Sometimes they don’t pierce well but that happened with the Nespresso about the same amount ( the really cheap plastic decaf ones ).
the lor coffee is imho better then Nespresso though 😂

If you're going to buy original Nespresso capsules, then the plans are really worth it, as you'd be spending the money on them anyway.

We got an all singing and dancing Sage barista with the touch screen LED. Very expensive at £70/month for 2 years. But the machine was about £700 in JL outright. We consume about £50 Nespresso capsules per month though, and after 2 years have about £400 balance outstanding.

Goes to show how much markup Nespresso make on their capsules though. It was worth it for us though.

Phone them they might send a new (they did for my mum).

I've got the Lakeland machine that fits original nespresso pods:
https://www.lakeland.co.uk/26782/lakeland-coffee-pod-machine-white
Basic but works 😁
Out of stock in Lakeland but available from Amazon.

We've had our machine about 8 years so I think it's due to die!
I'm not sure I'm planning to replace it due to the environment and pod costs.

We take a V60 over cup dripper on holiday with us and I'll likely just stick to that with coffee grounds, so much cheaper and the filters are fully disposable and go in the food bin.

Coffee Dripper

£25/month for 2 years is £600 not 300.

We have 2 nespresso machines - creatista (expensive and looks good) and a vertuo one (far cheaper and better coffee, but have to order from Nespresso).

Honestly, we use both but prefer the vertuo. Not cheap coffee as only the official pods and can't buy in supermarkets, but the taste is genuinely better than the 'normal' nespresso pods.

So Nespresso shop didn't have them in, couldn't decide which to order, took dd to town. Went into hotel chocolate, they had an offer, cofffee machine and velvistiser for £100. And the coffee machine is gorgeous. We are currently enjoying cappuccinos. Thanks for all the advice

@howaboutchocolate - sorry, should have clarified. Had a cash back deal when I did mine so works out as 300 over 2 years. As I said terms not so favourable now.

We got a virtuo and it's the best thing ever! The deals they do are phenomenal and we do two big orders a year. I think we've paid about £60 this year for capsules, plus we've got multiple cups, glasses, ice cube trays for iced coffee and chocolates. You've just got to keep an eye out for deals!

We were given a pod machine but after seeing that video on FB of the mountain of used plastic pods that go into landfill every day I just couldn't bring myself to use it.

We now use a Mokka pot and you can fancy it up with a milk frother and syrups if that's what you like.

Last year, we bought a Melitta T Smart (Argos £499) to replace a Nespresso Vertuo as a Christmas present to ourselves.

It takes whole beans and has two hoppers which we use for regular and decaf.

DH works from home and we use it a lot - 2,000 shots of espresso during the past 12 months. Based upon that number of drinks, the cost of the machine currently works out at 25p a drink + beans. Obviously, the more we use it, the lower the fixed/sunk cost per drink. We now buy 8x1kg packs of decaf beans on Amazon and they're great value.

When you factor in the beans, I think we're roughly 'even' vs the cost of the Vertuo coffee pods - but I massively prefer the Melitta machine. Even though the price per cup is similar, I used to really resent paying so much for capsules and the lack choice regarding the use of third party capsules.

There's also a lot less waste as well, in terms of discarded capsules.