What’s the point in Nespresso machines?

[Boymum2019]

Hi all. I might be sounding really silly here, I hope I’m missing something so please let me know :). Myself and my husband treated ourselves to a Nespresso Vertuo machine this weekend. So from what I’ve read so far, to make just a standard latte/cappuccino for example you’d need a double espresso pod then you’d need to heat milk up in a separate vessel and then add. Is that correct? If so I’m struggling to see the point of the machine. Surely it’s more convenient to just make a regular coffee with a kettle, or buy another machine where you press a button and it’s done? If this is the case I’m assuming it’s all about the quality with Nespresso as oppose to convenience? TIA :)

I agree that's why I don't have one. I guess if you drink black coffee and don't want the expense of an espresso machine they'd be fine. We have a dolce gusto at work which has the milk included but the coffee isn't great. I tend to use a café tiere at home or a mokka pot, but we've just had a new kitchen fitted and have ordered a sage barista express to treat ourselves after the nightmare of living on a building site for weeks

It's a form of espresso machine, you can't make espresso with a kettle as it is made by steam pressure

Ahh thank you. Might try the ones you’ve just suggested then :)

I agree.

I think it's seen as a status/snob thing. It's very much a yuppy, trendy, etc fad thing.

I can buy 2 kg of coffee for £20 at Makro/Booker... works out to be about 250-300 cups. You're looking at £1 per pod on Amazon. I'm sure there are cheaper ones out there, but even a third of that price is ludicrous.

Personally, I think people who buy them are idiots with the added distain of being massively environmentally harmful.

I would also add that nespresso (being more premium of the pod machine brands) tastes better than for example dolce gusto providing you buy the original pods. It's supposed to be convenience combined with taste. Taste being subjective.

''Tis why I have a cafetière which makes superior coffee

I am one of those idiots, and while I accept the environmental impact, I do like the taste and how quick / convenient they are. It has prevented me from getting a takeout coffee on the way to work for instance, as a kettle coffee just wouldn't hit the spot.

A fad? They've been around for around for at least 15 years in the UK. OP, buy a separate milk frother from Amazon and you can make lattes and cappuccinos without a load of fuss. Recycle the pods.

Thanks everyone. I just wasnt sure if I missing something like a milk compartment or something haha. But makes sense now :).

I really like mine. I only drink black coffee, but I like different beans at different times. Probably have 2 or three different types a day and order maybe 8 different blends a month. I wouldn’t get the same variety from a bag or two of beans

FWIW I got a milk frother from Lidl, it was about £15 and really good

They don't have them at the moment (middle aisle product) but Aldi seem to have something similar

https://www.aldi.co.uk/product/ambiano-milk-frother-000000000610232001

That is why I chose a manual coffee bean grinder and a small 300ml cafetiere. The flavour is amazing at a fraction of the costs of the Nespresso machine.

I admit, I drink black coffee but milk can be heated in a microwave...then frothed with an electric whisk!

Cafetière coffee is completely different from espresso. Nespresso is very good, reliable espresso - I just want to put a capsule in, mash a button and have decent coffee. I don’t want to fanny around with grinds, tamping etc. We currently have a built in bean to cup which isn’t as good as our old Nespresso.

I don’t rate the Vertuo system - the original one is much better.

I have the nespresso latissima pro (I think that’s what it’s called!) It does the hot milk too so one button makes a decent cappuccino or latte. Handy, because that’s all I drink coffee wise. DH only drinks black coffee though and thinks I’m a philistine. Apparently Lavazza is far superior? He has a pod machine for that. We used to have a faffy machine that needed ground coffee but after DH came in from a night out and tried to grind the beans without the bloody lid on (watching him try to get the coffee grounds off the ceiling the following day was interesting 🤦‍♀️) we got a pod machine. I love mine, wouldn’t be without it.

Never understood the hype about Nespresso machines. Personally I don't think the coffee tastes great and there are so many other ways to make a decent coffee. In their defence they are miles better than the dolce gusto machines.

Absolutely obsessed with mine, would probably give up one of my children rather than not have it.

BUT I don’t have milky coffees and don’t use a milk frother. I prefer a short coffee with maybe a dash of milk, I don’t like cafetière coffee as much. If you’re going to pour half a cup of milk in, you probably won’t taste much difference between it and instant.

I've had my £1.00 IKEA battery operated milk frother for years and it's still going strong!

It’s an espresso machine. That’s all it does. You buy one if you want to be able to make espresso. If you want one that does hot milk too, get one of the several versions they also sell that does hot milk as well - don’t complain if you didn’t understand what it was!

We have one (but with the normal size pods) and we heat up milk quickly in the microwave and froth it, all v quick. We can do the same with cafetière coffee but it’s different with espresso.

I had a standard o e with a separate milk frother. It was an absolute pain. There wasn't enough milk for a large cup and it was like warm. I upgraded to a Sage Creatista with a steam want and it's the best thing ever.

If want different blends there's a great choice and also if you love the frothed milk..I'm not sure what you mean by double espresso pod, do you mean the lungo ones? It's literally two presses of a button for the coffee and milk. Also, if you don't want boiling hot coffee it's a nicer temperature than making from a kettle

Also look at the Tassimo.

If you want to go all out the Ninja Cafe Luxe is out of this world. But it’s not cheap.

I've never bought into coffee machines. I just use stainless cafetieres (I have 3 sizes) and good ground coffee. Sometimes I'll make Espresso coffee in a stove top pot for the induction hob, then add frothy milk from my son's velvetiser.

I must admit, I love them in Airbnbs. But we only drink black coffee. The environmental impact means I just can't bring myself to buy one. Get a cup and a half from one pod.

I love my Nespresso Vertuo machine - I couldn't live without it!
Double espressos are to have with milk - I have one I bought from Nespresso but it was pricey - Aldi have something similar for about £15 at the moment. My favourite capsule is Bianco Doppio. Enjoy!