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 loved the machine whenever i tried it in hotels but i bought one for myself and the coffee has been undrinkable. Not sure why, I never thought I was a coffee snob but apparently I am. I drink instant at home rather than use the Nespresso.

They are awful - don't bother. I think on a par with Starbucks.

Buy yourself a Bialetti Moka Pot instead and use Waitrose No1 Expresso ground coffee:

www.johnlewis.com/bialetti-moka-express-hob-espresso-coffee-maker/p1407523

My nespresso does the milk and coffee in one go. And it makes really good coffee and all the milk bits go in the dishwasher so no fiddly cleaning. Depends on what model you get. Mine is about 10 years old and still runs like a dream! And I can buy knock off pods from Amazon in boxes of 100 for about £15 so it's pretty good value compared to going to a coffee shop.

I always use the intenso variety for lattes etc. It makes 230ml of coffee I think and then I just add maybe 50ml of milk to that, sometimes heated and frothy, sometimes just as it is. I only use the espresso capsules for espresso martinis.

Those who are saying Nespresso machines only make espresso are completely wrong. You can get capsules for all types of coffees, you just have to choose the right one.

I drink espresso and I have a original capsule machine. Capsules cost around 35p which I am happy with for a decent quality coffee that is very quick to make. It means my DC will bring me a coffee too! I recycle the pods so try to minimise environmental impact that way. I've tried compostable pods too although haven't found one I like as much.
I think if you like latte etc it's not quite as convenient but I have a tiny enamel milk pot which heats milk in 30 secs and then use with aerolatte device for guests who want a latte

I always think this on these threads but usually wait for someone else to say it 😆

Convenience. We don’t drink coffee at all here at home. Had just a basic cafetière for guests. But it’s a waste opening a whole bag of coffee that often wouldn’t be used again for months.

So now have pod machine. And selection of home compostable pods. Guests and family can make easily own preference when they stay ( family visit for 2 week stays). Plus it’s idiot proof so anyone can use

My DS is coffee mad, he grinds his own beans every morning, and the whole house can hear the noise. We’ve had a cafetière, a pod machine, and now he’s gone back to one of those drip things with the paper cone and coffee. So going by that I’d say don’t waste your money on a machine.

My coffee pod machine is the best thing I ever bought myself, super convenient, much quicker than a cafetiere which is what I used to use. I have a Philips lor machine which you can use Nespresso pods in but I prefer the lor pods, £25 for 10 packs on Amazon works out at 25p per cup!
The pods are recyclable.

I have a tassimo.

You get milk pods as well as coffee. I don't normally have milk in the house so I can offer visitors a drink.

If you look at the whole environmental impact of coffee, not just the pod side, but how much coffee you use to make a drink, how much water, energy etc is required to make that coffee then Nespresso actually score pretty well. You need to use far more coffee for filter coffee or a cafertiere, with the latter you probably don't heat the exact amount of water and probably throw some away at the end. We recycle the pods and like someone upthread says, if you compare to a can of soft drink or similar it's a fraction of that anyway.

I had a pod machine. The drinks were subpar, nothing special. I gave it away and bought a cafetiere, I warm up my milk in the microwave. There so many delious ground coffees to try, from the supermarket. I prefer ones that are decribed as having chocolate notes, as they're never bitter. It's the best coffee I've ever had and I wouldn't try any other method.

I have a moka pot, cafetière, drip coffee funnel, Aeropress and a Nespresso machine. They have their unique purposes, but nespresso is the quickest, most convenient out of these. The consistency of the drinks produced is impressive, and I feel they taste better than what I’ve had in some specialist cafes. Mainly, it takes the barista skill out of the equation entirely.

Ive learned to avoid the fancy seasonal flavours as they taste quite artificial.

I have the original Nespresso machine and to get frothy milk I shake the carton before I tip the milk in! I do have a frother machine but too much faff.
Environmentally wise, I would send the pods for recycling but now I have a Dualit EcoPress that removes the coffee for the garden and the capsule goes to the recycling. They also have a gadget for the new shaped pods.

Nespresso isn’t the best coffee ever but it’s throughly decent and really quick- drinking temp coffee in under a minute and no mess to clean up afterwards. So perfect for busy weekday mornings when you don’t have time to wait for a cafetière to brew and then cool! I love it for that. And you can mitigate the environmental impact by either recycling the Nespresso pods or if you have an original not the newer one, getting compostible pods (I rate the Waitrose ristretto ones). If you want milk there are Nespresso machines with an integrated milk bit you could have chosen instead? We have the separate aeroccino jug but it’s mostly used by the kids for hot chocolate as we don’t drink milky coffee.

I can only think you didn't try the right pods - there are lots to choose from with Nespresso and Lavazza has less choice but the coffee is really good. Tassimo and Dolce Gusto are pretty crap by comparison. I particularly hate the pods that contain milk powder or UHT milk. Bleurgh.

It’s really not, they’ve been around since I was a child and have always made a shit coffee so not sure it’s a snobby thing or a fad. It’s definitely a dumb person thing though with all that waste, I agree there.

I've had so many coffee machines in the past and always end up getting rid of them. Now I have a cafetiere, and a Lavazza milk frother machine. Sometimes I just make half a cup of instant coffee and top up with the frothy milk.

What waste would that be? The pods are made with aluminum which is infinitely recyclable and their pods are made predominately from recycled aluminum.

I find coffee from moka pots horrible - bitter and overextracted.

Wait until he lives on his own, is in a full time job, if he has little kids, the machine will be out 😂 No way could I be bothered with all of that, I'd not get my morning coffee. I have kids to take care of, and rushing to work etc.

I used to have a ground coffee bean to cup machine with the metal milk jug at the side, and the milk wand thing attached. You had to stand over it until it was done. The amount of times I burnt myself on the jug, or the milk ratio/temperature was off, it was such a faff. I then went back to my trusty pod machine, because with little kids, it was easy, drinkable temperature (meaning I could neck it, didn't have time waiting for it to cool), and it stopped itself, so no overflowing. It was easier than using the kettle, and slightly nicer coffee, at a time I couldn't afford a better machine. They have their place, and this worked great for a long time, and meant I actually got a hot drink.
Our bean to cup integrated milk machine we have now is amazing. It heats and froths the milk, so no standing over it. You can interchange two types of coffee bean, if you like different ones, me and dh like the same. It was very expensive, but it will pay for itself as we never buy any on the move now. Best thing we have ever bought.

The pods can be recycled. Educate yourself but maybe I'm the stupid one for owning a machine.

www.podback.org - bags can be ordered for free.

https://juliusmeinl.com/ae/for-home-use/inpresso-capsules

We buy these. They really do home compost fine, I have recently dug over our compost bin and everything has been composted within 6 months ( we have 3 so close off when full and start next)

I got a present of one a few years ago and I have to say I was disappointed.
I got a teeny tiny cup of espresso from a pod.
I like a mug of coffee
But it was a very generous gift to me from someone who hadn't a lot of money and I really appreciate the gesture.
However it sits in a cupboard and rarely gets used.

We all have different preferences and so they are going to suit some households and not others. To me the consumables cost was expensive, they were not especially environmentally sound and taste ok but not amazing.