Coffee machine

[Madeahashofit]

As a non coffee drinker, I am clueless as to which coffee machine to purchase for DD, who is a recent latte convert but the cost of regular trips to Costa/Starkbucks is somewhat prohibitive therefore I am looking to bump up her Christmas list.

I do drink hot chocolate - would the same machine make both? Does the milk need to be frothy - does the machine do that? Actually, the only machine I have looked at so far is a Tassimo which I dont think uses milk?

Depends on your budget and how serious she is. A pod machine will do lattes and hot chocolates - the tassimo is a good affordable option and there's a huge range of compatible pods in various flavours. It uses pods of dried milk for the milk elements.

If you want to make a proper latte then you need an espresso machine with a milk frother attached which would be more expensive. I guess there'd also be the option of a stove top espresso maker and heating milk to add to it which is probably the cheapest option but the most faff (and least impressive gift).

If you’re going for a pod machine, Nespresso are the best. There’s loads of different machines at different price points. Even the cheapest is excellent. We depend on ours for basic everyday function!

Espresso machine with milk frother would probably be best over a pod machine. DH has his eye on one which is £80 (black Friday discount I think)

@Notajogger

Espresso machine with milk frother would probably be best over a pod machine. DH has his eye on one which is £80 (black Friday discount I think)

Can you link please? Also on the hunt!

Thank you all, should have stated the budget No more than £50 I think, especially if I then have to buy the pods as well!

It depends on how serious she is about proper coffee. Nespresso makes the best coffee by far but don't do hot chocolate so bear that in mind. It just makes espresso then you have to froth and add the milk separately, a bit of a faff.
If you want lots of options and flavours plus hot chocolates the tassimo is good. The hot chocolate and lattes come in the pods with the milk powder already in so you just pop in what ever you like and it mixes the hot water.

In the past I've had a Nespresso which made nice coffee and a milk frother jug (mine was Nespresso brand but there are cheaper one which do the same thing). I moved onto using an aeropress or a small cafetiere as you can choose from a wider range of coffees, it works out cheaper and no pods to throw away or recycle and the coffee tastes just as good.
I've also used Tassimo and dolce gusto machines but I wasn't as keen - the black coffee was ok but the milk pods had a very processed, uht taste and the hot chocolate and tea pods seem a bit gimmicky as both can be made easily with a kettle.

@maryberryslayers

It depends on how serious she is about proper coffee. Nespresso makes the best coffee by far but don't do hot chocolate so bear that in mind. It just makes espresso then you have to froth and add the milk separately, a bit of a faff. If you want lots of options and flavours plus hot chocolates the tassimo is good. The hot chocolate and lattes come in the pods with the milk powder already in so you just pop in what ever you like and it mixes the hot water.

@maryberryslayers DD is only 14 and I rather think the new found love for lattes is to fit in with her coffee loving friends! I am limiting her at the moment, she thinks it’s only due to cost, but I am concerned about the caffeine intake as well.

I think the Nespresso sounds really good but as it doesn’t suit hot chocolate I’m guessing that’s out. We will probably go for the tassimo with maybe a separate milk frother.

Thanks again all

If you are going for a pod machine then consider one of these
www.evergreen-capsules.com/products/capsule-nespresso?variant=30787946479662
They do them for all brands of coffee machine and it means you aren’t limited to their coffee choices. Cheaper too

Thanks @AnnieKenneyfanclub

You can buy hot chocolate capsules for nespresso. They’re “unofficial” but they work.

I am not a coffee snob but love need coffee and love my tassimo, both my teens confidently use it too and it's pink

Have always been a fan of Nespresso in the past...but honestly, we have a dolce gusto machine at work, lovely coffee and hot chocolates, soo easy AND currently in the middle aisle at Lidl....!!

We got a Lavazza A Modo Mio for £39.99 in the sales this year and a separate milk frother for the same price. The pods are compostable apparently at certain collection points. I think it's brilliant for the money - we have a big traditional espresso machine as well and the coffee is nearly as good. The kids use the milk frother to make hot chocolate.

We all love our tassimo. It's as old as the hills now but saw a new lease of life at the start of the first lockdown.
There are lots of different flavours/brands of both coffee and hot chocolate.
I bought some black cherry syrup and marshmallows to replicate Costa's Black Forest hot chocolate. It's very nice, not quite as nice as the real deal but very close. You could also buy her the Costa travel mug set. And Amazon sell the pods on a subscription basis which provides a little discount.

My parents have a Lavazza one which uses pods. No milk frother and very nice coffee.

www.amazon.co.uk/Lavazza-Jolie-Espresso-Coffee-Machine/dp/B086WY959G

We have a cheap and cheerful tassimo for DC hot choc, we have Cadbury and a dark choc pods and oreo cookie flavour, we also use it for fruit flavoured teas and I do have the English breakfast tea pods and chaí latte pods, all the above are for a family member with arthritis in her hands who cannot lift a kettle, it allows her be independant and make her own Cuppa without waiting for someone to help, and they are not to bad. I order my pods online, My DSis has a nespresso and gets her pods in Aldi and lidl their hot choc is mars and twix flavour.
Tassimo do good offers online for their pods