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Original poster

Coffee Machine for student DD

59 replies

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 09/12/2023 10:14

DD2 is in first year of uni. She loves coffee but usually drinks instant. I don’t drink coffee and know nothing about it. I’d like to get her a compact, very easy to use coffee machine as a surprise Christmas present. She has a studio flat with her own kitchen so no risk of others breaking it. It needs to be very very easy to use (she is neurodivergent and finds uni life a bit overwhelming at times and having quick and easy access to a cup of coffee would, I think, be really comforting to her). I’d prefer to spend under £100 as she has other things too that she needs. But could go more if necessary.

OP posts:
Oxfrog · 09/12/2023 12:05

Or a pret subscription is good for students if they aren’t too picky about the taste of coffee. Gives a free place to socialise/work as well.

RandomMess · 09/12/2023 12:29

Get her a single cup filter machine. They fit the bill you describe.

Salter and Lakeland do them, although there's is digital at £45 rather than £25

RandomMess · 09/12/2023 12:31

I use mine with an ordinary mug as well as the travel cup.

Em2ds1dd · 09/12/2023 12:42

Student DD has the smallest dolce gusto machine in her bedroom and makes herself nice coffee each day, pours in to a travel mug and drinks on the way in to uni. Works well, easy to use and clean, pods not too costly and there’s a wide range too.
Previously we paid for a monthly subscription to Starbucks on campus but then they withdrew the service!

StiffyByngsDogBartholomew · 09/12/2023 12:55

If she just wants americano and espresso I'd go with nespresso as the pods are easy to get and all the supermarkets do their own so economical for her to buy them. You can pick them up cheap on Facebook, I got mine for a tenner.

if she likes hot chocolate, fancy coffee shop style coffees like caramel latte or chai then Tassimo has the best range but the pods are pricy. They will never be a connoisseur's choice but they are easy to use and require no extra equipment. Dd now uses mine and loves it for her hot chocolate.

we have one of each and when we got our new kitchen we got a proper bean to cup built in machine and the above is what I've found. An aerolatte is also a really good little battery operated milk frother, works really well

Original poster
LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 09/12/2023 13:30

Thank you very much for the suggestions. She has a cafetierre. Which she does use. But usually drinks Nescafé azzero. She usually drinks a latte but occasionally espresso when out. I’ll look at all the suggestions now.

OP posts:
Ohforfox · 09/12/2023 14:11

We have a tassimo which is so easy to use and was cheap! We have had it over 2 years now and it's still good as new - it takes the costa pods which I suppose can be expensive but you often get deals on them in supermarkets.

RoseDog · 09/12/2023 14:14

We have a tassimo and both teens use it, the pods are often on offer in supermarkets or I buy in bulk off amazon.

Seaweed42 · 09/12/2023 14:16

If you can get a second-hand Pixie machine they are fairly small and take the little pods.

notthesamename · 09/12/2023 14:27

We’ve previously had pod type coffee but DD mostly uses an Aeropress or a filter coffee machine (sets the timer and pre warms a flask to fill in the morning!).

UngratefulOldCabbage · 09/12/2023 14:54

I have a breville coffee to go - similar to the salter one linked above. It's excellent. Just pop some ground coffee in (I buy a bag from Lidl), pour water in, turn on. Done! I used to have a tassimo but would run out of pods and they were expensive and wasteful. This is much better for me - easier and cheaper.

Panicmode1 · 09/12/2023 14:58

www.amazon.co.uk/Melitta-1011-16-Machine-Insulated-Selector/dp/B00R7HKARM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=1EPHQD9AP82WM&keywords=coffee+machine+insulated+jug&qid=1702133771&sprefix=coffee+machine+insulated+jug%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-3

I've just bought this for DS...he rows so often has to get up before dawn, but wanted to have a coffee before he leaves, and this has a timer. This plus a few bags of coffee and some filter papers will come in at less than £100!

SwedishEdith · 09/12/2023 15:04

I'd just get a cafetiere or Melita drip filter for over the cup. Think you can get ceramic ones. Or a small drip into a jug one on a hotplate. That's what's always in every holiday home in France.

avemariiiiiaaaa · 09/12/2023 15:06

Nespresso pods can be bought from supermarkets with their own brands, Tesco , Aldi and Asda all do their own compatible versions for a couple of pounds at most. Then you can buy syrups or sprinkles to flavour the coffee.

SwedishEdith · 09/12/2023 15:06

That's the kind of thing I was thinking of @Panicmode1.

TheCadoganArms · 09/12/2023 15:07

Get a Bialetti stove top espress maker. Way cheaper in the long run and they simply don't break.

Panicmode1 · 09/12/2023 15:10

We've got one at home (as well as a more whizzy machine/cafetieres and other assorted coffee making pots!) @SwedishEdith for when DH and I are both WFH and just want to have coffee on tap. It stays hot for ages and I think for the price, is excellent.

Farmageddon · 09/12/2023 15:19

I would definitely recommend Aeropress - it's not expensive, easy to use and more importantly easy to clean (you just rinse it out and leave to dry for the next day). It's eco friendly, you can put the used paper filters in the compost or food waste bin. And you can use with whatever coffee you like. You could buy her some fancy coffee beans and a nice hand grinder to go with it (or she could buy pre ground).
I also have a little mini frother for milk, and I make lovely homemade lattés very similar to what you get in a café. It has saved me a fortune over the last few years (I was grabbing a coffee on the way to work every day, spending €3.50 a go).

I use mine every morning, it's the only reason I get out of bed some days!

randomstress · 09/12/2023 15:25

Most pods are very ungreen, we had one and the plastic waste was pretty bad. You can get reusable pods but they don't work as well and compostable was expensive and much more limited in choice.
Areopress produced nicer coffee when we moved to that although it took me a minute to work out how to use it.

adventadvent · 09/12/2023 15:34

Nespresso and a coffee subscription so she doesn't have to worry about the monthly cost

Cotswoldmama · 09/12/2023 15:35

I would suggest a mokka pot, that's what I used at uni and to this day, I've ummed and ahhed about trying a machine but I think the taste is better and it's much cheaper in the long run. You can get really nice little ones that do enough for one or two coffees at a time and they're really easy to clean. Then you could get some nice coffee to go with it.

HamstersAreMyLife · 09/12/2023 15:41

How much does she use her cafetiere? I like mine but can rarely be bothered and resort to instant. I prefer my stove top espresso thing but tried a pod machine and hardly used it so sold it. I'd just query whether she really wants one before you invest.

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