Alternative to Nespresso?

[sleepcrisis]

Not sure where to post this so here seems best bet. DH wants a nespresso machine for Christmas but I don't really want to buy Nestle. Also don't know anything about coffee or coffee machines.

Is there a good competitor? I think he wants the ease and convenience of the pods.

Thanks

Hello,

We had a coffee machine but much prefer a cafetiere, so much easier and less space for fresh coffee. Ours was just a perculator type one though.

Friends of ours have a tassimo (think spelled right!) Which they love, but not cheap to buy the coffee and you are stuck buying their brand I guess.

Ive not eaten or drank Nestle for 20 years now :-)

Mandy

We have an 'aeropress', an electric grinder (de longhi I think), and fortnightly delivery of beans from 'Hasbean'.

The aero press is as easy as the pods (we had a nespresso at one time, which had been a gift), but the coffee is much better.

My friend has one a coffee machine that you put beans in, it grinds them fresh and pours out espresso (or americano) a he touch of a button. It also has a milk steamer arm thingy. I'll find out what it's called
Much more convenient than DH's my Gaggia, which makes lovely coffee but is high maintenance.

We have a Nescafe Dolce Gusto. It's our first coffee machine and I love it. I didn't get on with a cafetiere. Plus the dolce gusto has chai latte and hot choc pods amongst others. Yum

Illy make pod based machines along the same lines as Nespresso. Think you buy the pods online. Haven't tasted the coffee but imagine it's pretty good, as Illy coffee is usually lovely.

We have the Nespresso ( it was a present ) and now in Italy there are loads of places/ alternative companies doing the pods ( cheaper) and now I can happily use it . Illy have also just started making them so I will be hunting them out as well.

The Nespresso is known to be the best coffee from a capsule machine, so I think if your DH has asked for it this is why!

We have one (citiz and milk) and it is definitely better than the tassimo or the dolce gusto or the other rivals.

I would buy him the nespresso.

He does specifically want a pod machine, and I don't blame him, we are a very lazy family and anything involving washing up is just doomed to fail. I don't drink coffee so can't really comment on which tastes the best, but I have heard that the other machines don't really compare taste wise. Rosa - do the alternative pods taste any good? I'm sure he'll end up buying nespresso pods unless i buy them for him...

I will also look into the Illy ones but I suspect they will be out of budget. I hate nestle and really don't want to buy but they really seem to have got the market here.

alfafama I'd love to get him a bean to cup machine but they cost hundreds! The nespresso I'm looking at is only £69 (MagimixU)

On another note, all the models are made either by Krups or Magimix. Each model is identical so obv made in the same place but Magimix ones seem to be way cheaper - anyone know why, should I buy one over the other?

Just to add, we have the Citz and Milk as well, love it! A gadget that actually gets used every day. We started getting our pod refills from Big Cup Little Cup, they are a tad less spendy but taste every bit as good.

We've had a Nespresso machine for years, and I don't think any of the other pod machines come close.

I reviewed the Big Cup Little Cup capsules on the blog recently (and there is a 15% discount code on there at the moment).

I just looked on which and the Illy machine actually comes top, but it's double the price and so are the capsules...

I haven't tried the Illy yet. I tried the Dolce Gusto - the cappuccino is rank. Made with dried milk powder.

Yes I think some are nice - I tend to drink decaff - ( Dh says they are good) however no idea if they are available in the Uk - we get them from our local bakery !!! I am in the Uk this xmas if you want I will bring you some over and bung in the post !!!!

Nespresso coffee is never hot enough IMO. The senseo machine is a lot better alternative.