Nespresso vs Tassimo - what would you buy?

[MooMinCow]

DH and I are doing our annual "shall we buy ourselves a fancy pod machine for Xmas?" dithering (we normally talk ourselves out of it by Dec 25th!), but I think this year we will go for it. He wants the Nespresso as he reckons it makes better coffee, but I'm put off by the fact that the pods are expensive and only available online, and that reviews have mentioned the coffee is not always piping hot (I have asbestos mouth, can't bear tepid tea or coffee).

I like the fact that the Tassimo has more variety and I can buy the pods everywhere, but DH reckons the coffee will be crap. Oh, and I could exchange my Clubcard points and get for free!

DH does love his coffee, but is at work most of the week, so he may use it once in the morning, then at weekends. I'm generally only a one cup of coffee in the morning person and tend to drink more tea, but if we have a machine i think i will use it during the day. We do have a cafetiere and a stovetop espresso maker, but bit of a faff first thing in the (weekday) morning.

Experiences please, and any model recommendations would be great.

Tassimo drinks aren't piping hot either.

Oh no! Looks like DH will be using it more than I will then

DP has the Nespresso U and adores it. The coffee pods are really not that expensive if you spend a fortune on cappuccinos and what not.
Plus if you buy in bulk, they become even cheaper.
10 different varieties. He also reckons that while it isn't boiling hot, it is perfect drinking temperature ( ie drink straight away!)
Dp is in love.

If you just want to drink coffee (and nothing else) I would recommend the Nespresso machine. The coffee is excellent and as PersonalClown says if you buy in bulk it is not that expensive. Also don't choose express delivery the pods arrive super quick anyway. If you want to make a hot chocolate or something non-coffee based then choose the Tassimo. (I would also recommend the Areoccino - it is ace for frothy coffee). I love my Nespresso machine

What about a dolce gusto? Dp is fussy about coffee but he loves them, he tried his brothers tassimmo the other day and said it was freezing. You can get a few in the shops but others are in their website.

Oh yes to the Aeroccino!! We got ours with the machine and DP says the best way to have the coffee is to heat the milk at least. Keeps a nice decent temperature.

I have just ordered the dolce gusto as my Christmas present - as it was the prettiest one
I have had it free with the Tesco points and I can get the pods in with the Tesco shop too.

I have a tassimo machine and am really pleased with it. The coffee is always steaming hot and there's a nice selection of different coffees, many of which are nicer than the coffee shops in town! The only one I've not liked was the costa americano. I have saved a fortune in take away coffees since having my tassimo, I don't drink instant so for me it's great! My DS likes the occassional hot chocolate and I also drink the peppermint tea, its nice having a choice of different drinks.

do not get a Tassimo they are crap, the only Tassimo coffee available from major supermarkets is flipping Kenco, the pods are expensive, the coffee is lukewarm and the hot chocolate/tea pods are massively overpriced. I hate mine. Is that a big enough reason to get a Nespresso?

hmm think we will go for a Nespresso U or Citiz as my brother is getting us this all singing all dancing milk frother for Xmas , so don't need the Aeroccino feature and would rather have something compact. Thanks all!

I saw in Lakeland the other day that Starbucks do a capsule coffee machine now as well. www.lakeland.co.uk/17451/Starbucks-Verismo-580-Brewer

Worth pre-heating your mugs with boiled water if you like really hot drinks. Really makes a difference, whichever machine you choose.

couldn't get that machine Paneer if the coffee tastes the same as what Starbucks serves up in their cafes, would have to taste it first!

Good tip about heating up cups though!

We had a Tassimo which was ok-ish but sprung a leak (apparently a common fault) so replaced it with a Nespresso with a milk thingy. The new one makes much nicer coffee and there is a wider range of coffees to choose from.

Nespresso. DH wants to take his on holiday

I have the Dolce Gusto. Mainly use it for lattes and cappuccino which we really like

The tassimo is awful, really bad coffee. We now have a Nespresso and absolutely love it to bits. Excellent quality coffee.

I wouldn't bother with pod machines - if you shop wisely you can get a good bean to cup machine for similar money AND use whatever coffee you like, make hot choc, frothed milk drinks. Amazon had this machine at just over the £200 mark earlier this year. Though is not a bad price at Amazon at £261 at the moment.

I have an older model but very similar (I can't tell the difference) and find it excellent. These machines have the same mechanism as the more expensive models but don't have the milk frother jug. In my opinion, the steam nozzle is much more practical as you can use it to warm your cup before you make the coffee, froth as much milk as you need for several drinks (useful when have guests) rather than waiting for the machine to make each one individually AND makes the most velvety textured hot choc as you can froth and mix the choc with milk at the same time. I'd recommend going to somewhere like John Lewis where they can demo it for you and compare with the pod machines. Will be loads of demonstrations in the run up to Xmas.
I think the higher models have a timer but I don't need that facility either.

The coffee is freshly ground and much better than pod machines. And you can adjust to suit your taste.
Just a thought!

Oh forgot to add that can get water from steam nozzle too and use for teas if wanted.

hot water

Nespresso. I usually boil the kettle and using boiling water when making them as he likes coffee piping hot too.

I'm with Iheardthatpardon, not a fan of pod machines. I'm much happier with a bog standard percolator (cheap as chips these days) and a coffee bean grinder. Super fresh coffee, piping hot, you can regulate the strength and you can get beans anywhere these days.

thanks. I do realise that a bean to cup machine is a better option, but don't want to spend more than £150, and DH is NOT a morning person, so the simplicity of the pods is what appeals - even he couldn't cock that up first thing in the morning

Comrade - do you mean put boiling water in the machine? (confused)

Look at long term cost of beans vs pods (I get a bulk shipment of the vacuum packed illy beans from Amazon when they are at lowest price on subscribe & save to get another 10% off). It works out MUCH cheaper. I paid £7.84 delivered, for 2 tins which last me about a month (don't drink that much coffee) with the odd guest or two. And you can choose which beans/blend you want.

Also re not being a morning person - all you do with bean to cup machines is turn it on and push button! Steam milk if want hot steamed milk. Not much can go wrong!

Really, all I am saying is don't take anyone's word for it - go and speak to the Nespresso, Tassimo and Delonghi reps: see the machines in action & taste the coffee to compare.
HTH