Help - in serious need of my daily capuccino!

[JustineMumsnet]

Can anyone recommend a simple, efficient capuccino/expresso machine. Had a Krupps one that was great but kept breaking, then bought Gaggia one that was useless (took forever to make expresso and never got milk to be really frothy) and that has now thankfully given up the ghost too. Ideally no more than £200 and needs to be able to produce starbucks quality froth. I need my morning coffee!

I think DP got us one from, er , Sainbury's the other day, the sort you just put on top of the stove. Ah, but that was just an espresso one. Are you too exhausted by early motherhood to whizz up a bit of milk in the hand blender?

hoxtonchick is the queen of coffee making machines...

Have heard a lot of good on the Nespresso ones, but haven't got one (yet...)

Those little hand operated milk frothers are completely useless imo I wish I knew how the Italians manage to froth the milk to a proper, thick foam that you can stand your spoon up in. It's never the same here, no matter where I try!

What kind of Gaggia did you have? We have one that's great.
I just went to look and it says nothing more than "Classic coffee" on it, which is no help.
Top tip: go to the Gaggia website, they sell reconditioned returns for a good bit cheaper than the shops sell new, and have v good after sales service.

IME only full-fat milk froths like that....

I wondered if Italian milk is different? Because when I've been over there, they are definitely using semi skimmed!

\link{http://www.reviewcentre.com/products89.html\machine reviews here}

My Delunghi works well - thick milky foam - only downside is slow to reach operating temp. Plug for Russell Hobbs bean grinder which @ £25 seems a bargain compared to others.

I've found the hand whizzy things only work on cold milk and then you have to put in microwave to warm up - one leg too many imo and somehow doesn't feel very organic.
I had the gaggia cubika - found it rubbish. Am not keen on idea of nespresso as don't you have to buy their sachets of coffee for ever more? With my krupps only semi-skimmed milk frothed not full fat... oh the troubles I've had. Hoxtonchick can you advise further, or anyone else?

\link{http://www.coffeegeek.com/guides/frothingguide/steamguide\Beginner to Intermediate Guide to Milk Frothing}

A vote for Nespresso here - we've had one for a couple of yrs. Even my French friend likes the expresso

Blimey SD - will print out for reading material whilst feeding - can see I've got a lot to learn. Is Nespresso Nestle by the way?

I have a great dualit one got it in JL I think

'fraid so Justine

Justine, I can get my Gaggia Cubika to froth skimmed milk really well! My cleaner used to work in a pizza place and showed me the knack - its easy when you know how! I think the cubika is underpowered tbh, but it makes my cappucino properly and everything else seemed much pricier.

dh is good at frothing , I'm useless

The secret is to hold the steam hole exactly level with the top of the milk (apparently)

Morphy Richards brill - quick to heat, great froth. Can't remember model.... electricshopping.co.uk or com... bath time will be back. Cost £57 delivered I think.

aha HF, so the milk is different there! That explains why, even in a proper Italian cafe here, the froth is always disappointing.

gah because of this thread I now HAVE to have a coffee!

OK - promise to learn to do links....
It's electricshopping.com they do free delivery.

It's the Morphy Richards Roma 47505 on page four or five. £77.50.

It really is dandy. We use Lavazza or Illy and it froths skimmed to whole with aplomb.