Review
At one time I owned a Krups espresso/cappuccino machine that I ended up using for only a few months since it was such a pain to set up and clean. Right now, it’s sitting in my basement, gathering cobwebs. However, when I received this Nespresso machine as a gift, I now can have cappuccino whenever I want in mere minutes. I turn the machine on, wait for the solid red light to show proper heat/steam (it takes about 30 seconds), pop in a pod, and press the correct cup size for espresso or the larger “lungo.” The coffee is forced through the pod and into the cup below in seconds, with a nice brown crema on top. For cappuccino or latte, you need only to then press the steam button (the machine comes with a steamer attachment), stick the tube in a cup of milk, press the lever, and watch the machine suck up the milk and deposit it, hot and foamy, into the cup. Clean up? A breeze. Even if you steam milk, you have only let the steamer suck in water for a few seconds and deposit it into another cup. The empty pods are tossed into an internal receptacle that holds ten or so. There is no tamping for preparation. No scraping the grounds out afterward. No dishwashing. It really is that simple. And the espresso and cappuccino taste just like they do in Italy.
Of course, there are downsides to every machine, and this one is expense. Not only is the machine pricey, but the pods must be purchased through Nespresso at approximately fifty cents per pod. (They come in sleeves of ten.) The Nespresso also must be particularly sensitive to power surges, since mine stopped working in less than a year, as did my sister’s, for no apparent reason. But . . . the customer service is awesome. I called, and they sent a loaner machine overnight, with packing and a pre-paid label to send mine in for servicing. When mine was fixed a week later, I simply shipped the loaner machine back using, again, a pre-paid label. I didn’t pay a cent. Still, I now leave my machine unplugged when not in use. Others may want to put it on a surge protector.
I was worried that the pre-measured portions of coffee would taste canned, but they have excellent flavor. Once you buy this machine, you will be part of the “Nespresso Club” (wait until you see how exclusive they make it seem — you’ll have to laugh!). You will buy your coffee off the web site or over the phone, and receive it within two days. The “Ristretto” pods make the best full-strength espresso and cappuccino. Even when I make “lungo” coffee, I tend to use the higher strength coffees such as “Arpeggio” since I’m not a fan of the milder types. “Decaffeinato Intenso” makes competent decaf cappuccino as well as lungo, although I wish they had an even stronger decaf. (The regular “Decaffeinato” is milder.)
This machine is a luxury, to be sure, and I doubt I would have splurged on my own. However, this is one gift that I use regularly, with as much appreciation for it as I had the first week. Unlike my Krups machine, this one sits proudly on my counter. Friends who come to dinner eye it longingly, hoping that, once again, I’ll offer up espresso or cappuccino with dessert. Of course, I always oblige.
If you are more interested in “lungo” (regular) coffee, then I suggest you look at the new single-cup coffee makers such as Keurig B60 Special Edition Gourmet Single-Cup Home-Brewing System.
– Debbie Lee Wesselmann
Feature
- 1250-watt single-serve automatic espresso machine designed for coffee capsules
- 19-bar pump; ThermoBlock heating system; backlit control buttons; removable 40-ounce water tank
- Capsules eject semi-automatically into collection container; auto and programmable coffee quantity
- Includes 12 capsules, espresso cup, lungo cup, saucers, and 1-touch Aeroccino milk frother
- Machine measures 14 by 8-2/3 by 12-1/5 inches; milk frother measures 3-1/2 by 3-1/2 by 5-5/7 inches
Overviews
Combination package of the Concept Automatic and the Aeroccino. Offered Satin Chrome, the Concept Automatic is the perfect option for espresso and lungo lovers and the accompanying Aeroccino offers one touch milk frothing or steaming. The Aeroccino is a one touch machine (automatic stop function) with simple milk dosage indicated in the jug (two levels: milk froth and hot milk). The Concept Automatic offers Automatic and programmable Coffee Quantity. A high pressure pump (19 bars) extracts all the aromas and develops a smooth crema in the cup. A thermobloc which heats water to 187°and 196° during extraction and empties the remaining water after each use so that the water is fresh for each preparation. A simple system which perforates the capsule and soaks all the ground coffee to optimally filter the coffee. The Concept Automatic has a revolutionary jaw system and automatic ejection of used capsule and also includes an auto-cappucinatore steam nozzle. Removable water container. A Tray for used capsules. Back-lit control button. The machine deploys technology essential for preparing an outstanding Espresso, and is exceptionally easy to use.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jan 22, 2010 05:43:18
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