It seems hardly credible that I agonised about this for a year ..... but I bought a Nespresso Citiz a couple of days back.

I'm startled to report that it makes the finest expresso. Basically - if anything because the coffee is always 100% fresh, ground perfectly, designed for the machine etc it provides the same perfect ristretto shot every time and I am unable to see what my Gaggia Synchrony gives for an expresso / ristretto drinker over Nespresso.

I thought I'd post so that any other disbelievers bites the bullet. ^^^