Oh I absolutely agree! However, it's the brainlessness that appeals to me . At this point it's already a savings over my buying the beverage at my local coffee shop (the closes to both home & work being a Starbucks which I honestly don't care for).

I don't drink a lot of coffee but want what I do drink to be enjoyable. I have a Keurig for my morning cup. With our drip brewer I could only drink the first cup, as soon as the coffee started sitting I couldn't stomach it. My better half can drink the dregs all day long but it was basically a waste of a pot every work day. We had a Keurig at work and it was like a miracle the first time I had a cup...the coffee was fresh, it was exactly a mug full and I could have whatever blend I wanted while my better half could drink the acid laced tar that he prefers. Bliss!

With the Nespresso if I want a macchiato I can have one in about two minutes. I don't have to brew a whole pot and have it left over.

I have a Tassimo and think it's great. The variety of drinks is the key to its appeal rather than high quality espresso based drinks. I have no problem with the milk pods... possibly because I use them quickly.

if I wanted a pure coffee machine the nespresso would have been my first choice.

their licensing ran out i think. you can get alternative pods e.g. Ethical Coffee Company started by ex-Nespresso executive , or reusable pods with which you can fill your own grounds

" you can get alternative pods e.g. Ethical Coffee Company started by ex-Nespresso executive , or reusable pods with which you can fill your own grounds "


Are you speaking from personal experience ? Let me share mine.

One of my sons here in Switzerland has a German colleague that first bought a "Coffee Duck " pod, followed by the ECC pod you mention. He liked his German mix of coffee too much.

One month later his Nespresso machine jammed, and then would not work. The end result is that he was refunded his 11 CHF cost for the capsules, but was out of a Nespresso machine, as that damage is not warrantied, obviously.

Caveat Emptor. Est Tanti, ut sumptus ?

not the reusable pods. it defeats the purpose of hassle-free nespresso making.

but i've used ECC for over a year with no harm done. i particularly like the Arabica (brown capsules), price notwithstanding

I was using a very stylish small crystal glass water pitcher for my capsules, a very colourful mix of two sleeves of capsules from which I'd surprise myself with a morning blind selection. Often have four or five different styles mixed together for random selecting.

Good job Shareholder -

I must mention that the original black wood Nespresso "books" were great with guests years ago, but too big today. I gave mine away in favour of the crystal candy dish.

I stick with Dulsao and Decafe, but I like your idea of a mixed random selection, at least for guests.

For an inexpensive option, I find one of these works well.

We have one of these

I can never get it to make coffee how I like it, but the wife does a fantastic job, so I just let her do it :P

I recently was at a Nespresso "Boutique" in Nuremberg Germany and could not help but laugh about how serious they take it. They really tried hard to make it appear luxurious and had little signs near the checkout with "Discretion please" on it hahaha when a sales staff asked me wether she could help me I just told her "no - i am just very discreetly standing here". In the end its just standard Instant coffee in a capsula (shake it and you will hear the powder)

I find NEspresso to make a good consistent cup of coffee... YEs it's hella expensive.. but consistent. I went with a super automatic which is pricier up front but as a family that drinks >6 cups per day it's cheaper in the long run...

FDW

Hi Plissken -

I agree.

In Germany, things are taken too seriously everywhere.

With Nespresso in North America, things are taken seriously, but with a good sense of humour.

With irregular times at home, flying etc, Nespresso is a good compromise for me. But of course I now and then sneak down to my lovely Barista Ellen, for a Double Espresso, the professional way

I've had one since Christmas and think it's great, it's just the simplicity and quickness of it really.

I've got every coffee maker under the sun at home, stove top, aeropress, french press, espresso maker and I haven't used any of them since.

When you come down bleary eyed in the morning the last thing you want to be doing it getting out the grounds and boiling kettles etc. Turn it on, pop it in, press the button, done

I got a �70 gift card with it so that has kept me in pods for a while.

I saw yesterday that a new machine and pod is out from Nespresso.

http://www.nespresso.com/za/en/

There is a new Vertuo line, with smaller half-moon wrapped pods similar to the commercial variety sold before. The Vertuo machine makes either standard coffee, or espresso, offering your guests a choice apparently. It looks like a Rimowa with the side rillen, which is what caught my eye. ( I packed my Pixie machine for this trip and discovered the new machine whilst I was out looking for pods ).

My wife remains loyal to her Capresso ground-bean coffee machine, and her Downton Abbey mug, so I will let her try this and be the judge when I return home from ZA.