No info on the Nespresso, but I have owned Keurig single-cup machines at home and work for many years. The main thing you need to know about the Keurig is that you cannot make espresso in this machine. Coffee (light to strong), tea, hot chocolate, and brew-over-ice cold drinks, but no espresso.

I currently have a Mini Brewer (http://www.greenmountaincoffee.com/A...ni-plus-brewer) in my office, and love the versatility.

Anyone else intertested in the age old question about pod use by dates might be interested in looking at the crema on my Arpegio pods with a use by date of October 2013. Perfect condition. Ignore the dates. They are sealed pods. As coffee people know, stale coffee will never ever produce crema. :)

Crema

How expensive are the phone cartridges.

I have been using a DeLonghi espresso maker which is good but a fair amount of work. Okay, I feel lazy, but let's forget that for a moment. I'm thinking if a Nespresso or a Starbucks Verisimo. Has anyone compared them? Thanks.

I have no experience with the Verisimo but you can find extensive discussions on it, including a review here: http://www.singleservecoffee.com/archives/040999.php

The singleservecoffee forums may also be a helpful read.

I have a Keurig for regular coffee and a Nespresso for espresso.

I had always dismissed pod brewers as expensive toys until we got a Keurig at work. The fact that I could have a fresh cup of coffee exactly how I liked it, whenever I wanted it was like a revelation to me. My husband will drink coffee all day long, in any form, and prefers it strong. I can only stomach it when it's fresh and prefer a medium roast. Plus I can use the refillable K cups for my beloved Community coffee.

With the Verisimo I don't know if you'd be restricted to Starbucks coffees? Which may not be a bad thing if you enjoy them (I don't).

Actually, can you find a shop that demos the machines? Usually places like Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table will do that...this way you can taste the finished product before committing.

" Anyone tried the Vertuoline ? "

Yes.

Saturday, I braved all the shoppers in town and gave it a try. Impressive !

First, this Nespresso machine ( which looks very smart ) offers a bridge between espresso and an American-sized coffee cup serving. Black, chrome, or red machine colour.

Second, the capsules are different, and have 2 sizes between espresso and American-sized coffee. The machine reads a bar code on each new inserted capsule and determines how much water is required in the mix. I was told that the machine spins the coffee capsule inside to achieve a better mix.

Third, this is a larger machine, primarily in width. The water reservoir is also larger.

Fourth, basically a 3 step process. Open the machine top or head, insert the capsule of choice, close and lock the lid or head, and push a button.

I tried 2 espressos and 1 American coffee (a decafe by that time ), and they all were quite good rich taste and aroma. The new capsule price is about the same as before.

One would have to leave the previous Nespresso capsules completely as they are not interchangeable between machines. As I have a few of the original Nespresso machines here and there, and take a Nespresso Pixie along when I travel, I will remain where I am at the moment.

If you want the option of serving 2 sizes of good coffee with a good selection, this machine would be a good appliance to have.

Hi, I was curious about an update on this. Any new information among the various models. Also, does the Nespresso Inissia produce the same quality expresso as the more expensive models? Thanks.

Hi Gadget -

Yes, my wife and I were given a demonstration a few months ago ahead of the new Inissia arrival.

A few notes:

1. This machine is smaller.
2. It has more settings for coffee size, including a larger American sized cup.
3. It is more compact, and has features like a cable connector in back which would be good for travel. ( I take my Pixie & capsules with me when I travel these days ). If it sits on the countertop, it doesn't matter.

4. Speaking on that topic, this machine is in the original line classification. It uses the Original capsules, and not the larger Vertuo line capsules.

We did not buy one. We gave as usual some of the Pixies away as Christmas gifts, as we have in the past, and purchased a few of that model instead.

If I wanted a newer model of Nespresso maker, more compact, the Inissia would be a good choice.

I used to own a Nespresso machine when I lived in the US (because if you're going to drink crap, you might as well drink your own cheap crap).

My first observation is that it gummed up and stopped working within about a year. I thought the cleaning fluid was a scam, but it turns out it was actually necessary. Bummer.

My second observation is that I never felt properly caffeinated after a Nespresso coffee anyway, and usually had to buy an extra coffee just to keep the headaches at bay. I'd love to see some analysis on how much caffeine gets extracted from one of those little pods, because it feels like about half a shot.

Now I live in Melbourne, so making my own coffee feels rather like cutting my own hair, or perhaps pulling my own teeth.

Hi Jorgen -

You are getting only 25% of the caffeine in a large Nespresso with capsules, compared to an American-sized coffee mug using a full-grind capable Capresso machine.

I know many who prefer the Nespresso for consistent results, others who think Nespresso is too strong, and others who prefer a large cup of "anything" as long as it's in a mug.

yes, I find the caffeine to be relatively weak in nespressos. I have one at the office, but at home I have a Rancilio Silvia (on a timer so its hot when I wake up). The rancilio end product is *vastly* superior to the nespesso. Once I finally got a triple basket, its even better.

The Spanish (Catalán) company Taurus has jumped in to take advantage of this with their "coffeemotion" machine
http://www.coffeemotion.es

Since many of the Thermomix patens also ran out some time ago the same Catalan company has a "Mycook" machine which is very similar. The coffee pod machines and "robot cook" seem to be the most successful kitchen appliances in Spain at the moment.

Back in the 70s one of these
http://www.xeberon.net/gaetan/dotcle...-italienne.jpg
And a pressure cooker were the essential kitchen items. They probably cost the equivalent percentage of an average salary back then.

In case anyone else is interested ..... I found a box of these today. Use by October 2013. Perfect. Crema perfect. Tastes exactly the same as the day they were bought. The use by date in a sealed capsule is totally ignorable.

These machines are therefore ideal for producing fresh coffee for less regular coffee drinkers.

Fantastic Nespresso capsule sale!
 

For first orders, buy 50 capsules and get $20 off and free shipping, i.e., ~$15 for 50 capsules!

https://www.nespresso.com/us/en

^^^ thank you!