I drink most of my coffee at the office, but every once in a while I do want a good shot of caffeine to start my morning. Other times I want a good espresso/cappucino to go with my after dinner dessert. My Nespresso and frother allow me to have both without having to keep fresh coffee beans around.

They just opened a boutique store in Boston in December. I dropped by a month ago to get a couple more sleeves...will try to drop by again soon to try the new varietals that came out last week.

Any details/links pertaining to this?

I am a huge, huge fan of Nespresso. First saw it many years ago in the Grand Hyatt Tokyo, and very glad to see it finally coming to the USA and becoming more popular.

One question if anyone knows. The Nespresso Lattisima is US$700 but the very same machine appears to be US$300 equivalent when bought in Europe. Any reason why I cannot but that machine in Europe, carry it home, slap a new plug on the end and voila? I would assume these are worldwide electrics, just with different plugs? Does anyone know?

Thanks!

US electric current is 110 volt, versus 220-240v in Europe/Asia...

In addition, if there any motorized parts, the frequency or Hertz (Hz) varies, and could make a difference in the speed of the particular motor being used, in addition to frying it slowly or fast...

I have noted that in the US it seems to be very hard to get a really good brewed coffee (at least in my area), as the US version coffeemakers (drip-brew type) do not heat the water as hot as in Europe/Asia...just my experience, but maybe the wiring in my house is faulty! :p

There are transformers to change the current, but I'm not sure if such a "step-up" transformer is readily available in the US - I know I use some "step-down" transformers in India for my US stuff, but they also seem to get fried very easily, even with voltage stabilizers/surge suppressors, etc...

The new varieties are here: http://www.nespresso.com/revelations/

The NY boutique has all of them, except for the new Finezzo Lungo (it's apparently just a reformulation of the old blend). The Pure Origins also come packaged in a three pack (one of each). They're on the strong side - the Indian one (intensity: 10) is like a very, very strong Volluto. The Brazilian (5) - my favourite of the three - is pretty mellow and the Columbian (6) is somewhere in between. Also quite like the Fortissio Lungo.

Apologies first for the thread necromancy..

I have just picked up a machine here in tokyo; and here the capsules are 735-840 JPY per pack. In the UK I now know they are 2.70-3.10GBP.

Are the capsules safe in checked luggage? I am over to Uk/Paris in May, I at 50% cost, I might stock up!.. but then I dont want 250 capsules to die on the Long Haul back!

Any ideas?


oh, and on topic: Pro - fast coffee that tastes great for someone who likes to make latte using the aerochinno :) Con, it seems my capsules are super pricey!

They won't - I've taken them in checked luggage many times, even packing them last minute on the outside of suitcases, where the danger is that they will bend from any impacts - so that is the limit of damage - but haven't lost one yet! (Bent, but still usable)

I am a fan of Nespresso when the usage is small and there are a variety of preferences so the same beans don't work all the time. Otherwise I prefer the Jura machines. Nespresso capsules are very expensive but there's no other way to fulfill conflicting desires in the same place at the same time.

Since this thread is active, I guess I'll post a question I had this morning. Good timing...:D

So I'm at a hotel with a Nespresso machine. The hotel provided a few capsules of coffee and a few regular tea bags. I'm not a huge fan of coffee and would much prefer to have the tea. Is there any way to make a traditional cup of tea with the machine?

I'm assuming if I don't put a capsule in the machine will just give hot water. However, there's a step by step instruction sign that says the machine will not work unless there's a capsule. I figured I'd post here before making a mess doing something wrong.

It will work. There won't be any mess.

If the machine does not have a separate hot water outlet (at top left on the Delonghi machines), then simply run water through it once to clean it (with the handle down), and then use the second flush for your tea.

I have no idea which unit you have there, but it might be worth your while to look for the manual online if you have the make/model of the Nespresso machine.

Some Sofitels have a Nespresso machine which looks like it might not work without a capsule. Didn't look too closely but it looked to be a custom made model for the hotels. Most home capsule machines have a tea making attachment of some sort.

Does anyone here know-or care-if there is a date code on these little containers?

I don't think there is a date code - but they do write a bit about this in the FAQ: http://www.nespresso.com/#/no/en/cof.../nespresso_faq

"Hermetically sealed....... to be preserved over several months."

I guess if you don't care when your coffee was packaged, this might work for you. With no date code, you could be getting coffee a year or more old.

Personally, I like to know how old my food is when I consume it. For coffee, I buy freshly roasted and grind it just before I use it.

Thank you everyone for the responses. I just had a nice little cup of tea before my shower.

The machine was a Nespresso Essenza. No other branding. It was simply run the machine without a capsule.

Quite honestly, it wasn't a big deal and I wouldn't have bothered if I didn't see the thread active last night. Thank you again, it was a pleasant surprise for a cold, rainy morning.

There is a date code on the cartons/sleeves the capsules come in, though not on the capsules themselves.


A few weeks back there was news that some of the Nespresso patents had expired, and a french retailer was planning on selling their own discounted capsules. Anyone hear anything further on this?

Pro. It's not the greatest espresso available, but, all things considered, it's a wonderful product. It's really a value-add in a hotel room.

I found the Variations 2009, with Apricot, Chestnut Cream, and Gingerbread flavors, to be outstanding.

I'm led to believe that the first tranche of patent expires in 2012 but there is a French company who have already started producing their own capsules for sale in France in May. They are supposedly going to undercut Nestle by 20%

Nestle are said to be exploring their options for the alleged breach.

I love Nespresso!
 

I purchased my first machine in 2002 and haven't looked back. Prior, I too went through the ritual of purchasing beans, grinding them manually etc, but found it took too much time/mess etc.

Someone in the industry told me that a nice feesh kilo of Arabica/Robusta blend (60:40) will be fresh for about 5 days after the bag is unsealed. After that, the natural oils in the beans become rancid. No problems in our office where we use ca. 2kg per day.

But at home, I might only have one cup or two max on a weekend. So the Nespresso system is ideal. Fresh coffee, high quality, no mess to prepare, and the capsules are delivered on the 3rd working day (Australia). Yes, the cup is expensive, but still cheaper than going out.

The Vienna nespresso shop/bar only gives out coffee to those with intention to purchase and upon presentation of membership card. Pity really, I know of a few people who used to hold business meetings upstairs because of the coffee...

By the way, the commercial Nespresso Gemini system uses flat pods rather than capsules, and contains a couple of grams more of coffee... Really cool action as it sucks in the pod a bit like a CD into the slot.

NG1Fan

Now I wish I would have paid more attention, but there was a Nespresso machine in my room at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. While I thought the coffee was good, I wish there was more of it. Ended up having to make 2 pods.

They are already selling them here (LUX) and I assume the same to be already true for France. And it is just 10% less. Have not tried it yet so I cannot compare them.

They finally opened a boutique here in Miami, so my mail order days may be coming to an end

Can anyone advise on the alternate supplier? (Manufacturer, website, stores available, etc.?)

I would like to try their coffee too - but a search revealed not too much, besides news reports...

Actually it is pretty complicated. Casino distribution Group es selling them. Quite difficult to find the online store. You can try monoprix though I do not know whether it works outside France:

http://courses.monoprix.fr/magasin-e...50035,,1,.html

Hope it helps.

EDIT: Ms Moien bought one brand at the supermarket that sells doses for Nespresso coffee machines. I must devote a lot of time to think about some coffee that tastes as bad as that. It is a French brand La Maison de Café (Douwe Egberts). If you see it just run away ... and don't look back. :td: :td:

Nespresso inflight?
 

The Nespresso website claims a bunch of airlines have Nespresso inflight. Swiss (first class), Lufthansa, Cathay, Etihad and Qatar mentioned. Anyone tried it at 40,000 feet - does it taste decent?
cheers
CrazyDave98

LH's and SQ's are very nice.

BA also use Nespresso. A very decent start to the day in F.

Swissair used Nespresso circa 20 years ago -- so there has been lots of experience with Nespresso inflight. It works great and removes the skill element, also it is unattended. Perfect application of the technology (as it is for hotel rooms). Consistent quality with no effort. For home use these aren't such important factors (I generally use a hand-operated espresso maker, and sometimes even a stove-top Atomic for sufficiently important occasions, because I like the ritual of making the espresso by hand and serving my guests with my skill rather than pressing a button).

We grind our own beans at home... but Nespresso tastes very good, to be honest. But it also seems the latest coffee rage and the newest "it" gadget to have in the kitchen, most likely replaced in the not-too-distant future after other retailers make their own variants. In the Netherlands, the Senseo was all the rage not too long ago, now suddenly Nespresso machines have sprouted like mushrooms in every single home it seems!

But I am completely "con", only because it's advertising campaign with George Cloony is supremely irritating.

^

I also like the ritual of making coffee. Even before I liked drinking the stuff (and I was fairly late to the game), the smell of coffee beans and the sound of the espresso machine was a nice way to wake up in the mornings.

Hey! Sorry about bumping an old thread...
 

I hope all is well. I recently received a Nespresso Citiz as a gift. I'm super excited about it, but so far have been pretty underwhelmed with the espresso. I'm not sure if it is me, or if it is the machine.

I'm particularly unhappy with the almost total lack of crema. The espresso comically fails the "sugar test," and has been constantly producing wattery espresso with a little light colored top half that appears just for show.

Maybe my expectations are too high, but after reading reviews, I expected better. But this is my first machine and I have really only been drinking espresso (as opposed to drip coffee) for a few years. I figured I'd post here and see if there were any tips or advice before I called Nespresso. I've also posted a photo of a recent attempt.

Thanks for any and all advice!

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9973/img0323r.th.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I believe it's the pressure of the machine that gives the crema. When I bought my machine, I researched, and apparently the more pressure the better.... Most machines are 19-bar pump, but I believe the Citz is less, and that probably explains the lack of crema

Try a new batch of pods; perhaps those are near their expiration date? The ones that come with the machine are sometimes very old :)

I'd be very disappointed with Nespresso like you are getting and if Nestle sanctioned a cheaper machine that doesn't produce enough pressure, that would be shocking. The whole point of the Nespresso system was hassle-free consistent and reliably good coffee. Not as good as the best espresso you could make but close enough, and Nespresso was the first "convenience" system which had decent crema. So you are right to want it fixed. Either a manufacturing or design defect and I've personally used a dozen different Nespresso machines (often in places where they were prone to abuse) and they worked better. Now the competing pod systems don't produce good crema -- hope Nespresso hasn't decided to dumb down to match the competition.

Firstly, I'm afraid to say that whilst the Citiz looks great, I think it's the worst machine in the range in terms of the results it produces!

That aside, the best way to get a firm crema (which will pass the sugar test) is to:

a) run the machine without a pod into the cup/glass you are using. Throw away the water. This gets the pressure pump working

b) use the stronger pods. I always get a firm rich crema with the Indriya and Ristretto pods.

Nespresso is a great coffee, but it can be expensive if u drink more than 2 a day:eek:

The upper teir of hotels in europe seem to be equipping their hotel rooms with Nespresso machines. I Barcelona (one of my fave spots) I've encountered Nespresso machines even in 3* hotels.

After reading this thread, I'm going to have to try this Nespresso. I've seen it more and more at higher end hotels in Asia but never took the time to try it.

I'm another fan/convert. We used to grind our own beans and the whole works, but our Nespresso Cube is so much simpler, takes up less space, and looks nice on the kitchen counter. Not to mention that it makes an excellent, reproducible cup of coffee. I absolutely LOVE the aeroccino milk-frother! Making a really terrific cappuccino takes just about no time at all, and the thing is so easy to clean.

We were sold on Nespresso after trying it at the Campton Place Hotel in San Francisco. I wish more hotels had them, instead of the pathetic stuff they usually have.

The price of the pods is the one drawback, but I'm willing to pay for the convenience.

Drop into a Nespresso boutique if you find yourself near one, they are usually happy to let you try a cup or two.

Having had a Nespresso machine for years, we recently moved to a house where they had recently remodelled the kitchen. It had a built in old fashioned machine for ground beans.

I find that the machine compliment oneanother. When I am in a hurry first thing in the morning, nothing can beat a good espresso out of my Nespresso machine. When I have time at the weekend, I break open some of the beans I have sourced from various places and take the time to grind them.