I've gone the other way; was a big fan of Nespresso 20 years ago when it first appeared, and it has improved over time, yet I like it less now and rarely use it. Prefering to make my own espresso using a manual machine and fresh ground Italian beans (Cafe Rom Torrefazionne). The Nespresso is mostly used by others or for a quickie; it is definitely good enough to drink and superior to Starbuck's as a point of comparison. I'm glad I have a Nespresso machine but would be very sad if that was my only machine.

I was in Soho yesterday and noticed a big sign promoting the upcoming opening of the Nespresso store in Soho.

Have one in my office
 

I have one of these machines in my office. It was a gift to me. I bought those pods on-line, I think it's the 300 pod pack, or so. If you like espresso, this is great. I personally, however, prefer american style drip coffee. I think it's much smoother and richer. However, this for me, is a good 2nd choice. It's very convenient and quick.

Which is why I use it. Caps the daily intake except for special occasions.

Travelling with Nespresso
 

Hi,

I recently got a Nespresso Magimix machine as a gift. Looking forward to testing it but first I need to bring it back home. Would like to take it as cabin luggage but the dimensions of the box, approx. 40 x 40 x 29 cm, i.e. approx 110 cm total, seem slightly large. The total dimension is OK but the side which is 29 cm exceeds the limit set by KLM (25 cm). Don't know how fussy they might be about this at the airport.
Does anybody have experience with travelling with Nespresso machines as cabin luggage? I suppose it is too risky to put as hold baggage...or have you tried doing that?


Thanks for any tips!

I had my Lattissima (unboxed) in a carry-on and it was totally fine. Which magimix model do you have? The le cube is tiny so you should be OK, if you take it out of the box; not sure about the other ones. Just wrap it in bubble wrap or something so the exterior doesn't get scratched.

You could check it in, but you'd probably get condensation on the inside of the machine. In that case just leave it alone for a couple of days before using it.

I normally get other air crew friends to bring it back. I think on some airlines, pilots actually get more "space" to store stuff.

speaking of which, anyone here knows which country has the cheapest Nespresso machine for sale ?

We love Nespresso. The best invention however are their Aeroccino machines....They make the best Cappuccinos and Latte's. I think they are completely worth the money.

One of the unique features of the Nespresso capsule system is the consistent good quality, anywhere in the world.

Travellers can enjoy ( and count on ) the Nespresso quality anywhere they fly: Europe, China, North America, and even in Brasil.

Big PRO - used nespresso since 2000 and on my 4th or 5th different machine.

Produces consistent quality espresso quickly - what more can one want in the world? :D

Was very pleased to find Nespresso machines in the Marriott timeshare properties in Europe - was then very disappointed (after we purchased one of their properties) to realise that this was not standard equipment across their timeshare properties in the rest of the world :p

One note - I have managed to have bad nespressos (albeit very occasionally) - my firms office in SF had nespresso machines which always managed to produce consistently lousy coffee, and a nespresso machine in a hotel in Zermatt was also not to the standard I expect.

Having said that the experience in terms of quality vs the investement in time and effort is outstanding - just remember these machines do need to be cleaned/descaled at least occasionally.

Sofitel has Nespresso chain wide (at least in the deluxe rooms, maybe in all rooms). Don't think any other chain does this.

As a gesture to rental clients, I placed Gaggia Carezza expresso machines in properties we own over the last 10 years, and despite weekly cleaning and quarterly descaling, each and every one was ultimately damaged via misuse.

The current models of Nespresso machines are are inexpensive, and simple to operate. No more reports of exploding portafilters or clogged panarello wands. Keeping the full range of capsules in stock is the only concern these days.

Being held hostage by Nestle to buy capsules is an issue for some.....

The Nestle pricing is not exorbinant in some countries (where fresh roast coffee is expensive, eg. US and Europe) but more out of line with local prices in other countries. I pay USD 60 per kg for coffee beans making my espresso cost close to Nespresso prices. For me the issue is quality.

This may be the biggest marketing hustle since the Gillette brothers thought up their razor blade scheme--and the environmental impact is large. All those wasteful capsules.

I was recently in the fancy, dancy story in Lisbon. It was impressive--and indicated by its very fanciness how huge the margins must be.

Personally, I find Peet's coffee and many others to be at least as good, if not better--and a whole lot cheaper.

Nice looking machines, though.

Apparently more ecologically responsible ways to use the machines are coming soon--there are several lawsuits about Nestle's claims no one can put out compatible pods.

The main selling feature for me is that Nespresso is easy to use. My steam phobic grandmother (who does not drink coffee) likes to borrow my machine so that she can serve good coffee to her guests. My own mother, who is unable to open a ketchup packet without squirting herself :rolleyes: or someone else in a 3-foot radius, is able to use the machine incident free (11-months and counting woo-hoo! :cool: )

Has anyone tried the 3rd-party refillable nespresso capsules from Germany?

Regarding the environmental concerns, our used Nespresso pods are collected with the other household metal containers and recycled each week. I've been to the recycle centres nearby and they are in fact separated and compacted for combustion-melting and reuse. Aluminum like plastic, paper, and asphalt is safely refired, melted and reused.

The aftermarket refill capsules is another story. Admittedly I haven't used them, but those neighbors who have purchased said capsules in Switzerland report some problems. Capsules stick in the machine, paper inserts (?), refills do not fully allow the heated water to flow through the capsules, etc. Not sure how or where they are made and if these are the German capsules you refer to. This is all that I have heard.

Nestle and Nespresso on the otherhand has a history of proven, excellent quality control standards, including capsule manufacture and coffee quality control. This can be verified for 20+ years, enjoyed with consistency, and fine with me.

I only wish they had a unit for my car: A single shot is a nice option in the Alps in the Winter.

I'm hearing that while the big N claims its capsules can be recycled it ain't necessarily so.

Apparently, it is only in Switzerland that big N does this--because mandated by law.

As Which? (UK equivalent of Consumer Reports) notes, recycling is not available in the UK. And, based on my observations of "recycling" in US, those little capsules likely end up in landfill.

What's wrong with the paper pods? I used one at the Chelsea Grand hotel in London recently and found it to produce fine coffee.

PS Here's the Which? link: http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/coffe...res-explained/

You've not heard of patent laws? Just like Apple, Nestle opted for a proprietary closed system for which it holds the patents. This means it has an exclusivity to its invention and process for a period of time to allow it to recoup its investment. Like LEGO a decade ago, Nestle's patents will be coming to an end in a year or two and any company can make and sell compatible capsules. Nothing sinister about how patents work.

Yes, a recycling program has started up in Europe where this is far more advanced for every product than in the USA. It will eventually become commonplace world wide.

As for cost, that's a personal cost/benefit analysis you'll have to make. Many of us have adopted this system because we used to waste as much as we drank, so this is a very effective means of eliminating this waste and over consumption of coffee.

No recycling option in the US yet either, though their website says they plan to have a system in place by 2013.

The lawsuits mainly have to go with Nestle's patents. The comparison to Gillette and razor blades is a good one. There is a fortune to be made on the capsules, so not surprising that Nestle is fighting the generic makers every step of the way.

Some South Korean company began selling generic Mach3 razors in the US a few years ago, and of course ended up in federal court with Gillette. The case was settled, but as the ripoff razors are still for sale I'm sure Gillette just gets a piece of the action now. I wouldn't be surprised if Nespresso did something similar...

Nespresso CITIZ
 

just got mine that I got via eBay for 260USD.....works really good! I enjoyed my first cup last night and it was perfect

I defly recommend one...

If you have signed up with Nespresso in the UK, you would have been contacted to participate in their test recycling program, a message which I received more than 6 months ago...

I did not take them up on this, because I spend most of my time elsewhere...

Yep, recycling will be coming real soon now. :D

As to the patent claims, seems to me Pez has a better claim to the idea of inventing putting something in a container before consuming it. :D

Or, maybe Lipton's--didn't they invent the tea bag? :confused:

And, what about mandatory patent licensing--often used to combat corporate efforts to monopolize via patent claims.

In any event, the coffee's okay--the garbage (and phony claims of soon to arrive recycling) is not.

After using Phillips' Senseo for quite some years I've bought a Delonghi Nespresso and though the capsulles are rather expensive the coffee is amazing good. The only brand of coffee that is even better then Nespresso is the Italian brand Lavazza, I hope they launch their own capsulles someday, sometime... Though I doubt this will happen (soon).

I think Lavazza does in fact have this in India - one of the "clubs" in Mumbai uses a couple, side-by-side, for cappuccino orders, using capsules.

PS: My Delonghi Nespresso machine's quality sucks totally - I wish Krups made the version I have...

Lavazza does have a capsule system: LAVAZZA BLU.

The coffee is quite good: Can, bag, ESE pods, or capsule.

I also take a HANDPRESSO expresso maker (checked baggage) when flying to remote areas, which uses the ESE pods. Looks like a small bicycle pump, and the European kit comes with the pump, thermos, cups, napkins, spares, and coffee pods. Finding hot water is not that hard, but if you pull over for a shot, passersby may stop to help you, thinking you had a flat tire.

LAVAZZA BLUE link (English)

http://www.lavazza.com/corporate/en/products/home/blue/

They have the Lavazza capsule machines in the rooms at the Peninsula Tokyo, and they are pretty good - better than Nespresso, IMO.

I do agree - I find their coffee well-rounded, versus the Nespresso's very harsh/strong/direct punch...

Isn't that like having the government confiscate your private property? Isn't that why the US has been blockading Cuba for all these years? Patents are property rights and why shouldn't the owner be the only one to decide how to exercise those rights during a period protected by law? There are many other capsule systems so what's the problem?

Nespresso
 

We have been Nespresso convertees now for 4 years.
Ever since we were dining in private with Tetsuya and at the end of the evening Tets made a Nespresso for us. At first I was gobsmacked that one of the worlds best chefs resorted to a Nespresso machine.

Untill we tried it...brilliant had the ristretto, perfect. no mess no fuss.
Raced out and bought a machine the next day. no more coffee grains to clean up and perfect coffee every time. The right crema everything.
My personal favourite is the Ristretto and the Rosebaya. ummmmm yumo!!:)

Darned if any sensible person can figure out why Cuba is still being, theoretically, isolated.

As for patent licensing, just suppose IBM or Intel could freeze all other electronics makers out using patents. Or, suppose, J&J refused to allow your local hospital to use some patented item which would save your life--unless you paid fifty mil to J&J for something that cost a dollar?

Anyhow, your opinion is not the law. Our laws do allow for mandatory licensing--and this has proven to be better than no such licensing.

Anyhow, and sort of back on topic--the Big N (I do believe by far the biggest food marketer in the world) does have market power to exclude competition which it is evidently doing with its coffee machines.

By the way, had coffee at Peet's this morning. Much better than out of the capsule.

Unfortunately the Lavazza capsulles won't fit in the Delonghi Nespresso :( But maybe when my (still new) Delonghi breaks down I'll change it for a Lavazza...

Though Nespresso isn't bad the Lavazza coffee is still better :)

This thread has certainly sparked interest with the coffee suppliers.

When I looked today there were at least 7 new North American coffee-related sponsors, advertising. Nice to have choices.

anyone got any more info on the new (non-Nestle) capsule suppliers?

A little search turned up some interesting sites.

Refill your capsules: http://www.instructables.com/id/Reus...and-easy-and-/

Fill these capsules with your choice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZFpwsjTARA

Buy Nexpod from Switzerland: http://www.nexpod.com/
according the website they ship "almost" worldwide which I assume means including the US. They ship via the Swiss post office.

Quite like the new special blend, Kazaar. Finally a full-bodied lungo. First tried it at the boutique store on King Street in Sydney while on a trip and picked up a few sleeves at my home base at The Bay boutique here in Toronto. Anyone else try this one? Like it? (I was quite taken aback by the cost of the machines in Sydney compared to here in Canada, even accounting for the GST in both our countries! They were 25% or more down there. Never did find out how much sleeves of coffee went for.)

I also purchased a few sleeves of Kazaar. It is very good.

I spoke with someone who had purchased a package of refill capsules; Not sure which one. She stated that the capsule only worked for the single expresso shot options.

Proud owner of Nespresso Citiz. One of the best espresso's I have had..for lesss than 60 cents can't beat it. "Indriya" is a great one to try.

Yes, very intense. It's one of the few special releases that has stayed around.