lalala

I am currently lusting after a little nespresso machine. I know there are a few standalone boutiques in Paris. Is there a price break buying in Paris v. From the online nespresso club in the US. I am a decaf drinker, so that is a factor.

Has anyone done the comparison?

Louie_LI

The pods run about €3.30 - 3.50 for a box of ten, if that helps.

superduner

Now that the pods are not protected by patents, most French supermarkets sell other types of pod that fit Nespresso machines.
I can't remember the specific makes offhand, but Google will certainly know.

JOUY31

The quality of the coffee is often deemed by customers to be lower than with the Nespresso pods.

lalala

Awesome thanks!

MarLim

+1 definitively not the same taste ... you get what you pay

Louie_LI

I've found some to be as enjoyable, but then they are the same price as the Nespresso ones. It's more convenient to stop by the grocery store than to deal with the Nespresso shops.

The L'Or EspressO brand "or jaune" compares favourably with the Nespresso ristretto, and the blue decaf is good, too.

JudgeJ

As for buying Nespresso in Paris versus US, my own experience is that the price is pretty much the same everywhere (tried in different countries and online/ in shop) and aligned with what Louie_LI mentions - you will probably struggle to find significant discounts anywhere as this is positioned as a 'luxury' product. Hey, you wouldn't see George Clooney buying his coffee at Wal-Mart, would you ?

Ethical Coffee Company is the other main manufacturer of Nespresso-compatible capsules, it was founded by a former Nestle executive and most commonly the pods are sold by the supermarket chain 'Casino' under the Casino brand; apparently they will also sell machines soon http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...ethical-coffee. The range is much more limited than Nespresso but some compare favorably in taste, and the capsules are fully biodegradable - which to some customers can be a consideration
(L'Or, mentioned earlier is the worst offender there, as not only are the plastic capsules not recyclable but they are also individually packaged in non-recyclable wrapping - Nestle / Nespresso are progressively introducing free recycling of capsules at point of sale, on a country by country basis).

For what it's worth, the Casino brand capsules are sold at Charles de Gaulle in the 'Petit Casino' Terminal 2, nearby the TGV train station, one floor below the Starbucks and Hippopotamus - and not in the other 'Petit Casino' airport locations, as far as I know.

Cheers,
J-


(addicted to Livanto and Arpeggio)