Single Serve Espresso Selection Article
this Nespresso machine is perfect; it is small, fits in any kitchen, the espresso is nice and strong (flavor; Ristretto). It saves us lots of money, no more visits to the Starbucks & Donkin Donuts. very happy with the machine and coffee flavors.
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Whats the best coffee maker out there?
That single serve espresso makes coffee, cappuccino, lattes, tea, espresso...etc...single serve
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Watching a skilled barista pull an espresso is similar to watching an artist. It takes skills and talent to get the shot just right. When it is and it’s served up piping hot, the results can’t be beat.
Individuals wanting to learn this craft and serve their own espressos at home might be discouraged when they find out how much skill is involved in making the perfect espresso. However, there is a solution.
Espresso machine manufacturers have created home versions of the automatic espresso maker that allow even the novice to create the grandest coffee drinks.
These home version automatic espresso makers are scaled down versions of the commercial size espresso makers that are used in the coffee houses to serve espressos daily.
Automatic espresso makers take all the guesswork out of making top quality espressos. They are programmable and can be set to pull an espresso shot with the touch of a button.
The degree of automation in the espresso machine varies from one maker to another and is single serve espresso dependent on what the individual wants to purchase.
Automatic Espresso Makers Control it All
Automatic espresso machines are similar to semi-automatic machines in that are easier to use than fully manual espresso machines. However, automatic espresso makers have flow meters installed that allow them to be able to control the amount of water dispensed according to whether it is a single shot or a double shot.
Automatic espresso makers used an electric pump instead of a manual lever, this makes the espressos more consistent and takes the guess work out of getting the espresso pull right every time.
The water flow is also controlled by the machine which allows the home barista to make a single shot or a double shot with nothing more than the push of a button.
Automatic espresso machines grind the beans; dispense the appropriate amount based on predetermined settings, tamp them and dispense the espresso shot as programmed.
Automatic espresso makers take the guesswork out of being a barista. Using little more than the instructions that come with the espresso maker individuals can become baristas in their own homes.
Popularity Explosion
Home automatic espresso makers have seen an increase in popularity over the past few years. Initially, the popularity of espresso and espresso based drinks was contained to stopping at the local Starbucks or other coffee shop; however, as the economy began to turn downwards, espresso manufacturers saw a market for home machines.
Although espresso machines for home use had been on the market for years, the quality was not what is available today. Top names like Delongh have introduced automatic and semiautomatic espresso makers for home use. The quality of the machine is seen in the quality of the espresso.
Now, espresso lovers don’t have to go to Barista School, they can go to the Internet, find their favorite espresso maker, order some quality coffee beans and be their own barista with an automatic espresso maker in their home.
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Tagged with: Amp • Coffee Flavors • Coffee Pod • Donkin Donuts • Ebay • Espresso Machine • Homegarden • Keyword • Lots Of Money • Nespresso Machine • Pods • Starbucks
Filed under: Espresso Coffee Machines
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Not fancy, but makes a very decent cup of espresso at a reasonable price. Good for when you want the coffee taste, but not the caffeine. Note that these are for use in an ese espresso maker, not a single cup coffee maker.
I am pretty picky about my coffee and found these to be right on the mark. I have tried several brands and find the flavor to be excellent – and my machine (Krups) likes it (not true with all other brands). Do not be surprised when the box comes (it is large…).
Caffe D’arte Decaf Espresso Single Serve Espresso Pod, Medium in Taste, 120-Count Pods
This coffee pod produces colored water. I thought that perhaps it was my single cup coffee maker so I went back to the website to see if I had missed a requirement for a certain coffee maker. I tried soaking the pod to see if that allowed the wet grounds to produce a better cup. I went to the companies website and it didn’t shed any light on requirements for producing a good cup of coffee using their coffee. I have to accept that I bought a really bad supply of coffee.
I had used the beans this company makes and was elated to see that they are finally making their coffee available in pod form. The pods are as good as the bean coffee and I can’t recommend it enough. It’s so good that you don’t even realize your drinking decaf. Smooth, hearty, distinct flavor that should satisfy even the most demanding espresso drinker.
Makes weak coffee. My guess is that I’d have to use twice as many pods to get a normal cup.
My first Senseo lasted 3 years. I absolutely love this coffee machine. My brother was living in the Netherlands and he introduced me to it. I had to order another one because I dropped and cracked the original water resevoir and tried to replace it. Unfortunately, they don’t offer the part. I ordered the larger 10 cup since that is all that was available. After a while, it started leaking which was very irritating but I endured it because I love the coffee maker and the price is very reasonable compared to other similar products. Recently the whole thing started leaking near the pods. Possibly my fault due to not cleaning/maintaining properly — I’m not sure. Anyway, I ordered another one because I like it that much and I did get three years out of it. I am single and drink one cup a day so it is ideal for me. It is very convenient and I love the taste and frothy texture. It is the one small luxury I allow myself every day because I’m worth it. I still recommend it to others. My brother still uses his and has no problems. I did strongly recommend to Philips that they offer replacement parts. I don’t know if others have had problems with the 10 cup resevoir. I’ll see what happens with my new one and try to avoid dropping it.
I had gotten this coffee maker for a gift about 3 years ago, and I want to tell you it is the best coffee I have ever had. The froth on top is very strong, and tastes great. I use one pod and it fills my 12 oz coffee cup with good strong coffee. I also use Millstone Columbian which I get on auto ship from Amazon. If this machine should quit working I will be on Amazon the next day buying another one.
This is my second Senseo. Life is easy with the Senseo, and the coffee is great! Couldn’t be easier to make coffee or clean-up.
Below is my review of the Nespresso machine, and I love it. Couldn’t be better and I highly recommend it. ONE THING THOUGH: make sure you compare the specs of the machine you buy, before you make the purchase. I bought the more expensive “cube” assuming it was better in some way (more power! yeah!) But it isn’t. At the time I bought my cube, it was identical in spec (pump size, pressure, volume, etc.) to the other, cheaper machines offered. The only difference was form factor. So… if you’re gonna get a nespresso, and I HOPE YOU DO, make sure choose which model to buy for the right reasons.
With all the new style espresso machines on the market (Tassimo, Keurig, Flavia, etc.) I was convinced that Nespresso was more of the same: a set of stylish gimmicks designed to convince you that this “espresso” (though not real at all) was “the real thing.” It never is.
Which is why the Nespresso is so great. It IS the REAL THING. The capsules contain nothing more than espresso coffee grounds. The machine is simply an automated and miniaturized “real” espresso rig. And the results speak for themselves:
– full bodied crema like you get from the best barista
– speedy and HOT cups of espresso
– the espresso produced is crisp and clear, full bodied, and smooth
– my Sicilian wife and all her relatives (numerous, and mostly named “Maria” “Antonina” and “Dominic”) all fully approve of the espresso that comes out. Comparing is to “Nonna’s” would be sacrilege, but although those words have not been spoken yet, I am conviced the thought has crossed a couple minds.
– all this in under 30 seconds and within a square foot of counter space.
The frothing unit that comes with the machine is nothing short of black magic. I have NO IDEA what it does or how it does it, but the results will amaze you. And the best part is it’s easy to clean: no sticky milk mess left behind to make you wonder who’s gonna get sick first.
Coffee for this machine is 55 cents per cup, and Nespresso delivers online orders with astonishing speed (which is good, because you can’t get the coffee from anyone else!). A bit pricey, but in this case you DO get what you pay for… and then some.
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This review is based on my experience with the Nespresso Essenza C90, but the Nespresso Essenza D90 is quite similar, and the espresso making mechanism is exactly the same.
We all have our little passions. Over the years, I have devoted too much time, money, and study to perfecting the art of making the perfect coffee and espresso. I searched the world (and the internet) for the best beans, grinders, equipment, and even tried roasting my own beans and became able to produce better potions that one can ever find in the coffee boutiques. Still, as it turns out, my efforts were in vain. The Nespresso Essenza (and probably the other Nespresso machines similar in design) produces the perfect cup and the ease of doing so, sadly, puts my efforts to shame.
The secret seems to be in the strong pumping mechanism (19 bars of pressure, same as their more expensive machines) and their superb coffee capsules. After being such a stickler for the freshest roasted estate grown beans, I balked at the use of capsules and considered it the coffee for dummies approach. I also thought that they might be kind of similar in quality to the coffee “pods” used in the new single serve coffee machines, which range from bad (for the manufacturer and supermarket brands) to only fairly good (for the best of the gourmet, limited-edition pods at over $1 each).
Against all odds, the Nespresso pods are pure magic. I ordered new pods right away, but even the sampler pods that came with the machine were incredible, despite being past their “best before” expiration date. I’m equally mystified as to how they can have about twelve varieties and almost all be exquisite, despite noticeable differences not only in strength but in flavor. The “lungo”capsules are also fantastic (these produce 4 ounces of coffee-espresso instead of the classic 1 to 2 ounce espresso). Being partial to espresso and very dark coffee, I wasn’t so impressed with the two or three pods weakest in strength, but those who like traditional American coffee might prefer them.
The Nespresso capsules completely dispelled my concern that they would be limiting compared to the use of coffee beans. It turns out that the opposite is true. Sure, there may be hundreds of different beans available, with infinite possibilities of blends and roasts, but they rarely reach the superior flavor these capsules achieve. Moreover, ordering coffee beans limits you to only one or two roasts for awhile, unless you buy a variety of green coffee beans (which last much longer than roasted beans) and roast them yourself in small quantities. With the capsules, a nice variety of espresso variations are available instantly.
Having been in the habit of ordering expensive coffee beans, I find the cost of the Nespresso capsules at $.50 each and the two-day shipping charge of only $5.95 (for any quantity) very reasonable. When buying roasted coffee beans, the shipping cost for one or two day air was much higher, and I had to reorder them every few weeks to keep fresh ones on hand. Since the Nespresso capsules stay fresh much longer, I can order a several month supply at one time.
The only criticism of the machine is that the espresso might not be quite hot enough for some aficionados. However, it is just hot enough for me, and the temperature can be raised slightly by heating the cup first.
It is amazing that I can now enjoy the best espresso almost instantly. This is truly the perfect way to enjoy espresso, even if I can no longer take credit for concocting it.
Great coffee. Works fast. But this is my second machine because the first one got full of scale and stopped pumping the water through. You MUST descale the machine every 2 or 3 months or plan to buy a new one in about a year like I did. But I still enjoy the product every day.
Pros:
– The espresso and lungo are very tasty and give you a perfectly hot yet drinkable cup *IN UNDER FIVE MINUTES*
– The machine is easy to operate and very easy to clean.
– It looks modern and cute on the countertop, in my opinion.
– It saves me time in the morning and gives me a tasty perk of coffee before I’m even fully awake.
Cons:
– If you’re a milk-based coffee drinker and you have a sensitive palate like mine, you may not like this. The milk capsules provide a distinct powdered milk aftertaste.
– The machine is made of plastic, so durability may eventually be an issue. It’s cute, but the plastic is a drawback. But what do you expect for this price?
– If you like near-scorching hot coffee (like my husband does) you may not find this hot enough.
Bottom line: Good machine if you like a black cup or prefer to add your own milk, not the best if you want to use the little milk capsules.
I bought this machine because I ended up with packages of Dulce Gusto capsules which did not fit the Nespresso C100 machine that I bought. This machine does not stop sending water through the capsule when the cup is half full. You have to turn the lever off manually. It can take various size cups, which the Nespresso machine cannot. Removing the capsule has to be done by manually lifting the lever. You have to have a disposal box immediately available because the spent capsule drips if you have to take the capsule to a trash can not immediately within reach. The worst feature is that the Dulce Gusto capsules are terrible. There is no quality control on what is in the capsule. For example, in the first box of Chococino (hot chocolate) capsules, half of the capsules labeled Chococino were not hot chocolate but something else. The same was truly with the cappucino capsule. You have no idea what type of coffee is in the capsules, whereas the Nespresso capsules allow you to choose numerous varieties of Grand Cru coffees from around the world. The frother with the Nespresso is absolutely fantastic. There is no frother with this machine. The milk is in the capsule, and you get whatever comes out of the machine. You just pray that what is on the label is what you want. The macchiato capsules are awful.
I love my machine! I’m a Starbucks junkie, but for the lattes and all the fancy drinks that end in “O.” I also love good old coffee as well. I use this machine for my fancy coffee only. I don’t like the regualr coffee. If I want plain coffee I use my regular coffee maker. It’s wonderful when you are running late for work and don’t have time to make a full pot of coffee and want something fancy. I’ve had mine over a year when a seal broke and the pods started to leak. I emailed Krupps and they sent me a shipping label to return it and they are sending me a new one. It’s nice to see a company standing by their product! I thought I’d pass that along, if it breaks they WILL fix or replace it.
We are very happy with the Nespresso C110, it is quick and easy to make a cup of espresso, requires minimal cleanup and servicing, and a wide variety of optional concentrate cartridges are available. It’s not the cheapest way to get a good espresso, but it is fast and painless.
I’ll admit that it makes delicious and easy espresso. I did a little research and found that the pods cannot be recycled in the US and that they don’t use fair trade coffee (which is less of a surprise). When I though of all of those delicious pods accumulating in the garbage, I just couldn’t justify the machine. I’ll go instead with a machine that can use the compostable illy pods.
While I was looking at Nespresso I also did some research on their parent company Nestle, to see if they are still as bad as they had been in the 70s, marketing infant formula over breast milk in developing countries without the best water supply (leads to infant mortality). I found that not only do they still do this, but more recently they were found to be contracting with the Mugabe family (mass genocide) in Zimbabwe, sold contaminated dog and cat food in Venezuela, and have been involved with using contractors that utilize in slave labor. That delicious espresso is not so delicious anymore.
i bought — and later returned — this machine because the espresso simply was never hot enough. they suggest heating the cup before you pour the espresso into it, but then what happened to the “automatic” part of this equation? also, if you’re used to a strong latte or mocha you’ll need several pods to make one drink taste normal, which is expensive. i have since settled on the Jura-Capresso ENA3 machine, and am thrilled with it. the Jura line of espresso machines is known for not having mechanical problems. and the ENA 3 has a frother arm, a very small footprint, and is easy to maintain. it has no pods but instead an internal grinder, and the espresso comes out nice and hot — and great tasting.