Nespresso

[glitzy07]

Wondering if any Nespresso owners could give me their review of yours?

I posted around a year ago about experimenting with coffee because I've never enjoyed it, but I enjoy going with other people and the social aspect of coffee shops. I've been a chai latte girl for a while, but started experimenting and found that while I don't enjoy brewed coffee (hot or cold), I do enjoy espresso based drinks like lattes, mochas, etc. I also really like a dirty chai.

I've been treating myself to Starbucks or Caribou WAY too often lately, and my go to drink of a chai latte with a single shot of espresso and cold foam is nearly $10 a piece. So I've been considering buying something like a Nespresso to make my own espresso at home and make my own lattes or drinks.

Would the Nespresso be good for this? I don't think I need a full on real espresso machine and really don't want something huge taking up counter space.

I also recently started following someone on IG who makes copycat coffee shop drinks and it just seems like a fun way to treat myself without spending so much. Especially since I work from home full time and if I go to Starbucks or the like, I'm making a special trip.

Would love to hear from current users about if you like your Nespresso and if it would essentially make the types of things I would be wanting?

TIA!

[sarahsays]

I have a Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee/Espresso Maker w Frother (I think) and I like it. I originally wanted a real espresso maker but someone gave me the Nespresso as a gift so I decided to go with it.

I mostly drink hot and iced lattes and I think it does an equivalent to Starbucks job. The pods aren't cheap but are cheaper than buying coffee out every day which is what I was doing.

[momin2013]

We have both a Nespresso and a Ninja - I like the cappuccino-like drinks that my Ninja makes a lot better. I just steam milk (aka zap it in the microwave), add sugar, froth it with the frother attachment, then do a concentrated shot into the cup - I typically use clear glass mugs because it makes such a beautifully layered drink.

Eta: I also like that the Ninja doesn’t need pods

[sproctopus]

I have Vertuo (have had for 2 years). I love it so much that I actually hate getting coffee out.

For iced: I use the ice leggero pod, brewed over ice and then I add about 16oz of cold water (like an Americano) and add the Chobani cookie dough creamer.

For hot: I use the melozio (decaf and regular). It's so good.

I actually do think they're pretty cheap. It's about $1.15 to a $1.30 a cup.

[W.T.Faulkner]

We received a Vertuo as a wedding gift, and it lasted us about seven years of twice-daily usage at minimum. I used to make lattes with it, which were delicious, but stopped somewhere along the way and switched to their regular coffee pods. When the Vertuo died a few months ago, we replaced it with a Vertuo Pop, which is significantly smaller and less expensive. We mostly drink the Starbucks pods at the grocery store, although my husband occasionally makes espresso or the iced coffees with it.

[sandandsea]

Aug 28, 2024 12:07:43 GMT -5 sarahsays said:

I have a Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee/Espresso Maker w Frother (I think) and I like it. I originally wanted a real espresso maker but someone gave me the Nespresso as a gift so I decided to go with it.

I mostly drink hot and iced lattes and I think it does an equivalent to Starbucks job. The pods aren't cheap but are cheaper than buying coffee out every day which is what I was doing.

This is what we have too and I like it. It’s easy, fast and good. I also buy flavored syrups and chocolate to make my own special drinks like mochas or iced vanilla lattes etc. it’s way cheaper than buying them out but also saves me time from stopping to pick it up during my commute (I always order ahead). I’m not a coffee connoisseur though and do things like add milks, syrups and sugar to it so I likely don’t have the best resume to answer.

[sandandsea]

Oh I also pulled out my old school coffee pot and made a pot of vanilla iced coffee, added sugar and vanilla or coconut extract, and put it in the fridge and have been making flavored iced coffee by mixing that with ice and milk in the mornings for a fast summer iced coffee.

[RockNVoll]

I opted against a Nespresso machine because of the pods too. Was tempted by the Ninja mentioned above but instead am keeping it simple with an Aeropress and a manual frother. Works well for me--requires no machines, takes up minimal space, is easy to clean, and is super cheap.

[blondemoment123]

I LOVE my Nespresso. I make a latte every morning. I'm boring and don't use any flavor syrups or anything.

[ny96]

I don’t have a Nespresso, but used one on a recent vacation and loved the coffee so much that I want to get one for my office. We have a fancy espresso maker at home that we use every day, but I don’t like the taste of coffee that has been sitting in a tumbler so when I get to work I purchase a cup of coffee, which adds up fast.

So my advice, do it!

[W.T.Faulkner]

One thing I do like about the pods is that we are able to recycle them. We get a recycling bag with every order, collect the pods, and drop them in a UPS box to ship them back to Nespresso at no charge.

[indianchica]

We have a cheap Nespresso and like it for the times we don't want to make a full pot in our Bialetti. There are knockoff pods on Amazon that make the cost much much lower. I know some people are not ok with the knockoff idea or Amazon.

[felicity]

I had a Nespresso, then a Ninja coffee bar, Aeropress, and now using a Moka Pot. My favorite is the Moka Pot, I like that it doesn't use pods and that it's all metal. I use it to make lattes. One trick that I learned from people online is to use the little Aeropress paper filters in the Moka Pot, in addition to the metal filter that comes with it, and it really does make amazing espresso like coffee doing this.

I'm currently using this one from Target: www.target.com/p/bialetti-3-cup-moka-stovetop-espresso-maker-silver/-/A-21464668#lnk=sametab.


Also, Target accidentally sent me the larger 6 cup moka pot, and when I let them know they told me to keep it, so I've tried that as well. I don't think it tastes nearly as good as the 3 cup, so if you get a moka pot, go with a 3 cup. And also, I had another 3 cup moka pot that is the "original" (the Target one is, I think, considered a cheaper version) but the Target one works better than the original one I had. My old one always leaked.

[basilosaurus]

I have one of the earlier models, nearly 20 years ago, and my parents have one even older, so I won't speak to models. I basically had to stop coffee over a decade ago which is probably the only reason it's lasted so long, but occasionally I indulge.

I love it. I don't like foam, so I microwave a half mug of milk and run a pod through twice to get slightly more coffee flavor (some pods are better than others for this). I don't like any sweetness in coffee, but I know some people who love the godiva chocolate or caramel.

I, too use the recycle bag. It's super easy. I've heard of people figuring a way for a reusable pod, but I haven't tried.

I think most sur le table have lots of models to try and usually someone very knowledgeable on staff.

[basilosaurus]

Also the Nespresso website has recipe ideas and directions. I have no doubt they have something for a chai latte

[ally]

In October, I will be staying at an Airbnb that has a Nespresso.  Do I need specific pods or will k-cups work?

[donutsmakemegonuts]

Aug 29, 2024 6:40:57 GMT -5 ally said:

In October, I will be staying at an Airbnb that has a Nespresso.  Do I need specific pods or will k-cups work?

I think you need the specific Nespresso pods.  DH and I are going to Cabo next month and our room has a Nespresso so we were wondering if we should bring our own pods as well.

[gottadobe]

We have a Nespresso and I loved it, just be aware, if you are prone to any type of acid reflux/stomach issues - this will make it worse. I would even try adding a little hot water to top off each cup/dilute. I love strong coffee, but I had to quit it and go back to regular drip coffee.

[lessel]

I did not love our Nespresso. We had one many years ago and I didn't like it. H convinced me to try their newer machine again a couple years back and same... not a fan. I tried several different kinds of their pods and I just don't like any of them.

If you've got a friend with a Nespresso or some how can test drive one at a store (I feel like William Sonoma or Sur la Table has them in store?), I'd try it before investing. (Or get it from somewhere with a good return policy, like Costco.)

And I'm an espresso fan and like pretty dark coffee. My favorite, albeit inconvenient, way to make espresso drinks at home is a Moka pot.

[mommyatty]

I have one and totally love it. I also have the Nespresso milk frother. And I really love that. I do the little shot of coffee (I like the Peet’s Ricchezza) and put the yummy frothed milk on there with a tiny bit of Torani syrup.

[DarcyLongfellow]

I'm obsessed with my Nespresso. I've had it probably 3 years, and I'm still excited that I have it. I legit make coffees I enjoy more than fancy ones at coffee shops.

Get the milk frother/heater too. It makes a huge difference, and if lattes/cappuccinos are what you want to drink, you'll need to heat and froth your milk anyway.

I'd recommend the Vertuo line. The disadvantage is that you can only use Nespresso brand pods. But you can buy their double espresso pods - which are the perfect amount of espresso for 8oz of milk. If you get an original line machine, you can buy generic pods, but you'll need to use 2 of them every time you want a full size latte.

Also - run far, far away from the Vertuo Next. I had one that broke so many times, Nespresso ended up giving me a Vertuo Plus to replace it. (I will say their customer service is awesome.) So, I highly recommend the Plus over the Next.