Reply to: Costa: Bloody sick of the sight of them.

[doodab]

I quite fancy a new coffee machine.

La Cimbali M21 Junior DT1 Espresso Machine | Ringtons Beverages

La Spaziale S1-II Mini Vivaldi Red Coffee Machine - GIO Espresso

[BoredBloke]

Warm the cup first, sorry can't do much about small - that's espresso for ya. But if you want ameircano - add hot water, and if you want latte - warm a cup of milk in the microwave first (sod the froth), then have the nespresso pour straight in. When I'm not in diet mode that's my favourite method.

they do sell machines with the frother on the side - but a mate had one of those and said it's a pig to clean - plus they have a bigger foot print.

You'd hate the ristrettos then... they're about half size of espressos. But they do the larger measures - or as I call them yellow green and blue. These make about 110ml per capsule iirc - though I always stick a large and small squirt through them. Just leave about 30 secs in between so you don't over cook the grind.

Me being a cheapskate wondering if it was possible to try and reuse the capsules with a bag of ground coffee. Several messy attempts later I gave up - remembering the reason I Like it in the first place is freshness.

I'll stick with mine thanks. Put beans in the top, hit the button and out pops your drink. Small footprint and you can set it up so that each drink is as large and as strong as you want and it will make it to that each and every time. It also cleans itself. It was pretty expensive though!

[IR35FanClub]

The drinks were too small and not very hot.

Warm the cup first, sorry can't do much about small - that's espresso for ya. But if you want ameircano - add hot water, and if you want latte - warm a cup of milk in the microwave first (sod the froth), then have the nespresso pour straight in. When I'm not in diet mode that's my favourite method.

they do sell machines with the frother on the side - but a mate had one of those and said it's a pig to clean - plus they have a bigger foot print.

You'd hate the ristrettos then... they're about half size of espressos. But they do the larger measures - or as I call them yellow green and blue. These make about 110ml per capsule iirc - though I always stick a large and small squirt through them. Just leave about 30 secs in between so you don't over cook the grind.

Me being a cheapskate wondering if it was possible to try and reuse the capsules with a bag of ground coffee. Several messy attempts later I gave up - remembering the reason I Like it in the first place is freshness.

[d000hg]

Just remember to purge before and after use.

I only want a cup of coffee!

[BoredBloke]

I have one of these at home and I love it. The coffee tastes great.

JURA's coffee machines: ENA 9 :: JURA United Kingdom

I used to have a Nespresso but donated it to the wifes school. I wasn't impressed. The drinks were too small and not very hot.

[Gibbon]

I always figured Nespresso was a gimmicky way to make slightly better instant coffee. Now I'm interested, I make a pot of coffee at home but it goes funky after an hour or two and it's a hassle.

What's actually in the capsules - some ultra-concentrated espresso 'marmite'?

Just ground coffee, find one of the stores and pop along, they will let you try some for yourself.

As a prev poster says, they are very compact machines and easy to care for. Just remember to purge before and after use.

[d000hg]

I always figured Nespresso was a gimmicky way to make slightly better instant coffee. Now I'm interested, I make a pot of coffee at home but it goes funky after an hour or two and it's a hassle.

What's actually in the capsules - some ultra-concentrated espresso 'marmite'?

[Gibbon]

Or in my case you ask for a latte and get half a litre of froth.

Costa lotta money is what I call them. Never could understand why anyone would pay someone else £2.50+ for a cup of hot water with 1/20 of a bag of coffee beans. In my book that's a retail price of about £1.00.

Gone back to using a cafitierre at work. £3 bag of coffee makes 20 cups. Keep the coffe in the freezer and it's plain and simple black no milk if the coffee is done propely (not bitter or tasteless). Hot not boiling water. Result = fatter walllet and thinner belly (or in my case more money left for cakes).

At home I've got a Nespresso - which is the probably the best you can get without buying a proper espresso machine. Problem with proper machines is the coffee goes off after a few days and they are too big. The nespresso I've got has a footprint of about 10x30cm and the cpasules are individually foil sealed. I got one - as one of the contractors on a previous gig had ignored PAT testing and bought his own machine to work. Not cheap - about 30p a shot but better than any muck they sell at a store. With about 20 strengths there's something for everyone. My personal fave are purple - to get me eyes open, and blue for a top up later on. There's also a pink Rosabaya de Columbia - very tasty. Tip - if as a result of this you go out to buy one - join the club and get their multi pack which is a one time member offer - you get something like 150 capsules in all the flavours at 1/2 price. their customer service is great too - I had a fault (caused by me) and they send out a courier with a crate that matches the shape of your machine, and lend you a new one while your is in for repair. I bet they make more money selling coffee than machines and want you to keep drinking, LOL.

If you order one quote "IamNotARepHonest" and you'll get 100% discount.

Agreed, I use Nespresso as well. They are very popular in Italy, so if it's good enough for them then it's good enough for me! I used to do the whole grind thing etc but had to set the alarm off 3 days early to make a breakfast coffee.

[IR35FanClub]

Nero/Costa/Stabucks/whatever are all as bad as the other, over roasted bitter coffee and nine out of ten times when you ask for a cappucino you get what is essentially a latte.

I've noticed since coming back to the smoke that there are a few one off coffee places which do a decent cup.

Or in my case you ask for a latte and get half a litre of froth.

Costa lotta money is what I call them. Never could understand why anyone would pay someone else £2.50+ for a cup of hot water with 1/20 of a bag of coffee beans. In my book that's a retail price of about £1.00.

Gone back to using a cafitierre at work. £3 bag of coffee makes 20 cups. Keep the coffe in the freezer and it's plain and simple black no milk if the coffee is done propely (not bitter or tasteless). Hot not boiling water. Result = fatter walllet and thinner belly (or in my case more money left for cakes).

At home I've got a Nespresso - which is the probably the best you can get without buying a proper espresso machine. Problem with proper machines is the coffee goes off after a few days and they are too big. The nespresso I've got has a footprint of about 10x30cm and the cpasules are individually foil sealed. I got one - as one of the contractors on a previous gig had ignored PAT testing and bought his own machine to work. Not cheap - about 30p a shot but better than any muck they sell at a store. With about 20 strengths there's something for everyone. My personal fave are purple - to get me eyes open, and blue for a top up later on. There's also a pink Rosabaya de Columbia - very tasty. Tip - if as a result of this you go out to buy one - join the club and get their multi pack which is a one time member offer - you get something like 150 capsules in all the flavours at 1/2 price. their customer service is great too - I had a fault (caused by me) and they send out a courier with a crate that matches the shape of your machine, and lend you a new one while your is in for repair. I bet they make more money selling coffee than machines and want you to keep drinking, LOL.

If you order one quote "IamNotARepHonest" and you'll get 100% discount.

[Sysman]

****osta linky No to Costa in Totnes

Whitbread. I seem to remember them doing similar stuff in the 80s.

[doodab]

Nero/Costa/Stabucks/whatever are all as bad as the other, over roasted bitter coffee and nine out of ten times when you ask for a cappucino you get what is essentially a latte.

I've noticed since coming back to the smoke that there are a few one off coffee places which do a decent cup.

My local Nero is pretty good and in general I find them OK. The AMT one at the station is good as well. Some one off coffee places are great but I've been in some where they are awful, a lot of those seem to be the ones that are putting up costa signs now.

[norrahe]

Too full of Hugos and quality is hugely variable. Nero is better, has free wifi usually as well.

Nero/Costa/Stabucks/whatever are all as bad as the other, over roasted bitter coffee and nine out of ten times when you ask for a cappucino you get what is essentially a latte.

I've noticed since coming back to the smoke that there are a few one off coffee places which do a decent cup.

[doodab]

Too full of Hugos and quality is hugely variable. Nero is better, has free wifi usually as well.

[BigTime]

****osta linky No to Costa in Totnes

[Bacchus]

Costa coffee are the best. I preferred them over starbucks and every other coffee shop long before they became so big. They make the coffee good only in their proper shops (rather than the machine ones or the places just using the brand).

I'm a big fan of Costa Coffee, as is GF Bacchus, but am getting bored of the brand (and, yes, they are every-bloomin'-where) and would rather use an independant.

Trouble is I also get bored of being disappointed with every independant that I try...