[Closed] Which pod type coffee machine?

I've got the Dolce Gusto and I find the Expresso very good. I tend to use the cafetiere for normal coffee with some milk so dont use the multitude of other types it makes although Mrs Surfer tells me they are all good.

I got mine because I struggled with the consistency of a pump machine.

Nespresso is the other one, we have one and its very good, easy to use / clean comes with an aerocino machine (milk frother) very good after sales service, can only order the pods over the net at the moment, but next day so no worries there. v. good support line. (no I dont work for them!)

Andy

Oh the joys of a disposable society

aP I'd be interested to know what the marginal extra environmental impact of using a pod based machine over a traditional pump one are in reality.

the bulk of the costs must be in growing, harcvesting, drying, grinding, packing, transporting, repacking, delivery to store, collection from store, manufacture of raw materials for coffee machine, manufacture of cofffee machine, transport of coffee machien to wholesaler, transport to retailer, transport to purchasers home, energy to run the machine, energy to clean the machine etc etc.

the costs of the 'pods' over and above all of that are pretty slim.

if I had any environmental pretensions I'd be drinking nettle tea from plants I picked in the local woods..

"the bulk of the costs must be in growing, harcvesting, drying, grinding, packing, transporting, repacking, delivery to store, collection from store, manufacture of raw materials for coffee machine, manufacture of cofffee machine, transport of coffee machien to wholesaler, transport to retailer, transport to purchasers home, energy to run the machine, energy to clean the machine etc etc."

All pretty much the same, then add making and disposing of the pods, thats extra. Coffee machine for the feeble minded IMO

Jeezuz - I can't get over how rude some folk are - even if they don't mean to be. Anyhoo, FWIW, I would also recommend sticking with something more trad. Have you / your wife tried a stove-top pot? Total consistency, easy(ish) to clean, and way cooler than a pod machine.

Tastes much better too, IMO.

"Have you / your wife tried a stove-top pot?"

I have, she won't.

She wants frothy milk as well so it has to be a proper machine.

She's attracted by the Tassimo because of Starbucks pods being available.

We've got a Senseo and it's pretty good. Don't know what you are used to, but it doesn't make 'starbucks' style mugs of coffee, but dainty little cups (unless you use the capuccino packets).
It's easy to use, easy to clean and has a self flush facility. It was pretty cheap to buy and the pods are reasonably cheap - there isn't a great range of drinks (whereas I think the Tassimo has all sorts of tea, coffee, hot chocolate), but we only wanted it for coffee.

We got it because 'er indoors wanted it. Now we have it though i am pretty impressed with it.
My sis has got the Tassimo (which I think used to be Braun) and she doesn't get on with it. Apparently it's a real pfaff and once you have used it for coffee, if you try any other drinks in it, they still taste a bit of coffee. She's not very patient with things like that though.

Just seen your last post......the Senseo doesn't do frothy milk. You can buy Cappuccino packs which you mix up, but they aren't very nice to be honest.

why not send her on a course to make coffee? or just get her a job at a cafe, she learns the are of making coffee and also bring in more money for you to spend on bikes, everyones a winner!

if you buy a pod machine it will be discontinued within two months. they are stupid stupid machines, just make it properly, it takes no time once you know what you're doing!

what machine has she been failing to get to grips with?

why not get a bean to cup machine? pods?? no!

We've just bought a bean to cup machine and it's utterly wonderful.

I got a Senseo, and imho they are a waste of money, unless you like filter coffee with foam on top. They are only a low pressure filter, that doesn't make proper espresso and can't make cappuccino.

I have the one with the display where you can change cup size etc. but there's only one combination that even comes close to acceptable coffee. Even then, you really need to ditch the pods and replace it with a refillable pod and use decent coffee... but then you've totally removed the entire point about convenience 😉

I recently bought an espresso machine which takes ground coffee or pods. It came with a free set of Illy pods and the resulting brew from the pods tastes poor compared with one using ground coffee.

Nespresso is excellent especially with the Aerochino frother-the built-in ones are a bit temperamental. The coffe pods are always fresh and pumped at proper espresso pressure (18 Bar) so you get a proper crema on top. Pod's aren't cheap at around 23p a shot but as I am the only coffee drinker in the house I don't end up chucking packs of stale coffee away. Good range of strengths & flavours too-including Decaff.

We've got a Nespresso at the office.

I find it noisy, a faff to clean (not had experience of others), and have had to wait for the pods to arrive for over a week, although this might be down to the 'extreme weather event'.

And the pods are expensive IMO.

In my professional opinion the only benefits of pods are consistency and ease of use. You get the same drink time after time but it isn't a great cup of coffee.

You could try a counter top bean to cup, they take fresh beans and milk and do the hard parts for you, less labour intensive, more consistent, but maybe more expensive. If you want to take beans and milk, push a button and get a nice cup of coffee with foam they are your best bet.

Not knocking stovetops, barista style machines, etc, they've all got their benefits.

I've come to the conclusion we need to get her somewhere she can try the coffee from a few of these machines and see what she thinks.

It may be a mediocre cup of coffee but if she likes it then it's good enough...

Can you get a wand that takes pods for your proper machine ?.

Get you to a proper kitchen shop, there is an excellent one in Leeds (my favourite shop!) where they will talk you through the different ones and you can taste etc.

I hate pod coffee makers for 2 reasons
1) I dont think the coffee is very good
2) We have a pod coffee machine at work and I hate work 😈

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-tassimo-coffee-machine-80#post-151289

Makes good coffee but too big on a crowded computer desk

I got a senseo. Works fine for making quick 'better than instant' coffee.
Got mine for a bargain £20, so it was worth it.

well y you buy something.

Pods machines save the senseo are very environmentally unfriendly. Pod are not recycable.
Plus as you may not be aware, nestle is:
French
Very unethical (remember the scandal of powder milk).

I do not agree about the senseo = filter coffee with foam on the top. Coffee might not be as good as one from the pods one but it still very drinkable. You can recycle the pods like standard coffee for plant, sinks etc...

[i]Plus as you may not be aware, nestle is:
French
Very unethical (remember the scandal of powder milk)[/i]
added to those 2 crimes, remember that a) their UK HQ is in Croydon, and b) their coffee tastes like shit. Surely ample reason for Nestle to be obliterated from the face of the earth.

Pods - well, they're OK for the [url= http://www.handpresso.com/ ]handpresso[/url], but otherwise a bit crap.

Have you looked at the Gaggia Caffitaly Capsule Sysytem?
You can convert it back to a standard coffee machine should you feel the need.
I use one as I'm an occasional user & hated throwing out stale coffee, or worse only having stale coffee in the house when you needed an espresso.
Very consistent, you can get pods in wittards in about 6 variates, and it can do cappuccino etc.

[Dons tin hat & hides under the table.]

Cheers.

Oi! Shut up you lot. That coffee machine I am trying to sell makes the best coffee in the world and is so ethical and environmentally friendly that Bono live in it and U2 stand on top of it when they play their next single!

WCA you how me a new screen and keyboard.

Mine are filled up with tea now 😉