I don’t know about you, but I can drink 4 cups of coffee a day (sometimes more when I’m feeling like it).
There’s nothing I can do about it. I just love it!
If you’re anything like me, you will definitely appreciate what I’ve prepared for you today.
Buying a Nespresso Machine: Pros and Cons
What is Nespresso? And why should you buy it? It is natural to ask these questions. Such machines are quite popular these days, but not everyone understands how they work and what they’re all about.
Let me explain. Nespresso coffee machines brew coffee using special airtight pods. They run hot water through those pods, allowing the beverage to brew. Yes, it’s that simple. Those pods (or Nespresso cups) come in 16 variations, offering different strengths and flavors.
Typically, a Nespresso coffee machine has a minimal number of buttons and simple, intuitive controls. These coffee makers can brew espresso and lungi, but some more advanced models feature milk frothers, which makes them suitable for cappuccino, latte, and other kinds of beverages.
Investing in a Nespresso machine can offer you many benefits. For instance:
These coffee makers are extremely easy to use. There’s no need for a learning curve since these machines are very user-friendly.
They are fast. They boil the water fast, and the coffee brewing process doesn’t take much time either. You can enjoy your hot delicious beverage without the need to wait.
Generally, they are more affordable than regular espresso machines, which don’t have a coffee pod system.
With Nespresso, you can get a good-quality espresso without sacrificing your kitchen space. These machines are quite compact and are suitable even for small living spaces.
They offer a variety of beverages. Depending on the model you choose, you can make espresso, latte, lungo, and so on.
Some models work with reusable Nespresso pods, which means you can use the ground coffee of your choice.
However, nothing is perfect. And even if your Nespresso coffee maker is top notch, there are still some drawbacks you might have to deal with:While making coffee at home (instead of going to the coffee shops) can really help you save some money, you should know that those pods (or Nespresso cups) aren’t very cheap. The average price of a 10-capsule set is around $7-10, which doesn’t seem like too much but can mean extra expenses if you drink a lot of coffee.
The lack of versatility is another minus. What I mean is Nespresso machines work only with Nespresso pods. You can’t, for example, buy a pack of Dolce Gusto Chococino pods and use them in your Nespresso machine, which kind of limits your freedom in terms of beverage choices.
Some Nespresso machine reviews note that even though these coffee makers can brew an excellent shot of espresso, it’s still not as good as beverages made in more professional coffee machines you can find in cafes and coffee shops.
How to Use Your Nespresso Machine (+ Cleaning and Descaling)
If you don’t know how to use
your new Nespresso machine, don’t worry. There’s not much to learn. You will find all the instructions in the info booklet, and they are super easy to follow.
However, when it comes to cleaning, descaling, and even using your machine for the first time, there are some clear steps you need to take.
Let’s start with the first-time use. In this case, you need to run a cycle without inserting the coffee pod. Simply “brew” some hot water into a mug or a container.
Now, you may be wondering how to clean your Nespresso machine. The main way is to descale it regularly (and I will explain how to descale Nespresso machines below). However, there are some other things you can do:
Wipe the exterior parts of your coffee maker using a damp cloth. Using clean water is the best way to preserve the coffee maker in the best condition.
Don’t leave the used coffee pods inside the machine for too long. This can create unnecessary (and harmful for the machine parts) residue. Just throw the capsule away right after you’ve brewed your beverage.
Now:
The best way to keep your coffee maker running smoothly is descaling it regularly.
So, do you want to know how to descale your Nespresso machine? I think you do. Basically, descaling means running a cycle without using a coffee pod. Instead, you mix some water with a descaling solution, pour it into the machine’s water reservoir, and let it go through the system. Some models have automatic descaling, others require you to run a regular cycle (by choosing the cup size) without inserting the pod.
As you can see, the process is very simple. However, I highly recommend reading the manual before going with this procedure since different models can have different descaling requirements and peculiarities.
A quick tip: if you cannot afford a special descaling solution at the moment (or simply want to save a couple of bucks), you can mix some water with vinegar. Such a mixture will work great for descaling. But don’t forget to run another clean-water cycle to rinse the vinegar out completely.
Are Espresso Pods Eco-Friendly?
Nespresso pods are an extremely convenient and not messy way to brew coffee.
But they’re single-use.
Around 41% of Americans owned a single-cup coffee maker in 2018, and the percentage is still growing to this day. So you can imagine how many Nespresso pods end up in the landfill every year.
Thankfully, Nespresso has a convenient recyclable program with more than 100,000 collecting points around the world. Their capsules are made of aluminum, which is basically a thick foil. The manufacturer can reuse them to make soda cans, engine parts, or even new capsules on the Nespresso aluminum value chain.
However, you can take a step further and choose fully compostable capsules made of sugarcane fibers that will break down in your compost bin in less than a month. Or, you can choose a multi-use refillable capsule and minimize the waste even more. Just discard coffee grounds in the compost after each use, rinse the capsule, and repeat.
Which Nespresso Machine Is for You? Buying Tips and Recommendations
This is crazy, but coffee isn’t just delicious. It can also improve your memory and broaden the attention span. Thankfully, enjoying coffee shop quality beverages without actually leaving your home is real these days. With such a huge number of different coffee machines, you can enjoy this beverage anytime.
But how do you pick the right Nespresso machine? You just need to determine your coffee needs and preferences.
These are the main, basic questions that will help you figure out what kind of machine you need exactly:
How much can you spend? Determining your budget will limit the range of available models, which means it will be easier for you to pick just one.
Do you want to use your own coffee grounds? If you prefer a specific kind of coffee beans or enjoying mixing them to get unique flavors, you definitely need a machine, which supports reusable Nespresso pods.
What coffee kind do you prefer? There are two main types of Nespresso machines: espresso/lungo models and the ones with milk frothers. Obviously, if you drink espressos only, you don’t need to pay more for a model with a milk frother. However, if you love lattes and cappuccinos, it might be a good idea to invest more. There’s also another option for those who enjoy a good cup of cappuccino occasionally: you can get a Nespresso espresso machine and buy an external milk frother. This is a rather budget-friendly solution.
How much coffee do you need? If you live alone or are the only member of your family who enjoys coffee, then you can go with a coffee machine that doesn’t have a very large water reservoir (perhaps even a single-cup serving machine). However, if you live with people who love coffee as much as you do, buying a larger machine (the one that can brew many cups of coffee one after one) would be a better idea.
My name is Yurii Brown. I am a passionate coffee geek and, concurrently, a certified coffee specialist.
I’ve been learning about coffee for a long time, testing various devices and practicing in home coffee brewing. I like to share my experience and insights with fellow coffee lovers so that my readers could enjoy the real taste of quality-brewed beverages.
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