Coffee Appreciation

Just trying to see whether anyone's open minded enough to even consider the possibility.

I expect lots of people here have tried Nespresso and assumed that all capsule machines are as gross. And they'll never try another capsule machine because they'll almost certainly never encounter anything but Nespresso.

A machine which removes the possibility of human error in preparation should in theory produce better results with the same coffee than a manual machine.

To my mind the problem is the capsules. I’m not aware of any technological leap which solves the freshness and brew ratio problems inherent in them but I’d be glad to be put right. I have had speciality grade capsules and they’re an improvement, good for people who don’t want the faff of spesh coffee prep at home, but do show us what you’ve got.

Capsule machines will certainly be more consistent, and for a lot of people that makes them worthwhile. Especially if the alternative is trying to figure out how to make a decent espresso with what can often be finicky home espresso machines.

You prefer a capsule machine over a standard espresso machine, excellent, you've avoided a whole lot of faff that comes with home espresso. What's better for you and others are likely going to be different, so unless you're looking at some actual metrics you want to compare, it'll be horses for courses.

I will say, it does seem like you're fishing for a debate/argument. I may well be wrong on that, and apologies if so.

FWIW, if I had to choose between only being able to have coffee from my £5 plastic V60, or my fancy lever espresso machine, I'd choose the V60 every time.

Edit: What he said ^

|t's a bog standard Illy Iperespresso Y3.3. All of £75. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Iperespresso-Coffee-Machine-Capsules-Black/dp/B085238JSZ

Sweet, glad you enjoy it.

I wanted a machine for my campervan, and a real machine would have been too big and awkward and messy, so I thought I'd see what capsule machines are like, expecting a rather severe compromise. Tried a Nespresso, yuck, decided I'd rather use a Bialetti, but then tried the Iper, just because of the Illy name really. I like their beans and was intrigued that they'd taken over the company which used to make Iperespresso machines, and I was stunned. It's even good enough to drink it black. But usually I have it with microwaved milk. For reference, the other places I like to go, apart from my kitchen, are Monmouth and the Little Cat cafe in Myatt's Field Park. I live in Brixton but dislike all the coffee in the coffee shops here.

These things, on the subject of convenience, I was very impressed with. They were sent from America in dry ice to someone I know in YouTube advertising. They’re frozen coffee essence, basically freshly brewed coffee concentrate that you thaw (you can thaw them up to 4 days in advance), then pour hot water over. Like coffee squash. They taste very good, will be interesting to see how they take off.

I sound like a shill don’t I. I’ve got no commercial interest at all in these, was just impressed.

1 Attachment

Looks interesting https://coffeecode.co.uk/cometeer-coffee-uk/ When's it coming here?

Don’t know where they are with it in the USA, if it ends up being just a niche speciality thing then probably never, unless someone here copies it. If they attract enormo-corp investment and can market it fully then it could be any time soon. It would fit with Nestlé under their amazingly credible Blue Bottle brand but it would fight with Nespresso. Just as likely, they’ll buy the company to bury it if they see it as a sufficient threat.

I used to drink a lot of coffee from Birch and Joe when I lived in NYC. They were two of the more reliable roasters in NYC out of the hundreds that exist. These look cool.

I don’t know what each roaster’s coffee tastes like brewed conventionally but all of these had great complexity and acidity. I do like the idea that you get an assortment from different roasters, I’d be happy to participate in something like this.

I tried tha Pact capsules a few years ago when I found myself with an unwanted capsule machine.

I was quite impressed but unfortunately the machine had a hard time piercing the capsules properly and eventually the "piercer" was permanently blunted. Nearly half of the capsules I tried ended up not making coffee and being damaged beyond use. Pact were great, stood by their "experimental product" and we're happy to refund me for each failed one. It was just too much if a faff and an expensive way to make coffee.

Interesting experience though. Can see that decent pods might be appealing to those with deep pockets.

On the subject of pods, I’m heading into quarantine in a couple of weeks and will only have access to a pod machine. Are there any go to pods which are better than shit? Bearing in mind I will have 21 days for my taste buds to get used to them.

Colonna would be my choice.

The espresso best pods I had were from the Illy system. They were good enough to be used by the nice hotel in Milan where I tried them.

Nespresso makes me think of awful office coffee.

Thanks both, I’ll stick enough for 2 a day from Colonna in my case and put the illy ones in my shopping basket for delivery if I run out of the Colonna.

Second this - picked some up when we were staying at a hotel in bath. They were whispers very good

BTW @StevePeel your team are always great with their customer service

Ditto - I've enjoyed nothing but helpfulness and effectiveness from you guys.

Where on earth expects 21 days quarantine?!? Even Queensland is only 14 days... My condolences...

Nice one, we do our best :)

My guess is China

Hong Kong

https://roargill.com/collections/nespresso-compatible-pods-compostable-organic-range

Ah, I see... Everyone's allowed to travel apart from us in Oz it seems...