Nespresso - pretentious? Moi?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Ilmington, Warwickshire
Posts: 84
Nespresso - pretentious? Moi?
Now, I love my Nespresso machine. Really convenient and clean. Nice strong cup of coffee without all the mess and rather a handsome, industrial looking beast on my kitchen work surface. I’ve got a fancy little carousel pod holder alongside it so I can see just what particular flavour coffee I fancy. However, and please keep this quiet, I can’t actually tell the difference between these pods! When I go on the Nespresso website, I read all the flavour descriptions and their origins but I’ve sometimes ended up ordering the pods because I like the colour!!
I started to wonder if the coffee pod industry is a little like The Emperors New Clothes? No one actually wants to put up their hands and say...actually, I don’t get it at all. It made me do some googling and I found this article which seemed to sum up my experience completely:
https://www.theguardian.com/commenti.../drink.comment
i would also add that my machine is also in on the game. Nespresso lost the exclusive patent to produce the particular pods for its machines several years ago, supposedly meaning one could buy cheaper versions from other suppliers. My coffee maker can detect an imposter immediately and will mangle and crush any that I dare to drop down its hatch.
I started to wonder if the coffee pod industry is a little like The Emperors New Clothes? No one actually wants to put up their hands and say...actually, I don’t get it at all. It made me do some googling and I found this article which seemed to sum up my experience completely:
https://www.theguardian.com/commenti.../drink.comment
i would also add that my machine is also in on the game. Nespresso lost the exclusive patent to produce the particular pods for its machines several years ago, supposedly meaning one could buy cheaper versions from other suppliers. My coffee maker can detect an imposter immediately and will mangle and crush any that I dare to drop down its hatch.
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 56
Posts: 6,172
A guardian article I agreed with, blimey!
I have one of those filter percolator jobbies which has been stuffed into the bottom of a cupboard for the last few years; i use a plunger job now with Kenyan coffee ... mmmm.
For a really nice coffee I go to a great little Italian cafe in Croydon. I always get an extra large cup these days cos they like me for some strange 1reason. Best of all, instead of some pansy biscuit on the side, it comes with bacon, eggs, sausages, etc... Just digesting one now as a matter of fact...
I have one of those filter percolator jobbies which has been stuffed into the bottom of a cupboard for the last few years; i use a plunger job now with Kenyan coffee ... mmmm.
For a really nice coffee I go to a great little Italian cafe in Croydon. I always get an extra large cup these days cos they like me for some strange 1reason. Best of all, instead of some pansy biscuit on the side, it comes with bacon, eggs, sausages, etc... Just digesting one now as a matter of fact...
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Age: 75
Posts: 299
Good to see that, in "Our Girl", Captain James favours Nespresso Rosabaya capsules. More seriously, here in Hong Kong Nespresso always offers you the opportunity to hand back used capsules for recycling - it's not too difficult to do that.,
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 76
Posts: 16,658
Originally Posted by Prophead
Recycling still uses resources and generates waste. Not to mention those that do not bother. Far better to not use that needless packaging in the first place.
Mrs PN has yet to grasp the art of separating waste.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Reading
Age: 37
Posts: 100
Originally Posted by Prophead
These are my pet hate.
How on earth, in this day and age of trying to decrease packaging and waste are these deemed acceptable? We have them at work and there are about 10 flavours all in there own boxes. Each cup of coffee requires taking out an individual pod then throwing it away. Granted they recycle but that's hardly an answer is it? The amount of packaging for a cup of coffee is criminal but nobody seems to mind as its fashionable.
As spoken about in the article, it's not just the capsules either, we have elaborate wooden boxes and chrome racks to store them.
I purposely bring in a jar of instant and stand by the kettle listening to them all speaking twaddle about how the Guatemalan has a more refined taste than the Ristretto whilst they try and use the machine that resembles the controls in the Wizard of Oz.
How on earth, in this day and age of trying to decrease packaging and waste are these deemed acceptable? We have them at work and there are about 10 flavours all in there own boxes. Each cup of coffee requires taking out an individual pod then throwing it away. Granted they recycle but that's hardly an answer is it? The amount of packaging for a cup of coffee is criminal but nobody seems to mind as its fashionable.
As spoken about in the article, it's not just the capsules either, we have elaborate wooden boxes and chrome racks to store them.
I purposely bring in a jar of instant and stand by the kettle listening to them all speaking twaddle about how the Guatemalan has a more refined taste than the Ristretto whilst they try and use the machine that resembles the controls in the Wizard of Oz.
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 4,728
I use a thin glass jug with a metal strainer gizmo on the top. Take the gizmo off, a good dessertspoon of coffee in, boiling water, a pause to get the cups and then press the filter down.
Excellent coffee and various world flavours are about £1.50/200gms of which each last about a week.
Excellent coffee and various world flavours are about £1.50/200gms of which each last about a week.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 76
Posts: 16,658
Originally Posted by Fareastdriver
I use a thin glass jug with a metal strainer gizmo on the top. Take the gizmo off, a good dessertspoon of coffee in, boiling water, a pause to get the cups and then press the filter down.
Excellent coffee and various world flavours are about £1.50/200gms of which each last about a week.
Excellent coffee and various world flavours are about £1.50/200gms of which each last about a week.
At work my PA always had a filter jug ready for when I arrived.
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 860
Originally Posted by oldbeefer
I use Lidl compatible capsules, and can't fault the taste (at much lower cost). They are accepted by the machine with no problems.
i agree. However the Aldi ones give me a problem as they seem to ‘implode’ and the coffee drips out at a snails pace!
i was recently browsing in my local Poundland, as you do, and I found boxes of Taylor’s of Harrogate Italian blend capsules for, obviously, £1 I scooped up the lot as they are on sale in most supermarkets at £3 a pop.Bargain!
Nigerian In Law
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Haven't been there, never done that.
Age: 61
Posts: 1,001
An alternative is a bean to cup machine. Can't get much fresher than grinding beans, pressing through water and into the cup all at once, so to speak. And the only waste are the coffee grounds.
NEO
NEO
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Oxford
Posts: 127
We take our home/office (team of 6) coffee seriously - clients and visiting reps appreciate getting away from Nescafe instant (gets lots of unsolicited compliments).
We use a Dualit (https://www.nisbets.co.uk/dualit-3-i...5-33b436c50041) 'Italian style' mini coffee machine - replaced every couple of years or so but it does get some hammer - with a variety of ground coffees (all get to choose and even do their own mixes - my favourite,normally, a 2:1 belnd of Illy black and Waitrose Expresso as an Americano). We have an an ex-Costa girlie who does much of the coffee, and 'her indoors' got 'coached' by Mr Worrall Thompson's barista of the day.
All in all, still cheaper than the Nespresso solution, a bit of a talking point and damn fine coffee that most people notice and appreciate.
We use a Dualit (https://www.nisbets.co.uk/dualit-3-i...5-33b436c50041) 'Italian style' mini coffee machine - replaced every couple of years or so but it does get some hammer - with a variety of ground coffees (all get to choose and even do their own mixes - my favourite,normally, a 2:1 belnd of Illy black and Waitrose Expresso as an Americano). We have an an ex-Costa girlie who does much of the coffee, and 'her indoors' got 'coached' by Mr Worrall Thompson's barista of the day.
All in all, still cheaper than the Nespresso solution, a bit of a talking point and damn fine coffee that most people notice and appreciate.
Last edited by Senior Paper Monitor; 21st Jun 2018 at 20:08.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 76
Posts: 16,658
One NATO unit would brew a pot of filter first thing. Throughout the day more coffee and water was added. You can imagine the flavour at knocking off time.
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,141
The main advantage of the local (about 25 minute walk) Nespresso boutique is they insist on offering an espresso/cappuccino when one walks in to buy a box of capsules. Hpwever my sister with excellent italian connections still use the old espresso machine to be used on a stove.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Reading, UK
Posts: 11,312
Originally Posted by Nigerian Expat Outlaw
An alternative is a bean to cup machine. Can't get much fresher than grinding beans, pressing through water and into the cup all at once, so to speak. And the only waste are the coffee grounds.
