Value for Money

CONOR POPElooks at Nespresso coffee makers

Delonghi Lattissima Nespresso Machine €299

This is a very expensive option and while it does a whole lot more than its rivals, we have to wonder if all the extra functionality is worth the extra cleaning. It makes very good cappuccinos and lattes but because of the extra cleaning, we reckon you’d be better off buying a simpler machine and a frother if you like your coffee milky. The flex was weirdly short and the machine too bulky. But, ultimately, our biggest concern was the price. It is more than twice as expensive as the cheapest models and is simply too dear.

Verdict:Dear and fussy **

Krups Nespresso Citiz €179

This machine is slimline, easy to clean, easy to set up and delivers good coffee without any fuss. It is not particularly cheap which is bad but it is very thin which is good and makes it ideal for small kitchens. It has no bells and whistles and will not deliver you a multi-syllabic coffee, the like of which you might find in your local Starbucks, but we liked its no-frills approach. We were able to set it up without any cause to turn to the manual, which pleased us and we liked the fact that the tray that is intended for espresso cups folds neatly out of the way when a bigger mug is brought into the picture.

Verdict:Skinny and simple ****

Magimix Pixie Nespresso €149

The water reaches the right temperature in 25 seconds which, the makers claim, makes it the fastest Nespresso on the market. This may well be true but the others are also pretty fast and we really don’t mind if our coffee takes 25 seconds or 40, so we did not find this boast overly impressive. It is slimline and easy to use and comes in a range of colours. It is also among the cheapest machines on the market and delivers an excellent cup of coffee.

Verdict: Scores on price. *****

Magimix Nespresso Citiz €179

Like the Krups model this is slimline, cleans easily, is simple to set up and the coffee is excellent. It also costs exactly the same which is to say not particularly cheap. There are Nespresso machines on the market for less than €100 and the coffee that comes out of them is identical to this and like this, they lack any bells and whistles. What you do get with this is a stylish and durable product that will look good in any kitchen.

Verdict:Skinny and simple ****

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