Like the original Nescafe Dolce Gusto, the Dolce Gusto Piccolo is a capsule coffee maker. They both take the same capsules, the only difference being that the Piccolo is smaller and more compact. It still has the same professional 15 bar pressure as the standard size Dolce Gusto which is important as the number of bars of pressure refers to the strength with which water is pumped through the coffee. A high bar pressure results in a more flavoursome coffee. The pressure is essential if the machine is going to be able to produce a good crema layer.
How Long Does the Dolce Gusto Piccolo Take to Produce a Cup of Coffee?
The Dolce Gusto Piccolo is very simple to use. You just fill up the removable water tank with cold water straight from the tap and switch the machine on. (The water tank is smaller than on the standard Dolce Gusto – 0.62 litres as opposed to 1.3 litres) Insert a coffee capsule into the holder, move the lever to on and hot coffee appears in two or three seconds. If you are making a drink that involves using both a milk and a coffee capsule you just discard the first capsule and insert the second one and repeat.
The Drip Tray
A traditional espresso comes in a small, short cup while latte glasses are tall. If a latte is your drink then choose a machine with either an adjustable or removable drip tray. The drip tray on the Piccolo is adjustable. It can accommodate all cup and glass sizes.
Cleaning the Dolce Gusto Piccolo
Keeping your Dolce Gusto Piccolo clean is fairly straightforward. I’d recommend emptying the water tank when you finish using it and the drip tray and pod holder are both dishwasher safe so no problems there. Other than that all you need to do is give the surface a wipe down every once in a while.
Drink variety and price of capsules
You can only use Dolce Gusto capsules in the Piccolo but there 18 different varieties now. You can expect to pay about £3.29 for 16 capsules. Be aware though that If you are buying latte or cappuccino capsules half of them will be milk capsules so you will only be getting 8 cups of coffee from one box. If, like me, and you want to add your own milk then choose capsules such as the Cafe Lungo or Latte Macchiato ones. This will obviously give you much better value for money as you’ll get 16 cups of coffee for the same price. 
One thing I would highly recommend if you want to go down this route is getting yourself a separate milk frother and make a cappuccino or latte using an espresso capsule and fresh milk. I have a Bodum frother (see image on right) which is absolutely brilliant. The usual price is about £20 but you can usually pick one up on Amazon for about half that. Click here. The secret to using this gadget is to use cold semi skimmed milk and when you pump it be sure to keep the plunger under the surface of the milk. Once it has thickened up a bit (after about 30 seconds) pop it into the microwave on full power for about 45 seconds. When it comes out you will have thick frothy milk so you will be able to make a superb cappuccino or latte. Click the links for more detailed instructions on how to make a cappuccino or how to make a latte.
The Dolce Gusto Piccolo in a nutshell
The Dolce Gusto Piccolo is cute and compact and should appeal to those with limited kitchen space. If, however, you have more space and there are two or more of you regularly drinking coffee then I’d opt for the standard Dolce Gusto (read the standard Dolce Gusto Review here) as cost wise – if you shop in the right place – there’s not a huge amount of difference in price between the two machines. Pros: Quick and easy to use – you can have a decent cup of coffee in around 30 seconds from start to finish. Cons:You can only use Dolce Gusto capsules and there is no steam pipe so if you want to make drinks with fresh milk you need to heat the milk up first otherwise your coffee won’t be that hot.
Where Can You Buy the Dolce Gusto Piccolo For The Best Price?
You can buy the Dolce Gusto Piccolo at various high street stores where it is generally sold at around £89.99. However you will usually find the piccolo on the internet for less. Amazon quite frequently have it priced below £50 (with free delivery included).
Prices change daily so click here to view today’s discount on Amazon.
Does it include a Warranty?
Yes, the Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine includes a 2 year warranty
What Other People Are Saying About the Dolce Gusto Piccolo?
This coffee machine has received rave reviews from consumers on the internet with Amazon buyers giving it a five star rating. Here are some of the comments to date:
- “It’s perfect! fabulous coffee in an instance”
- “Great coffee in a small and cute package!! I am absolutely in love with it!!”
- “We bought a Dolce Gusto machine a few years ago when they were first available for purchase and could not fault it. We decided to purchase a new one and the Piccolo caught our eye and I am glad it did as many features have been refined. We used it on arrival and found it more compact than the old one and fits neatly in the space provided. It is easy to use. Most importantly it makes excellent coffee, but must try the new iced peach tea (when the snow goes).”
- “One of the best kitchen items I have bought, its compact, efficient and makes lovely fresh coffee in seconds, I would most certainly say if you are thinking about buying one, do it, you won’t regret it.”
Any complaints?
Not that I’m aware of. The only niggle a few people mention is that they find the latte and cappuccino capsules a bit sweet. There is now a new unsweetened latte capsule available which if you can’t get from your local supermarket you will be able to pick up directly from the Dolce Gusto website. www.dolce-gusto.co.uk/latte-unsweetened
Read More Reviews for the Dolce Gusto Piccolo
To read more reviews from people who own this product visit Amazon. Click here to read more reviews. If you you have any questions please use the form below and we will reply. Please post your own reviews below if you already own a Dolce Gusto Piccolo – we love to hear them.
