The Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machine is one of the new breed of single serve capsule coffee makers that have come to the market in recent years. I first got one in 2007 and it’s still in use. Since then Krups have launched a newer model – the KP210040 (Melody). It is essentially the same machine apart from a few cosmetic changes and slight increase in the pressure, which I will go into below. Capsule coffee makers are designed for those for whom a good cup of coffee is one of life’s pleasures but either can’t be bothered to grind beans or spoon out ground coffee or for those who simply want their coffee fast.
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There are a few important things to that you need to bear in mind when buying a coffee maker. If you just buy the first one you come across based on price alone then the chances are you’ll come unstuck as this is an appliance that you will use day in day out.
Bar pressure
The number of bars of pressure refers to the strength with which water is pumped through the coffee. A high bar pressure will result in more flavour being extracted from the coffee. Professional quality machines have 15 bar pressure or more. The pressure is important if you want an authentic crema layer. This is the creamy looking foam that floats on top of a good espresso. It is formed from oils and sugars contained in the coffee bean.
My old Dolce Gusto coffee machine model has 14 bar pressure and I was always pleased with the result. The new version, however, now has the full professional quality 15 bar pressure – so even better.
How long to produce a cup of coffee?
The Dolce Gusto coffee machine is quite simple to use. You just fill up the removable water tank with cold water straight from the tap and switch the machine on. 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 a milk capsule and a coffee capsule you then just discard the first capsule and insert the second one and repeat. Personally I’m not bothered about big frothy cappuccinos, my favourite capsule is the Cafe Lungo which is a long espresso with the gorgeous crema layer. When I make one of these I tend to warm up a little milk in the cup by putting it in the microwave for twenty seconds before putting the coffee in. The reason I do this is that I like my coffee to be really hot and the coffee comes out of the Dolce Gusto at the optimum temperature for making coffee which 85-92°C. If I then add cold milk at this temperature it makes it a little cooler than I would like. I also make espressos a lot. I have a good friend, one of the mums at my son’s school, who is unbelievably picky about her coffee. She only drinks good espresso and normally refuses offers of anything other than a freshly ground espresso. Seriously, the first time she came to my house I asked her if she wanted a coffee and her answer was “it depends how you make it”! I’m glad to say that, although slightly dubious at first, the Dolce Gusto coffee machine passed the ‘Jenny’ test with flying colours and she has since been a regular visitor:)
Importance of 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. This way you can accommodate all sizes of cup.
Is cleaning the Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine a chore?
Keeping your Dolce Gusto coffee machine clean couldn’t be easier. I’d recommend emptying out the water tank when you finish using it and you can remove the drip tray and pod holder and wash them in the dishwasher occasionally. Other than that all you need to do is give the surface a wipe down every once in a while. It really is a mess free machine. If you need to de-scale it there are instructions in the manual but I can honestly say in three years I haven’t had to and it still looks great – see picture.
Drink variety and price of capsules
The only downside, and I hesitate to even use the word, is that you can only use the Dolce Gusto capsules in the Dolce Gusto coffee machine unlike some of the other pod/capsule coffee makers for which you can find alternatives. For example, if you have a Senseo coffee maker, as well as the official Douwe Egberts pods you can use Kenco pods and Tesco own-brand pods. However I have never found it a problem and there are now eighteen different varieties of drinks you can get for the Dolce Gusto so there’s bound to be something you love. Price wise you can expect to pay about £3.29 for 16 capsules. If you’re buying latte or cappuccino capsules half of them will be milk pods so you are only getting 8 cups of coffee. If, like me, and you want to add your own milk then choose capsules such as the Cafe Lungo or Cafe Classico ones. This will obviously give you much better value for money as you’ll get 16 cups of coffee for the same price. If you really want a frothy coffee and you have the time you can also think about getting a separate milk frother and make a cappuccino or latte using an espresso capsule and fresh milk.
Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine: Editor’s Verdict
Not the best coffee machine in the world BUT if it’s a quick and easy machine you’re after it comes pretty close when taking its cost into account. If your budget can stretch to the £200-£300 range then yes you can get a better machine – like the Gaggia Classic – but if not then this is the one for you. They are relatively inexpensive, so if you forgo one daily cup of coffee from your local Starbucks or Costa for a few weeks it will pay for itself. If you only have a small kitchen or you are the only coffee drinker in your household you may want to consider the Dolce Gusto Piccolo. This is a slightly smaller version.
Best Place to Buy the Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine
The Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machine is available on the Dolce Gusto website for £99 but you really shouldn’t be paying any more than £80 for it. The most expensive price I have come across for this coffee maker is £129 which is currently (Winter 2010) the price being charged in Marks and Spencer and the cheapest I have seen it is on Amazon (click here to view) where it is regularly priced at under £80 and even just under £70 very occasionally (with free delivery included).
Prices on Amazon change daily so click here to check out today’s Dolce Gusto discount
What’s Included
- 1 x Dolce Gusto coffee machine
- 1 x Capsule holder
- 1 x Drip Tray
- 1 x Variety pack of 12 coffee capsules
- 1 x Quick start guide containing recipe cards and instructions
Does it include a Warranty?
Yes, the Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine includes a 1 year warranty
But don’t take my word for it here’s what other people are saying about the Nescafe Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine
This coffee machine has received rave reviews from most consumers on the internet with an average of 4.5 out of 5 from most reviewers on.
Here are some of the comments to date:
- “I cannot recommend this coffee machine highly enough…..”
- “Lives up to the hype and never disappoints”
- “The coffee pods have a really authentic taste”
- “I have owned several coffee machines and this is by far the best”
- “Cracking bit of engineering”
- “The coffee is great tasting akin to that you would get from a coffee shop”
- “Best cup of coffee around!”
Any complaints?
I found a few complaints on consumer sites around the internet about machines having to be replaced soon after buying as they haven’t worked properly. But I guess this happens with most appliances and judging by the fact that the positive reviews far outweigh any negative ones I would say that these problems are the exception rather than the rule. If in any doubt buy from Amazon as their returns procedure is second to none. If you have a problem you just log in to your account and you can send them an automatic email requesting a refund or replacement.
Where Can You Read More Reviews for the Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine?
The best place for reviews from people like me who actually use the product is Amazon. Click here to read more.
If you already own a Dolce Gusto coffee machine please feel free to leave your own revie
