Coffee Pod Machines

[Vagus]

Does anyone use any of the above, every day? Doesn’t it work out expensive to buy the pods?? Did you buy one, use it initially and now it’s just sitting there looking all forlorn???
One of the children has bought OH one unexpectedly for his birthday, and quite apart from trying to figure out how it blooming works (it has a separate milk frothier thing too, just to add to the confusion)just looking at the price of pods, whilst not unaffordable, seems a bit ott. And having to rearrange to kitchen to fit it in somewhere…
It comes from a loving place in said child’s heart, which is very much appreciated, but himself would rather have had another technical Lego set…so he’s just been and bought himself a huge lego helicopter!! He can drink his coffee while he builds it :)

[Redhelen72]

I used to have a dolce gusto and bought the pod’s online as it was cheaper, used it all the time for 6-8 coffees I drink whilst at home! But I got rid of it as the pods were not recyclable.
I really wanted a nespresso but couldn’t justify the price so bought an expression machine and the the hubster bought me a rather expensive machine for my birthday

[barry1010]

I had one and gave up on it mainly because the coffee wasn't hot enough and it was a bit of a faff. The pods were expensive at the time but I believe some machines are compatible with cheaper, supermarket brand pods

[-SharonA-]

I was given a barista coffee machine for Xmas & it is taking up quite a bit of space on the counter. I now use it once a day after discovering that the strong coffee beans I like cost a FORTUNE. I had a nespresso before and buying the decent pods like L'or can eat into your shopping budget as I tended to use 2 pods per cup.

[tiggerblue10]

I wanted to get one last but glad I didn't. My parents have a Tassimo and there are no supermarket own brand alternatives for them and some supermarkets don't sell the Tassimo capsules. Their local lidl doesn't anyway.

[bhg481]

We have a dolce gusto which we bought about 15 years ago after seeing one demonstrated in a department store and finding the coffee surprisingly hot. I have a full English on Sundays and always use it then and on other random occasions. It works out about 50p per cup, which isn't too bad and makes a drink I like.

[roslyn251254]

We've got one and use it a lot ...thoroughly recommend ....OH used to work for Nestles so I have to say that! But the drinks are nice and the aldi ones work out quite cheaply.
The "proper" ones are often on offer in the supermarkets or in B&M

[Redhelen72]

Even with a top notch machine I pre heat my cup

[Prudie]

I don't drink coffee ever but husband does. He was given a Nespresso 2 or 3 years ago and uses it every day (the milk frother part maybe only once or twice a month). At first it was a faff but the pods are now recyclable and several cheaper supermarket brands fit the machine. I was irritated at first at the amount of space it took up in the kitchen but I've got used to it.

[straydog]

We have a Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea machine and use it every day at breakfast. It makes a range of lovely coffees and costs just less than 50p a cup. We haven’t yet found any supermarket versions of the pods so buy them in bulk online. And yes, they are recyclable.

[Samuraisan]

We have had a Dolce Gusto for about 7 years now and use it everyday. We buy supermarket compatible brand pods. I always heat my milk up first in the microwave and froth it up, then put the coffee in. Lovely.

[Vagus]

Thanks for all your answers.
I’m puzzled as to how you can use cheaper pods as it would appear there’s a bar code on the top of each pod which allows the machine to know firstly, how big a volume of cup/mug to make, and secondly, that it’s a ‘proper’ pod for that machine.
Anyone enlighten me?

[bhg481]

No barcodes on Dolce Gusta.

[Redhelen72]

What machine is it vagus as not all machines have cheaper pods

[Dizmo]

Vagus, the barcode on the top of the cheaper pots tells the machine that it's ok to use said pot.

[Vagus]

I should have said, this is a Nespresso Vertuo Next and it’s come with a separate electric hot or cold milk frothier. It’s quite slimline and I’ve found a space for it on the worktop.

[Dizmo]

My answer applies to machines that you can use cheaper pods in. My machine has a barcode reader. Having said that, I also have a label maker that prints barcodes so I can just print a barcode that says the current pod is a genuine one.

[Vagus]

You weren’t all there when I started typing :)

[Dizmo]

I'm not all there, even when I am here (or there).

[Vagus]

Either am I Diz…. **

[choux]

Vagus, I am a coffee addict and I drink coffee all day and part of the night :) I have a Tassimo machine in my bedroom and a Dolce Gusto in the kitchen (as well as a large filter machine - rarely gets used these days). I mostly buy pods on line (Amazon Prime and that gives me the cost per pod. Occasionally it may be cheaper in supermarkets when on special offer. tbh I would still buy in the quantities I do if they were double the price. It is the one weakness I have (that I will admit to on here!) ;)

Good luck to your OH with the huge helicopter!! Will it's first trial be outdoors? Will he get it through a doorway?

I should keep a wee tot ready for your coffee when the time comes x