Coffee Beverages

[zingo1327]

I don't drink coffee but want to get a coffee machine as a present for someone who drinks Cappuccino.Latte and Mocha.Reading up on the subject it says that the 3 I've mentioned are prepared using Espresso.Does that mean you would have to make espresso first, and if so could you make a batch of it for future use?
Told you I don't drink coffee :-)
Advice on which machine to buy at £40 to £100 would also be welcome.
Thank you in advance

[2sp_]

When I was a waitress, I would make an espresso first and then add milk (in whatever form suited) to make lattes, cappuccinos etc.

We never made a batch of it as each cup was made individually. More hassle than it would be worth to make a batch.

Domestic machines are much easier, you just get wee pod things for each drink.

[bhg481]

We have the Nescafe Dolce Gusto and love it. You buy a box of 16 pods for about £4 which contains either 8 milk and 8 coffeee or 16 coffee, depending on whether it's a white or black coffee (chocolate also available). Loads of varieties ie, latte, mocha etc.
We've had ours about 7 years now with no problems.

[Old_Geezer]

I've yet to buy one; but on principle I'd steer clear of pod versions. It ties the owner in to the manufacturer's coffee, preventing wider choice.

[Clanad]

Well, not actually OG... at least here in the U.S. Here, one can buy almost any flavor or grind or roast of their favorite coffee in pods and use in any kind of machine.

But, in line with your objection is the cost. The pods cost almost 3 times as much as the same amount of coffee if bought 'whole bean' and ground at home...

[stuey]

Clanad, my downstairs neighbour: how ya doin', PODner?:)

[gingejbee]

Latest Which? (actually December's) has just tested them and this one gets Best Buy status...performs better than others at TEN times the price!


http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-em13-espresso-machine/536-7242.prd

[mccfluff]

we have a tassimo at work & its nice enough - much the same as the nescafe dolce gusto, you buy the pods to put in the machine, but they do wprk out quite expensive

at the very basic end of the market but i like my cafetiere, & i can vary the coffee/strength to suit, you can buy milk frothers to make the latte

Mum has a machine that grinds the beans etc, a mini version of the ones in the cafes, its great but was v expensive

[Clanad]

Hey stu! Gettin' snow... Some parts of Buffalo are expecting 100 inches before it's all over!

Stay warm cowboy...

[Clanad]

Gettin' snow? (forgot the curly topped thingy)

[BlackadderV]

Would one of those work with pre-packed coarse -ground beans, ginge?

[stuey]

We only got about three inches here, and Buffalo is just a mere hop, skip and a jump away (about ninety miles)...We were lucky!

[gingejbee]

@blackadder...This machine is one of the "traditional" types ie not a capsule-type and not a bean-to-cup type...so it uses ordinary pre-ground coffee. It's quite a steal at that price and Which? were impressed.