Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Off Topic Coffee Machine Suggestions

If only that was true...

On reading copious user reviews on different coffee machines, I was dismayed by at least one Miele owner, for example, whose coffee machine 'went pop' after just 18 coffee brews. I came to the conclusion that buying an expensive machine wasn't necessarily a guarantee of its longevity.

The Miele doesn't have a water filter either. I read that the integral water filters added significantly to their long-term performance - which is certainly true of my Tassimo's integral water filter, which is still performing strong after 5 years. The De'Longhi has such a water filter (and is readily available).

The Miele required a separate milk flask, compared to the De'Longhi's integral milk carafe. It also sports a swap-over steam wand, which is useful when my daughter visits - who only drinks Soy milk.

Likewise, the De'Longhi isn't so much 'idiot proof' as 'wife proof'. Just the press of a button is all that she needs to produce her choice of flat white, cappuccino, or latte macchiato.

For her, it should be almost as simple as using the Tassimo (I hope).

Addendum: today, I received a telephone call from Miele marketing, who insisted that the new models were now on sale at Steamer Trading Cookshop - which wasn't reflected on their website. The advice from Steamer was that such models wouldn't be available until just before Christmas (!).

We use a Villaware espresso machine with steam wand and love it! It's now 2 years old and going strong. The key to longevity is in the cleaning, after every use mine gets cleaned and I run a tank full of softened water through every few uses plus a white vinegar clean every few weeks. If you live in a hard water area you need to be especially careful. I also boil the pucks every week to flush out any old coffee residue.

The Villaware if it can still be had is very easy to use, can turn round a latte in under 5 minutes from switching on and has a half decent length steam wand with removable frother (gimmick, get denser micro foam without)

I'm dreading the day it stops working!

And a +1 for the Aeropress, amazing device and easily the best £20 I ever spent!

T

FWI, after a day's break. John Lewis have reintroduced the De'Longhi cashback offer on selected B2C machines. Offer closes on 14th October.

You can obtain a better cashback deal if you can find your chosen machine elsewhere, and is in stock by the other retailer.

Addendum: I visited Grand Designs Live at the NEC, where the new Miele CM7 countertop range was being demonstrated by Miele. You select 'cuppucinno' and the brew head automatically lowers to accommodate your chosen drink. To me, that really is style over substance, and certainly not worth the eye-watering £2.3k asking price.

The quest continues...

After 23 'sample cups' (and subsequent caffeine-affected sleep), I returned the De'Longhi to John Lewis. Even using the smoothest/full bodied of Lavazza beens, the coffee produced was dreadful (no matter how I adjusted the coffee strength or grinding method).

My conclusion is that an integrated milk carafe is no substitute for a dedicated steamer - which was an integral feature of my previous Bosch VeroCafe. The huge risk in even thinking about buying another one of these is their short life span - so it's not an option.

In my limited time with the De'Longhi, the milk carafe produced more 'froth' without body rather than milk in attempting to produce my favoured latte macchiato. The De'Longhi was only programmed to produce a small espresso macchiato (contrary to the photograph on the John Lewis website).

The Krups EA9010 has the familiar streamer that I'm looking for. Annoyingly, John Lewis had one on display: which still held a full water tank, coffee beans, and coffee grounds from when it was being demonstrated by a Krups representative a while ago (how hygienic) - but John Lewis staff weren't confident enough to provide a demonstration. While they referred me to online demonstrations, this wouldn't portray how the coffee tasted (!).

Still, I suppose that's what my daughter would call 'a first-world problem'.

None of the automated machines and milk 'frothers' I have used have delivered any where near the quality of drink I like.

If you want to go for a quality machine and grinder get a Rancilio Silvia and Rocky grinder.

It's a bit more involved than just pushing a button but the results will impress.

That's where I will be heading once my machine dies.

The number of times that you must have walked in to John Lewis, you would be better signing up for a Waitrose card and getting a free coffee...

Or just go to or have it delivered by 'your choice of coffee vendor' it is probably cheaper based on how often your machines need replacing

Russ

I just go to Patissierie Valerie. They use Illy coffee (IMO the best flavour of the mass market suppliers) and their flat white is served in a smaller cup with a double shot.

If you are a Barclays Premier account holder you don't even have to pay...

My point exactly.

Russ

I do have one, and I often do (the Waitrose own-branded beans are more than acceptable). Unfortunately, my local branch is at least 2 miles away from home, and wouldn't satisfy my weekly brewing of 35 cappuccinos. The cost of buying a new super-automatic is soon recovered compared to buying that number of cappuccinos from the likes of Starbucks or Costa, for example.

I have used over-rated and over-priced Illy coffee beans. Better quality beans at lower prices can be sourced elsewhere.

I'm going to controversially agree. I really missed my local 'Illy' coffee shop when I moved work location - but then, it did give me the opportunity to decaffeinate myself, although I am unfortunately slowly increasing my input again (would be worse if the coffee served at work actually tasted any good).

The illy beans produce a pretty good shot if you like the 'Italian' taste and they make a good flat white.

I also use Rave Coffees signature blend from time to time which is very nice.

T