Looking for some advice re coffee machines?

KerryL

I'm looking to buy a coffee machine for someone who lives for Starbucks cold ice lattes but not wanting to spend crazy money, ideally under £100, is this possible?  I know nothing at all about coffee, iced coffees or coffee machines, so any advice would be much welcomed.   

Emmia

KerryL said:

I'm looking to buy a coffee machine for someone who lives for Starbucks cold ice lattes but not wanting to spend crazy money, ideally under £100, is this possible?  I know nothing at all about coffee, iced coffees or coffee machines, so any advice would be much welcomed.   

There's two things 1) the cost of the coffee machine 2) the cost of the coffee to go in it.

Is the recipient is someone who wants to press a button and have their coffee made? Or are they going to be into grinding the beans, measuring the water temperature...

If it's the former then you can find a Nespresso Vertuo pod machine for under £100 (but the choice will be limited) but your recipient will then be locked into buying Vertuo pods which are currently only available from Nespresso, and work out expensive. I'm not sure whether you'd get one that would have the milk frother needed for the latte, but you can buy those separately.

Edit: Amazon have a Vertuo kit, that looks to have everything to get started for £99.99 https://amzn.eu/d/iEuzPf1

I have an Opal 1 pod coffee machine (which is more than £100) This takes the original Nespresso shape pods which are out of patent and therefore available from a huge number of producers (and are often half the price of the Vertuo capsules). But, it does black coffee only (which is fine for me), there's no milk frother. If I wanted froth I'd buy a dedicated milk frother.

Whilst the opal 1 is out of budget, you should be able to find an original capsule machine within the budget. Like this one https://amzn.eu/d/1ozv6Mn

There's also the L'Or or Tassimo pod machines which are well within budget, but the recipient is locked into those pods.

Tassimo: https://amzn.eu/d/8HLxsKE
L'Or: https://amzn.eu/d/56if4bO

Otherwise, if you think that the recipient would put in more effort, you could go for something like a Bialetti stove top or perhaps a filter coffee machine... Or an Aeropress!  But bean to cup is definitely not possible.

teaselMay

I'd avoid a capsule machine unless that's specifically what they want. It locks whoever you're buying it for in to buying capsules if they want to use it. I love my coffee but wouldn't buy capsules.

teaselMay

If they also drink hot coffee, these are great https://www.amazon.co.uk/FUOBECIE-Cafetiere-Stainless-Filtration-Insulated/dp/B0D7ZPN7CW two big mugs or three normal mugs worth of coffee and it keeps warm long enough for the second mug if you're drinking it all yourself.

I'm not an iced latte person and so don't know much about them but there are a fair few iced latte specific makers on Amazon in the £30-50 range. Ground coffee rather than pods gives a lot more flexibility and will almost certainly be a lot cheaper and more environmentally friendly to use.

p00hsticks

In my view, although it spoils the element of surprise, if you know nothing about coffee machines and the person you are buying for is a real afficionado, I'd be telling them what you're thinking of doing and asking them what they would like, rather than potentially wasting a good deal of money on something that is not to their taste. 

Perhaps make up a ' I promise to pay the bearer £100 towards a coffee machine of their choosing' type voucher  to give them as the present......

flaneurs_lobster

TBH, if someone's favorite coffee is Starbucks Iced Lattes then any money spent on a proper coffee machine would be wasted.

Have a look at this article in the Independent 

https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/house-garden/kitchen-appliances/best-cold-brew-coffee-maker-b1915796.html#productId_39348

Couple of gadgets there are within budget, I'd go for the Aeropress but I'm biased as I have one (for hot coffee) and think it's great.

vacheron

p00hsticks said:

In my view, although it spoils the element of surprise, if you know nothing about coffee machines and the person you are buying for is a real afficionado, I'd be telling them what you're thinking of doing and asking them what they would like, rather than potentially wasting a good deal of money on something that is not to their taste. 

Perhaps make up a ' I promise to pay the bearer £100 towards a coffee machine of their choosing' type voucher  to give them as the present......

I would agree here. Coffee is a very divided subject and everyone has their own opinions and the options are myriad.

As a minimum for an iced latte, you would need a machine to make (hot) espresso (or an espresso strength equivalent), a device to steam milk, plus a readily available source of ice.

When someone pays £5 for starbucks it is often because they don't have the time or inclination to make their own coffee, or else why pay so much for one average cup?

On this basis, perhaps a £100 starbucks voucher would be better recieived.

To use a car analogy, if your friend saw you taking your car to the garage for a service, would you expect them to buy you a set of spanners for chirstmas?  And just because you now have the tools, does that mean you will have the desire, skill, patience, (or all of the other equipment), required to actually do a good job?

FYI, The big silver machines you see in coffee shops cost between £7000-£15000, a prosumer alternative with similar brewing and milk steaming capabilities will cost between £1500 and £2000. This does not include the accessories, a grinder, steaming jug, tamper, knockbox and a good source of fresh beans. These also take about 20 minutes to warm up properly before you can use them.

Einst

If you just want something that you can just push a button, and get a great tasting cup of coffee, then you will not be able to do it for less than £100.
You may be able to get a cheap pod type machine, but while they are better than instant coffee.. they definitely have their drawbacks.
I do like coffee, so I have a Jura Z10... definitely way out of your budget..

turnbull10

Hi, Sorry to jump on this post but I'm also looking for a new coffee machine. I've had a Nespresso pod machine with aerator for around 10 years. Its reached the end of its life now and I'm looking at something a bit different . I don't think the Nespresso coffee is anything special. I tend to only drink flat white or American's but do like nice coffee. Can anyone recommend the aeropress? are they easy to use and what coffee is best to use in it? could I use it with a stand alone milk aerator maybe? thanks

sjohnson57

Some helpful advice on here re giving money or buying a machine.  I have owned pod machine, expensive bean to cup and a basic expresso machine.  I would go with a basic every time and use already ground coffee rather than the pod machines. Much less hassle, quicker and taste is just as good.  John Lewis used to do their own branded one which I have and it is still going strong after 3 years of daily use.  Nearest equivalent I have found is this one https://www.johnlewis.com/delonghi-ec260-bk-stilosa-espresso-coffee-machine-black/p5131112 .  Have bought this for someone and they really rate it.  I would also add in a metal milk frothing jug (range from £7-£20) on Amazon as it does make a difference to the frothiness of the milk.  If she/he/they are a good friend then they will appreciate your kindness whatever you decide. 

Emmia

turnbull10 said:

Hi, Sorry to jump on this post but I'm also looking for a new coffee machine. I've had a Nespresso pod machine with aerator for around 10 years. Its reached the end of its life now and I'm looking at something a bit different . I don't think the Nespresso coffee is anything special. I tend to only drink flat white or American's but do like nice coffee. Can anyone recommend the aeropress? are they easy to use and what coffee is best to use in it? could I use it with a stand alone milk aerator maybe? thanks

I have an Aeropress and a original shape Nespresso pod machine - I prefer the  pod coffee as I like espressos, but some pods are definitely better than others (metal ones work better than plastic)

I find Aeropress more like a filter coffee /cafetiere. If that's what you like,  then go with it.