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An Analysis of Nespresso

jimseven.com

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Re: An Analysis of Nespresso

#91

Post by on_and_off »

xroche wrote: post #53

I bought a "real" coffee machine for me and my colleagues (Jura impressa F50 -- https://us.jura.com/en/homeproducts/machines/IMPRESSA-F50-Cl... ) and, despite being a bit more complicated than a nespresso one, it cost less (despite buying pretty good coffee beans, freshly roasted, and despite the high cost of the machine), and the taste is IMHO better (but this is only a personal opinion). The only cons: cleaning a b…

I did the same thing recently :-) .

I bought a Jura F9. Additionally, it can prepare some specialities like Latte Macchiato or flat white. It is not equivalent to a preparation made manually but IMO it tastes pretty good. YMMV, but I think its espresso is significantly better than what a Nespresso machine can produce.

I contemplated buying a semi-manual machine for several years, but I knew that I would not take the time to operate it every morning. An automatic machine is a good answer to this issue.

The only real downside I can see is the initial investment compared to a Nespresso machine.

Re: An Analysis of Nespresso

#92

Post by jimseven »

rizumu wrote: post #74

I been keeping an eye on this Roast-grind-brew coffee machine startup and still can't make up my mind if it is worth it:( https://www.bonaverde.com/en ). I'm still happy grinding my own beans and slow brewing them in a vacuum press. Seems though that the all-in-one roast to cup would be tastier for a cup of coffee (not an espresso). I drank Nespresso for a few years at work. Always went for the dark/espresso roast bu…

I'd be genuinely astounded if they manage to build that machine and it works, let alone works well.

Re: An Analysis of Nespresso

#93

Post by jasonkester »

stbtrax wrote: post #64
jasonkester wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A real espresso pulled by a professional will run you €0.90 in Europe (unless you live in a the center of Paris, in which case you might get to spend as much as €1.50). There's usually one of those professionals within 50 yards of your home, possibly even on your walking route to work. So it's not always even saving you money. Certainly compared to driving out of your way to a Starbucks and paying US (or god forbid,…

where are you getting $2.50 bag of coffee? decent single origin seems to be ~$16-20 for 12 oz these days

Carrefour. Lavazza Espresso Italiano two packs (2 x 250g) cost a little less than five euro here in France. Illy in its aluminum can on the top shelf works out to a little less than double that per kg.

It was cheaper in Spain, I recall. More like €1.80 for a 250g bag (cheaper still for Bonka, which you need to buy at least once just for the awesome name).

Re: An Analysis of Nespresso

#94

Post by carlob »

bambax wrote: post #39

The site is unavailable so I don't know what's in the article, but from the comments I gather it's looking at the benefits of owning a Nespresso machine at home? Here in France everyone has a Nespresso machine or two (I have three); you can buy Nespresso capsules from Nespresso shops, or alternative capsules in any supermarket, anywhere. What Nespresso sells is simplicity and consistency, and an above-average taste.…

I think the penetration of Nespresso in the French market might also be related to the consistently bad quality of espresso in cafés. I really don't understand how that has come to be, given that most of the other souther European countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal, most of former Yugoslavia…) usually have pretty good espresso and largely use the same kind of equipment and coffee blends.

Re: An Analysis of Nespresso

#95

Post by jasonkester »

bambax wrote: post #76
jasonkester wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A real espresso pulled by a professional will run you €0.90 in Europe (unless you live in a the center of Paris, in which case you might get to spend as much as €1.50). There's usually one of those professionals within 50 yards of your home, possibly even on your walking route to work. So it's not always even saving you money. Certainly compared to driving out of your way to a Starbucks and paying US (or god forbid,…

> unless you live in a the center of Paris, in which case you might get to spend as much as €1.50 Or €2. Or €2.50... But I don't really get why people are comparing Nespresso to having coffee outside the house. I need an expresso the moment I wake up, before I wash, before I dress. It's really not about the money; it's about convenience, reliability. Peace of mind. Nespresso makes uncertainty go away. Your morning co…

Well said. I get something of a free pass on this by being American (Edit: In France, in case that wasn't clear).

I can roll out of bed and walk down to said cafe without showering, perfectly coiffing myself, or even wrapping a scarf around my neck (seriously! leaving the house with no scarf!!!) and know that I won't actually lose any more status in anybody's eyes for my shabbiness. When you've got nothin' you've got nothin' to lose, and all that.

I think you're right in this though. Check back with me in a few months and I bet I'll have one of these machines in my house.

Re: An Analysis of Nespresso

#96

Post by bambax »

carlob wrote: post #94
bambax wrote: post #39

The site is unavailable so I don't know what's in the article, but from the comments I gather it's looking at the benefits of owning a Nespresso machine at home? Here in France everyone has a Nespresso machine or two (I have three); you can buy Nespresso capsules from Nespresso shops, or alternative capsules in any supermarket, anywhere. What Nespresso sells is simplicity and consistency, and an above-average taste.…

I think the penetration of Nespresso in the French market might also be related to the consistently bad quality of espresso in cafés. I really don't understand how that has come to be, given that most of the other souther European countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal, most of former Yugoslavia…) usually have pretty good espresso and largely use the same kind of equipment and coffee blends.

I have been (many times) to Italy, Spain and Portugal, and while I have been consistently amazed and wowed by the quality of expressos in Italy, I can't say the same for Spain and Portugal...? Coffee in cafés there (to me) tastes very much like the ones we get in Paris?

What I find strange in Paris (or France) is that all expressos in any café taste exactly the same. It's not absolutely bad, it's a little bitter and quite strong; but why is the taste so consistent?

Food products are usually not consistent; nothing can be more different than baguettes or croissants coming from different bakeries for example.

I have zero actual information about this, but would imagine it's because all cafés get their equipment and coffee from the same vendors and never try anything else...?

Re: An Analysis of Nespresso

#98

Post by saalaa »

_benedict wrote: post #32
keithpeter wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I take the OA's point, however most of us (I assume) will be using a cafetiere or a paper filter based coffee maker at home rather than doing the full artisan roast and grind. In my case, I'm using pre-ground coffee in foil bags from the local supermarket at around £3 to £4 per 227g standard pack. I make myself a large diluted coffee each morning using a 3-cup mokapot. The 5 minute prep time isn't onerous and the eco…

My personal experience is freshly ground coffee has a much better taste. Although not much better than when you first open a bag of store-bought ground coffee. If you don't notice the coffee get less flavourful over the course of a couple of weeks, and then tastier when you open a new bag, then there's a reasonable chance you won't notice a sufficient difference in freshly ground coffee. One thing you unequivocally g…

> freshly ground coffee

This is actually the single most determining factor for a good coffee.

Re: An Analysis of Nespresso

#99

Post by lukesan »

jarek wrote: post #87
stinos wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your suspicion is likely wrong though - I have no science to back this up but am 100% sure in blind tetsts people with normally developped taste buds would pick the freshly ground one from the pre-ground one. The difference in taste is just too big to ignore (or at least the difference between the ground vs pre-ground I have here at home is). Unlike the improvements you compare them to, which can usually not even be…

Not that I love the gold-plated set, but: "Your suspicion is likely wrong though - I have no science to back this up but am 100% sure in blind tests people with normally developed ears would pick the gold cables from the copper one. The difference in sound is just too big to ignore (or at least the difference between the gold vs copper I have here at home is). Unlike the improvements you compare them to, which can us…

But as with other things based on taste: the perception matters most, not a scientific double blind study. If my perception makes me prefer one coffee over the other, I am happy.

Re: An Analysis of Nespresso

#100

Post by pbowyer »

spotman wrote: post #54
pbowyer wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could replace it with... instant coffee, y'know? I've found the more expensive ones taste good, and it's only cents per mug. Sure, it's not the coffee-shop mouth-experience (I put a lot of that down to the frothed milk), but a Nespresso doesn't provide that either?

Where I live, Nespresso makes a superior experience than I can find within a 3 mile radius. (fwiw, Los Angeles) Yes, if I go to my absolute favorite coffee shop in town, it is superior to Nespresso. But, in comparison to instant coffee (in my humble opinion), it is night and day, and its miles and miles ahead taste wise than coffee bean or star bucks.

I need to try a Nespresso somewhere (not sure where/how).

At the moment I'm reduced to decaf, and I'm finding Percol Decaf Colombia excellent: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Percol-Fairtrade-Decaffeinated-Colom...

Though next I want to try a Peruvian coffee,.

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