When you need a quick pickme- up, a capsule or pod coffee machine is the ultimate convenience, says MANFRED THAM.
When you need a quick pickme- up, a capsule or pod coffee machine is the ultimate convenience, says MANFRED THAM.
NESPRESSO PRODIGIO $398, from Nespresso boutiques.
THE COFFEE An impressive 24 flavours, including three blends with chocolate, vanilla and caramel. I liked the Caramelito, which was lightly flavoured with an obvious caramel aroma.
THE PROS The fanciest machine, this has Bluetooth connectivity via the Nespresso app for iPhones, iPads and Android phones. Simply tap a button on your phone to schedule a time for your java. The app will also remind you when you’re low on capsules, so you can order a new batch directly from it.
Unlike the other two machines, the Prodigio does not just dispense espresso and black coffee, but it does a ristretto – a more concentrated shot. And it was the fastest. Liquid energy started dripping out two seconds after I hit the button on the machine or my phone. And loading the capsules could not have been easier: slide open the top, pop in the capsule and slide back to close.
I loved the sleek construction of the machine, and its pleasing matte finish, too.
THE CONS The machine was unusually loud and vibrated rather violently as it dispensed coffee – I thought I’d broken it!
And, as the water tank was at the back of the machine, it was a tad harder to load and unload, compared to the Illy, which has it at the front.
VERDICT Brewing coffee was a walk in the park with this machine. 8.5
COFFEESO AURORA POD BREWER $258, from Sweet Musings.
THE COFFEE The environmentally-conscious will be pleased that the 60g servings of ground coffee are packed in biodegradable paper filter pods. There are 11 varieties, originating from Indonesia, Brazil, or Columbia, and I liked that most were rich, had a good crema, and were not too bitter.
THE PROS Like the others, the Aurora dispenses coffee with 19 bars of pressure, delivering a delightfully foamy crema with every steaming-hot espresso. It was also equally easy to use as it had just two buttons – one for espresso and the other for black coffee.
THE CONS I was not impressed by the plasticky body or the crackling noises when I inserted the water tank or coffee pods. What’s more, the lever for opening the pod compartment put up way too much resistance when I loaded the pods. Sometimes, it got caught when I pressed it down to lock in the pod, and raising the lever again merely dropped the pod into the bin compartment, forcing me to fish it out to try again.
VERDICT If you can overlook the pods frequently falling into the bin, this is a budget-friendly machine that brews a satisfying coffee with a thick crema. 7
ILLY FRANCIS FRANCIS Y5 IPERESPRESSO $605 (black; white), $645 (satin), from Robinsons The Heeren, Tangs and www.lazada.sg
THE COFFEE Illy trumps Nespresso with 28 variations in its Iperespresso capsule range. If you’re picky about where your beans come from, there are even 15 single-origin ones. The Dark Roast, with its perfect acidity and robustness, was my fave.
THE PROS The Francis Francis Y5 was the quietest and the only one with a good adjustable system for an espresso cup or a mug. It was also the only one with a water tank at the front; the others were at the back. I just had to slide the jug out, fill it up and slide it back in.
I liked that the components were made of metal instead of plastic, giving the machine a futuristic feel. To add to that vibe, the dispenser lit up as it brewed and dimmed when it was done.
THE CONS My main gripe was the capsule loading system. For such a futuristic-looking machine, getting a capsule in was relatively primitive. I had to push the lever down quite forcefully to engage it. And, like the Aurora, it would sometimes jam up if I didn’t do it properly, and leave me frustrated as the machine launched my unused capsule backwards into the disposal bin.
It was also the slowest. I often ended up hitting the button a few times, hoping that that would make it speed up.
VERDICT No nonsense in design and operation. It just wants to give you your coffee – even if it does so at its own pace. 8
