Coffee / hot drinks machines

[Snokio]

Update:

Tassimo ordered. Thanks for the help guys!

PEN

Whats it like Pen?

[Gandalf]

Wow, old thread! My old coffee machine has long gone the way of the dodo and I now have one of the Delonghi Perfecta bean to cup machines. (I have the earlier version of this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/DeLonghi-Perfecta-ESAM5500-Coffee-Machine/dp/B0012VI7QU/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1322035631&sr=8-8)

A selection of various machines here; http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=delonghi+bean+to+cup&x=0&y=0 They are so much better for coffee, fresh beans make all the difference!

[Penfold]

We currently have two cheap 'n' cheerful machines.

A Bosch Tassimo which we have at home which is great as it's multifunctional and also does the kids' hot chocolates and others
A Nespresso machine (not not made) which is at the office and only does a selections of coffee.

The Tassimo is more versatile but the Nespresso makes better coffee .

I prefer the Nespresso as it has a separate spout for warming milk but which also just distributes instant hot water which is great if someone wants a tea

A client bought this De'Longhi which tops both as it grinds coffee beans rather than having to buy into the whole 'capsule' thing.

[Snokio]

Thanks guys, have looked at De'longhi coffee machines, but the prices!

I do love my filtered coffee, especially the smell!

I might go for the ESAM4200 as it looks like it can deal with both bean and ground

[Gandalf]

It can indeed, and it's the machine we have at work. Very nice machines. A word of warning though, make sure you purchase the proper delonghi de-scaler for the machine (Though you won't need to worry about it for a bit) as the machine has an aluminium boiler and the normal descalers you get in the supermarkets will dissolve aluminium! There is a big warning in the instructions about this but it's worth mentioning too.

[Snokio]

Thanks, have ordered it and will arrive friday/saturday time.

[OldBloke]

Cheap as chips.

I use both beans (which I grind myself) or pre-packed ground coffee with this. Quick, simple, low maintenance - great tasting coffee.

[RizZy]

That looks interesting OB, might get my mum one of them for chrimbo, & myself one while I'm at it.

[Snokio]

Got the machine yesterday had a few coffee's, really liking it, lots of options, nice creamy coffee! but.....I miss the aroma of a filtered coffee

[DrunkenZombiee]

For a really good machine that takes whole bean I would highly recommend a "Saeco ODEA". Its a great little machine and has done me proud for a couple of years after it got gifted to me for free =).