Nespresso Coffee/Espresso Machines Are Wonderful
I prefer espresso to coffee, but what I don't like is all the mess and time involved. I want to wake up and have a hot shot of espresso with as little effort as possible. I don't want to boil water and I don't want to grind beans.
Pod systems seem to be the best approach and the first system to catch my attention was the Senseo.
I purchased one two years ago, but I found the coffee lacking in depth and the pods became stale too quickly. I even tried buying pods from BetterPods which were a big step up, but still didn't quite satisfy my palette.
What I really wanted was a good shot of espresso or a stronger cup of coffee, but I still didn't want to deal with all the mess and fuss of most machines. So I was essentially looking for a better pod solution based on the following criteria:
1. Speed. I can’t wait more than 2 minutes for caffeine.
2. Ease. The process must be less than three steps.
3. Clean. I don’t want to spend a lot of time cleaning up.
4. Good. I want a strong cup of piping hot coffee/espresso.
I discovered that machine over a year ago in the Nespresso Essenza C90, and I've been extremely satisfied ever since.
An amazing step up from the Senseo, the Essenza makes a very good shot of espresso or ‘longo’ (a larger cup).
Clean up is simple and can be done once a week. The entire cleanup process consists of emptying the spill/overflow tray and the “spent” pod holder. Operation is also quite simple.
1. Turn on the machine.
2. Pre-Heat your cup.
3. Insert pod, pull handle, press button.
When the cup is finished, the pod self-ejects before the next cup is made. And you never handle the spent pods. In addition, the machines are drop dead gorgeous and come in a wide variety of models, prices, and colors. Here's some additional information about the Nespresso system from their own website, along with additional photos of my own machine:
The finest gourmet or specialty coffees constitute just 10% of the world's green coffee production. Of this, only 10% to 20% will be of a caliber to meet our demanding standards of quality. Simply stated, Nespresso will accept only the top one to two percent of the world's total coffee production.
After Nespresso has bought the beans, samples from every single 60 kilogram bag of green coffee are tested to ensure the highest quality before the blending, roasting and grinding processes can begin.
Arriving at the precise blend of coffee beans which will produce a Nespresso Grand Cru is achieved only through infinite care.The Nespresso coffee team determines the exact blend to create a Grand Cru by taking into account the variables which will delicately combine to produce perfection. These include flavor notes, the aroma profiles, the crema – each has a role to play, and each is awarded respect in this complex process. Extreme care and attention is invested in the drying, roasting and cooling phases of the roasting process. The right levels of acidity and body develop slowly and then diminish, while aromas increase quickly, then subside. Just the right amount of subtle bitterness develops throughout. The speed with which these changes occur during the roasting, and the extent to which each characteristic is changed, will vary depending on the origin of the bean.
From the very beginning, Nespresso has always sought the very best green coffee beans. But, Nespresso doesn't stop there.
We have developed a program, together with our partners – the green coffee suppliers, Nestlé experts, and the Rainforest Alliance, a leading NGO dedicated to improving the sustainability of agricultural production – to ensure that the growers around the world who produce such excellent coffee benefit from their commitment to highest quality.
We call this program the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality Program.
For us sustainable quality is about ensuring farm practices that lead to highest quality beans and economic viability, whilst respecting the environment and contributing to the social well being of farmers and their communities.
