Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Maker by De'Longhi, Piano Black

We decided to take the plunge with this machine in the hopes that we could stop buying coffee on the go and start saving a little money. When ordering coffee straight from Nespresso there are some pretty nice deals and the costs are pretty low compared to buying coffee on the run. Eventually the costs saved from buying out will pay for this setup. Think $3-6 per drink vs the .85 cents to $1.20 per drink for the Nespresso. So far this machine has delivered some really yummy espresso, Americanos and regular coffee. Waiting on the syrups to arrive before we get all fancy and mix things up a little.Espresso Summary: There is a big difference in the level 4 intensity espresso and the level 11 intensity espresso pods as far as the color and flavor are concerned. Both are excellent and have a time and place. There is a nice crema on the top as you've probably seen in videos or reviews which can be nice if you want to add an extra little zing on top such as cheyenne pepper and cocoa powder or cinnamon depending on the roast.(I went with the Evaryl Double Wall Espresso Cups Set which are pretty great for serving a straight shot of espresso.)Espresso Double-Shot Summary: These are ok but I don't get much of a difference in flavor between the two options available from Nespresso. They are supposed to be a little more flavorful when used with milk which I haven't attempted as of yet.Coffee Summary: I haven't noticed too much of a difference in the coffee cup size flavor profiles drinking them straight. They aren't bland but they definitely aren't as flavorful as a nice darkroast made via French press. My wife uses creamer with the coffee and sometimes uses the vanilla or caramel flavor pods.Americano Summary: The Americano pod sizes are excellent and sometimes I'll put another shot of espresso in one just for kicks. These are one of my favorites right now.Aeroccino 3 Summary: We haven't used the frother because we don't have any syrups to mix with the milk / coffee to get the full effect. Will update the review once we give that a whirl. We wanted to make sure we enjoyed the coffee before going "all in" on ordering things.All of the pods produce a hot coffee that could burn your tongue if you try to drink it too fast. It's not 200 degree hot which is really nice because it's drinkable in about 5 minutes. The machine isn't whisper quiet but you can put a rubber mat underneath to absorb the vibrations from the centrifuge spinning up.The first unit I received had a broken water tank which would normally turn me off from the product but I was determined to give it a try and hopefully save money down the road. Got a three year Square Trade Warranty just in case. Some of the parts feel cheap but there are more expensive units out there. I can only assume the more expensive units are a little quieter and use better materials.Last thing: If you order coffee pods from Nespresso you can add recycling bags for free to your order that come with pre-paid UPS shipping. We don't feel like we're being totally wasteful which is a nice touch.I don't work for Nespresso and paid for this with my own money. We're all different so you may like it and you might not.

If you like really hot coffee made in a Keurig where boiling water is forced through a plastic pod or made in a Mr. Coffee pot where boiling water is dripped over pre-ground coffee out of a bag and then left to sit on a hot pad until you get around to pouring a cup, this machine and the cost of the coffee pods is not for you. If you drink your coffee out of a paper cup or insulated mug while driving to work, Nespresso is probably not worth your time. If, on the other hand, you enjoy relaxing and savoring a cup of really good coffee, this is the one you should consider.The Nespresso machine is designed to make a precisely brewed cup of coffee not to produce a boiling hot cup of Joe.Each Nespresso pod has a bar code that tells the machine exactly how to custom brew that particular coffee. It knows how fast to spin the extractor, the correct temperature, and the amount of water to use. So, if you use a room temperature cup the coffee might end up a little cooler than you are used to drinking. I just put a little water in my cup and microwave it for a minute to preheat, and then I dump the hot water and brew my Nespresso. That way the cup doesn't cool off my coffee.I bought the De'Longhi ENV135BAE Coffee and Espresso Machine Bundle with Aeroccino Milk Frother. The milk frother is a great addition and much less expensive when bought with the machine. It is simple to use and clean, and it quickly produces a nice froth. IMHO well worth the price.The machine comes with an assortment of twelve pods of different coffee flavors, intensities, and sizes. So far I have tried half of them and have yet to zero in on one favorite. They are all good in their own way. You won't find the pods in your grocery store. You will have to order online, but they are available from Amazon and Nespresso and at the same price with free shipping. Pods come in sleeves of ten, and you will probably find it most convenient to order forty or fifty at a time. So, if you object to spending $50 or more at a time for coffee, don't invest in a Nespresso.If you like gourmet coffee with crema, Nespresso will take your enjoyment of coffee brewed at home to a whole new level. The machine is a lot less expensive and easier to use than purchasing your own traditional espresso machine, and in my opinion, the coffee drinks produced are on a par with what I have had in Italy where they take their coffee really serious.The machine came quickly, and the setup instructions were easy to follow. One of the Amazon reviewers had posted a picture of a hairline crack in the bottom of their water tank. As a result, I took a close look and found a similar very small crack in my tank. I called the 24-7 Nespresso help line, and since my machine was only two days old, they are shipping me a no cost replacement. It was shipped within two hours of my call. If you buy a machine check it carefully as anything considered normal wear and tear is not covered by the warranty.Operation of the machine is really easy. You press the button and wait fifteen seconds for the machine to preheat and the button to stop flashing. While that is occurring you fill the water container with fresh tap water and put your cup in place (I recommend preheating the cup). You then turn the knob to open the machine and you put in a pod. You then close the machine and turn the handle to lock it closed. Finally, you repress the button, and the machine will do its thing. After brewing is complete, you reopen the machine, and it ejects the spent pod into the side container. The container holds over a dozen spent pods. So, you don't have to touch the spent pods after each cup of coffee. If you order your coffee from Nespresso they will send you a free package for free UPS shipping of the spent pods for recycling. Since the pods are made out of aluminum, they are not biodegradable, and Nestle is providing a no-cost way to recycle (if you so desire).