My Personal Experience With The Nespresso D290 Espresso Machine
My Personal Experience With Espresso Machines
Having a good cup of coffee has always been something that I need before I get into my daily grind. But getting one would almost always require me to buy a medium sized espresso or cappuccino from Starbucks or any nearby cafe. I have one of those coffee machines in the office but I would definitely need someone to prepare a nice cup of coffee with those machines. And instant coffees aren't real coffee anyway.
After many years of drinking coffee, I've finally decided to get my hands on an espresso and coffeemaking machine. I must say, even with many years of drinking coffee, I don't really know a lot about espresso machines although I do know that they are here for a reason. My first investment in a coffee machine is the Nespresso D290. Spending a couple of hundred dollars on this machine wasn't something that I thought of initially but word of mouth finally got to me and I figured well, if it is that good then why not give it a shot?
Do You Own an Espresso Machine?
The Specifications
This espresso machine features a
- high pressure 19 bar pump,
- automatic control of coffee in the cup,
- a thermobloc that heats water up to 187 degrees and 196 degrees during extraction,
- automatic ejection of used capsules
- and a functional Jaw system for easy coffee preparation.
There are heaps more features you can find out about the Nespresso D290 espresso machine through this link.
Nespresso D290 - My Hands-on Experience
The Nespresso D290 Concept Espresso and Coffeemaker might sound like a mouthful to say it but it really is a fantastic piece of equipment. At first glance, it doesn't look pretty at all but beauty is skin deep for this one. I was in fact a little intimidated assembling an operating it but I was pleasantly surprised how easy the whole setup process was. It didn't take me long to set it up, put everything together warm it up and make myself a great cup of coffee.
Alright I know you guys are eager to find out how good this thing is but it really makes coffee that can rival any coffee shop I've been to! The espresso it makes is so rich, creamy and full-bodied that it is such a joy to smell the aroma and savour every sip of it. The cappuccino and latte is better than any coffee I've ever had outside. Some of my colleagues were eager to try a sample from the Nespresso D290 and they absolutely love it. They almost had to have a lungo or a small cup of coffee before leaving my place. I know it is quite a statement here but I believe that it's this machine doing the fantastic job here.
My First Cup Of Coffee With This Machine
Preparation was a real breeze. Although it was my first time using one of these fancy coffee machines, it didn't take me long to figure it out. I was so amazed it took me less than 2 minutes to get a nice cup of espresso! You have the option to choose your coffee serving size. You can go for a lungo or a small cup. If you would prefer having cappuccino, just press the steam button, stick the tube in a cup of milk, press the lever and watch as the machine suck the milk and deposit it foamy into the cup.
My Initial Impression
The Noise
What I do notice about the Nespresso D290 is that it makes quite a lot of noise as it prepares my cup of espresso or cappuccino. My cat almost always runs away and hides at a corner as the mechanical parts in it start working its magic on the coffee pods. I rang the customer service centre up and they told me that it is behaving perfectly normal. Pheww, after a couple of runs doing that I almost considered sending it back! Fortunately, Nespresso explain things really well on this matter.
Cleaning and The Nespresso Pods
You don’t have to worry too much about spllls and if you want to clean the tubes, just let the steamer suck in water for a few seconds and deposit it into another cup. Any used or empty pods will be placed into an internal receptacle which can be easily revmoed. You don’t have to worry about scraping or dishwashing. Nespresso also has taken into consideration that the pods are properly sealed so you don’t have to worry about refrigerating or storage.
Whenever I had any issues with maintenance, the customer centre was really helpful.
My only complain is that I had to purchase the Nespresso pods again. It didn't take long for me to finish the 10 coffee pods that came with this purchase. The fact that the coffee tastes so good makes all the pods run out even faster! It costs about 50 cents a pod but it's still justifiable
My Verdict
Finally, this espresso machine is a fantastic buy. Yes it is pricey, but the investment I make is justifiable by the fantastic coffee it makes. In fact, I spend less using this machine compared to buying 2 cups of coffee daily from the nearby Gloria Jeans or Starbucks.
Nespresso D290 vs Nespresso C101 Essenza - How Do the Two Compare?
On the outside, the Nespresso C101 Essenza definitely looks smaller than the Nespresso D290.
In terms of function, the Nespresso C101 Essenza
1) Basically has the same thermobloc function and the same pressure of 19 bars.
2) Uses the Nespresso pod system
3) Is lighter than the Nespresso D290
4) Cleans itself with a simple descaling process
5) Is extremely easy to operate and maintain. You will have minimal fuss with mess and clean up.
Verdict: I would say overall, the Nespresso C101 Essenza is easier to maintain, cheaper, takes less space while it does the same thing as the Nespresso D290. It is also less noisy. Therefore, if you are smart enough, you will decide on going for the Nespresso Essenza C101.
Check it out below!
Nespresso D290 vs Nespresso Pixie - How Do The Two Compare?
The most obvious difference between the two Nespresso machines is the size.
The Nespresso Pixie leaves a very small footprint in your kitchen while the Nespresso D290, well need I say more?
Having said that, the two espresso machines basically have the same function.They use Nespresso coffee pods of which there are a lot to choose from. Pop the pods in the pod area and press one button and then get ready for delicious tasting coffee. Quick and easy to use.
Although the Nespresso Pixie, is the world's smallest espresso machine that functions just like the rest of the other Nespressos, the problem lies with the fact that:
1) The water reservoir is just too small and hence runs out too fast compared with the Nespresso D290. In this regard, the Nespresso Essenza C101 also wins.
2) Somehow the water reservoir is a little too difficult to remove compared to both the Nespresso D290 and Nespresso Essenza C101
On the whole, the Nespresso Pixie is a really cute and cool looking machine but the price and some functionality issues means that I would most definitely prefer the Nespresso D290 or the Essenza C101 any time.
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