Nespresso D290 Espresso Machine

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Love this machine and the coffee it makes!, April 23, 2010

So easy, so quick, surprisingly affordable coffee so wonderful that makes Starbucks look bad. Love it, love it

Mmmm Espresso!, April 13, 2010

I used to spend about $25 a week on buying Mochas at Starbuck's or Pete's, but since I received this as a gift at the end of last year, I've been saving a lot of money. The capsules are about 55cents a piece. Translation: For what I was spending in about 2 weeks going every weekday I now get a daily supply of 3-shot mochas for the entire month.

The machine itself is very simple to use. There's no mess like with non-capsule machines, and you get a consistent cup of espresso. Toss in a little steamed milk and chocolate and I'm good to go. Operation is simple: fill the reservoir, hit one button to turn it on and wait 'til the red light stops blinking (about 15-30 seconds), open the top to insert the capsule and close it, and hit one button to fill your cup. When you go to insert the next capsule the act of opening the top engages a lever that drops the spent capsule in a hidden discard bin, that holds about 12 capsules, that's also simple to pop out and dump in the trash -- no messy hands, no coffee grounds spill, ever.

The Nespresso people realize the machines are expensive and they want your business, and they treat you right because of it. I got a call about a month and a half after I had the machine just to check if it
was operating well. I've heard of a few people getting machines that go out after a month or two, but with the Nespresso Concepts D290 machine, I think I've found a real winner. Where I live (the suburbs), it takes about 2 days for replacements capsules to arrive, so you're never without coffee long if you do run out.

I haven't had a single problem with the machine.

The only caveat is that it's a bit loud when it's dispensing the espresso, but not too loud. all in all this is a great machine!

98% of a perfect shot of espresso!, December 4, 2009

I grew up in the Miami area where the Cuban style espresso is popular and available on practically every street corner. The liquid is thick and sweet and if made correctly has a dense crema...many folks own stove top espresso makers but that isn't real espresso and the crema is literally beaten out of it, not naturally occurring. Every espresso expert will tell you how important the crema is, it's your sign and reward for choosing the freshest roasted beans, grinding them to just the right fineness, tamping the coffee properly and hoping your machine has the requisite pressure and the water is the perfect temperature. Any error along the way will produce a light crema or even none at all. A good crema also serves to seal in the flavor.

I own 5 or 6 espresso makers including a professional model that's hooked up to the plumbing, an old brass model which requires a strong arm to operate the pump to produce the pressure, and an all-in-one unit that you add the beans and it grinds, tamps, brews, disposes the old coffee, and rinses itself out (if it would only do the ironing!).

My favorite and most used machine is the Nespresso D290...I've had three different models over the years. With these you need not
procure fresh oily beans, use an expensive grinder, etc...you pop in a capsule and get a rich and creamy crema every time, naturally. With my pro-commercial machine, you are lucky to get a crema if every step is followed...and with warm-up time and cleanup...it's a production to make a couple of shots of espresso and the results are often hit and miss.

Most recently I replaced my old Nespresso D300 with a Romeo machine....I was disappointed in the crema so Nespresso sent another, also disappointing. They then replaced the Romeo with a D290 for me to try....the espresso was in another catagory! The crema was thicker and longer lasting than the Romeo and my original D300...the D290 doesn't have the warming plate, which I miss, or the digital read out, or the little trick where the capsule disappears before your eyes...but maybe this machine will last longer being simpler...and maybe, therein lies the secret to its better espresso.

The capsules aren't cheap but to buy a pound of beans and then wind up throwing half away because they get stale before I finish the pound...the capsules are not a bad deal at all. I love the D290....even the appearance has grown on me and my espresso shots are always a real hit with our friends and family.

BTW, I've found that the other lesser Nespresso models also yield a better shot than the expensive Romeo.

I should add that doing business with Nespresso has been nothing but a pleasure...their agents in the various stores around here, the ordering of capsules, and especially the customer care department...all employees aim to please.