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If you are looking for a well priced coffee machine and you are considering Dolce Gusto then it is worth knowing that Dolce Gusto are owned by Nescafe.
As one of the largest manufacturers of coffee worldwide you know that they know a thing or two when it comes to coffee and coffee machines.
It’s also worth knowing that Nescafe own Nespresso as well which are more geared towards the upper end of the POD and capsule coffee market.
So if you are specifically looking for a coffee machine that takes POD’s or capsules then it’s worth having a look at the best Nespresso machines as well.
Dolce Gusto has been around since 2006 and have sold millions of coffee machines worldwide in that time.
Although it has the Dolce Gusto brand name the machine itself is made by Delonghi who are the global leaders in coffee machines.
When you have both Nescafe and Delonghi on your side when it comes to coffee you know you are in good hands.
If you don’t want to pay a lot for your coffee machine but you are looking for an alternative to instant coffee then this is a good place to start.
Is it better than instant coffee?
Let take a look
Overall Score 8.2/10
Design 7/10
For the price this is not a bad looking piece of kit. Bearing in mind that you could easily spend more on dinner for two than the total cost of this coffee machine.
A decent amount of thought has gone into how this looks. This particular review is for the Black and Artic grey version. We think this one looks best but there are a number of different colours to choose from if this one is not to your taste.
It’s like a two-tone vertical split of half grey and half black and shape a bit like a robot with a head and a body but not in a weird way. It looks tasteful and modern with the water tank on the back.
It is made of plastic which is to be expected at this price but overall for a budget machine is reasonably pleasing to the eye
This is a compact machine measuring in at 30.5cm tall, 24.1cm deep and 16.1cm wide. You will have no problem fitting this on any worktop.
Functionality 8/10
The main reason that you should be considering any kind of POD or coffee capsule machine is for the convenience. You want a coffee that tastes better than instant but you can’t be bothered with grinding your own beans or anything like that.
This is a very simple coffee machine to use. Turn it on and wait for the red light to turn green which should take around 30 seconds and then you are good to go.
There are many different Dulce Gusto coffee machines in terms of the design but essentially only two different types when it comes to functionality – Manual or Automatic.
This mini me model is automatic which means that it will deliver a certain amount of water through each capsule according to the setting that you choose.
There are 7 settings to choose from. The lower settings are for espresso which will deliver only a small amount of water and the higher settings are for longer drinks like Latte.
Once you have the green light and have selected your setting, flick the lever to the right and your coffee will be made and will automatically
switch off when ready.
If you are happy to turn off the water delivery yourself then you should consider one of the manual models such as the Jovia.
The water tank is quite small at 0.8 litres but you will be fine for 2/3 drinks before you need to refill. The water should always be fresh as possible anyway so it’s no bad thing that you refill it often.
Ease of use 10/10
One of the key features of a POD or capsule coffee machine is ease of use and convenience.
Nescafé Dolce Gusto Jovia does not disappoint. Once the POD is in you just move the lever to one side to start the coffee delivery and it automatically stops when it done.
It’s about the most simple to use coffee machine we have ever seen.
Quality of coffee 6/10
Please do bear in mind that the Dolce Gusto PODS are NOT fresh coffee. It is coffee powder that has been vacuumed sealed to retain the freshness of the coffee inside but it isn’t the same as fresh
You also need to consider that for milk-based drinks the milk capsules are powdered milk with water pushed through them into the cup. There is a taste difference between powdered milk and fresh milk
However, the Dolce Gusto coffee machines are extremely popular and as a result are stocked by all of the major supermarket chains.
There are a wide range of different drink types available to suit all palettes. Some of the most popular are Espresso, Lungo, Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato and Chococino.
Also bear in mind, if you like milk-based drinks like Latte you will need to use two capsules for each drink – one milk capsule and one coffee capsule so the price of each coffee can add up and is quite a bit more than instant coffee.
The coffee it produces is enjoyed by millions of people worldwide but it doesn’t taste as good as you would get in in a coffee shop on the high street.
It is possible to replicate that quality but for that it requires a step up to a pump espresso machine or a bean to cup coffee machine
Value For Money 9/10
If you have never had a coffee machine and you are looking to dip your toes in the water then this is not a bad place to start.
It’s not going to produce the same quality of coffee as Starbucks but for convenience and ease of use it’s hard to beat.
This is an extremely low price for a coffee machine of this type and in fact you will be hard-pressed to find any other coffee machine that takes POD’s providing better value for money.
Here is a short video showing it in action:
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Last update on 2024-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
