Nespresso Pixie Coffee Machine, Aluminium by Magimix

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Nespresso have taken the world by storm with their capsule based coffee machines that provide instant access to a great coffee for anyone looking to upgrade from the cheap supermarket stuff.

If it’s convenience that you are looking for then a coffee machine that takes POD’s is the way to go.

With a traditional pump espresso machine or a bean to cup coffee machine.

There are only a few brands that dominate the market. Dolce Gusto and Tassimo are two of the biggest players and offer some of the cheapest pod machines on the market.

In our opinion, their coffee is inferior to Nespresso so although the initial outlay for the machine will be less it’s important to think about the quality of coffee that you will get each and every day.

You will also be able to easily buy the pods for Tassimo and Dolce Gusto from the supermarket but Nespresso only sell their pods online.

Having personally owned a Nespresso machine for years I can confirm that the ordering process for replacement capsules is super easy whether you choose to order over the phone or via their website. Order by 8pm and your order will arrive the next day.

Also worth noting is that you do not need to use Nespresso’s branded capsules if you don’t want to. There are lots of different options for compatible Nespresso pods at more reasonable prices.

Whether or not you try or stick with compatible pods will be a mater of personal preference. them is nothing wrong with some of them but in my experience they are not as good as the originals so I always paid more for the real ones.

With Nespresso you get to choose from a range of around 17 different machines. How do you decide between them all to make sure that you get the best possible value for money?

Here is a little secret that Nespresso don’t advertise and not many people know:

Whether you buy the most expensive Nespresso coffee machine or the cheapest, the coffee that arrives in your cup will be exactly the same no matter which machine you choose to buy.

When you start to go up through the prices the only thing that you are paying for is the design and the extra features. Do you want a milk frother to go with the espresso machine? Do you want to be able to change the temperature of the coffee? Do you want a steam wand to froth the milk yourself? Do you want to be able to select multiple drink types instead of just a few?

These are just a few examples but at the end of the day in our opinion the best value lies in the lowest cost machines because the pods are the same and the pump that delivers the coffee is the same in all of the machines.

Let’s see how the Pixie fits into the mix.

Overall Score 8.6/10

Design 10/10

The Pixie is one of the lowest-priced Nespresso machines available, in fact there is only one that is cheaper – the Essenza

From a design perspective, this is a very well presented appliance. They have decided to blend in not just different colours here but different surfaces for a very modern look.

The sides are finished in a brushed aluminium colour with a criss-cross pattern etched across the whole side with the screws that hold the plates into place being integrated into the design rather than being covered up which we quite like.

On the front there is more contrast with a shiny chrome grill type finish running down the front of the coffee machine which blends into the drip tray which is also finished in shiny chrome.

For such a small product a lot of thought and attention has gone into how it should look so if you are looking for something that is not just functional but will also stand out in your kitchen then the pixie is worth considering.

At just 11.1cm wide, 32.6cm deep and 23.5cm tall it’s pretty small and will fit into most nooks and cranny’s if space is limited.

Functionality 8/10

If you want a decent cup of coffee but the last thing you want to think about is actually making a coffee then the Pixie will work for you. There are only 2 buttons.

First make sure you have clean, fresh water in the water tank. It only holds 0.7 litres maximum so keep it topped up.

Hit one of the buttons first before you grab one of the capsules and by the time you open the lid and insert the capsule the 25 seconds it takes for the machine to warm up will have passed and you will be good to go.

For short drinks such as espresso, place the glass on top of the drip tray or if you have a larger glass or mug then simply fold up the drip tray to create more space – simple but effective.

Just lift up the lever and the capsule drawer will open up. Pop in the pod of your choice.

All you need to do is press either the espresso button for a short water delivery or the lungo button for a longer water delivery. the default has been set for the optimum flavour for each capsule type but if you want to change it then you can program it to your own personal preference at the touch of a button.

Say the lungo button is just a bit too much coffee for your liking. Next time you are making one instead of pressing and releasing just press and hold. When you let go that amount will be saved for ever more. Super easy!

No need to remember to turn it off as it will automatically shut down after 9 minutes.

Ease of use 10/10

All Nespresso coffee machines get 10/10 for ease of use. It’s the main reason that most people buy one. Simple one-touch operation and no mess.

Convenience at its best.

Quality of coffee 9/10

Nespresso stakes their reputation on the quality of their coffee. It’s not as good as freshly ground coffee beans but its pretty damn good.

Nespresso understands that. You can use the most expensive coffee machine in the world but if you put poor coffee in it then the end result will be a poor cup of coffee.

Carefully sourced from all over the world you will generally get 25 different types to choose from ranging from mild to strong and short espresso pods ranging up to long black lungo drinks (more commonly known as an americano).

Whatever your taste, there will be something in the Nespresso range that suite your palette.

Value For Money 6/10

Because all Nespresso machines deliver the same coffee into the cup with the 15 bar pump it really is a matter of personal preference to decide how much more you are willing to pay for more design and more features.

From a features perspective, the Pixie is exactly the same as the Essenza and the Essenza is priced a lot lower than this Pixe. So it really just depends whether you want something that is functional or you want something that is functional and looks really good as well.

We have marked this model down for value for money because you are paying for the design. Have a look at the Nespresso Essenza if you want to save money.

Last update on 2024-11-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API