Great coffee maker.

Someone said this makes bitter coffee.........idiot! If you use good coffee grinds this will make a very very fine espresso. I love to be involved in my coffee making, previously I've been fan of stovetops as I enjoy the interaction with the machine. This provides that, very well. Stovetops make a good tasting coffee but cannot provide the crema. This can. It's very good value for money and excellently made. I've you like espresso and enjoy the process of making a good coffee then this is for you. You will enjoy this.

LOOKED GOOD BUT BURNT OUT WITHIN 1 HOUR OF USE

Unfortunately, although I was initially delighted with this coffee maker, the very first time I used it, it burnt out, acrid smoke pouring from the top of the unit when it was supposed to be on 'standby', having made the coffee and keeping it warm.

I was disappointed because it was easy to use, great to pour, quick and very stylish looking but unfortunately as it could have potentially set my kitchen alight had I not been around to switch it off at the plug, it had to go back to the shop. On returning it I was told that the store I bought it from was discontinuing it... Am still looking for a suitable replacement!

3 cups?

It is very elegant but I felt cheated when I first tried it only to find that, although it is billed as 'three cup', it will fill no more than one normal sized demi-tasse.

Disappointing

This is an expensive item in the UK (about double the US price!) and it should not have been difficult to design in an external window to judge how much water you are pouring in to the machine. Instead, if you keep the machine on a normal height surface, it is necessary to get a set of step ladders and a torch to peer into the bowels of the beast and try to get the right ammount of water for the ammount of coffer you want out. Crazy! If I had known I would not have bought it. Oh, it does actually make reasonable coffee in my view but only keeps it warm enough for 2/3 hours. Comes with a rediculously posh"manual" but does not live up to the hype - Full UK prices for Cuisinart stuff in general appear to me to be on the opportunistic side!

Coffee good, when it makes it to the jug!

The actual unit makes good coffee, and it's neat and compact, but the fact that the jug has a plastic lid is its downfall. The"bubble" on top of the lid is the bit that causes the hot water to drain into the jug having been poured through the coffee grains, but this is only attached by tiny pieces of plastic which eventually break. Once one of the sides of the"bubble" comes adrift, then the mechanism no longer works, and the coffee is stuck above the jug! We ordered a replacement jug just before New Year 2007, and are still waiting at the end of May 2008, with no hope of it coming into stock. We have just given up, and have ordered a new coffee maker with a stainless steel lid, and the whole new unit cost just £7 more than the cost of the replacement part! Speaks for itself!

Excellent coffee

I had a Gaggia machine in the house - couldn't get it to make decent espresso - this little machine is fantastic - great coffee at the touch of a button.

Other reviewer makes the point about Nestle corporate track record - I think they have vastly improved on corporate responsibility. You could alway do a diy refill of the pods with Fairtrade coffee.

Not impressed

Makes great tasting coffee, but temperature is nowhere near hot enough for my tastes. The milk heater is very slow, although the instructions do suggest switching that on first - that's not great when you're in need of coffee.
Reliability not great either - the original machine had a fault with the expresso maker and although Morphy Richards swiftly replaced it under guarantee; the expresso maker has once again gone wrong - with a different fault, so I'm inclined to ask for a refund this time and opt for a different machine instead

Style,Quality and Value

Great coffee from a smart looking machine.
Its Fast and No waste,makes all types of coffee.
Its not the cheapest Nespresso maker but you do only get what you pay for. Great price from Amazon.

Bialetti stainless steel coffee thing

Described as a 'four cup' coffee maker but unless you're using cups the size of large thimbles it produces nothing like four cups. One normally sized cup or beaker is all you'll get out of it.
An additional problem if you're using gas is that the diameter of the base is so small that it will not sit on the trivets on most gas hobs so you'll need a flame diffuser. Even then because of the small base flames are almost certain to lick up the sides and damage the insulated handle.
The stainless steel looks nice but shows every finger mark, a satin finish would probably be better and the quality of manufacture isn't brilliant on closer inspection.
I sent it back for a refund.

Brilliant

I ordered this machine with some trepidation as the reviews weren't 100%. I needn't have worried it is just excellent. The machine arrived beautifully packed and on opening it is a very pleasant surprise to find the `life style' welcome pack. Not only does this contain a set of the 12 different pods made but also included a latte glass and espresso cup. A rather posh, by sadly somewhat empty, ring binder was also supplied. I can also assume that at some stage members of the somewhat elite Nespresso"club" will receive inserts. So far there are pages on the various blends of coffee pods available and details on the"club".

The machine itself is excellent, very neat and compact with a sort of understated high tech feel about it. The indicator lights for example come in sequence and glow blue.

On switching on it warmed up very quickly, again the various modes come on in sequence as it warms up the two internal water heater things.

I filled the milk container, popped in a capsule, put the latte glass under the nozzle and touch the glowing latte button. It thought for a moment then nearly filled the glass with good quality milk froth, stopped, thought again and then topped up the glass with exactly the right amount of brewed coffee from the pod.

The latte was excellent, hot, and frothy on top, a layer of hot milk below and wonderful rich coffee at the bottom. As good if not better than a well known chain of rip off coffee shops I could mention.

After making various combinations of cup sizes and blends I tried the milk cleaning function which is very simple and effective. Just press the silver button for a few seconds and the nozzle and the innards of the milk system are purged with scalding water. Take off the milk container and pop it in the fridge...so simple.

If you want a very elegant, dead easy to use way of making superb coffee...buy it! So far I can't see any downers.