Asking Coffee Lovers - anyone with Nespresso Machine have tried re-usable capsules (stainless / plastic)?

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RUKI

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# 210259 20-Mar-2017 10:06

Asking Coffee Lovers - anyone with Nespresso Machine have tried re-usable capsules (stainless / plastic)?

Many different on eBay. Stainless steel ones are not cheap to try them all. Seeking feedback.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Gen-Stainless-Steel-Metal-Refillable-Reusable-Capsule-For-Nespresso-Machine-/151717842897?hash=item2353168fd1:g:trEAAOSwkZhWSujk
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metal-Refillable-Reusable-Capsule-For-Nespresso-Machine-Flat-Base-Cofee-Tamper-/161737680641?hash=item25a8512701:g:x-0AAOSwcdBWSt9O
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SealPod-Reusable-Refill-Stainless-Steel-Capsule-for-Nespresso-w-24pcs-Sticker-/222215063711?var=&hash=item33bd0cc89f:m:mo7rq8wJ1sNJE_GxqsfoCeA
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-pack-Refillable-Coffee-Capsule-Cup-Reusable-Refilling-for-Nespresso-Machine-/111844740024?hash=item1a0a774bb8:g:LPIAAOSwAKxWZXOl

Geektastic

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# 1744307 20-Mar-2017 10:37

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Wouldn't you just get a non-capsule espresso machine to do this? Re-filling seems to obviate the original purpose of having the capsules.

I have not tried re-useable ones but so far no third party capsules I have tried have even come close to the performance of the genuine article.

MikeAqua

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# 1744340 20-Mar-2017 10:53

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Nope. I just recyc the capsules.

Mike

dfnt

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# 1744397 20-Mar-2017 11:58

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Coffee lover != nespresso user

BlinkyBill

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# 1744420 20-Mar-2017 12:31

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nas:
Coffee lover != nespresso user

This. As a coffee lover, I would never use a nespresso except in the most dire of situations.

BlinkyBill

bongojona

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# 1744422 20-Mar-2017 12:37

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People tend to use these for the convenience of no hassle and no cleaning afterwards.

Reusing capsules would negate this no?

At that point why not just use a french press (like I do)

Geektastic

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# 1744449 20-Mar-2017 12:43

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BlinkyBill:
nas:

Coffee lover != nespresso user

This. As a coffee lover, I would never use a nespresso except in the most dire of situations.

I like coffee. A lot.

As yet, I can't really say that Nespresso delivers anything other than very pleasant coffee with no mess. Once you've worked out which varieties you enjoy and which option suits, it makes coffee which is as fast as instant and tastes as good as the average cafe effort.

Fred99

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# 1744596 20-Mar-2017 15:54

bongojona: People tend to use these for the convenience of no hassle and no cleaning afterwards.

Reusing capsules would negate this no?

At that point why not just use a french press (like I do)

I suspect that the idea of cheaping out to refill capsules is going to be at least partly negated by the need to buy a grinder capable of grinding to consistent enough fineness to produce an acceptable end result in any espresso machine.

But then there's the cost - even at $40/kilo for beans from a gourmet roaster and 500g / week, you're looking at ~ $1,000 / year for beans to grind your own but about $3,000 / year for that amount of coffee in Nespresso pods, so if you drink the amount of coffee our household does, buying decent equipment with an expected long-term durability may be justifiable.

French press coffee is a different drink from espresso. Without arguing relative quality merits, they shouldn't be compared.

freitasm

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# 1744731 20-Mar-2017 19:08

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Have not tried refillable capsules and wouldn't do it.

As for Nespresso being a good coffee, yes, it is. Nespresso may not be the best coffee around but it consistently delivers good coffee and you can't go wrong.

As for using an espresso machine... I've seen results going from terrible to superb, but the majority is really not that great. Even in Wellington cafes - if you find a good coffee stick to it. Most of the coffee around town tastes bitter or burnt. Making good coffee is really hard so I stick with Nespresso because it delivers whatr I expect, with good results.

Anyonne saying they can make the best coffee in the world, at home is not really being realistic. Yes, there'll be some cases (and I've tasted really good home made espresso) but reality is that this is not what happens.

And at home I prefer to drink espresso during the day/night, with a milk coffee (more like a cafe au lait) in the morning. So from a pure espresso point of view I can say this.

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JonnyCam

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# 1744826 20-Mar-2017 20:59

We use Nespresso at work and at home, makes drinkable coffee. The gym had a machine and stainless refillable pods.

Horrible, weak tasting the same as generic capsules.

robjg63

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# 1744899 20-Mar-2017 21:53

freitasm:
Have not tried refillable capsules and wouldn't do it.

As for Nespresso being a good coffee, yes, it is. Nespresso may not be the best coffee around but it consistently delivers good coffee and you can't go wrong.

As for using an espresso machine... I've seen results going from terrible to superb, but the majority is really not that great. Even in Wellington cafes - if you find a good coffee stick to it. Most of the coffee around town tastes bitter or burnt. Making good coffee is really hard so I stick with Nespresso because it delivers whatr I expect, with good results.

Anyonne saying they can make the best coffee in the world, at home is not really being realistic. Yes, there'll be some cases (and I've tasted really good home made espresso) but reality is that this is not what happens.

And at home I prefer to drink espresso during the day/night, with a milk coffee (more like a cafe au lait) in the morning. So from a pure espresso point of view I can say this.

You are right about coffee tasting burnt or bitter. There seems to be this strange trend in the last few years for NZ coffee roasters to burn the beans. I think they believe they are making 'strong' tasting coffee.
If you go to italy or France they certainly don't tend to have coffee that tastes like the burnt stuff we seem to get here these days.
I buy lavazza coffee when I can find it at the supermarket (and I don't pretend it's the world's best coffee or anything) and marvel at the smooth taste. No hint of the burnt bean taste that has become the norm here.

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Fred99

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# 1744904 20-Mar-2017 21:58

freitasm:

Making good coffee is really hard.

Yes and no. I'm more than happy with the coffee I make, but with good home espresso gear. Once you get used to the ritual, it's pretty easy and enjoyable and something you can do on autopilot.

But it's bit like cooking a steak - you could do the best in the world and some customers will still send it back.

RUKI

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# 1744942 20-Mar-2017 23:35

There are two reasons we had a look at those recently:

a) What if "original" capsules are fake? i.e. not coffee but something else with chemical flavor? (e.g. surimi is not made of crab meat but taste is close..);

b) Our friends have the most expensive coffee machine at home money can buy (not available in appliance stores, modded and enhanced after being purchased) + computerized programmable roster + very expensive grinder - all stuff occupies 1/2 of their kitchen table at home. And they buy special beans which they roast themselves.... That coffee tastes better than best coffee in Spain and better than any place in Auckland we've tried. So,.. I was curious how their coffee would taste if I put it in that re-usable capsule and make it with Nespresso machine. Doubtful the result would be the same, but still curious...

P.S. Our ordinary espresso machine has died after 7 years. Any roasted beans from supermarkets in Auckland taste not good in it anyways. Nespresso tastes better, although I know that Nespresso is average... (we use 4 most strong: 9-12)

Geektastic

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# 1744950 21-Mar-2017 00:56

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Vaguely related...there is a cafe on the Square in Martinborough called Neighbourhood.

They roast their own coffee. Driving into the square to get the post or whatever and finding it is a day that they are doing so has to be one of my favourite things. The whole area smells divine!