You have been loving your new Nespresso automatic brewer that you have been using exclusively for about 3 months now, completely replacing the Keurig coffee maker that you had been using for several years. But, when cleaning out your cabinets, you find a K-Cup left over from the old Keurig. Looks like there was one left over, but can you still use it with your new machine? Or will it have to go to waste now that you have gifted the Keurig to your Aunt?
The Answer Is: Unfortunately, No
While it may be your favorite flavor, the K-Cup is incompatible with your Nespresso brewer for a multitude of reasons covering both the sizes and shapes of the pods as well as the technical aspects of the machines themselves.
K-Cup vs. Nespresso
First off, the K-Cup is too long and wide to fit easily into the Nespresso’s slim pod receptacle. Nespresso has adopted a lower plastic, more eco-friendly design that also looks more slim futuristic and not just for the coolness factor. The slimmer shape and tighter packing of a Nespresso pod leaves less room for residual air from the sealing process, keeping your coffee fresher than the methods and technology used by Keurig. Of course this difference is marginal and both companies provide a fresh cup, but only Nespresso can boast a layer of sweet crema at the top of your cup due to the method used for brewing.
With regards to mechanics, these machines handle the pods of coffee grounds very differently, and while they both result cups of liquid sunshine, the path through the machine makes a difference in the end flavor and texture. The Keurig, as soon as it’s pushed closed, punches one hole in both the top and bottom of the K-Cup before brewing, then proceeds in much the same way as a drip brewing coffee pot. The intuitive Nespresso machine, however, scans a barcode on the pod to verify that it is of the proper brand, what line it is from and, thus how much water to use for it.
You see, originally, Nespresso was only capable of brewing traditionally portioned espressos, hence the name. Over time, in response to a spike in the popularity of instant brew, preportioned coffee, Nespresso began to produce a line of machines capable of brewing coffee as well and larger cups of espresso, while maintaining the option of a traditionally portioned espresso as well.
How do they organize all of these options, you may be wondering? Well, that is why they added the barcode reader. By placing the code on the rim of the pod and programming it to perform all tasks necessary for that code when scanned, Nespresso removes all of the guesswork from brewing a high-end, café-quality cup of morning magic. The downside however is that the machine only works if the code is present. This means that while you can buy off brand pods for a Keurig, that is not an option with Nespresso.
It’s early in the morning, as well as still dark outside. Your window curtains are wide open; still drawn from the busy day before, in hopes to catch the early morning rays when they peak over the furtherest skyline even though the dawn still feels hours away. The alarm is screaming for you to wake up before sunrise, yet again. What day is it anyway? Tuesday? Man, you’re not even halfway to Saturday and the sweet sleep that comes with it. You drag your weary body out of bed and down the hall for some of that heavenly brew that must be sent directly from angels for working adults. As soon as you get the pot running, your body will be lighter, and the lights won’t be as harsh. As soon as you can smell the brewing beans warm up, to release their caffeine and flavors into the water, this morning will be so much better.
In many parts of life, size is far less critical than purpose. In coffee, however, the size of your ground beans influences the time your coffee grounds are in contact with the water, how much of the delicious elixir is extracted from those beans and how fast water flows through the ground beans. Thus, the size of your grinds can significantly alter your final product.
The sun is going down, and you want to set your machine to auto brew so that your coffee will be ready and waiting for you in the morning when the alarm forces you from sleep so that you can begin yet another busy day. You grind your own beans because you adore the fresh aroma and taste, even if a little bit of that is lost in pre-grinding then the night before. You’ve decided this method fits your lifestyle the best since you can be too busy to grind on the spot every single morning. Especially those mornings when the bed feels much better than your itinerary.
The DeLonghi EC702 is a highly user-friendly espresso machine aimed towards newbies to the home coffee craft scene.
Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista is the machine for those who wish to have coffee shop styled drinks, in the comfort, and affordability of their own homes. Streamlining the brewing process, Mr. Coffee saves time. And honestly, who has time to waste between waking up and that first cup of your favorite brew?
The cheapest high-quality, durable espresso maker is the Flair Manual Espresso Maker. However, as stated, this is a manual machine, so you will have to be more involved with the brewing process than with some other models.
As you may be able to tell by this point, finding an affordable, milk frothing, and user-friendly home brewer is no simple task. The Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker is $200, and it combines all of these crucial features.
Concerning the coffee drinkers that love additives like milk or cream, here is where the microwave comes in handy. While the coffee is brewing or the kettle is boiling, pour the desired amount of cream or milk into a container and heat it in the microwave to a hot temperature. Because milk and cream are stored in the fridge, they can majorly affect the temperature when added to freshly hot coffee. However, heating the milk or cream first will instead greatly increase the amount of time one’s coffee stays warm. Further, if drinking instant coffee, consider using boiled water heated on the stove or in a kettle rather than water heated in the microwave. By boiling the water, a higher temperature can be obtained more easily and thus the coffee itself will be hot enough to last a reasonable amount of time.
One of the most convenient ways of keeping coffee hot is by using a carafe. Typically, the coffee can be brewed straight into the carafe. This means that the leftover coffee will not only be kept on a maintained heat level, but it will also be automatically stored. With the introduction of single-serving coffee makers, drip coffee makers often seem like things of the past. But for the big coffee-drinker that is aware of how many cups he or she can drink in a single morning, coffee makers with carafes are a great investment. A heating pad under the carafe keeps the coffee hot for as long as the maker is still switched on. This will enable the drinkers to slowly enjoy their beverage without fear that their freshly brewed coffee is cooling down. However, those that do own single-serving coffee makers should not worry that they are excluded from the benefit of carafes. Carafes may be purchased individually, and many come with insulation that works to keep coffee warm without the heating pad. When using a carafe with single-serve makers, one must simply transfer a few servings of coffee into the carafe. An additional version of a carafe is the French press. Generally made of glass that holds heat, the French press is another great way of directly making and storing coffee. As well as providing insulation, carafes are also portable. Thus, cup after cup can be poured right from one’s desk or nearby table.
Lightweight and small, this machine packs a 15 bar pump, making DeLonghi best of the semi-automated class. Its size, only 9 pounds with dimensions of 8″ x 11″ x 10″, allows it to make the perfect addition to any home or office. Because what breakfast is complete without a delicious, steaming cup of your favorite brew?
Looking for affordability that comes with smooth and effortless performance? This is the machine for you. With an automated milk frother, Mr. Coffee makes it even easier to create a unique and delicious breakfast drink. The BVMC-EMP1000 model also includes a delightful recipe guide to 20 coffee treats you can try.
Designed exclusively for the use of Nespresso pods, the Inissia offers consistently fresh and high-quality coffee. An example of how a traditional Italian brand such as DeLonghi understands that control over the process leads to consistently delicious results. The Inissia is the machine for busy people who just need a quick cup before starting their day.
This machine is one of the highest price options. However, it is a top-quality and highly-recommended machine. The machine is still cheaper than many high-end machines and offers many features and various functions that more expensive machines come equipped with and lower priced machines simply do not have.
This machine was listed as a 2017 best espresso machine for its easy-to-use settings for beginners as well as sophisticated and customizable controls for the espresso connoisseur and experienced barista. This model has been improved since its preceding version, the 860 XL, through a completely revamped design and more temperature control options.
Not only the compact design and beautiful, sleek, black color will convince you of this machines excellence, but its advanced features too.
This percolator, which is made of stainless steel – no glass! – is large enough to up to eight cups. The choice of steel for the walls of the percolator means that it is durable enough for anything you put it through, an the sheen on it gives it a sleek, modern look.Other things that set this model apart are the rubber-coated handle to protect your hands from burns, and an interior coating that won’t react with the coffee to give it a metallic taste. This percolator can brew your favorite flavor of coffee, from a dark French roast to vanilla flavored coffee. The reusable metal filter basket means bi nire buying or disposing of paper filters. And finally, a transparent plastic knob in the lid will allow you to see the splashing, brewing coffee and know when it is done.
This GSI enameled percolator is well-constructed, and has a high-quality enameled finish. This model also has a sturdy handle. The attached lid means that the lid cannot fall off during use. There are two coating colors to choose from – red or blue. Between these two options, this model would fit well with almost any decorative scheme, whether in a kitchen or an RV!
Maybe you like the Farberware but can’t quite afford it yet – a more affordable option is the Medelco 8-Cup. This percolator is a great option for the money, but you do need to always use coarsely ground coffee. Otherwise, the coffee grounds will likely slip out out of the metal basket filter.
Quite a few coffee connoisseurs think of Bialetti’s Moka Espresso makers as the best of the best when it comes to making espresso on your stove. Bialetti first made their Moka Express espresso maker in 1933, when it was created in Italy by the inventor Luigi de Ponti for an engineer named Alfonso Bialetti. The company that Bialetti named after himself still continues to manufacture this model of espresso maker under the name it had in 1933.
Features
The Kuissential SlickFroth exceeds expectations above other milk frothing devices. I prefer the “jug style” frothers because the both froth and heat, but there are others who like manual frothers that are handheld. These are much less expensive, too. The winner of this type of frother needed to be long-lasting, easy to use, and have great abilities to froth milk. Fortunately, the SlickFroth was the winner in each category.
The Bodum Latte Milk Frother is the best in its class. It’s nice to see, made of borosilicate glass which is microwave safe. You can’t use it on the stove, however, so take note of that. However, the microwave is a quicker method of heating the milk, so that is a definite advantage!