The Pixie has got to be the smallest and most portable single-serve coffee machine on the market. It has so much going for it! Like other Nespresso machines, this Pixie produces a top-notch coffee product. This particular model offers a milk frother alongside the coffee maker--and that is a real plus. The two together cost less than if purchased separately.All things considered: The Pixie works every bit as well as the older and larger (but not much larger) CitiZ and the newest "kid on the block", the Nespresso U. The Pixie has a smaller water well. It also has a smaller compartment for spent capsules. In my experience that does not matter. In fact, it's probably better. You should start with fresh water as often as possible and it's easy and quick to dump spent capsules.
I think the whole line of Nespresso machines are far better than Tassimo and Kuerig machines. The Nespresso machines are better designed: They work quicker and quieter; have a smaller footprint and are less bulky; are much better looking, and, most importantly, the quality and variety of the espresso blends cannot be beat. I haven't tried the new Starbuck's machine, but I do know this Pixie is smaller and has a lot more style.
Our first Nespresso machine was a CitiZ and it still sits proudly on our kitchen counter. The Pixie was just being introduced when we bought our CitiZ several years ago. We ended up with the CitiZ because it came in a color that better matched the style of our century-old house. But I've always thought the Pixie was awfully cute and stylish. And who doesn't consider a smaller footprint a plus?
YOU CAN STOP READING HERE: While the above paragraphs sum up my opinion briefly, you can keep reading for more information. Sorry, but I found it hard to streamline this review--after all, I've purchased (and dumped) three Tassimo machines; I purchased and use the Nespresso CitiZ and the Latissima on a daily basis; I own a single-serve Gaggia by illy that sees very little use lately; I acquired a Jura ENA Uno about four months ago, and it daily provides us with freshly ground and brewed beans (we buy Peet's beans), and last, but not least, I've also acquired a Nespresso U with an Aeroccino frother. I'm thinking I've got some experience upon which I base my opinions.
MORE ON THE PIXIE:
--I don't know why this impresses me, but there is a white backlighting (around the spent capsule compartment) that I think is way, way cool. Plus, the backlighting allows you to safely grab your hot coffee in the dark. If you're low on water, the light shines red.
--The Pixie doesn't drip when it's done pouring like the CitiZ and Latissima models tend to do.
--The Pixie is basically portable: Being small and light-weight, having a cord that tucks away and a handle that doubles as the inserter lever, this little guy is easy to transport. You are going to be able to take your favorite coffee with you on a road trip--now that is a very exciting thought!
--Water heats up hotter in the Pixie (than in the CitiZ). Some people think this is important. I'm not one of them--no matter how hot the coffee is, I think it is very important to heat the cup first. (A very simple thing to do: Add hot tap water to the cup and let it sit in the sink a minute; but, yes, it is still another step to accomplish during your morning rush-hour routine before you leave for work.)
--The platform that your cup sits on is a bit cumbersome. It folds up for tall cups, but it's your cup that actually holds the platform up and out of the way. You could consider it a design flaw or maybe it adds to its compactness and portability. This only matters if you like to make fancy concoctions once in a while, forcing the use of a taller cup. (Sometimes I like to pour through some whipped cream or add a shot of something boozy.)
REGARDING THE AEROCCINO: For the difference in price between a Pixie with or without this stand-alone milk frother, you really should buy the combo. Several years ago when I first investigated this frother, it was valued at nearly a hundred dollars--so there is great value in purchasing it along with the espresso machine. It's a great little gadget: It has a beautiful shiny metal outside surface that is very substantial; it is quiet; it is quick; it produces beautiful soft foam; the handle is strong and easy on the hand, and because it has a high quality non-stick inner surface, it is easy to clean by simply rinsing it out. Its downfalls: The base is lightweight and will not grip a counter top; the heavy electric cord is adequately long, but excess cord can't be hid in the base, and the worst offense: The spout will leave you with a drip every time. In comparison to the Starbuck's model, this frother is made of a high quality, beautiful metal; the Starbuck's is black plastic.
COMPARED WITH THE LATISSIMA MILK FROTH: I like the froth created by the Latissima better than the froth from the Aeroccino. The Latissima foam is finer and thicker, and it is ADJUSTABLE. I also like the fact that the milk container on the Latissima can be easily disengaged from the machine and stored in the frig. There is no waste and clean-up is accomplished with a few seconds push of a button; only enough milk is sucked through the machine per serving. In a morning rush, it is easier to set the container of unused milk back in the frig. If you want easy cleaning with The Aeroccino, the residue milk has to be rinsed before you leave the house.
LET'S DISCUSS COFFEE: After all, the machine is just a vessel for the end result. And if the coffee that is made for the machine isn't great, then why even look at the machine. The coffee in the Nespresso pods is superb. It's way better than anything available from Tassimo or Kuerig.
It's been several years since we switched from a Tassimo machine to a Nespresso machine. (If you want to hear about why I totally dislike Tassimo, ask me and I'll be happy to elaborate.) At the time of the switch, we were used to drinking large-size cups of coffee. So we felt we were taking a chance on the Nespresso blends--not knowing if we'd be able to tolerate the change from a big cup of brew to just a few sips. But the change has been effortless and so rewarding: Because the coffee is so smooth and rich, it is easier and more satisfying to relish a few sips rather than big gulps of average-tasting coffee. We really didn't know what we were missing.
If you think you like more mild coffee and think that espresso will be too strong for you--then you think like I did. And I was wrong, and there is no reason to be afraid of Nespresso expresso and lungo (long cups--still pretty small): This great coffee is not bitter; it has a variety of fragrances, and feel, and flavors in each sip--and I've found that I am now leaning towards the more "intense" blends. With the Pixie there are two buttons to choose how much water you want to pass through each disc, and they are easily programmable, which offers you an infinite variety of strengths. Now I find that I prefer to go along with the pre-programmed amount of water for each blend. After all, the recommendations come from experts and they know what they're doing!
Nespresso has a lineup of 16 blends (plus there are special blends offered throughout the year). The blends by Tassimo and Kuerig cannot compare. It might have something to do with the fact that the Nespresso pods are made of aluminum and keep the ground coffee fresher than the others which are all made of plastic or maybe the Tassimo and Kuerig product is made to suit less savvy, less experienced coffee drinkers. I can't offer a comparison between the Nespresso and Starbuck pods, because I've not tried the Starbucks' Verismo system yet. I can say that Starbuck pods are more expensive than Nespresso pods, and there are way fewer choices. Regarding the "green-ness" of the pods: Nespresso's are recyclable and the others are not.
If anyone is interested in more details of the 16 Nespresso Grand Crus: Nespresso uses about 95% Arabica and 5% Robusta in its blends. Their beans come from Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Kenya, Ethiopia and India. Blending, roasting and grinding are all variables that enter into creation of a particular flavor blend. Investigating the blends, it is obvious that most of the beans come from Central and South America, Nespresso does not have a blend that features Kenyan Arabica beans--and that is my only dissatisfaction with the Nespresso lineup. We love Kenyan coffee and own a Jura ENA Uno machine so that we can brew our favorite Kenyan coffee from Peet's on the West Coast. It is interesting to note that the Starbucks' Verismo system does not offer a Kenyan pod at this time. I've got more info on the different Grand Crus--just ask me; I'll keep an eye on this review.
You don't give up any flavor by using the convenience of a Grand Cru capsule. And don't think that the capsules "cost too much": You want great coffee? You're going to have to pay for it. Amen. It doesn't matter if you grind your own or buy it in capsule form. In fact, I pay more cup-for-cup when I grind my own.
Two other things: Nespresso augments their 16 regular blends with a special, limited-time-only blend about three times a year. And it is very, very easy to buy the capsules. They are available online at nespresso.com. The ordering process is simple, the product is always fresh, customer service efficient and pleasant, and shipment is quick, quick.
If someone tells me the Nespresso capsules do not produce the "best espresso you'll ever have", I ask them where to get a better one: If they're being completely honest, the answer will not be "I get a better espresso at home", not unless that person is an expert with a very expensive machine.
One last thought on the capsules: The jewel-toned, aluminum capsules are a visual treat. The capsules are like little gems, little bon-bons. They are truly beautiful to look at. While it is surely not the most important point to be made about the 16 Grand Cru, I always like to remember to use all my senses when drinking coffee.
This is my first Nespresso product, and first espresso maker for that matter, so I was expecting something similar to my Keurig machine. When I received the Pixie, I was pleasantly surprised at the difference. I found the Pixie to be much smaller and more stylish than my Keurig machine. Even though it's smaller, the Pixie feels much sturdier, too. The espresso maker and milk frother package also includes 16 sample capsules of various flavors, which are all very good. The espresso the Pixie makes far exceeds what the Keurig can brew and rivals any espresso I've had at the various coffee shops here. Although the cup of espresso the Pixie brews is smaller in volume than a regular cup of coffee, I quickly got used to that. I actually found myself taking more time savoring the espresso instead of just gulping it down. Having coffee in the morning is a much more pleasant experience now.
The features of the Pixie that I found a real plus:
* The footprint is small which leaves more countertop space.
* The machine is ready to brew in 30 seconds and brews a cup of espresso in 25-30 seconds.
* The power cord length is adjustable. Extra cord can be stored in the base.
* There is a carrying handle that doubles as the lever for the chamber where the coffee capsules get inserted. When lifting the Pixie by the handle, the machine is nicely balanced making it easy to carry.
* The functions are simple; On/Off button, Regular cup brew button, Larger cup brew button. Both of the brewing buttons are backlit.
* The machine powers off automatically when not in use.
* The compartment for spent capsules (which is clear) is backlit by an LED light. Not only does it look very stylish, it also helps to see when you're brewing a cup of espresso in a dimly lit area.
* A red light on the back of the machine lets you know when the water level is low.
* The espresso capsules are aluminum and recyclable.
* The machine is very easy to clean.
This package also includes the Aeroccino Plus milk frother. The Aeroccino Plus makes both cold and warm frothed milk that is perfect for lattes and cappuccinos. The frother is whisper quiet and produces soft, pillowy foam very quickly (60-70 seconds.) The frother is also built sturdily and very easy to clean. I often find myself making a quick cup of cappuccino after dinner with a shot of kahlua, something that I never really did at home before.
At approximately 60 cents, the cost of the Pixie capsules can be a bit steep but I'd spend much more than that for an espresso at Starbucks, and Keurig cups cost about the same. You can get Nespresso capsules at various retailers but it's cheapest if you order them directly from Nespresso online. Some of the reviews here list the capsules at $.55 each but the capsules I ordered were $.60 $.65 each. I'm not sure why, but it could be that it's more costly if you're ordering from outside of the continental U.S. (I'm in Hawaii.) The cost of shipping for my order was $6.95 via USPS priority mail; not too bad.
The price for the Pixie/Aeroccino frother combo and capsules is high but you really do get what you pay for. The cost for the combo is also cheaper than if you purchased the Pixie and the frother separately, so you do save some money there. I highly recommend this product if you're someone who enjoys savoring a good cup of espresso.
Buy Nespresso Pixie Espresso Maker With Aeroccino Plus Milk Frother, Electric Titan Now
Face-off: Rancilio Silvia vs. Nespresso PixieOVERVIEW: As a long-time coffee snob I couldn't miss the chance to smackdown these upstart espresso wannabees. Well, more fool me. I was no match for the charms of little miss Pixie; this cheeky wench promptly staked a claim on my valuable counter space, right under the wings of old matron Silvia.
BACKGROUND: I've had a Rancilio Silvia V1 for over a decade. Years ago I made the popular PID modification: a computerized thermostat for superior temperature control. I've replaced the boiler, twice, and the steam valve. I've upgraded its over-pressure valve and tuned it for optimum steam pressure. I don't just grind my own beans, I buy fair-trade single-origin 20 pound bulk bags and roast to perfection on a homemade roaster. I make at least four lattes a day, and grind through a pound of coffee a week. To be sure, the PID'ed Silvia is hardly the Rolls Royce of espresso machines, but it is the Toyota Camry: a tried and true performer; a middle-of-the road favorite. The Nespresso is the new Smart Fortwo: affordable, stylish, leading edge, versatile and fun. Sure, they'll both get you where you want to go, but they're not really in the same market niche.
I've been wanting to give the Nespresso a workout for a couple years, and when Amazon Vine gave me a chance to review not one, but two models, I jumped. They are: the Nespresso Pixie (C60) and the Nespresso U (D50), both with the Aeroccino Plus milk frother. To which I added the Coffeeduck refillable capsules. What follows is a comparison of all of the above versus my old standby, Silvia.
SUMMARY: For a quick and tasty single shot of espresso or small cappuccino the Aeroccino frother with the Nespresso U and Pixie do a consistently good job. Compared to my Silvia, well, I've made many worse cups over the years, much worse, but, after a decade of mods and mastering technique, these days I usually make better.
INTRODUCTION: To start with, let me say that the Pixie and U model ranges are not Nespresso's top-of-the-line but closer to introductory level. Their least to most expensive model ranges are as follows: essenza, U, PIXIE, citiz, lattissima and maestria. As to temperatures, warmup times, and taste, I couldn't detect a significant difference between the U and the Pixie models, so contrasting them comes down to aesthetics and ergonomics. If I write "the Nespresso" I mean either the U or Pixie models, interchangeably. Also, when I write "cup of coffee" versus "espresso" I'm merely referring to the volume of water pushed through the pod, though a purist would rightly distinguish between a Cafe Americano and a ridiculously over-extracted espresso. Temperatures were taken with my Extech 22-816 digital multi-meter, and weights were taken with a Philips HR2394 kitchen scale. What follows is a particularly long, perhaps overlong, review. If you couldn't care less for technical comparisons, ancillary diversions, personal opinions and supplemental recipes skip to the succinct conclusion at the end.
TEMPERATURE: Some people complain Nespresso temperatures are too low, and regarding a cup of coffee it's a fair criticism; though regarding a shot of espresso it's wrong. A shot of espresso was usually around 175° degrees Fahrenheit (though it could range from 165° to 180° more on that later), but a cup of coffee only reached around 155°. In comparison, my Silvia's espresso temperature was around 165°, but as I can set the Silvia's PID to any arbitrary temperature, that's really only relevant as a way of saying the Nespressos are right in the ballpark for espresso. However, many people recommend coffee temperature at 155°-175°, so at 155° the Nespresso really is on the low side.
VOLUME: Because a "normal" shot of espresso is called a "double", it is possible for marketing departments to do semantic gymnastics around the term "shot of espresso" with enough ambiguity to avoid a lawsuit. Without getting into a blizzard of definitions, let me simply assert that a single is 1oz, a double is 2oz, a triple 3oz, and what you would normally get if you ordered a shot from a barrista would be 2oz "double" shot of espresso. Now for some hard numbers:
The Nespresso U had the following default shot volumes: small=0.75oz, medium=1.1oz, large=3.25oz.
The Nespresso Pixie had these default shot volumes: small=1.55oz, and large=3.5oz (no medium button).
I say "default" shot volumes because both models are easy to reprogram. And I eventually did so, practicing without a pod, until settling on 1oz single shots for the small button, and 4.5oz coffee cups for the large.
Now, a cup of coffee is obviously larger than a shot of espresso, but even more so these days. My grandma's heirloom coffee cups, circa 1970, hold 5 ounces; the smallest for sale at Starbucks is 8 ounces; and my modern coffee mugs hold 11 ounces. The Nespresso reservoir is only 30oz, so you would get just three ten ounce cups of coffee from the entire reservoir. Be warned: temperature-wise, taste-wise and capacity-wise, using the Nespresso to make "cups of coffee" means making cups of coffee sized just right for Deputy Fife in the Mayberry Diner.
ADVICE, TEMP. SURFING: Unfortunately, although the Nespresso machines do a good job of keeping the first few ounces hot, past 3 ounces temperature falls rapidly. As a practical matter, this doesn't affect me because I like the Nespresso for single shots (1oz) of espresso or small cups (4.5oz) of coffee. That gives espresso at 175° which is perfect, and coffee at 155° which is okay.
Rancilio Silvia owners learn to their dismay all about temperature variability, which is why the PID is such a popular modification. But what we've learned can help Nespresso owners, too. The technique is known as "temperature surfing" and means operating the machine in a particular way so as to give consistent and optimum temperatures.
For the Nespresso, my surfing advice is simple: always draw a large empty shot (3oz) of hot water into your cup before loading a pod and making the espresso or coffee (first tossing the hot water down the drain). This does two things. First of all, it heats the cup. Most of your expensive espresso machines have a warming tray above the boiler expressly for the purpose of keeping espresso cups hot; because a hot cup makes for better taste. The Nespresso doesn't have a warming tray, but by filling the cup with hot water you warm it up even more, plus by running a few ounces of hot water through the Nespresso you pre-heat its internal elements. My measurements consistently showed a 10° temperature increase from the first to second cups, following this technique. The first shot was typically 165° and the second was around 175°. On a couple of occasions I managed to get shots as high as 180°, but this was after dozens of consecutive pulls with hot water alone and not consistently repeatable: the fifth shot might be 180° but the sixth would be back to 175°. Eventually, after 30 minutes of experimentation the cartridge hatch on the Nespresso U model was too hot too touch, but the espresso temp. remained 175°.
WARMUP TIME: Compared to Silvia, the Nespresso is a dream: just 30 seconds from powering on to drawing a warmup shot, after which it's as warm as it's realistically going to get. Silvia's vast bulk takes at least 10 minutes to get cosy, but preferably closer to 30. As a practical matter, I turn her on when I wake up in the morning half an hour later she's ready to give me lattes, but I still have to draw a warmup shot first. In the best case Nespresso's time from power-on to first shot of espresso is under 2 minutes; Silvia's: over 10. As a convenience factor, this should not be overlooked.
QUANTITY OF COFFEE GROUNDS: This is where I have a legitimate criticism of the Nespresso. Perhaps criticism is too strong a word, more like demystification. In any case, the criticism isn't against the Nespresso so much, as the pods.
Do a little research into the subject and you'll find that an espresso "single" is made with grounds weighing 7-8 grams/single shot, whereas cups of coffee are made with 14-16grams/liter (see Wikipedia articles on espresso and coffee_grounds). Probably not coincidentally my Philips kitchen scale tells me Nespresso pods contain 6-8 grams of coffee grounds (depending on the flavor).
Translated into English that means each Nespresso pod contains the optimum quantity of grounds for a single shot (1oz) of espresso, or a 4.5oz cup of coffee.
Compare Nespressos 6-8g of grounds to my Rancilio Silvia, for which I have three portafilter baskets with the following capacities: small=11g, medium=17g, large=22g. Most of the time I use my large triple basket and extract only double shot of espresso, which makes for a very rich shot.
Not only does "coffee theory" tell us we should be making 1oz shots, or 4.5oz cups, with a Nespresso pod's 6-8g of grounds, but my taste buds do as well. Sticking with those smaller volumes the Nespresso shot flavor compares very favorably with what I get from home-roasted beans on a super-modified Silvia. But a 2.5oz espresso from Nespresso tastes over-extracted; and an 8oz cup of coffee tastes weak, not to mention lukewarm and bitter.
Of course, taste is personal, and if you love triple lungo shots from your Nespresso, then more power to you. But before you judge, let me give you one bit of advice: try comparing one triple-shotted pod against three single-shotted pods (one pod against three) and see if the latter isn't astoundingly better.
For around ten ounces of top notch espresso Silvia costs me about a dollar a day, about ten cents per (1oz single-sized) shot. With Nespresso pods at sixty cents per 1oz single-shot pod over the course of a year the difference comes to $1800 enough to buy that Rolls Royce of espresso machines, or at least the Mercedes Benz. Of course, the reality is I would never spend that much, I'd just over-extract the pods and suffer with worse coffee. One can't helping thinking of the ink-jet printer: manufacturers practically giving them away then selling ink for more than its weight in gold.
COFFEEDUCK PODS. One way people save money is pod adapters that can be filled at home, and I've tried the black Coffeeduck brand at seven dollars each (for the Nespresso Pixie be sure to get the black ones). The breakeven point is about 15 shots, but I'm not sure they'll last.
Be warned, the Coffeeduck pod adapters won't work with the Nespresso U or any other automatic model only the manual models like the Nespresso Pixie. Not only do the Coffeeduck directions explicitly state this, but I mistakenly tried it before reading the fine print and they're not kidding: for one terrifying moment I thought I had ruined the Nespresso U. It's one reason to prefer the Pixie.
Getting the right grind with these is tricky. My Rancilio Rocky grinder must be set eight notches coarser than what I use for Silvia. I fill to the top, tamp with my finger, top off the grounds and finger-tamp again. I don't know how one would use these without an expensive espresso grinder, but since I do have one they let me fill my own pods for about twelve cents apiece. A considerable savings over sixty. The tradeoff is what you might imagine: time and mess from finger-tamping powdery dry grounds, then cleaning out the hot, wet, sticky grounds with a toothbrush. Still, saving fifty cents a pop, more or less, is nothing to sneeze at.
The espresso quality is top notch, every bit as good as Nespresso's Pods as long as I grind fresh and brew immediately. There is no advantage in pre-filling a bunch of them, as they go stale in less than a day just like any espresso grounds. This is one area where the Nespresso pods have a real advantage. With their airtight seal and special gases they keep fresh for, as far as I know, forever.
MILK FROTHING. First off, let me say that I absolutely adore the Aeroccino frother, and I wouldn't even consider buying a Nespresso without one. The simple reason is hot chocolate. Oh, and it's good for coffee-based milk drinks, too.
Using the Aeroccino is simplicity itself. Pour in ½ cup of 47° milk, press the button, and 60 seconds later it stops itself now pour out frothy 145° milk for your cappuccino. Pour in 1 full cup of 47° milk, press the button, and 120 seconds later you have frothy 145° milk for your latte. Cleanup is 53 seconds with hot water rinse and a paper towel wipe.
Now, those are good numbers, but, in a head-to-head face-off, the Silvia really shines in this department. Unfortunately, before it shines it has to warmup. First give it 60 seconds to heat up from espresso stage to steamer stage. At that point ½ cup of 47° milk heats to 160° in a mere 30 seconds. Meaning that on the first ½ cup Silvia is 30 seconds slower than the Aeroccino but 15° hotter. Thereafter no reheat time is required, and Silvia heats twice as fast as the Aeroccino, or given the same amount of time, heats 30° warmer. Even better, if I don't care about getting the world's best micro-foam I can put a two-cup pitcher of cold milk under the Silvia and walk away, returning several minutes later to a full pint of hot, slightly frothy milk for multiple lattes. Silvia's 115 second cleanup time is twice as long as the Aeroccino's 53 seconds.
Where I expected the Aeroccino to fall short is in making quality microfoam, and to a certain extent I right to worry, but it's not as bad as I feared. If you stick with only ½ cup of milk you can use the larger of the two Aeroccino paddles (the unused one stores conveniently on the underside of the lid) and it gives decent foam. By the way, they aren't kidding when they say not to use the large paddle with 1 full cup of milk I tried, and got milk all over the place, like putting too much soap in the clothes washer. Anyway, the larger paddle makes for a nice quantity of froth. It's not exactly microfoam (look it up on Wikipedia), but it's not bad. Needless to say, I can get perfect microfoam from Silvia, but to get it I have to stand there nursing the pitcher, and to be honest I don't usually bother.
COCOA. This is the Aeroccino's forte. I've been looking for something like this for years, and The Aeroccino does it. The secret is powered sugar. Nothing could be simpler. Secure the small paddle in the Aeroccino cup. Pour 1 full cup of cold milk into it. Add 1 heaping tablespoon of cocoa power (I've tried Hershey's, Nestle's and Ghiradelli's). Add 1 heaping tablespoon of powdered sugar. Press the button and wait for it to finish. Two minutes later you will have a perfect, unrivalled, sublime cup of hot cocoa. Pour into a drinking mug. Add a dash of vanilla, a sprinkle of cinnamon, a dollop of whipped cream or all three. If you think it's too sweet or too chocolatey, experiment with a half-teaspoon more or less of cocoa or powdered sugar, to taste, until you reach nirvana.
After heating and frothing the cocoa might form a film on the bottom of the Aeroccino, and if you don't wipe it out with a wet paper towel before making another cup the Aeroccino might overheat, flashing red. When this happens you can sometimes ignore it, taking the Aeroccino off its base, putting it back on, and pressing the button again, repeating as necessary until it's hot enough to drink. To avoid this altogether just make sure to wipe away any cocoa film from the Aeroccino before making a second cup.
If you use granulated sugar instead of powered sugar, then about 50% of the time the small paddle will pop off the nipple inside the Aeroccino. This is because the granulated sugar falls to the bottom of the cup and interferes with the paddle's rotation before dissolving. If this happens you will see the milk stop spinning in a whirlpool and you should press the button to turn off the Aeroccino. I won't tell you to reach in and reseat the paddle with your fingers in case its too hot, but when I've done that I haven't been burned. The paddle won't fall off twice because by that time the granulated sugar will have dissolved. To avoid this, don't add the granulated sugar at first with the cocoa, but wait until the Aeroccino has finished heating and frothing. Or just use powered sugar and forget about it.
The practical upshot of this is that I now drink a cup of hot cocoa every day instead of only once a month. I make it for the kids whenever they want instead of only as a very special treat. There simply isn't any comparison to "instant cocoa" mix, whether it be Nestle Quick, Swiss Miss, or whatever. Those substitutes pale in comparison to the genuine article, as every hot chocolate connoisseur knows. In short, if there's a better way than the Aeroccino to make hot cocoa, I'd like to know what it is.
ERGONOMICS. It's here where the only real differences appear between the Nespresso Pixie versus Nespresso U. Compared to those two, Silvia is a beast. And when you add in the size of the Silvia's coffee grinder (the Rocky) along with the necessary tray for catching loose grounds, it's safe to say the Silvia easily consumes five times as much counter space as the Nespresso on its worst day. That said, see my uploaded photograph of the various machines, which is the best way to get an impression of their relative sizes.
As far as appearance goes, you know what you prefer, but for maintenance I like the smooth surface of the U versus the ridges on the Pixie. The ridges in the Pixie tend to collect coffee and milk splatters and need a meticulous scrubbing with towel or sponge to clean. Whereas the U simply wipes clean. Also, the U cleverly uses magnets to hold the cup base in place, allowing you to remove it entirely if desired. Also, the U has the delightful ability to rotate the water reservoir off to either side or directly behind, letting you customize it to your space. Both the U and the Pixie have a place underneath for storing excess power cord.
Unfortunately for the U, I was much less pleased with its "automatic" pod handling. First of all, whenever the pod latch was opened the U eventually pumped hot water. Whether or not any pod was inserted. And not necessarily right away, but when the machine has warmed up, which might take 35 seconds. More than once I was startled by scalding hot water suddenly running out of the spout when my back was turned, because I had plugged it in, fiddled with the latch to see if anything was happening, wondered if it was, decided it wasn't, and forgot about it until whoops! better find a cup.
Also, against the U, it had a considerable amount of leakage into the drip tray on every shot: 13ml, to be precise. And as the overflow cup is only 260ml that means after 20 shots your overflow cup overfloweth. It made quite a mess before I worked that out. The Pixie doesn't have that problem, leaking perhaps 1ml per shot.
Worse, the automatic pod loader on the U jams up when trying to use the Coffeeduck adapter pods. Coffeeduck warns you about this, but I didn't read the fine print and tried it anyway, and it jammed. Because the U doesn't have a manual open, I wasn't sure how I was going to get the old pod out as I couldn't open the hatch, jiggling it with increasing desperation it finally broke free. Then, just to be sure, I did the same all over again with the same result. In contrast, the Pixie is easy to open and when a Coffeeduck gets occasionally stuck a simple flick of the fingernail will break it loose. Considering that "automatic loading" just means not having to pull a simple lever, it's hard to understand why you'd want it. Mainly for aesthetics, I think, to get rid of the lever. But I'm a guy I like levers.
AMERICANO VS. LONG BLACK. There are two ways to get a Mayberry sized 4.5oz "cup of coffee" from the Nespresso: the obvious way and the better way. The obvious way is to program your large button for 4.5 ounces, stick in a pod, hit it, and drink what comes out. It tastes exactly like you'd expect from pushing 4.5oz of (under-heated) steam through 1oz worth of espresso grounds: over-extracted, weak and bitter espresso.
Fortunately there's a better way: it's called "The Americano", and it's the way Silvia has always made cups of coffee for my many beloved ancestors who haven't yet cottoned on to these Frou-Frou lattes and expressos (sic). An Americano, for those who don't know, is just a shot of espresso with enough hot water to make a full cup. It's surprisingly good. The Long Black is even better, and is made in the reverse order by adding the shot of espresso to the hot water, preserving more crema.
To make a Long Black with the Nespresso is simplicity itself. Just program your small button for 1oz and your large for 3.5oz. After warming up the machine and your glass pour 3.5oz hot water into your cup by pressing the large button with no pod loaded. Then load the pod, wait 15 seconds, and press the small button to add a great single shot (1oz) of espresso to the hot water. Voila, a Long Black.
Earlier today I did a side-by-side comparison of a 4.5oz Long Black made on the Pixie (1oz espresso shot added to 3.5oz hot water) versus a simple 4.5oz shot through a single pod. As expected, the Long Black was smoother and sweeter. In exchange for a slight decrease in "strength" there is a large decrease in bitterness. If a stronger cup is desired, I'd suggest trying a Long Black made from 5oz water and two single shots (2x1oz) of espresso.
CONCLUSION. I'm a coffee snob who's spent countless hours roasting his own beans and nursing great espresso out of his (relatively) expensive and finicky Rancilio Silvia. I really wanted to hate the Nespresso, but I just couldn't. As long as one respects the limits imposed by a mere 7grams of coffee grounds per pod, the Nespresso U and Pixie machines are fine espresso makers. I got both to review and between them decided to keep the Pixie mostly because of its compatibility with the money-saving Coffeeduck adapter pods. The Nespresso's quick warmup time lets my non-coffee-snob wife make herself a quick pick-me-up, something she wasn't willing to do with slow and fussy Silvia. On the downside, respecting limits means pushing no more than 1oz of water through the pod: a "single" shot of espresso, perhaps added to no more than 3.5oz of hot water if making a "long black" cup of coffee. As long as one makes a pod-less warmup shot first, 1oz espresso shots are perfectly hot at 175°; and 4.5oz cups of coffee are acceptably hot at 155°. The Aeroccino makes quick work of foaming ½ cup milk for a cappuccino, and it does a fantastic job of making 1 full cup of hot cocoa add in the package discount and I would never consider buying a Nespresso without an Aeroccino. Price-wise, the Nespresso package costs well under 1/3rd of my Rancilio Silvia/Rocky combo, but taste-wise they aren't that far apart. On the other hand, the pods are considerably more expensive than raw beans so years from now you may wish you'd saved your quarters and gotten a high-end espresso machine to begin with. I have a secret way of making coffee. Espresso and Cappuccino in fact. Taught to me by my Sicilian godmother. It doesn't require hundreds of dollars of equipment. It only requires 3 kitchen items. What it does take is time. For years my family has won official and non official contests for best cappuccino, latte, espresso. In fact in 3 generations we never lost. I have a paint color named after my latte. Perhaps the highest compliment I ever gotten was from my husband. He is a non-coffee drinker who hates coffee in 25 years the only coffee he has ever had I made him. My coffee is the only one he requests, the only one he finishes until now. The Pixie maker is that good. Is it as good as mine? no. Not being modest but it is darn close. Close enough that my coffee dry husband has started to drink coffee regularly.
What pixie has over my coffee is it's easy and quick to make. fill up the water reserve. Open the capsule reserve, drop in a capsule, close the reserve turn the machine on. press button when it's ready. tada! The milk is easy too. There are two attachment. One paddle for froth and one whisk for foam (thicker) choose the one you want. pore milk up to the first like for foam, up the the second line for froth. Hold down the button. Red heats and froths. Continue to hold it and you have cool and froth.
The crema is perfect on the espresso. Not every machine produces crema, my method did not. Crema to keep things simple does not improve the taste of the coffee but can improve the experience. What crema does do is simply tell you the age of the coffee. If the flavor is being fully extracted from the beans and it being evenly extracted. It is the first signs of a good cup of coffee, but not the only signs. It is possible to have a great crema and a horrible cup of coffee or no crema and a magnificent cup of coffee. For people like myself that love a good shot of espresso the crema itself changed the experience. It makes a thicker coffee that is creamer and the flavor (good or bad) lingers on your palate. If you add milk to your coffee the crema becomes less important. It is just cool to see.
My review excellent products paired together to make a magnificent cup of coffee.
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Below, comparing with Kcup and pricing. Keeping cost lower.
Nespresso has a patented closed to market capsule. Making buying coffee capsules...limited. You can buy it from their site online or at one of their retailers, which are limited. Unlike the Keurig coffee maker. Keurig makes coffee pods in 3 sizes their most popular is their K cups. You can find K cups in walmart, target, and even at the corner store. My brother has a Kcup maker. My Pixie kicks his Kcup's ass for taste. K cups are a coffee maker not really an espresso or cappuccino maker. But my brother can get various flavors and types of drinks on sale.
His K cup maker has hot chocolate, tea, apple cider cups. Independent companies make cups that fit the K cup meaning that prices range and so do flavors. Pixie? well nespresso coffee has 16 standard flavors offered year round and every month or every other month they offer 1-3 special flavors which sell out fast and are limited. The limited time flavors have started a specialty market on amazon and on ebay. All the flavors are coffee there is not tea, cider or hot chocolate.
K cups cost 50 cents and less. On amazon there are bulk offerings at 26 cents. K cups are available on sale regularly.
Nespresso capsules are 60 cents. more for limited editions. Yes nespresso has sales, and the site gives away free capsules or items with purchases. My first purchase online I received my capsules at 35 cents per capsule and a box to hold a selection. Over all though Nespresso will cost you more if you buy only their capsules than K cups cost. Both companies cost less than grabbing a cup at Starbucks.
Convenience at a lower costs? Kcup has a refillable cup. My brother has tried one with his and found it works fine. The coffee is slightly weaker. So I went looking for a refillable capsule for my pixie maker. I bought a 10 pack from emohome (their site is cheaper) 4th generation fits the pixie. No other size fits. The refillable cups are easy to make. open the flip top, use it like a spoon and scoop out coffee with it and then tap with thumb. Top off. The tab on the cup should go either on the top or bottom when you put it in the machine, not to the side. It makes coffee of the same quality and strength. It makes a thick crema which means the refillable cup is giving you the same quality extraction as the regular capsules. Choose any coffee you would like to use. One refillable cup last for 30 refills says the company. I have used mine more with no issues. It lowers the cost of the cup of the cup of coffee to a 5 to 10 cents a cup. You can fill it with what ever coffee you want. I used illy, cafe bustello and my local grindhouse kind.
Of course I didn't stop there. The refillable was filled with tea in and without a tea bag. After resetting the water amount on the machine it made a perfect cup of tea. If you are lazy like me. then put the teabag in the cup. press too longs and one short. It fills up an average coffee cup with enough tea for a sitting.
I heated up water by running a capsule free machine for chocolate and added the mix to the heated water perfect. Any drink mix that dissolves can be made this way. I suggest doing one run first to clean the machine.
So for a fraction of the cost my pixie can make tea, coffee, and hot chocolate better than the kcup. I still haven't tried hot apple cider but I don't really like apple cider. Waiting for my brother to test that one.
The frother can froth or foam milk. It heats it or keeps it cool while frothing. perfect. I enjoyed it so much I bought some as gifts. In total I bought 3 and 1 broke. Nespresso guarantees their items for 1 year so they replaced it for free. The frother electronics is on the milk container and can not get wet, so be careful washing it and no dishwasher. If you plan to buy it separately it costs about $100. For $20 more you might want to invest in Breville Frother. The milk container has no electronics and can be cleaned separately from the base. It is dishwasher safe.
Honestly the system is great. I wouldn't have any other system but this one. Pre-filling cups or filling them in the moment doesn't take that much time and saves lot of money. I always have a box of the nespresso capsules in case I want a treat or one of their flavors.
Want Nespresso Pixie Espresso Maker With Aeroccino Plus Milk Frother, Electric Titan Discount?
I have been using Nespresso at home and at the office for 7 years now. I have a Nespresso D90/S1 Essenza Single-Serve Manual Espresso Machine, Metal at home and had one at the office until a few weeks ago when it finally stopped working (after 3 years of daily use by multiple people). The coffees offered by Nespresso taste great, are simple to use and come in a range of strengths and flavors.I have been using the Nespresso Pixie in my office daily for the past week and I am happy to say that it is as fully functional as much larger machines from Nespresso. The included milk frother is a nice touch and I like it much better than steamer attachments. On to the review:
Pros:
Very small footprint perfect for tight counters. It would even fit in a large desk drawer or on a pantry shelf.
Easy to insert capsules
Automated choose a small or large cup
Simple 3 button operation (Power, small cup, larger cup)
Quiet
Nice design touches like the tilt up tray that allows you to use even full-sized coffee cups rather than just small espresso cups.
Milk frother is great, works well AND is easy to clean. Also relatively quiet. I much prefer this to steam frothers.
Cons:
Water reservoir is smaller than other machines, though this is by design as it is a 'Pixie'.
A couple of additional pieces of advise:
-Buy your capsules directly from Nespresso. They charge approx $0.55 per capsule vs a dollar or more from other sources.
-I find that the Ristretto (black capsules) work best for lattes and cappuccinos. It is a dark and rich coffee that can handle the dilution with milk.
-My favorite straight espresso is the Volluto (gold capsules). It is creamy, strikes the right balance between bold and mild and is a crowd pleaser.
I highly recommend this product for someone looking for an affordable, compact, espresso machine for home use.
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