Nespresso C90 Essenza Manual Espresso and Coffeemaker, Slate

I loved my Slate Essenza C90 manual machine for the 1st month. It was so easy and the espresso was delicious. Then one morning as I pulled my espresso, water started leaking out all over! The whole bottom tray completely filled with water and a lot overflowed. It had some kind of stoppage that forced the water to leak out.

It was literally on the 31st day of ownership b/c I checked my receipt and almost returned it to amazon. But the book it came with said to call Nespresso, that they would pick them machine up and even give a loaner until they could replace it with a new one, so I called them instead. The customer service rep told me they would email me a shipping label, so I could send it back and that they would send a new machine within 2 3 days. No pickup like the book said, but ok fine. Then they never send the shipping label. So I had to call back a couple days later. Now they finally send it.

So I send back the machine and two WEEKS later I finally get my machine but it is an ugly weird green color and REFURBISHED. It definitely does not work as well as the machine I bought did for the first 30 days the water drips out strangely and it is kind of leaky. I know it is refurbished because it said so right on the label but even if it didn't it just is obviously not a new machine in appearance and function.

Needless to say I am very unhappy with this experience. "Nespresso Lifestyle" my foot.

Not only that, but the customer service rep told me to send back the nice book my machine originally came with. The refurbished machine did not come with a book. All it came with was a paper pamphlet for the C100 not even the same model. So now I'm out that too.

UPDATE 4/27/09: I'm happy to report that I got a telephone call from a Nespresso Customer Service rep on Sat. 4/18. She said it was just a courtesy call and asked how I liked the machine so I told her the story as described above. She said that I should have gotten a new machine and that she would look into it. Sure enough, by Fri. 4/24 a brand new machinein the right slate color, with a new book and even new pods had arrived on my doorstep! I enjoyed coffee from it all weekend. They also let me keep the refurbished machine until the new one arrived this time, so I did not have to go without coffee. I sent it back in the mail today.

So, I'm a lot happier now with customer service, and would move it up to 3 stars. I will update this review again after 30 days hopefully the new machine will still be working!

Update 7/18/09: Well it is a few months later and I continue to be very pleased with my Nespresso machine. It is still working great and I absolutely love it. Just made my third coffee order, and worked out the cost. On average I am spending about $17 a month to drink my espresso every morning. That is about $50 less per month than the $2.25 I was previously spending at the coffee shop every day! It is also so easy to order them online, and they arrive within a few days. Overall, I am very happy with this purchase.

I experienced the perfect espresso produced by these machines because they were in every hotel room I inhabited in Europe. It was so easy and delicious, I ordered one the day after I arrived back in the states. I chose this machine rather than the C100 because I wanted control over how much espresso was pulled. This was a good choice, but you might want to purchase a couple of cups that will give you a good idea of just how many ounces you have while you are making it.

The machine heats up quickly, in under a minute. The first time you use it, make sure you fully charge the water pump which is super easy (instructions for this are with the manual).

I went to the Nespresso club online and ordered the welcome kit which offers 200 capsules at a fair price and includes a free wooden box. It was worth it...and they include the 3 brand new lines of espresso they have developed recently.

I strongly recommend this product to anyone who is disappointed at the occasional lack of quality in espresso products they receive outside the home, the tedious ritual of making espresso from coffee grounds, or people like me who are disappointed in the quality of my brewed coffee at home in the morning.

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