P.C.: Coffeesesh

What is a Nespresso Coffee machine?

Nespresso is a single-serve espresso and coffee machine. Using Nespresso capsules- espresso and espresso-based drinks like Cappuccino, Latte or Macchiato, can be prepared.

Nespresso is managed under its parent company Nestlé Nespresso S.A., (trading as Nespresso), an operating unit of the Nestlé Group, based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

History of the Nespresso coffee machine

In 1975, a young engineer named Eric Favre took a trip to Rome that changed the history of coffee. Favre had recently started working at Nestlé headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland. One of his very first projects was to develop a machine that would combine the convenience of domestic coffee with the quality of an Italian espresso bar. In Italy, consumers paid much more for a product made by an expert using- expensive equipment.

 At the time, two kinds of coffee were particularly consumed at home. There was the roasted and dark variety that was tasty but laborious to prepare on a stovetop or filter machine. The second type was a soluble instant coffee, which was quick and easy but had an unsettled flavor.

To be tempting customers at a higher price, Favre’s new mission- had to offer high-quality coffee with the speed and ease of- the instant.

Wandering through the centre of Rome, Favre noticed a long standing queue from a coffee bar near Pantheon. Plenty of other cafes nearby used the same machines. What was it about this place that made it so special?

Inside, the barista there explained that other operators pumped the piston just once before releasing the coffee. But at that particular bar, the baristas pumped repeatedly. Which meant they forced more water and air into the ground bean that lead to higher oxidization. This process drew out more flavor from the beans and produced more crema (the layer formed on the top of a good espresso).

Caffè Sant’Eustachio in Rome

In the history of “at-home” premium coffee, this was perhaps the closest that anyone has ever come to a eureka moment. 

Favre returned to Switzerland, and along with a small team, set about designing a machine that could replicate this process. The idea of a portioned coffee system had been around since the 50s, but no one had really pursued it. Favre aimed to build a world in which espresso was easily available at home. Consumers would own a machine into which they would insert a pod filled with ground coffee; the pod would keep the coffee fresh.

The system introduced by Favre- was patented by Nestlé in 1976. Nespresso first tested its new concept in Japan in 1986 and rolled it out to coffee consumers in Switzerland, France, Italy, and Japan- the same year.

In 1990, Nestlé signed a contract with Turmix, which began to sell Nespresso machines in Switzerland. Following that, more contracts were signed- with Krups, Magimix, Alessi, Philips, Siemens, and DeLonghi.

Adaptation of Nespresso coffee machines

Today, some 14 billion Nespresso capsules are sold every year- both online and from 810 boutique outlets in 84 countries around the world. An estimate of more than 400 Nespresso are drunk every second.

For a certain kind of business traveller, the sight of the small Nespresso Bar in a drawer by the minibar has become as familiar as a Gideon Bible. In homes, the distinctive whirr and clunk of the Nespresso machine and its action, have taken their place, alongside the churn of a dishwasher.

How does the Nespresso coffee maker work?

Each stylish Nespresso Coffee Machine is structured to look great and deliver piping hot coffee. The powerful 19-bar system extracts maximum flavor from the capsule, and the drink is ready in just a matter of seconds. Each Nespresso coffee machine is fully programmable, so you can select the type of coffee you desire and choose how much hot water is required.

Types of Nespresso machines

There are two types of Nespresso Machine:

Nespresso OriginalLine: These are the original Nespresso machines that make Espressos only (and any espresso-based drink). OriginalLine machine include CitiZ, Pixie, Inissia, Lattissima, and more.

Nespresso VertuoLine: This line of Nespresso machines can make both espresso and coffee. They use capsules that vary entirely in design than the OriginalLine-capsules. Yet, you can expect the same premium quality. The VertuoLine line includes the machines: VertuoLine, Evoluo/Evoluo Deluxe, Vertuo and Vertuo Plus.

Can Nespresso Machines make Drinks other Than Coffee?

 OriginalLine Nespresso machines are compatible with capsules from other brands. Some brands offer tea and hot chocolate capsules. Nespresso VertuoLine- though, can only make coffee and espresso, as well as espresso-based beverages.

Prices

Nespresso coffee machines fall into a price range from around $125 to $580 (THB3,800- THB18,000). A wide choice of models that use this system can be found, including those from Krups, Sage, Magimix, and Dualit, as well as Nespresso-branded machines.

Check out the Nespresso compatible capsules available on Don Carlos Coffee Thailand.