September 13, 2007

Review: Nespresso Lattissima - One Touch Cappuccinos, Lattes, and Espresso

Review from Single Serve Coffee.com - Coffee Pod Reviews Nespressolattissma

The Nespresso Lattissima can make one touch cappuccinos, lattes, and espresso with the touch of a button. We first encountered the Nespresso Lattissima single serve coffee machine earlier this year at the Nespresso launch party for the machine. We were impressed then and are we impressed now? What can we say - the machine not only delivers on the promise of one touch cappuccinos, lattes, and espresso - it excels at all of those drinks and best of all - it's the easiest to use machine we've ever tested to create a latte or cappuccino hands down.

As we said earlier in the year, because the Nespresso Lattissima uses fresh milk the difference in the quality of the latte or cappuccino is staggering. The Nespresso Lattissima also features an "auto clean" function, and the milk reservoir detaches from the machine so you can keep it nice and cool in the fridge for the next cappuccino or latte you make. Another cool feature is the adjustable cup platform, which allows you to use a tall latte glass or a traditional coffee cup.

Testing the Nespresso Lattissima

Our test Nespresso Lattissima unit came in satin chrome complete with the milk frother tank and cup warmer top. You can use a variety of cup sizes - tall pint glasses for lattes or smaller cups for capps and espresso. There really isn't much setup involved with the machine, as everything including the milk frothing is very plug and play.

And plug and play is the Nespresso way. Nespresso machines use the patented Nespresso coffee capsule delivery system. You can't use your own coffee in a Nespresso system, but you can use any of the 12 flavors from Nespresso, and whatever special coffees they are currently offering in the Nespresso club. You'll also need to buy your coffee directly from Nespresso for the Nespresso Lattissima, but you can do this over the web or via the phone.

Another great thing to note is how small the footprint of this machine is. It's very small compared to super-automatics like the Jura Capresso series given the ability for the Nespresso Lattissima to make lattes and cappuccinos. We're also impressed with the fit and finish of the machine - it just looks and feels really solid and has a unique yet familiar feel to it.

Nespresso Lattissima Highlights:

One touch fresh milk froth function for preparing a range of espresso-based beverages
Adjustable cup platform for filling coffee cups, as well as latte glasses
Auto clean automatic rinsing function
Heated upper surface for warming cups on the satin chrome model

Nespresso Lattissima Technical Details:

Twin pump heating system, one for frothing and one for making espresso - can be used at the same time
19 Bar high-pressure pump
Auto cappuccino function, which produces a one-touch cappuccino in less than one minute or latte macchiato in one minute and 20 seconds
A mini brewing unit
Removable milk container
Removable water container
Water level reader
Capsule holder for 12-15 capsules
Weight is 11 pounds

When you get the machine to start you will have to prime and run both hot water through the frother and the main Nespresso brewing unit. This is the only thing that took any time in getting the machine up and running and is to be expected.

One thing we'd like to say, that after making no less than 5 lattes, and then a bunch of espresso shots - clean up is a breeze if non-existent. To clean the milk frother, you just hit the clean button with a cup underneath, then detach the milk tank by just pulling and then putting it in the fridge. Because the Nespresso Lattissima also uses the Nespresso capsule coffees, you'll just need to empty the spent capsules by dumping into the trash. There are no coffee grounds, puddles of water - simply no mess.

Milk frother tank holds the milk of your choice,
and features a cleaning button.

You fill the water under the machine by pulling the drawer
out from under the Nespresso Lattissima.

Making A Latte or Cappuccino with the Nespresso Lattisima

Get a tall glass and prepare for an amazing latte from
the Nespresso Lattissima.

What could be easier than making a latte or cappuccino with the Nespresso Lattissima? Nothing. Once you put the milk reservoir in place, pick the Nespresso coffee capsule, and then push the button. The results will speak for themselves. This is the life. You get fresh frothed milk from the milk frother and you get an amazing espresso added from the main Nespresso unit.

In what seems like just a minute or two,
you get a nice tall latte. YUM!

For cappuccino you can use a smaller glass.
We recommend the Bodum Pavina glasses.
The taller bodums won't fit though - so stick to short ones.

Here's a smaller cappuccino in a Nespresso glass.

Nespresso Lattissima Videos

We took two different videos of the Nespresso Lattissima making a cappuccino and a latte. You can also use the Nespresso Lattissima to just make espresso.

Note: The videos are using the default latte macchiato and cappuccino settings for both milk and espresso. You can adjust both the amount of espresso and the amount of milk on each of the 4 buttons - Short/Tall - Espresso/Lungo. It's also good to note you can adjust the amount of froth as well - there is a slid-able button on the milk container to have more or less froth. This is essentially a froth regulator with the following settings: lots of froth, less froth, and hardly any froth.

Making a Latte with the Nespresso Lattissima

Making a cappuccino with the Nespresso Lattissima

Conclusion

Even if you think the price of $699 or $799 is too high a price for a perfect cappuccino or latte or shot of espresso in your home, we think given the quality and taste from the Nespresso Lattissima you'd have to be just plain wrong. This is the machine for the person who wants the best home created coffee creations, but doesn't want any troubles. From making a latte to just hitting the clean button to prep the machine for the next use - this machine is drop dead easy to use and the results are amazing. You'll get the flavor and taste you'd expect in a latte, and the footprint of the machine is also small unlike many other super-automatic espresso and latte makers.

We can't but highly recommend the Nespresso Lattissima if you have the single serve coffee budget.

The Nespresso Lattissima is priced at $799 for the satin chrome with cup warmer, and $699 for red or black sans the cup warmer.

At Nespresso and Nespresso Lattissima

The Nespresso Lattissima is also available now at Amazon.com and other online etailers.

Read More in: Nespresso | Reviews | Single Serve Coffee Machines

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Posted by Jay Brewer at September 13, 2007 5:58 AM

Comments

Jay, does the Latissima give a way to program the amount of frothed milk to add to a latte or cappuccino? If you can't program the does of froth, is there a way to control it manually? Just wondering if you're stuck with a factory setting or if you can modify it somehow. Also, I'm curious if you've compared how well the Latissima froths compared to the D290? Darryl
Posted by: Darrylr at September 14, 2007 12:24 PM

You can adjust both the espresso and the latte/cap amount - on all settings - tall short - etc.
Posted by: Jay Brewer at September 14, 2007 12:46 PM

The Lattissima looks like it would be a great machine for producing lots of ABOVE-AVERAGE cappuccinos very FAST. However, the above videos demonstrate very clearly that the machine does NOT produce a true FROTH, but rather the same FOAM that all other automatic machines produce, as evidenced by the very visible large bubbles, in the video. Chocolate or spices sprinkled on the top will burst most of the large bubbles, leaving a mottled look. If you try to make a design on the top of the foam, the design will be lost in the burst bubbles. A true FROTH will support whatever chocolate or spices that you place on top of it. Then, it will both TASTE and LOOK good. Since I seldom have to make more than a few cappuccinos at a time, I'll stick to my D90 and continue making my own FROTH; Thank you.
Posted by: John Gaver at September 17, 2007 11:36 AM

I'm disappointed that you have to use throw away pods or whatever they call them. A lot of us are trying to minimize waste, especially plastic waste as plastic often is made from petroleum products. I have a Tassimo right now and whenever it dies I'll be looking for a machine that has a coffee holder that I can refill and reuse.
Posted by: Texas Reader at September 18, 2007 1:35 AM

I was right. Yesterday, I had a chance to try a cappuccino from a Lattissima, at the Nespresso bar in Selfridges, in London. I must say that it produced one of the best attempts at true (micro-bubble) froth that I have ever encountered, though still not a true froth. In fact, I have only seen one other machine that produced a better attempt at froth (the Nespresso Siemens by Porsche Design) and it was not fully automatic and required regular adjustments and cleaning, to keep the froth quality close to that of real froth. The Lattissima produced an excellent cappuccino, with a pseudo-froth that was at least as good or better than you would expect to get from all but a handful of Starbucks baristas. If I often entertained large numbers of people, who liked cappuccino, I would definitely purchase the Lattissima, for that purpose only. As for my personal use, I would continue to use my simple D90 (in the USA) and my M100 (in London) and take the few seconds longer that it takes to make my own froth right. After all, there is nothing like coffee done right, when you are only preparing one cup at a time. The Lattissima is clearly for those times when speed and volume trump quality. At those times, the Lattissima is an eminently acceptable alternative.
Posted by: John Gaver at September 24, 2007 6:25 AM

Hi All, I am considering purchasing the Nespresso Lattissima for our small office use (7 people). It looks like you can now purchase the machine through Amazon.com I read several reviews where people complained that they found the milk didn't get hot enough and produced an end result beverage that was not hot enough for their taste. In addition, people complained that the cup warmer feature was a joke. Has anyone experienced these issues? I was considering purchasing one for my Father for his birthday but he likes a really hot latte so I am hesitant. I'd love your feedback. Also, is it worth spending the extra $100 on the cup warmer?
Posted by: Debbie at February 21, 2008 2:26 PM

Hi Jay, What brand of tall glasses do you like for the latte's with this machine?
Posted by: Debbie at February 21, 2008 5:28 PM

Can it do an espresso machiatto? (Not a latte machiatto, that's too much milk for me!) Thanks!
Posted by: michael at February 28, 2008 3:58 PM

I have never owned a machine like this or even tried a latte but wanted a new coffee machine. One latte and I am hooked! I dont know about popping bubbles or chocolate sprinkles, but this is one incredible tasting drink. Worth every penny!
Posted by: chris Patko at March 20, 2008 2:37 AM