Coffee maker for capsules, ground coffee and ESE pods

Four coffee systems, one machine on the worktop

Four coffee holders sit in the drawer next to the machine, and each morning the one that is needed goes in. In a household people rarely drink the same coffee: one person buys capsules at the shop, another insists on freshly ground beans, and a visiting grandparent brings pods.

In this machine four coffee holders take turns: small capsule, large capsule, ground coffee and ESE pod. Pull the holder out, swap it, push it back. That is the whole changeover.

What each holder is for

The smaller, conical format has its own holder. This is the one for Nespresso®-compatible capsules: dense, intense espresso.

The larger, domed capsules belong to the Dolce Gusto®-compatible system. This is where cappuccino, latte, hot chocolate and long coffee come from, so if somebody in the house wants milky drinks without grinding beans, that is their holder.

The ground coffee holder is a classic filter basket with a dosing spoon. Here you decide which beans to buy, how coarsely to grind them and how much to use, so the strength stays in your hands.

The ESE pod is the fourth. It is a dose of coffee pressed into a paper filter: the convenience of a capsule with no capsule shell, and the used pod goes out with the rest of the kitchen waste.

What works behind the casing

The coffee is pushed through by an ULKA high-pressure pump system at a rated 20 bar. The system always works with fresh water rather than yesterday's water standing in a pipe.

Temperature is held in the 70–86 °C band by high-precision NTC control. That is the difference between coffee that turns bitter and coffee whose flavour opens up.

NTC sensor

A negative temperature coefficient resistor: the hotter it gets, the lower its resistance. The controller reads the water temperature from it and switches the heater accordingly. It is more accurate and faster than a bimetal switch, which is why the brew stays in the same temperature band throughout.

Forty-five seconds from cold

Preheating takes less than 45 seconds. The machine only starts after that, so it cannot pour coffee while it is half heated. In the morning that is exactly as long as it takes to put your bag down and take out a cup.

A one-and-a-half litre tank

The water tank holds 1.5 litres and lifts out. You are not carrying the machine to the tap after every second coffee, and because it is removable it is easy to wash. The drip tray and grid come out too, so the worktop does not end up sticky.

It stops by itself

After use the machine stops on its own at the right volume, goes to standby after 15 minutes and then shuts down, so you are not hunting for a switch afterwards. It works quietly while it does, so an early riser does not wake the house and a call in the office is not interrupted.

Safety while it brews

The machine detects the handle being opened: a hot system under pressure cannot be opened by accident. Add to that the fact that it only starts after preheating, and that the casing is touch-safe.

As for materials, the water tank, the coffee holders and the filters have food-grade surfaces, and the casing is durable and wipes clean. Under EU rules the appliance must not go into household waste: at the end of its life it belongs at a collection point.

How it fits your kitchen

The machine is 26 cm tall, 12.5 cm wide and 33 cm deep. It is narrow enough to stand between two wall units, and tall enough for a mug underneath. The cord is 100 cm, so plan it near a socket.

One morning and one afternoon

At half past six the small capsule holder is in the machine, because what is needed is quick and strong. At eight the other adult swaps the holder and brews a longer coffee from ground beans, because there is time.

In the afternoon the large capsule goes in, for an iced coffee or a milky drink. In the evening, when guests arrive, you only have to ask what everyone wants instead of explaining that there is one kind of coffee in this house.

Cleaning and maintenance

• Rinse the water tank, the coffee holders, the drip tray and the grid after use.
• Take the used capsule or pod out after brewing rather than leaving it in the holder.
• Wipe the casing with a damp cloth; the appliance must never be immersed.
• Do not leave the tank standing full for days; pour it out and refill it.
• For descaling, follow the procedure described in the appliance's manual.

Who it suits

If you live alone, always buy the same capsule and have no interest in beans, a single-system machine does the same job for less. The four holders are worth something to someone who will actually swap between them.

Frequently asked questions

Technical data