One thing I am addicted to is coffee. I know people moan about not being about to drink alcohol whilst pregnant, but for me coffee has been the hardest thing to give up. When I was going through IVF and in the first trimester of pregnancy I gave up coffee completely and it was so difficult! I realised how addicted I was! Now I’m nearly in the third trimester (eek!) I’ve been a bit more relaxed with things and allowed myself one cup a day so I can enjoy my favourite drink again and a caffeine fix and oh my god, I enjoy them more than ever now!
So, when I was recently asked to try and review the a brand new Nescafé Dolce Gusto Eclipse Automatic Pod Coffee Machine by De’Longhi, the most space-age coffee machine I’ve ever seen (which is also endorsed by WILL.I.AM) I couldn’t wait to give it go! Although, in the back of my mind I did wonder if it would compare to my trusty Nespresso – so, this snazzy new machine had a lot to live up to! Before Nespresso, I had time to try many coffee makers and even the classic series pour-over glass coffee makers, but I realized that I don’t have so much time and it’s easier for me to insert a capsule, brew coffee, and enjoy it.
THE DESIGN
Firstly, and the most obvious point of this machine – let’s talk abut the design. The new Dolce Gusto Eclipse is a super funky and modern design, with an ultra chic platinum silver circular design. It really is unique to anything I’ve seen on the market and definitely is an eye-catching statement piece for any kitchen. The size of the machine when open and in use is quite large, but if you are looking to space-save in a small kitchen, once the main circular body is clicked back together the machine is actually pretty compact.
The style is also practical, with the body of the machine smoothly opening at the touch of a button with a drip tray that can be fixed at three different heights, even with an XL cup function, so you can make coffee in a variety of different sizes, using any mug, cup or glass you desire.
To use the machine all the controls are touch screen, adding to the super space-age appearance.
USING THE MACHINE
I found the machine tricky to get to grips with at first, only because it’s quite different to anything I’ve used before, but a quick flick over the instruction manual I soon got the hang of the controls, which are quick and intuitive to use.
To create your perfect beverage, you simply insert a pod, select how much water is needed via a touch-controlled slider and finally decide whether you’d like this hot or cold. I really loved the fact you have control over the size of your drink as I tend to prefer longer drinks and other machines tend to focus a lot on espresso and short cup size. With a super fast heat-up time of less than 30 seconds, means your drink is ready in less than 1 minute. The machine has a maximum 15 bar pump pressure, which I have to say I don’t totally understand but this is rival to coffee shop quality, and thats something I can relate to.
After making your coffee, the machine has a full rinsing tool so you can cleanse the machine after use and it also has a descaling alert for regular maintenance too.
COFFEE PODS
Dolce Gusto has a wide range of coffee pods – to get you started the machine comes with a little selection pack with a few favourites so you can enjoy a coffee as soon as you open the box and get to grips with your new machine.
After that you can then order more pods, with coffee types ranging from Espresso to Latte’s, then onto the more exciting blends such as Caramel Latte Macchiato (my favourite so far!) One thing that sets this machine apart from any I’ve tried is that the machine will elegantly craft these drinks for you at the touch of a button, there is no need to add the milk yourself. The smooth espresso sinks from the top of the glass to the bottom but remains unstirred, creating a stunning layered effect that I’d never have expected from a coffee machine at home.
The Dulce Gusto coffee pod range has offer over 30 coffee combinations to try, including hot/cold chocolate and iced teas too so there is bound to be something to cater for every taste and style.
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
Overall, I’ve been so impressed with the Nescafé Dolce Gusto Eclipse Automatic pod coffee machine by De’Longhi. I absolutely love the chic, space-age design, that gives it a real wow-factor and adds to the coffee making experience. It’s a great machine for a busy household as coffee can be created within less than 1 minute, with a wide range of styles and choices to suit all the families tastes. I found the overall size of the machine quite large, but we have a small kitchen so space is at a premium for us, and this is a minor detail as the style and shape outweighs any annoyance of the size for me! Since I received the machine a few weeks ago, I’ve been enjoying a coffee every morning and have been experimenting with different pods to find my favourite tastes and styles. I can’t wait to continue to use my machine, I think I’m going to need it with baby on the way!
You can order the Nescafé Dolce Gusto Eclipse Automatic pod coffee machine by De’Longhi for £169.99 and pods are around £3.99 for 8 cups.
How snazzy pants in that coffee maker! I’ve always fancied one of these machines. Whenever we come back and settle somewhere, I will own a fancy coffee maker 🙂
Honestly Aine