My favourite grinds are becoming the Arpeggio, then Roma, and then the Columbian one. I’m lucky in that I have US-style side-by-side fridge that chucks-out crushed ice in the door. A couple Arpeggios and some cold frothed milk, and I’m a happy camper this summer!

thanks you very much for all your insights and comments for my post. Please note that I will now approve any further comments that in the similar tone.

This is my blog, my space, practically my ‘ground’. I do not, repeat: DO NOT want to turn this to a battle ground for personal disputes.

To wrap things up: I like Nespresso, Illy is also good. At the end, we all steal / copycat ideas and concepts from everybody else. As long as my machine works, I don’t give a flying fuck about where it was made, sexual harassment, or whatever bullshit that the manufacturer is having.

Period.

Will do – I’m in utrecht once a month so I’ll find it and give it a try.

And a small correction in my last post: Illy pads are slightly less expensive, not more expensive, than the Nespresso caps. I think it breaks down to 28-30 cents vs 33-35 cents, but I think the Nespresso just tastes fresher.

I would say this have been quite nice of a discussion.

In response to Sophie’s comment that I don’t read English well: true as it is. I am not native nor I have had proper education of the language. But according to your post (“THE MACHINES BREAK AFTER SIX MONTHS AND COST OVER $500.00″), my logic says something like ‘if it is broken and it costs something, that money must have been for the repair’. Apparently I am wrong. Excuses for the inconveniences caused.

I don’t know how you all handle your appliances, but mine is somewhere near 3 years old, and not a single repair is in sight.

My best regards to Sophie (and Jean, and Faid)

@Jim:
try Mockamore @ Utrecht.

I read that and I’m dying too. Sheesh – you think I was on target or something?

Yeah, it’s clearly the same voice writing all this stuff, so if they say there’s 3 or more people occupying the same apartment (I actually count 4, 3 guys and 1 girl) it’s got to be quite the party there.

The law is the same in the US: if it’s broken, you’ve got a 1 year warranty. Take it back to the store you bought it at and they’ll do the return. I used to live there, I know the laws well.

Illy? Yep – I had a FrancisFrancis X3 for 7 years. A good machine, very stylish, and I learned to do a very smooth microbubble on the steaming wand. It’s *never* pulled a crema out of the X3 like I have from the Nespresso. Also, here in the Netherlands (raising hand – Hilversum, not far from Nike…) the Illy pads aren’t too much more than the Nespresso capsules, yet the capsules are fresher and much more flavorful.

The X3 only died after the seals dried out and it leaked steam, and the only repair center — which is open from 10 to 3pm, Tues-Friday, and who charges 90-cents a minute to call them and wait online — wanted 85 euros just to look at it. They estimated that if it was the rings it was roughly 150 for the repair, but they only give a 30 day warranty on the repair.

I really wanted to replace it with another FF, but unless you buy a X5, none of the machines use anything but plastic capsules. Plastic isn’t nearly as infinately recyclable as aluminum, so I chose the Nespresso because of that one reason.

Don’t get me wrong – I *love* the Illy – but the repair center killed any chance of dealing with them again.

Marcel, when I’m in Haarlem I’ll give them a try. Unfortunately Hilversum hasn’t got a decent coffee joint (a Bagels and Beans, but still, the word was “good”…).

guys, this is just too hilarious! =)) =))

Sophie, Jean, Faid: I don’t know how the law and regulations concerning customer satisfaction are being rolled at your place (US ? UK ? somewhere else?), but here in the Netherlands we have the customer protections that clearly states that within 1 (one) year minus 1 day after the date of purchase, customer is entitled for a full coverage warranty of their bought product. That will say that 500 bucks for repair / replacement is way out of the question.

That, Sophie, where I have the authority to say that you are wrong. I live in Europe, I base my writings on European norms & habits. If that considered insulting your freedom of speech, well, that is unfortunately none of my concern.

You, as everybody else and me myself have the fullest rights to care if people are being lied to, but I don’t see your point of calling Nespresso and inquiring where the fabrication has taken place. Personally: my stuffs can be made in the Moon or Jupiter, but I don’t care. As long as it serve things that it advertised to do, I’m satisfied.

As far as I concern, Sophie (and Jean, and Faid), I do not insult anybody. Feel free to share your experience as I have share mine. I respect your view, by approving your comment(s).

Illy Coffee? Sure, I too have the machine, and am I satisfied? Yes of course. I just don’t really have time to tamper each serving.

Facts or not, well, maybe in your part of Earth might be one, but as I have stated upfront, the European part of Earth is having another story (6 months and 500 bucks? ain’t gonna happend).

And… my goodness… Jim ? I don’t even know who is Jim in real life, but that’s up to you to judge

Have a nice day, Sophie, Jean, Faid