Founded by Nestle, Dolce Gusto offers coffee machines that use coffee pods, each of which holds a perfect amount of coffee ground for any cup of coffee, and produce coffee with one click. Dolce Gusto machines come in a wide range of sizes and types, with advanced timing and drink preparation features. They let you create gourmet-style coffees in your own home.
However, they aren’t always affordable so it is critical to always consider both pros and cons of the machines. This buyer’s guide will explain to you if it will be worth it to buy a Dolce Gusto coffee machine and if so which one, or if not, why it may not be the best option for you.
Nescafé Dolce Gusto machines, and capsule coffee machines in general, are relatively new despite its prevalence. Although the technology behind them started developing in the 1970s, the first Dolce Gusto machine was introduced to the market in 2006, when the Melody series debuted.
Since then, Dolce Gusto has become a kitchen staple around the world. As a slightly more affordable alternative to Nestle’s Nespresso machines, Dolce Gusto’s coffee pods are now found in almost every supermarket across the UK.
During this short period of time of existence, Dolce Gusto machines have been constantly improved, adding refinements and new features, such as LCD displays, larger drip collectors and increased pressure. This shows that Nestlé constantly seeks to improve their products so they can be more efficient and user-friendly. The range of capsules on offer has also expanded rapidly and exponentially; now it includes a massive array of flavours and countries of origin (see below).
If you are a coffee addict who is tired of having to wrestle with a standard coffee maker in the morning, Dolce Gusto machines could be exactly what you are looking for.
Nescafé Dolce Gusto machines use single-serving capsules that come in packs of 15. All you need to do is to stick one of them into the machine, add water and press a button to get a delicious coffee beverage of your choice. And this will only take around 20 seconds.
The machine then generates 14 or 15 bars of pressure, perforates the capsules, allowing the pressurised steam to filter through the campuse before the coffee is made. This only takes about a minute or so, unlike an espresso machine at a standard coffee shop.
Since 2006, the selection of Dolce Gusto machines has expanded and they all have different functionalities and features. Here are some of the most popular models:
Movenza — An extremely compact, futuristic-looking device, the Movenza is small enough to fit in a tiny kitchen, bedroom or a study. This is perfect for students or professionals that want to have gourmet coffee accessible anytime within arm's reach.
Eclipse — Eclipse has a unique looped style that transforms into a twist as coffee is brewed. Not only does it has a striking design but it is also packed with feature with intuitive touch technology, an automatic closing head for easy coffee preparation, and the ability to accommodate different cup sizes.
Drop — Slightly more expensive than standard models like the Melody, Drop has a more advanced user interface that lets you make more complex coffee drinks in a short time.
Mini Me — As the name suggests, Mini Me is minimal in size, taking up barely any space. It comes in red, grey and matt black and is a good option for households with limited space. You can even take it when you travel for holidays.
Colors — Colors is a compact, minimalist machine with 3 interchangeable coloured back panels included when you buy the machine. The tank can make up to 25 espressos but it can be awkward to refill.
Lumio by Krups — Lumio is another compact machine, perfect for making long drinks. It can accommodate different cup sizes, but there are multiple steps for use and the water tank is awkward to fill.
Genio II — Compact and powerful, the Genio II is perfect for smaller kitchens, yet still make great coffee every time.
Infinissina — Infinissina has a striking design and is one of the most interesting coffee machine yet! Inspired by the infinity symbol, the slim coffee machine adds a touch of style to even the smallest kitchens. It is easy to use, but can be expensive to run.
Jovia — Jovia has a striking bullet-shaped design, which makes it especially attractive and stylish. It’s also practical and easy to clean and use.
Piccolo — As a budget option, Piccolo may not offer a massive range of features but it brews perfect standard coffee. Piccolo is a handy entry-level Dolce Gusto machine.
Oblo — Another relatively affordable option, Oblo is small and unique in its shape. When it comes to coffee, it brews just as nicely as any other Dolce Gusto machine.
When people talk about Nescafé, Dolce Gusto always steals the show. All of its machines are fairly standard, well-designed and perfectly functional. The key to the collection’s success has been the pods, the capsules that let any users make almost all the coffee drinks available at a local Starbucks. With a Dolce Gusto, you can make the followings:
Café au Lait — Café au lait is a simple coffee with a hint of milk. Dolce Gusto uses a milk capsule and a coffee capsule to create a perfectly balanced delicious blend of coffee and milk combination. Decaffeinated varieties are also available.
Cappuccino and Latte — These drinks are made of a shot or two of espresso and added milk. The milk capsules come in varieties like soy, standard and skinny milk. You can make also make an iced latte on a hot day or a macchiato if you want a shorter drink. The frother on Dolce Gusto machines create just the right consistency of milk froth, letting you achieve the rich taste of coffee shop beverages.
Espresso — With a Dolce Gusto machine, you can make a espresso (or a double espresso) that tastes like it is professionally made. The machine creates a perfect crema finish to your espresso and you can also go for a ristretto or add a flavour like caramel and chocolate.
Chocolate — One of the best things about a Dolce Gusto machine is that they don’t just make coffee. They are just as good at making hot chocolate and mocha that contains both coffee and chocolate. So if you have a sweet tooth and need a chocolate drink before bed or after lunch, you can easily make one within a couple of minutes with a Dolce Gusto.
Tea — Some people are more of a tea person than a coffee person. With varieties like citrus honey black tea, chai, peach, lemon, and Marrakesh style, Dolce Gusto satisfies everyone.
As you have read, pretty much everything on your local coffee shop’s menu is covered by Dolce Gusto. All of these drinks come in packs of 15 capsules and they always work out much cheaper than getting your daily dose of coffee at Starbucks or Costa.
All of Dolce Gusto’s machines vary in their specifications and here are some pieces of information that are good for buyers to keep in mind:
Weight — Some people, whether you are in the office or travel a lot, move their coffee machines around from room to room and the light weight can come as perks. Lighter machines from the Dolce Gusto weighs as less as 2.5kg (Mini Me) and are easy to move them around. Others are 1-2kg heavier, which you also should not have too much trouble lifting.
Capacity — All the machines in the Dolce Gusto range have a tank capacity measured in litre. For instance, Mini Me can hold up to only 0.8 litres of water, while Melody can hold up to 1.3 litres. If you expect to have occassions where you need to be able to quickly make a couple cups of coffee in a row without having to refill the tank, go for the one with bigger capacity. However, if you just need to make a daily morning coffee before you leave for work, smaller devices will work just fine.
Warranty — All Dolce Gusto machines come with a 2-year warranty, so if you experience any technical issues during the first two years, you will be able to get a repair. However, make sure to check this when you are buysing a Dolce Gusto machine from another competitor, as warranty terms can differ from company to company.
Extra Features — Sometimes, the little details matter. For example, some Dolce Gusto machines have steel drip trays, which last longer and are easy to clean, and others have LCD screens, which give users a great interface to easily brew a cup of coffee.
So far, we’ve looked at the different Dolce Gusto machines and capsules, which might already be a huge appeal to most coffee lovers. Then, how much can you actually benefit from these machines day in, day out?
On the plus side, Dolce Gusto machines are a quick, easy way to make espressos, cappuccinos, hot chocolate, and many others. From sticking a capsule in place to taking your first sip of coffee could be as little as 2 minutes, which is pretty impressive by home-brewing standards.
They are also very compact. If you have a cramped kitchen and don’t want to fill up little space that's left with another gadget, a Dolce Gusto can be conveniently placed in an alcove and perform just as well as a bigger coffee machine. It can also be a great addition to other rooms; if you don’t want to clutter your study but need a constant caffeine boost while reading, a Dolce Gusto machine will fulfil your needs.
Price is another area where capsule coffee makers like Dolce Gusto tend to be very reasonable. Due to their straight-forward mechanisms, the capsule machines are made simple, which is why they can easily be found for under £100 or even £50 with some HotUKDeals merchants.
Another upside is that Dolce Gusto capsules come in many different types, which makes it easy to create delicious cappuccinos and other espresso drinks in a way that standard coffee makers can't. If you have an acquired taste in coffee and cannot be satisfied with standard drip coffee machines, a Dolce Gusto can give you the perfect froth on your coffee or a classic crema on your espresso every time. So there are plenty of reasons why getting a Dolce Gusto machine can be a reasonable choice.
On the other side, the major downside is that whenever you use a Dolce Gusto machine, you need a capsule. And capsules aren’t the most affordable. When you make an espresso using standard brand fair-trade ground coffee, it will cost about 10p per shot. When you use a Dolce Gusto capsule to pull an espresso shot, it will cost 50p or more, which is a significant difference. However, this is still far more affordable than going to a coffee shop for an espresso. So you really need to consider if it's really worth buying.
Another issue some people have with Dolce Gusto machines is waste. Every drink you make requires a plastic capsule, which cannot be reused. So the environmental cost of a capsule coffee is much higher than normal varieties. Additionally, you always have to use Dolce Gusto capsules that fit in the machine. Even though Dolce Gusto has a range of coffee varieties, if you want to try other blends or types of coffee, you may be out of luck.
Moreover, if you are a person that needs a daily coffee but can easily get by with normal black or milky coffee, a standard machine will serve you just fine.
If you have made up your mind to buy a capsule coffee machine, the obvious next question is: which is the best brand to go for? Currently, there are three major choices on the market: you should consider among Dolce Gusto and Nespresso that are made by Nestle and Tassimo. There are also the small, less popular machines made by Illy and Lavazza.
If you want to be able to make a variety of drinks, Dolce Gusto should be your first choice, followed by Tassimo, and then Nespresso. With Dolce Gusto, ristrettos, lemon teas, café lattes, chai lattes and hot chocolate are all available with capsules, providing maximum flexibility for drink lover's taste.
Nespresso offers a wider choice of specific coffee roasts. If you have trained your palate to distinguish between the coffees from Guatemala, Vietnam and Ethiopia, Nespresso’s pods are easily the best option.
However, Nespresso isn't the most convenient when it comes to making different coffee beverages. To make a cappuccino with a Nespresso machine, you will need a separate milk frother. However, the Dolce Gusto pods contain both milk and coffee that can be delivered together to make coffee with frothed milk with one click.
On a brighter note, Nespresso pods are much cheaper than Dolce Gusto's. In general, Nespreso pods will cost around 35p per drink, compared to 50p for Dolce Gusto. Over time, this can add up to a significant difference even though it is still less than buying a daily Starbucks drink. Nespresso pods are available online or from Nespresso stores, while Dolce Gusto’s capsules are generally found in supermarkets like Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
The decision is up to you. In general, if you are a coffee fanatic who enjoys gourmet espressos and americanos and likes coffee for its taste, Nespresso or Tassimo will be the right option for you. But if you want as many choices as possible, Dolce Gusto will be the right choice.
Additionally, remember that there are more labour-intensive but affordable alternatives. Coffee machines from companies like De’ Longhi or Krupp can grind and prepare coffee and there are also stove top espresso makers, cafetieres and standard coffee makers too. Keep in mind that whichever option you choose, you’ll find the best coffee machine deals on HotUKDeals.
If you’ve made up your mind to purchase a Dolce Gusto capsule coffee machine, what now? Well, the first thing you should do is to pick the right model for you. Something in the middle of the Dolce Gusto range like the Melody will be affordable, robust and convenient to use, but this choice depends on what priorities you have, for example, budget, functions, weight, and so on.
When you know your model, check out the HotUKDeals Dolce Gusto listings, which is the best place to find the lowest best price for a coffee machine. You’ll find all of the Dolce Gusto range on sale from merchants like Argos, B&M Stores, Tesco, Amazon and Morrisons. Look carefully though, as Dolce Gusto machines are often randomly drastically discounted and the prices fluctuate a lot.
The other thing to do is to buy Dolce Gusto pods in bulk. Again, start with the HotUKDeals listing. You’ll find Dolce Gusto pod offers from major supermarkets acorss the UK and it’s a good idea to bookmark the page if you regularly use your Dolve Gusto machine for your next time to restock.
If you are considering buying one of the most expensive Dolce Gusto machines, waiting for the Black Friday season and January Sales could be a good idea. During these time periods, their prices drop drastically but for a short time period. So watch out for the Dolce Gusto deals as Black Friday approaches.
Whether you love a rich, strong espresso in the morning, a perfectly milky cappuccino or a decadent mug of hot chocolate, Dolce Gusto coffee makers can create your favoriate drink within a minute or two. Convenient, affordable and reliable, Dolce Gusto machines have become a kitchen fixture in UK households. You can still buy one for your own kitchen for less with HotUKDeals.
