Krups KP 2000 > Reviews > Dolce Gusto - Perfect Coffee, Wonderful Machine

Author's product rating:   

Performance	Excellent
Ease of use	Very easy
Durability	Everlasting
Cleaning & Maintenance	Very easy
Value for money	Excellent

Advantages:	Easy to use, makes great coffee, good coffee varieties
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I bought the Dolce Gusto as a Christmas gift for my husband after reading lots of positive reviews on the internet about the machine. He's the big coffee drinker and I thought he would enjoy something a bit different. (I've always been a cold drinks only type of person - apart from hot chocolate and the occasional fancy dessert coffee - who only liked the smell of coffee but could easily live without it.)

However, after ordering the machine, I became a bit nervous. I thought, "What have I done? What if it is too good to be true?"

Well, I can happily say that there wasn't anything to worry about. We both absolutely love this machine (yes, I am now a coffee convert) and I would even go as far as saying this is the best and most enjoyable appliance I ever bought for the kitchen.

The machine is easy to use. Turn the machine on and wait about 15 seconds for the green light on the front panel to stop flashing. Simply slide in your coffee/milk pods into the machine - depending on which coffee you are making - and within about 30 seconds you are rewarded with the best coffee ever. The whole system is fast, clean and practically effortless.

We've tried all of the coffee types between us and have yet to be disappointed in any of them:

Espresso - My husband likes this as a basic, though a bit, intense coffee with a bit of our own milk added. I haven't tried it yet only because I still don't like coffees that are very strong. It does smell wonderful, though. The Espresso comes in box containing sixteen coffee pods.

Latte Macchiato - I really like this one. Besides its nifty layered appearance in the glass, it is light and soothing with a slight sweetness to it. It looks and tastes like a fancy coffee drink straight out of a cafe. It comes with the milk pod and while I've read some reviews that say the milk is too sweet, I find it just right - as long as you remember to stir it now and then as the sweetness does tend to settle to the bottom. Mixing it keeps it in shape! If sweetness is a problem, you can adjust the coffee to your own taste and add less milk if necessary. The Latte Macchiato comes in a box containing eight coffee and eight milk pods.

Cappuccino - Perfecto! It is as good as any cappuccino you can get at a restaurant. Simple as that. The Cappuccino comes in a box containing eight coffee and and eight milk pods.

Café Lungo - My husbands favourite. It is basically a strong black coffee and it smells rich and inviting. My husband adds a little milk as this meant to be a black coffee but it would be too strong for him on its own. Café Lungo comes in a box containing 16 coffee pods.

Choccochino - This has to be the best hot chocolate in the world - rich, dark, smooth and very addictive. It is wonderful to have a hot chocolate that doesn't have powdered clumps floating in it like you usually get with other hot chocolate that is made from powder out of a can. This particular one is made with putting the chocolate pod in first and then adding the milk pod which sweetens it. It is perfect on a sweetness level but it is another drink where you need to remember to mix it now and then otherwise by the end the bottom is just the chocolate mixture and it can get a bit bitter. Choccochino comes in a box containing eight hot chocolate and eight milk pods.

Iced Cappuccino - After being very happy with the aforementioned hot drinks, I wasn't about to wait for summer to try this one. It was a good decision because this drink is amazing. It is easily as good - if not better - than any of the iced coffee drinks you can buy at Starbucks. It is supposed to be espresso based but it not that strong nor is it weak and watered down. Add about three ice cubes to the empty glass before filling with the coffee. The drink is very refreshing and I think it is a great feature not to limit the machine to only hot drinks. Cold drinks are made by sIiding the lever to the left toward the blue symbol, whereas all the hot drinks are made by sliding the lever to the right towards the red symbol. I really hope there will be more cold drinks in the future to make even more usage out of this great feature. Iced Cappuccino comes in a box containing eight coffee and eight milk pods. Ice not included (grin).

Cafe Mocha - This flavour was a bit more difficult to find and it isn't even listed on Dolce Gusto's website, but I eventually found it at Tesco a few weeks after first looking for it. It was well worth the wait as it is delicious! It comes with a chocolate and coffee pod mixed together and then a stronger coffee pod that you just top the drink up with. It is a rich, velvety drink which makes a lovely evening treat to warm you through and through. I do give this drink a stir once or twice to keep the chocolate and coffee combo even throughout. Cafe Mocha comes in a box containing eight chocolate/coffee pods and eight straight coffee pods.

The coffee pods sell at most major supermarkets for £2.99 a box - and can also be purchased from the Dolce Gusto website. The machine also came with a sample kit which included a macchiato glass, a cappuccino cup and saucer, and a box of different coffee pods to try. The website sells more cups and accessories which can be paid with by cash or by points accumulated from your current pod boxes. You simply create an account and then enter your box codes.

The machine is a reasonable size - just a bit larger than a teapot. It is non-intrusive and easily fits on the counter top alongside the toaster and other appliances. It comes in a sleek black, striking silver, classy white or funky red colours. It is important to note that the water does not actually boil in the rear kettle but is filtered through a heating device which makes fast, hot coffee possible. An adjustable drip tray is also a handy feature that ensures your drink does not splatter no matter what size of cup or glass you use.

Cleaning the machine is easy and it is recommended that it is done once a week. The accompanying booklet explains how to do it depending on your water type, but basically you just run cool water through the machine for a thorough rinsing.

One small word of caution - be careful with the clear water jug when refilling it. My husband accidentally dropped it on the kitchen floor while taking it over to the sink for a refill and it slipped out of his hands. The actually bowl didn't break but a piece of clear plastic did break off under the bowl. It was fortunately just a small ledge that helps the bowl fit into place on the unit so it didn't hurt the usage of the machine but I am extra careful now just in case it did drop again and crack elsewhere.

The Dolce Gusto sells at most major retailers, but I've found the best prices online. Prices range from about £70 to £100.

Overall, a wonderful machine that proved to be a great gift for my husband and it brought out the coffee lover in me. Enjoy!