Krups KP 2100/YY 1448FD Dolce Gusto Black

The Dolce Gusto is very simple to use and set up. You may need a few uses to get the hang of it but overall it's an easy machine to work. Importantly - this is something regular coffee maker owners should sit up and take notice for - the machine is easy to clean indeed. There are no hard, inaccessible areas getting in the way of your cleaning on this machine as often there can be with coffee makers.

The design - as you can see from the picture - is quite cool, too. I must admit that coffee makers are now being designed to the point where they look like they're from the future, which is obviously what the designers were going for here. Still, I like it, even if it is a little strange-looking and people visiting your house confuse it for a futuristic microwave.

The refill pods for the coffee machine is its make or break. On the one hand, there is a large range of different flavour coffee pods available - I have tried the vast majority of the range so far and all types are delicious - and are, conveniently, available at most supermarkets.

On the other hand, the major downside is the price of said refill pods. Regular coffee drinkers, which I assume you will be if you're buying a coffee maker, will soon see the costs mounting up. The whole point of making your own food/drink is that you should be saving a heck of a lot where retailers will charge you, but you're not really saving all that much with this coffee maker.

This machine is a mixed bag of both good AND bad points. Above all else, the machine is top of the range and without a doubt delivers in the quality area. What's more, I've yet to have any problems with it in terms of reliability. However, buy this machine and you will most definitely realise that you are paying for this type of quality, namely in the price of the refill pods. If you're looking for quality and money is no object, then this coffee maker could be the one for you. If you're a simple peasant like myself, then you can - and should - seek out cheaper alternatives.