How many of you have your own Nespresso machine? Like you, I watched the many George Clooney commercials on television and even sampled Nespresso coffee a few times myself. While impressed, I didn't rush right out and buy another coffee machine for our home. However, that recently changed. Earlier in 2020 (before the pandemic became the focus) we were in attendance for a weekend party at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. Every suite at the hotel had their own Nespresso machine. We sampled and sampled again, really enjoying the taste of the coffee. It went well beyond being just an ordinary cup of coffee. It was more like a specialty coffee prepared by a skilled barista. We were definitely hooked. Once something gets in your brain, you begin seeing more and more connections to that newfound interest. So, we eventually took the leap and bought the newest model called Nespresso Vertuo. The pods are slightly bigger and if you buy into all the hype, it's new and improved and so much better in every way than the original models. As with most coffee producers, they offer many different blends, flavored coffees, espresso, iced coffee, decaffeinated and more. As I've probably mentioned before, my wife and I like a darker roast. And we rarely find a flavored coffee to our liking. However, Nespresso offers a wide range of pods with something for every craving and every Coffee Connoisseur's taste. You may soon discover that Nespresso actually lists an intensity level on their coffees. Customers have asked, "What does that word intensity mean?" Getting a straight answer isn't easy, because they state that is does NOT mean the level of blond roast to bold roast. And it doesn't mean different levels of caffeine. We've discovered that "9" intensity is the top level and is quite intense. Even as a couple that prefers the "bold" end of the spectrum, the "7" level seems just perfect for us. My wife even thought that the mellower "6" coffees tasted okay. So, have some fun experimenting for yourself. They have one specialty item that we really love called Bianco Leggero, meaning sweet biscuit. It's a shot, rather than a full 7.7 ounce cup. That makes it perfect on its own as an "after meal" favorite or as an added boost to your regular cup of coffee. One final thought, because there's a lot to digest here. Just be careful and order the correct pods for your specific machine. If you buy the original Nespresso (which we loved, too) then you want the smaller sized pods. If you get a Nespresso Vertuo, you need the larger pods. They also sell Vertuo Next that fills an entire multi-drink 18 ounce cannister as a pour over. We haven't tried the latter, as we delight in preparing our coffee by the individual cup. If you jump into the Nespresso family, let us know what you think. There is a contact me section on my blog. Happy Thanksgiving and have a safe and enjoyable weekend.
(This post is not sponsored by or supported in any way by Nespresso and it is my own personal opinion of their machines and coffees).