At home I have had a compact Italian semi-automatic Espresso machine for years with which I am used to making manual espressos and frothing milk myself with the steam nozzle.
At work (I've been self-employed for years) I finally wanted to be able to serve decent coffee for visitors after only instant coffee. After a holiday in a house where there was a standard Nespresso machine, I went looking for 1 that could also froth milk and was not too expensive. So it became this one.
I was very curious when I started making a cappuccino with the thing for the first time. And unfortunately, I immediately noticed that I have to play a bit of an intervening barrista to get the cappuccino the way I want: with fine foam that is slightly mixed with the Espresso. Like you get in good coffee bars, so to speak. With 1 press on the 'milk recipe' button you will not get that. In that case, the milk is first frothed and then the coffee is 'put' in it. Result: a hole in your - usually quite coarse - milk foam. So since then I first make the espresso with the espresso button and then only the milk with the milk recipe button. Then you have to turn it off immediately, otherwise it will start making coffee again. I am very satisfied with the result of this alternative, somewhat cumbersome method.
For those who are not so picky, the milk recipe button is a very handy 1 push of a button. But. Then comes the anticlimax: cleaning the milk container: that has to be completely disassembled after each use and washed with hot water and soap. flushing.. I usually only do it with cold running water, and once every few days with hot water, but even then it remains a hassle. Anyway, for this price you may not expect more, so after some deliberation I decided to keep the device. And despite everything, I really enjoy the opportunity to treat customers and myself to very decent coffees.
