I tried Nescafe's version of Stabucks coffee- my thoughts

But after realising how expensive it was to buy a latte each day at work, on top of lunch - I decided to invest in a machine and make my own.

Now I already own the Nespresso Vertuo coffee machine, but Nescafe kindly sent me one of their Dolce Gusto machines for me to try.

It's a luxury to be able to enjoy barista style coffee from the comfort of your own home - and it's a cost effective solution if you're like me and spend £3.50 each day.

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It's worth investing in one if you can, because in the long run you will save some pennies. A capsule costs 50p. 

Nescafe's Dolce Gusto machine version comes in one colour– white. And it costs £49.00. It’s not spare cash but compared to Nespresso's Vertuo Machine (£79.99) 

Nescafe also sell Starbucks coffee pods, including caramel machiato and the classic cappucino - and that's a big deal if you're a fan of the cafe.

I wanted to see how their pods compare to the real deal and whether you can really get the same taste from home.

Here's what the machine looks like

It's small, compact and would take up little to no space at all in the kitchen. I've got a very small kitchen so that's a bonus!

Because of it's size, you'd have to fill the water tank in the back quite often which is a bit of a pain but a small price to pay. There's no coffee pod storer in the machine either, so you have to remove it straight away.

I was suprirised by how lightweight the machine is too and it's very easy to set up!

Using the machine

It's very easy to use and the instructions on the side of the box are simple enough to understand whilst setting it up.

You start by filling the tank with water and attaching it to the back of the machine. You slide the drip tray on the front and grab your coffee pod. 

Pop open the black panel on the front and inset your coffee pod. Then you push the lever to the right and the green light appears.

The drink stars to pour into your mug and the nutty aroma of coffee bean fills the air. It's a delicious smell.

The only downside is that the machine is quite loud. 

Watch in action here: 

I watched the magic happen with the rich colour of coffee pouring into the mug, it looked thick but quickly turned watery.

This made me feel a bit unsure as to what the taste would be like. I like my coffee strong and thick in texture.

But a lot of water was pouring in.

The taste

It was a bit watered down which made the coffee lack in flavour. It was similar to filter coffee from a jar made with a kettle.

Next time, id push the lever back to stop so much water going in - that's the trick for sure.

I also think a milk frother would help the texture of the coffee and do the Nescafe pods justice to tasting like an actual Starbucks.

My verdict

Would I break the bank to by this machine, probably not. But if I'm looking for a cheaper alternative - I would do it.

It's nice to have a small, compact sized machine that pours delicious smelling coffee. But it's worth noting to keep an eye on the amount of water the comes out with each pod.

A bonus is that you can easily buy the coffee pods in supermarkets including Sainsbury's, Tesco, Amazon.

And 50p for a cappucino at home compared to £2.25 in Starbucks is defintely a no brainer.

But it's not got the same texture and froth as one made by a barista.

You can buy Nescafe's Dolce Gusto via the Nescafe website.