expired Posted by Meowssi | Staff • Nov 5, 2023
Nov 5, 2023 9:42 PM
Item 1 of 4
Item 1 of 4
expired Posted by Meowssi | Staff • Nov 5, 2023
Nov 5, 2023 9:42 PM
L'OR Barista Coffee and Espresso System w/ 30 Coffee Capsules + $10 Kohl's Cash
+ Free Shipping$85
$200
57% offKohl's
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This is an extended Nespresso Original Line machine. It takes any espresso pod that works in a non-Vertuo Nespresso machine. It also accepts proprietary L'Or 'Coffee pods' That are effectively 2x the coffee quantity with some tweaks to make them work. It tastes like any general Nespresso machine and you can get starbucks/nespresso-branded pods for it from your grocery store. The larger coffee is interesting, comes off a bit more like an Americano or extremely long shot. I'm rather convinced that the Peets pods are actually made on the same assembly line as the L'Or pods but once again, this only applies to the larger pod.
All that said: I actually really like the machine. It is cheaper than the cheapest Nespresso machine at this price, can do more things, is quick and reliable, and looks great on my counter. Slightly bulky compared to base Nespresso designs. Your actual Pod selection size is second only to Keurig but K-cups suck anyways.
Some notes:
The Vertuo is not actually an espresso machine but instead a sort of unique flow pressurized system involving centrifugal force. Think of a K cup but the pod is spinning and ejecting the coffee out the side. The 'Crema" In a vertuo brew is actually foam generated from mixing air with coffee while an espresso Crema is CO2 from the beans being forced out. It makes an interesting coffee but the entire system was not designed to make better coffee, it was designed to patent and protect the pod design and use barcodes printed on the pods to lock out non-authorized pods. Still has some good qualities but it is in no way an Espresso machine.
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This is an extended Nespresso Original Line machine. It takes any espresso pod that works in a non-Vertuo Nespresso machine. It also accepts proprietary L'Or 'Coffee pods' That are effectively 2x the coffee quantity with some tweaks to make them work. It tastes like any general Nespresso machine and you can get starbucks/nespresso-branded pods for it from your grocery store. The larger coffee is interesting, comes off a bit more like an Americano or extremely long shot. I'm rather convinced that the Peets pods are actually made on the same assembly line as the L'Or pods but once again, this only applies to the larger pod.
All that said: I actually really like the machine. It is cheaper than the cheapest Nespresso machine at this price, can do more things, is quick and reliable, and looks great on my counter. Slightly bulky compared to base Nespresso designs. Your actual Pod selection size is second only to Keurig but K-cups suck anyways.
Some notes:
The Vertuo is not actually an espresso machine but instead a sort of unique flow pressurized system involving centrifugal force. Think of a K cup but the pod is spinning and ejecting the coffee out the side. The 'Crema" In a vertuo brew is actually foam generated from mixing air with coffee while an espresso Crema is CO2 from the beans being forced out. It makes an interesting coffee but the entire system was not designed to make better coffee, it was designed to patent and protect the pod design and use barcodes printed on the pods to lock out non-authorized pods. Still has some good qualities but it is in no way an Espresso machine.
This is an extended Nespresso Original Line machine. It takes any espresso pod that works in a non-Vertuo Nespresso machine. It also accepts proprietary L'Or 'Coffee pods' That are effectively 2x the coffee quantity with some tweaks to make them work. It tastes like any general Nespresso machine and you can get starbucks/nespresso-branded pods for it from your grocery store. The larger coffee is interesting, comes off a bit more like an Americano or extremely long shot. I'm rather convinced that the Peets pods are actually made on the same assembly line as the L'Or pods but once again, this only applies to the larger pod.
All that said: I actually really like the machine. It is cheaper than the cheapest Nespresso machine at this price, can do more things, is quick and reliable, and looks great on my counter. Slightly bulky compared to base Nespresso designs. Your actual Pod selection size is second only to Keurig but K-cups suck anyways.
Some notes:
The Vertuo is not actually an espresso machine but instead a sort of unique flow pressurized system involving centrifugal force. Think of a K cup but the pod is spinning and ejecting the coffee out the side. The 'Crema" In a vertuo brew is actually foam generated from mixing air with coffee while an espresso Crema is CO2 from the beans being forced out. It makes an interesting coffee but the entire system was not designed to make better coffee, it was designed to patent and protect the pod design and use barcodes printed on the pods to lock out non-authorized pods. Still has some good qualities but it is in no way an Espresso machine.
I once bought a Chinese brand espresso machine that uses the Nespresso Original pods, and did side-by-side comparison with my Nespresso Essenza. The difference was night a day. The same pod came out rich and flavor from the Nespresso while the Chinese one put out ashtray water. They were both rated 20-bar pressure. Had same design and operating logic. I like this Lor for its looks and price. Just not sure about the results. It's probably fine on its own.
I once bought a Chinese brand espresso machine that uses the Nespresso Original pods, and did side-by-side comparison with my Nespresso Essenza. The difference was night a day. The same pod came out rich and flavor from the Nespresso while the Chinese one put out ashtray water. They were both rated 20-bar pressure. Had same design and operating logic. I like this Lor for its looks and price. Just not sure about the results. It's probably fine on its own.
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My only complaint is the crema. The old Breville Nespresso machine has a much richer crema. But overall, coffee tastes about the same. So far, I've used Peet's, Lavazza, Starbucks and original Nespresso pods. All work fine.
While this is positioned as an alternative to the Vertuo, it is a better value. While only Lor and sister brand Peet's make the larger coffee pods, there are so many others that make Nespresso original pods making this a better value than a Vertuo machine.
And for those unaware, Lor bought Peet's about a year or two ago.
As said above, it's more of an espresso style machine. You can pull a longer short akin to an Americano, but the small to medium settings is where it shines flavor-wise.
We're primarily a drip coffee house, and the main coffee maker is a used Moccamaster I got for a steal on FB Marketplace. So this lives in the bedroom, which seemed odd at first, but pulling a nice espresso on weekends my wife and I get to sleep in feels like such a luxury. I also use it for my afternoon coffee, when I don't want to brew a whole pot for that little extra pick-me-up to get through the work day.
if you're going to be grinding beans and cleaning the pods anyway, just get a coffee or espresso machine
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I'm the only drinker in my family so went with 1zpresso jx pro (< $130).
The nespresso is convenient during weekdays. Aeropress or Flair depending on the mood. Pour over or percolator only when more volume is needed.
Note that going from blade grinder to good hand grinder significantly improved my experience (never tried blade with the Flair).
If you go the Flair route, check out CL/marketplace. The way Flair is designed, I can boil everything (except the lever/base) to sanitize.
I've for now stopped looking at Gaggias or Baratzas, and just enjoying the different beans.