DeLonghi Nespresso Lattissima Touch review

DeLonghi Nespresso Lattissima Touch

MSRP $500.00

“Nespresso’s Lattissima Touch makes espresso-based drinks from convenient pods, but it’s no match for your barista in the corner.”

Avg

Easy to use
It is fine
Not too loud

Against

Expensive
Capsules can get stuck in the mechanism
Use only coffee capsules

When you come across the $500 Nespresso Lattissima Touch sitting next to other high-end espresso machines, you might wonder why it costs so much. Probably because it can also steam milk, so you can make cappuccinos and latte macchiatos. While this machine is easy to use, it relies on coffee pods, making it feel more like something you’d see at a convenience store that offers free coffee. Keen java enthusiasts should probably keep walking and choose a model where they can add the foundations of their choice.

Boxy and daring

At 4.5 pounds, the Nespresso Lattisima Touch is quite light. This is probably because most of the machine is made of heavy plastic. The advantage is that each detachable part can be washed in the dishwasher. The parts in other high-end espresso machines usually require hand washing. It also makes it relatively easy to set up and break down when cleaning is required. While it may not sparkle like many of its aluminum and silver-clad brethren, it feels well made.

The machine measures 6.8 x 12.6 x 10.2 inches and looks like a box. It would easily fit in the corner of the kitchen counter, either flush with the wall or diagonally, without taking up too much space. At first glance, the Nespresso Lattisima does not look like a particularly high-end machine. It lacks an instruction screen and has a power button and only six coffee cup icons at the top: three for coffee selection and three milk options. When you first turn on the machine, the cups light up, resembling a landing strip. Once they no longer glow, it’s ready to brew a cup of joe. Fortunately, this happens quickly.

The machine is quite light, probably because most of the machine is made of durable plastic.

There are two removable liquid containers on the Lattisima Touch: one for milk and one for water. We loved their design; the milk container has an adjustable arm so you can place it over different sized coffee mugs and never make a mess. The water tank cover located on the back of the machine has a double function as a handle and a cover. Simply lift the lid and gently pull upwards to remove the container. It looks like it wouldn’t be sturdy, but it’s actually quite stable.

Since this is a capsule-only espresso system, you have to wonder where they end up after use. Behind the space for storing cups is a pull-out drawer that stores them. It can hold up to nine used capsules, and we confirmed this in our tests.

It works easily

Setting up the Nespresso Lattisima Touch is a breeze. We were able to get it up and running in about 10 minutes. You only need to refer to the manual to see how to disassemble the top of the milk container. All parts are removed without problems. We mention this because you should wash all parts before making your first cappuccino.

Included in the box is a manual, a welcome kit, coffee sample capsules and a water hardness test strip. The welcome kit looks like a menu you might find in business class, and that sums up our thoughts on the Lattisima Touch: It’s a step up, but not quite first class. In the welcome package you will find a description of the different coffee flavors – a range of premium, flavored and espresso blends. It seems like every flavor ends with the letter “o”. There is also information on where to order more capsules. If you decide to order them from the company, you automatically become a member of the Nespresso Club and will start receiving special offers and invitations to events. You can also get the capsules on Amazon (and other online stores) or in a Nespresso boutique. If you buy them in bulk, the capsules cost between 70 and 80 cents each.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Preparing espresso (or any of the other five types of coffee) is quite simple. Just place a cup under the spout, lift the capsule lever, place the capsule, press the button for the type of coffee you want and pull the lever down. We have to mention that we occasionally had problems with the capsules. First, they go in sideways – so if you’re used to a Keurig, you might be put off a bit. Second, they didn’t always brew properly, so instead of coffee you get hot water with a chemical taste.

The coffee buttons are programmable, but since it doesn’t have a display, it’s pretty unintuitive to set up. You have to press and hold the coffee type for three seconds until it flashes. It is then in programming mode. Keep pressing the button until you get the desired amount. The good news is that you can adjust the amount of coffee you get from one capsule.

checked

We appreciated that the Nespresso Lattisima Touch made a variety of coffee drinks. In our tests, we measured the temperature of the coffee, how long it took to make it, and the overall taste. According to the National Coffee Association, the temperature of coffee should be kept at 180 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit, although this may still be too hot for some people. While most of our tests produced coffee in the 130 to 132 degree Fahrenheit range, it was still quite hot—not burning your tongue, but pleasant to drink. Here are our results:

Cook	Temperature (Fahrenheit)	Cooking time	Amount of coffee	Blend/Taste
Ristretto	131	21.7 seconds	0.84 oz	Dharkan/Jako
Lungo	131	9.37 seconds	3.7 oz	Vivalto Lungo/Slightly bitter
Cappuccino	134	1 minute 43 seconds	1.7 oz milk / 1.35 oz coffee	Vanilla (TK)/ has an artificial aroma taste
Espresso	131	15 seconds	1.35 oz	Cosi/Dark and rich

We managed to get through quite a few included coffee capsules. Overall, the taste was acceptable, but not the quality you would get in a professional coffee shop. We appreciated the variety of flavors included; however, those with added flavor (vanilla or caramel, for example) had that artificial taste. Still, if you like non-dairy creamers, you might like it.

This is one of the quieter machines we’ve tried. In our tests, most of the drinks made produced a sound of about 72 decibels, which is equivalent to the sound emitted by a shower. You probably won’t wake anyone up if you want to make a cup of coffee.

Conclusion

DT accessory package

Step up your game with these plugins handpicked by DT editors:

Double Wall Tumbler Set of 2 ($15) Pick up.

Nespresso Variety Pack, 50 capsules ($42) So you can find your favorite flavor.

DecoBros Crystal Capsule Holder ($20) Keep those capsules organized.

The Nespresso Lattissima Touch is not a bad espresso machine. It really gets the job done, and its ability to steam milk is definitely a bonus. If you want a hassle-free option, this is the easiest. Still, it seems a bit pricey for what you get. This is especially true when compared to other home espresso machines that forgo capsules in favor of coffee beans. True coffee lovers might want to stay away, but then again, they’d probably never consider a machine that uses capsules.

Tall

Easy to use
It is fine
Not too loud

Falls

Expensive
Capsules can get stuck in the mechanism
Use only coffee capsules

Editor’s recommendations

Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn