This is not a cheap machine - and before reading any further please consider the ongoing cost of having one of these - 10 capsules is £2.90, and delivery is £4 - you can only buy these over the phone, on-line, or at one of very few boutiques in the UK, including the centre of London.

Having said this, if you are a real coffee lover this is worth it.

- Set-up -

Very easy to set-up and you get an introductory pack in the box, including a folder to keep your invoices etc. in, and you get a free sample of each coffee capsule with your purchase. You will have a small brochure of what you can order for your machine, I would recommend you identify what kind of strength you enjoy and sample a range of these in your first order - I like the really strong ones and these days only really order Ristretto, Arpeggio, and the Decaffeinated capsules.

- Ordering -

Ordering the coffee is very easy, whether you do it online or over the phone. I would recommend going for large orders as this will cut down on the delivery costs, and although you may end up spending around £100 each time you wont have to spend this again for a few months (depending on your rate of consumption of course!) They often have limited edition capsules and if you order over the phone they will recommend them based on what you have ordered (i.e. if you order strong capsules they will recommend the limited edition if it is strong also).

The delivery staff are very friendly, and always deliver at the same time - delivery tends to be around 3 working days after you place your order. Note that you can also order recycling bags for your used capsules and they will be collected on your next delivery - your capsules will get mouldy while you are waiting so keep them somewhere sealed between collections.

- Using the machine -

This machine is extremely simple to use - you switch it on, wait for it to warm up and the buttons will light up when it is ready. Simply put your cup under the dispenser, press the button for espresso, lungo, cappucino, or latte and come back when it has finished. Once the coffee has dispensed lift up the capsule cover and the used capsule will drop into a tray that is slotted inside the machine - once this is full you simply pull it out and dispose of the capsules.

If you want a milky coffee you will need to attach the milk reservoir (this is also very easy to do) and the machine will do the rest. You can also set the milk to the level of foam you would like.

You have the option to set the volume of each coffee to your liking, this is simple although may take you a few attepts to get it to your liking, however once this is done it is programmed until you reset it (this is fully explained in the instructions).

There is also a hot water dispenser on the machine so you can make tea, or use it to make americanos rather than the lungo option the machine offers.

Lastly, unlike many machines there is no mess - you don't spill coffee grounds everywhere because it is all contained in the capsule, and the dispensed coffee does not spill, or leak out onto your worktop once caught in the drip tray.

- Cleaning the machine -

Cleaning the machine is easy, and should be done often. Drips from the dispenser go into a drip tray and do not leak out of the machine unlike others I have owned. The milk reservoir is difficult to clean and should also be done regularly - this will be easiest if you have a dishwasher, but can be frustrating if you are just washing it up in the sink. Nespresso also sell descaling products which are not particularly cheap, but is necessary to do once a month to keep your machine performing at its optimum.

- Coffee -

Most importantly perhaps, is that the coffee you get from this machine is of a very high standard. After buying this machine my partner and I noticed a significant reduction in the amount of coffee we bought outside of our home - we live 2 minutes from a Costa which we used to visit regularly, however the espresso from our machine is often of a higher quality than the high street options.

The machine has 19 bar pressure, which is reflected in the quality of the coffee which always has excellent crema. The decaffeinated option is also very good - you barely notice the difference which was a pleasant surprise.

- Overall -

I would definitely recommend this machine to anyone who loves coffee, and can afford to maintain the Nespresso habit! You will never want to go back to a ground coffee machine again!