Which make and model should you choose when buying a coffee machine? - there are so many different varieties available that the process can be daunting. When I chose my coffee machine, I simply opted for the only one I could find with no negative reviews on the Internet - and that happened to be the Krups Nespresso Citiz and Milk (XN710640). The machine is available in three different colours - Fire Engine Red, Frosted Aluminium, and Titanium.

Price, Design, & Assembly
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Costing £189 from a number of high street and online retailers, the XN710641 is predominantly constructed from metal, although there are various plastic elements (including the nozzle) in its design which slightly detract from the overall high quality. Overall the Krups is a modern and pleasant looking piece of kit which should grace any kitchen worktop. As well as producing espresso coffee, the machine also features a milk frother for Cappuccinos and Lattes.

Out of the box there's very little assembly required; the base needs to be slotted into position, the drip tray and milk frother dropped into place - and that's about it. Before the first use, you'll need to run six cups of water through the machine - the process is fully explained in the manual. The Krups is compatible with Nespresso Pods (which are only available direct from Nespresso themselves) - although there are cheaper unlicensed third-party pods available on eBay, the quality of which can be variable.

'Nespresso Pods'?
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Known as the 'Sixteen Grand Crus', I have found the genuine Nespresso Pods to be especially flavoursome. The pods take the form of hermetically sealed aluminium capsules, coated on the inside with a protective film. The range of coffee flavours are impressive, and there will undoubtedly be a few that suit your particular taste (including a couple of decaffeinated varieties). When you buy the machine as new you'll get free samples of all the coffee varieties to get you started.

Using the machine is simplicity in itself - fill up the transparent plastic water tank, lift the metal lever and drop your chosen Nespresso Pod in place, replace the lever, then put your cup under the nozzle. Now simply press the Espresso button for a small coffee, or the Lungo button for a larger cup. Once the coffee is made, the used pod (which is recyclable) drops into a plastic drawer located at the centre of the machine. If you want to use the milk frother - simply remove the lid, pour in the milk, replace the lid, and press the button on the front. Not only will your milk be frothed, but it will also be heated - this will take approximately seventy to eighty seconds.

Speed and quality of coffee
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In terms of its speed, the XN710641 is fairly quick; when you first turn the machine on it takes roughly thirty seconds to start up. After that, it's on with the show - an espesso takes around twenty seconds, and a Lungo takes around thirty. In use, the machine produces a fairly loud noise, but it's nowhere near as loud as an industrial coffee machine.

Regarding the quality of the coffee that the machine produces - it's very good. Not only do a number of the Nespresso blends offer a really rich and intense flavour, but each cup comes complete with an excellent crema layer. In terms of the downsides - well, there's only one which is noteworthy; the temperature of the coffee isn't quite hot enough for my liking. That said, I understand that this is a problem with many consumer coffee machines - the problem can be remedied slightly by making sure you heat your cup before use.

Maintenance & Final Word
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Cleaning the XN710640 is easy, and simply consists of ensuring that the drip tray is wiped clean, and the water in the tank changed regularly. If you live in a hard water area, the device should be descaled after roughly 300 cups - or 1000 for a soft water area. Overall, the Krups Nespresso Citiz and Milk produces great tasting coffee at the touch of a button - the less than piping nature of the coffee only slightly mars what is ultimately a great and reasonably priced coffee machine.