Nespresso
Nespresso is a division of Nestlé, concentrating on the high-end of the coffee market. Nespresso products range from patented coffee-capsule technology and the associated machinery, to the actual coffee capsules.
History
The first patent application for the process of extracting coffee from capsules containing freshly ground coffee was filed in 1976. Starting from 1986 the system was first introduced to the business market, and subsequently to the domestic household market.
There are two types of Nespresso capsules available - one intended for domestic use, and another for office use. The domestic capsules, at least, are only available from Nespresso, and set at fairly high prices.
The Nespresso coffee machines are widely sold in electrical retail stores, but the capsules can only be bought in Nespresso stores, called "Nespresso boutiques", via mail-order or the company web-site.
The company also sell a plethora of other Nespresso-branded products, such as coffee cups, sugar and capsule holders, and even Nespresso spoons.
Technology
The Nespresso capsules (as seen on the right) are made of pressed aluminium foil, with a plasticised liner to limit contact between the aluminium and the coffee grounds. Different blends contain different types of coffee, and also are ground to different grades of fineness, to bring out the intended flavour.
The capsule top and sides are made of thick aluminium foil, and the base is covered with a thinner layer of foil. When the capsule is inserted into the machine, the top of the capsule is pierced (some machines make a single large hole, and others make a number of smaller ones). When the machine is activated, the machine pumps hot water under pressure (Nespresso quote 19 bar) into the top of the capsule.
This causes the base of the capsule to bow out, as it is made of thinner foil than the rest of the capsule. The base of the capsule holder (on which the capsule sits) has a number of raised squares, which causes the foil to rupture at these points, and the brewed coffee then exits the capsule, and flows into the cup.
Depending on the particular machine being used, the spent capsule may then be ejected into a holding chamber within the machine. This ejection process is automated on certain higher end machines.
There is a pressure release valve sited inside the brewing chamber, which prevents an explosion occurring if the small holes in the base of the holder become blocked.
Weakness of the concept
While there is a relatively large opinion in internet forums that the Nespresso coffee is very good [reference needed], the concept of Nespresso does not allow the customer to purchase coffee from any source other than Nestle. Also, customers who purchase their coffee online from Nestle should expect monthly unsolicited emails advertising new products or services related to their purchase. In terms of taste, another issue is that Nespresso machines do not provide the ability to tune the strength of a coffee by controlling the amount of ground coffee as can be done with traditional pump espresso machines. Finally, Nestle did not implement a recycling concept everywhere where the Nespresso is sold, e.g. USA: this aluminum waste is hard to justify in a time where the environment is challenged, and is in contradiction with the upscale image of the nespresso concept.
Range of machines
Nespresso designs a wide range of machines, many of which are manufactured by well known kitchen equipment producers, such as Krups, Magimix and Siemens, but which all seem to conform to a restricted set of standardised designs. In 2000, Nespresso began distributing its own machines independent of Krups. In the USA, 19 machines are available for home use (as of June 2006); the majority of these are manufactured and distributed by Nespresso USA.
The features of these machines vary, with the more expensive machines possessing features such as automatic capsule ejection and milk frothers. All machines take the same capsules, and make the same quality Nespresso coffee however, as Nespresso sets minimum mandatory specifications, such as water temperature and pressure requirements, which all machines must meet.
The smaller machines are considered portable, and Nespresso sell 'carry cases' for these, allowing their owner to take them on holiday if desired.
Accessories
Nespresso sell a range of branded accessories to accompany the machines.
These include:
- The Nespresso coffee capsules, sold both as packs of ten, and as a 'taster box', including several capsules of each blend.
- Capsule holders
- A range of different cups (some branded with the colours of a particular Nespresso coffee blend)
- Milk frother jet tools
- Spoons
- Serving trays
- Sugar sticks
- Amaretto biscuits
The photograph below shows a small part of the range - on the left is a Nespresso 'taster' box, and on the right are a range of coffee cups and sugar sticks. These particular cups are designed to complement the decaffeinated coffee range (The three different coloured red 'wave' designs match the colours of Decaffeinato, Decaffeinato Intenso and Decaffeinato Lungo capsules).
Coffee Blends
Although the machines are available retail, The Nespresso capsules themselves are only available from one source, Nespresso, via mail, phone or internet. This means that the capsules, while very high quality, also have prices that are fixed at a relatively high cost (currently around 49 cents U.S. per use/capsule, much higher than loose coffee or some other brands). By buying the system, one is committed to only using the Nespresso capsules, as there is no way to use anything else in the machine.
The Expresso capsules contain an average 5.5 grams of coffee, and the Lungo capsules contain an average of 7 grams of coffee. Each capsule makes one cup of coffee.
Nespresso have 12 premium blends, which come in a variety of different strengths:
The Espresso Blends
- Ristretto - Strength: 10; Acidity level: 1 of 3; Bitterness level: 3 of 3;
- Arpeggio - Strength: 9; Acidity: 0/3; Bitterness: 3/3;
- Roma - Strength: 8; Acidity: 1/3; Bitterness: 2/3;
- Decaffeinato Intenso - Strength: 7; Acidity: 0/3; Bitterness: 3/3;
- Livanto - Strength: 6; Acidity: 0/3; Bitterness: 2/3;
- Capriccio - Strength: 5; Acidity: 1/3; Bitterness: 2/3;
- Volluto - Strength: 4; Acidity: 2/3; Bitterness: 1/3;
- Cosi - Strength: 3; Acidity: 3/3; Bitterness: 1/3;
- Decaffeinato - Strength: 2; Acidity: 1/3; Bitterness: 1/3;
The Lungo Blends
- Vivalto- Strength: 6; Acidity level: 1 of 3; Bitterness level: 2 of 3;
- Decaffeinato Lungo - Strength: 5; Acidity: 1/3; Bitterness: 1/3;
- Finezzo - Strength: 4; Acidity: 1/3; Bitterness: 2/3;
To provide a little variety, Nespresso introduces two special blends each year, both of which are available for six months each.
The Ristretto is probably the capsule with a flavor and creme that comes closest to an espresso obtained in Italy.