When the Nescafe Dolce Gusto Piccolo machine arrived in our office on loan, my first impression was that it looked like a space-age penguin, so much so that I kept patting it on the “head.”
After reading the very easy to understand picture-only manual, I was raring to try the pop-and-lock capsule action and start brewing a cup of coffee. The act of popping in a capsule, coupled with the satisfying whirr and gurgle of the machine is quite addictive, I found myself offering to make everyone within earshot a cup of coffee. Machine operation aside, I thought the Dolce Gusto wouldn’t be up my alley since I’m not a coffee person. My parents used to tell me that it was a grownup drink and it kinda stuck, even though my age now classifies me as very grownup. Plus, the intricacies of grinding beans, buying coffee filters and activating the coffee maker seemed like such a chore—give me a cup of hot water where I can dunk a tea bag instead.
The good thing about Dolce Gusto though is that it’s not exclusively for coffee lovers, there’s a refreshing (kid-friendly) peach iced tea for hot days (yes, the Dolce Gusto machine can do cold beverages, too) and my favorite, Chococino, a two-capsule affair combining cocoa beans and steamed milk. The Chococino alone is worth the cost of a Dolce Gusto machine, though tea lovers have reasons to want the machine too since we’ve been told that milk tea capsules will be joining the lineup soon.
New machines
Recently, two new machines were added to the Dolce Gusto family: Genio and Melody 3. One still looks like a penguin, except this time, the machines are really more space age. Whereas the previous machines required a little mixing and supervision on your part to stanch the flow of water, the new machines are now equipped with Flowstop Technology, which eliminates the guesswork out of every cup via a panel that lets you input the recommended amount of water per capsule (recommended amount is printed on capsule boxes and capsules). It’s a good thing this machine didn’t exist in the Downton Abbey era or several of the kitchen maids would’ve been out of a job.
It’s the perfect companion to have this season when our normally hellish weather dips down to nippy, breezy evenings, and you want to warm yourself with the taste of brewed but done with the convenience of instant, especially once Simbang Gabi week arrives. It’s also an ideal helper to have when you start entertaining friends for holiday get-togethers, and you don’t even have to hunt around the supermarket to restock your capsules. For a minimum of P1,200, you can order online via Dolce Gusto’s website, and they will deliver to your home/office (you can order the machines from there, too). Of course, it’s also a given that this would make a great holiday present for the caffeine addict in your life.
Know more about Dolce Gusto at www.dolce-gusto.com.ph.