Just spotting a capsule coffee machine in the Solar do Castelo hotel in Lisbon last month was enough to make me feel at home. The brightly coloured pods were instantly recognisable and I’ve become adept at working out the peculiarities of each machine. In no time at all the satisfying noise of whirring machine can be heard, and like Pavlov’s dogs, I’m salivating in anticipation of a satisfying cup of coffee.
I have to admit, I’m a fan of capsule coffee. I did try filter coffee for a number of years but didn’t drink enough of it so the coffee in the bag didn’t stay fresh. My machine is used just twice a day; for a long, creamy latte or cappuccino mid-morning and a small black espresso or lungo in the evening.
Proper coffee enthusiasts might turn their noses up at the capsule revolution that has taken place over recent years but it can’t be ignored: pods/capsules have become a large part of the coffee drinking market. A relatively new kid on the block is this machine from Leysieffer Kaffee. I was asked to try out their coffee machine and, being a capsule connoisseur, I happily agreed to give it a go.
History of Leysieffer Kaffee
For over 110 years this family company has been associated with confectionery. The first patisserie was opened by Ulrich Leysieffer in 1909 in Osnabruck and their philosophy, “quality above all else” has prevailed as the company has grown. In 2015 Leysieffer introduced coffee products and a capsule machine was introduced. The company produces a small range of coffee pods and a well-designed machine. It also sells Nespresso compatible pods, filter coffee and whole beans.
The capsule machine
The machine has been developed with a high-pressure system (19 bars) to produce a perfect crema. It works in the same way as other capsule machines, so a long (lungo) or short (espresso) cup can be automatically poured, using water kept in a chamber in the machine. The machine I was asked to test was a Premium Capsule Machine in black; it also comes in red and silver. As an alternative, there is a machine which incorporates an integral milk frother.
I thought the design of the machine was excellent – very sleek yet reassuringly solid, as you might expect from a German manufacturer. It was easy to use, the water chamber was large and the whole operation was swift. It was also slightly quieter than my Magimix Nespresso U machine. Like my own machine, it has an automatic shut off for each of the cup sizes chosen.
The one drawback was the design of the container for the used pods. There was no separate cage to lift the pods out of the water/coffee dregs which inevitably pool in the bottom of these containers.
The coffee capsules
There are five types of coffee: lungo, espresso, crema, ristretto and ganoderma. The capsules are made from 100% recyclable plastic. The advice is they can be ‘easily tossed into normal waste destined for the landfill’.
The colours of the capsules might not be exciting but the quality of the coffee is top-notch. Each cup has a good crema and the coffee is full-bodied. Here’s the lungo, crema and ristretto for you to compare.
I wasn’t keen the ganoderma which is meant to be a healthy drink, a mix of instant coffee and a kind of medicinal mushroom which is a good source of antioxidants. It does have other ingredients such as glucose syrup and palm oil. It must be an acquired taste.
I was disappointed not to see any decaffeinated coffee in the range at the moment. Hopefully that will be something that will be introduced in the future.
How much does it cost?
If you order through Amazon, the Premium Capsule Machines are currently selling (as of March 27th 2017), via Leysieffer, at £39 because of an astonishing 69% discount. There is a £14.90 shipping cost from Germany but that is still a lot cheaper than equivalent machines in the UK market.
The coffee pods come in boxes of 48 and cost £11.80. As there is a £14.90 delivery charge it makes sense to buy in bulk. If you buy four boxes at a time this would make the capsule cost 32p which is competitively priced.
The Nespresso compatible pods, if you wanted to buy them for your own machine, cost £11.80 for a box of 40.
Please check current prices on Amazon
Verdict
If you are in the market for a new machine, the Leysieffer Kaffee capsule machine is definitely worth considering, especially at the current discounted price. Buying capsules in bulk will offset delivery costs. The coffee is first class and if you’re not shallow as I am, keen to have a rainbow of coffee capsules adorning my wall, then this high quality coffee and machine combo won’t disappoint.
I was sent a Premium Capsule Machine by Leysieffer plus a selection of capsules. My opinions are, of course, my own.
Looks a nice machine. My DB is a coffee fan and swears by Nespresso coffee pods when in France as he says you can’t get a decent cup of coffee here. Compared to Italy, anyway.
I actually prefer my Bodum coffee jug and a packet of organic “intense” coffee from Mexico that’s roasted in France.
We’ve been buying the Nespresso pods for years as I love to be able to make a decaff for me and a normal one for Dougie – it’s a lot easier.
I like the idea of your coffee jug though. And once you have a favourite, you can’t imagine drinking anything else.