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- The Espressotoria Caprista coffee machine's simple single-button operation creates the perfect cup of espresso in two serving sizes and strengths.
- Coffee pods are available in six different varieties.
- Each serving of espresso costs less than $0.85, and the Caprista coffee machine costs less than $100.
The Espressotoria Caprista machine is not the only easy-to-use coffee capsule home espresso maker on the market. Truth be told, it's not even the first capsule-based home espresso system I've owned. But it is the best DIY espresso maker I have yet come across, and I'll give you three reasons why:
First — and these aren't necessarily in order of importance; that's a subjective call I'll leave to you — the Caprista machine costs only $99, which is dozens of dollars cheaper than many comparable systems. Second, using the Espressotoria Caprista is laughably simple; wait until you see the step-by-step instructions below. And third, it makes damn good coffee.
First, let's take that whole price thing out a bit farther. At $99, the Caprista system, which occupies about a third of a square foot of countertop space and comes in black or white, is a good deal less expensive than many similar coffee systems. And thus far, my experience with it proves the machine comparable in quality to systems that cost a good deal more. Now, let's say you typically order a double espresso on your way to work, which we'll say costs $2 for the sake of argument. If you have a cup of espresso every single day of the year, that's $730. Except on leap years, when it's $732.
At $0.83 per Espressotoria coffee capsule, you could be enjoying the same daily serving of espresso for only $303 when you make it yourself. That's a savings of $429. And even if you factor in the $99 price of the system, it's still a $330 annual savings.
Now let's talk about how to use the Espressotoria Caprista system. First, you fill the detachable reservoir with water. Then, you switch the system on. Next, drop a coffee capsule into the chamber on top of the system. When the two buttons on top of the machine stop flashing, indicating that it is preheated, you push either the Short (smaller, more concentrated serving) or Long (larger, less intense serving) button and... that's it. To sum that up: You fill it up, turn it on, put in a pod, push a button, and then drink espresso. Cleaning the system? Well, that's where things get complicated. Except not: Just follow all the steps above except don't put a coffee capsule in there, thus running some hot water through the Caprista.
As to why the coffee the Caprista makes tastes so good, first there's the selection of coffees available. Full disclosure, I have yet to try all of these, so there's a chance the Latte and Decaf capsules taste like old socks. But I'm going to go out on a limb here and say... they don't. The other flavor varieties available are Brazilian Breakfast Blend, Colombian Single Origin, Espresso, and Organic. Great coffee selection alone is one thing; it's the 19 bar pressure pump the system uses to extract every little bit of flavor from those coffees (and all the caffeine, too) that makes the Caprista system truly successful.
One more thing that sets it apart is customization; if you don't like the pre-programmed serving size of either the Short or Long buttons, you can re-set the duration of the extraction process, thereby changing the size and potency of your beverage, just by holding down a button.