NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® Piccolo Single Serve Coffee Maker Review

As part of the NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® Test Drive Program through Mom Central, I have been given the opportunity to try out the NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® Piccolo Single Serve Coffee Maker. I posted about what a great design element it is in our kitchen as well as its convenient and compact size earlier this week. Of course, there is much more to this coffee maker than just that!
Features/Benefits:

• Convenient Size
• Stylish and Sleek Design
• NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® a professional-level 15-bar pressure system
• Thermoblock Technology
• Energy Saving automatic switch off
• Available in several colors

When the NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® Piccolo arrived I couldn't wait to test it out. Having a single serve coffee maker is great because it allows me to quickly make one cup of coffee without having to make a whole pot that would most likely get wasted. I can simply make my cup of coffee and grab it on the go. Along with the machine, there were several flavor cups included for us to try out as well.

After running water through it to clean it out before using, I was ready to prepare my first cup of hot coffee!! I was happy to find that it couldn't be easier to use! In just a few simple steps my coffee was brewing and smelling oh so good!

1. I began by filling the water tank.

2. I then turned the unit on by pushing the power button. I absolutely love that the NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® machines has an auto shut-off function which automatically shuts it off after 5 minutes if it is not used. Not only does this help save electricity, but also protects the life of the coffee maker. I often get busy in the morning and forget to turn it off...so I appreciate that it does so automatically. If one prefers to disable the auto shut-off function, you can do so easily by simply pressing and holding the power button for 30 seconds when it's off.

3. I adjusted the drip tray to the height of my cup (one of my favorite features by far!). I think it's great that it easily accomodates both large and small mugs!

4. With the locking handle up, I slid the capsule holder out and placed the flavor cup inside. I like coffee too, but decided to try the Chocochino first!



5. I was now ready to start brewing. The selection lever is marked with a red mark on the right and a blue on the left. Since I was preparing a hot beverage, I turned it to the red and back to the neutral position once my cup was full. This custom control lever puts you in control to customize your coffee's strength and mixture and lets you alternate between hot and cold beverages in an instant. This is another feature I really appreciate and think is very neat.

To prepare a cold beverage, you follow the same steps, but push the selection lever to the left for cold water.

I found it was very easy to use, however think it would be even more convenient if I did not have to manually turn off the flow of the water. Mornings can be hectic trying to get the kids dressed and fed, so having something that takes as little of my time as possible is much appreciated. I would love it if it would stop brewing automatically! I have to say though, it did make the coffee very quickly. Once it began brewing, I had my cup of Chococino in no time!

When it comes to the flavors, I was very impressed with the variety offered. My husband is more of a cappuccino or hot chocolate person and I will drink both coffee or cappuccino depending on my mood. We've had the opportunity to try several of the flavors and so far Chococino and Cafee Americano are my favorite. My husband really likes the Chococino as well!

Most of the capsules come with a milk capsule and coffee capsule. This gives a froth on the top of flavors like Chococino!! It has a professional-level 15-bar pressure system similar to coffeehouse machines which helps to ensure that every cup is perfect with a foamy froth, rich crèma and luxurious flavor!

Not only was making the coffee very simple, but so was cleanup! It's great having a single cup to wash, rather than a pot and a cup. The drip tray easily slides out for easy cleaning.

Overall I've been very impressed with the NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® Piccolo Single Serve Coffee Maker. It's simple to use and offers many unique features like auto shut-off, adjustable drip tray and more! The variety of flavor cups is great in my opinion and really offers something for everyone's taste (at least in our household).



Buy It: You can purchase the NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® Piccolo for $99!

**I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto and received a coffee machine to facilitate my review.**