Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Since there are nearly 2,000 reviews of this product, I suspect that this review will never be read by anyone. This gives me complete freedom to write whatever I want! Just kidding... Bottom line first: After 1 year of heavy use, these capsules are still working great. I have never had any problems with them. They make using a Vertuoline cheap. The coffee is quite good, not great, but good enough. Fin. I've been using both the 8oz and the 2.5oz capsules for about 1 year now with my Breville VertuoPlus Nespresso machine. The build quality and durability is excellent. They still look new today, and they get heavy use: often 3 times per day each. The quality of the coffee is good. I am not an espresso connoisseur, but I feel that the "espresso" produced by Nespresso machines is not up to the standards of fine espresso. However, since I am a cappuccino/latte/cafe au lait drinker, I am very happy with the quality, and I would say that the my VertuoPlus and these capsules make enjoyable coffee drinks (I use an Aeroccino frother) at low cost in the comfort of my home. And to be fair, I don't think that anyone who is an espresso connoisseur would say that Nespresso machines make "cafe quality" espresso. Here are some simple calculations: Good coffee at a good price is about $7 per pound (Lavazza whole bean espresso at Costco). Each capsule holds about 8 grams (interesting: both the "small" and "big" capsules hold the same amount!). There are about 453.6 grams per pound. So each pound of coffee can make about 56 capsules of coffee (assuming minimal waste), and each capsule costs about $0.125, or 12 1/2 cents per capsule--pretty good! With the "old" Nespresso capsules, it's hard to find them for less than $0.25 or $0.33 per capsule, so these Capmesso capsules are a bargain. And since the VertuoLine capsules are so expensive, buying these stainless capsules is a no-brainer...unless you think about getting the sticky tops that can make the Nespresso capsules reusable, too. Those sticky tops can go for as low as $0.12 or $0.13 (let's call it 12 1/2 cents to keep things simple) per top here on Amazon. So buying one of the Capmessos for $25, you need to make 200 capsules of coffee to break even on the stainless steel Capmessos vs. using the sticky tops. For me, this takes about 3-4 months. Again: a no-brainer. Let's summarize approximate costs per capsule: Capmesso stainless steel: 12 1/2 cents per capsule Sticky top with reused Nespresso capsule: 25 cents per capsule (including coffee) "Old" Nespresso capsules: 25-33 cents per capsule What about convenience? Everything that follows below is from personal experience, since I have used all of these methods. The Capmesso stainless steel capsules are the most painful to use, since you have to wash both the top and the bottom. It's not too bad, but if you are very lazy, you might hate this part--scoop out coffee grains into a trash can, then use a sponge to wash the top and bottom of the capsule. If you use the sticky tops, the authentic Nespresso capsules are easier to clean than the bottom part of the Capmesso capsules because they are wider, and you only have to clean the bottom, since the top is thrown out after every brew. Finally, the "old" Nespresso capsules don't need any cleaning at all...but wait! The "old" machines require a clean-up of the compartment that holds used capsules. Admittedly, this is pretty easy, but it still has to be done every few days. I put a paper towel inside the VertuoPlus used capsule receptacle, and it nicely absorbs any mess from used capsules, so there is minimal clean-up required on the VertuoPlus machine. That gives me an idea...maybe I'll try the same thing in my "old" Nespresso machine, too! Last overall comment: There is a wide range of reviews here on this product. When you have thousands of people using the same thing, there will of course be a variety of outcomes. Some people are not happy with anything. Some people love almost everything. There are defective products. I would simply look at the fact that thousands of people have bought this and that the majority have been happy with it. That tells you it's a pretty good product. It is not perfect--few things are. While I might apologize for the length of this review in normal circumstances, since no one is likely to ever read it, I don't have to! Cheers.