Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

[srhardy]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

The first cup tasted ok but the second was hotter, i wont waste the first shot but make sure i get to drink the second and will give the first one to someone else then - easy done

[Grant_1976]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

I solved the temperature problem and it didnt cost me a cent. With some advice from some helpful guys on this forum I tested a 2nd cup straight after the first. This time the brew was 88 degrees! It seems some Juras need a shot put through first (which you throw) and use the second cup for drinking. Try that.

[srhardy]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

I then called Jura and was told my temp should be 85 degrees so its off to the service agent.

I want using anything more than than a milk temp therometer but my Jura Ena 5 wasnt anywhere near 85deg! Maybe 60 ish but thats all & the settings were HOT too. Please post after getting yours looked at if you see any difference?!? Plz

[Grant_1976]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

Yes, not suprisingly build quality does seem to vary. My GF tried here Expressi today and it made a lot of noise and seemed to struggle with the flow. Interestingly the temp of her brew was 60 degress. Of even more interest was that she called Aldi cust. service about it and was told the brew temp was correct i.e. 60 degrees? I then called Jura and was told my temp should be 85 degrees so its off to the service agent.

If my Expressi is the correct brewing temperature then maybe its just the crap pods. Ill try a MAP pod instead.

[thebigchuckster]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

Its like theyve tried to duplicate the inkjet-printer business model (aka the loss-leader):
- make cheap and unserviceable printer mechanism
- sell printer at cost or below
- sell ink refills at extortionate price and use patent/trademark law to prevent re-use of ink containers by 3rd parties.

Replace words as required and you have this product.

[atropine]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

This morning i tried the Aldi pod in the MAP machine, due to the almost non existent filtering compared to the MAP pods it was HOT and TASTELESS and after reading this review i would say even BURNT.  Im starting to think the PODS are to blame with almost no internal resistance they just dont impart the flavour (alas). 

Arent pod machines supposed to develop a pressure of 19psi in the pod?
Or is that never actually said, just something about a 19psi pump?
Ive never actually seen an aldi pod machine other than the one the demonstrator was using, yet let alone bought one. They were sold out by 1pm on the day of launch, and they never replaced the stock.

They need someone smarter at aldi. if they spend the huge amount of money on tv advertising that they did, with the very good price of the machine, then theyre going to sell a lot, so have stock to match.

[srhardy]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

Odd that one persons machine gives lukewarm coffee while another machine actually burns it! Im also pleased to see you went and tried the pod grounds in the JURA, thats a comparison i wouldnt have thought to make either.

This morning i tried the Aldi pod in the MAP machine, due to the almost non existent filtering compared to the MAP pods it was HOT and TASTELESS and after reading this review i would say even BURNT. Im starting to think the PODS are to blame with almost no internal resistance they just dont impart the flavour (alas).

Im guessing reading the comments that the build quality of the machine varies but the POD quality is just plain LOW... I dont know its if its the quality of the actual coffee as much as the POD design... MAP have plastic filters top & bottom with small holes to evenly spread the hot water evenly through the POD. This also slows down the POUR and means coffees are usually even with a nice creama, not so with the ALDI (but i intend to buy some more to experiment with just for the hell of it today) but so far i am unimpressed... The JURA if set to HOT/STRONG settings gives an amazing good coffee thats both HOT and full flavoured IMO.

[Thundergod]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

Aldi are advertising another espresso machine this week.
IIRC $69 with a steam wand.

[Grant_1976]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

Jura Fully Auto Vs Aldi Expressi
Im new to the forum but not to coffee. I have a $2k Jura fully auto machine and for while now Ive been lugging it into work and back each week so bought the Aldi machine to leave at work. Set it up last night and was not too impressed; the coffee tasted burnt and I poured it down the sink. Thought it might be the pod type (No. 5) but  then tried a No. 8 and while better, it still had a burnt after taste.

Today I did a back-to-back test with my Jura. I opened the pod and poured the coffee into the jura and made a 40ml coffee. At the same time did it with the Aldi. There was nothing wrong with the coffee. While not wonderful, the Jura certainly gave a superior result and with no burnt after taste. I then tried the No. 8 pod and the difference wasnt so noticeable (although my taste buds were probably still recovering from the previous test).

I also noticed the Aldi machine gives a much hotter coffee than my Jura which may explain the burning. Ill be doing a few more testes this weekend but at this stage will be returning the unit.

BTW, I also have tried a few Nespressos lately and while still not as good as my Jura, its far better than the Aldi machine. Maybe thats why the Nespressos are 3x the price.

[srhardy]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

I bought the frother and it does a decnt hot milk with a little froth which is acceptable for a flat white but its not very dence and the only way i know to do that is a jug/steam as my ENA5 auto setup does a poor job IMO. 

However the ENA-5 does a great grind/pour of a shot which is what i use it for daily but at $600 it was still expensive and thats before water filters too!

Now for the Aldi pods, they also fit the MAP Officeworks machine too as i brought home some pods to try in MAP machine (it does awesome manual steamed froth!).  I agree they are inferior to fresh ground coffee but as good as any pod coffee ive tried.  They are built to a price, the MAP pods are better made with more plastic in it for filtering as apposed to the paper one in the Aldi brand.

As for the coffee system as long as i know the problem i would mod my own to correct it (at that price warranty isnt a concern) but the MAP coffee makers are better IMO but also more expensive but on the plus side they dont need modding to get a decent pour.

This is my first post and i joined coffee snobs after reading this review and will order some beans to try, so keep up the good work!  Reviews like this rock & are fun to read...

[trentski]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

Its faster to make than instant coffee

Your machine against my teaspoon any day of the week, winner takes my giotto home 8-)

[atropine]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

It is the coffee that you are really paying for - and paying $50ish a kilo which as mentioned is more than the best fresh roasted beans around.
I could accept on convenience alone it is quite good value for some people, but on taste... :

Its a value added product, its not the coffee youre paying for. Its faster to make than instant coffee, but has the ability to be off the quality of the best freshly opened vacuum sealed ground coffee.

You open a sealed ground coffee package and its only fresh for maybe amount of coffees consumed for that day, then its going stale. Pods will keep your coffee freshly vacuum sealed until seconds before you drink it.

People pay for that.

[shawn_low]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

Great review Andy.

Some points that jumped out to me:

1) The cost per KG of beans is exorbitant!
2) The amount of waste with the coffee pods. Are they recyclable? If so, the landfill problem isnt quite so bad.

Ultimately, this machine is marketed for convenience and cost per cup.

1) I know someone who owns cafes and have spent big $$$ on machines in the stores, and works with good local roasters. But she uses a Nespresso at home for sheer convenience. Modern busy life = no time to clean espresso machine or stovepot.

2) Even though youre paying $50+ per KG of beans, each cup of coffee works out to $0.38. Thats still a heck alot cheaper than $3 at the local cafe.

[OzPete]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

So after washing out my mouth with a shot from the Giotto I thought I would try packing my own capsule.

I cut the top off a capsule, tipped-out the contents and refilled it with fresh coffee from the grinder.  It failed as the Expressi machine groaned trying to push the water through.

Second attempt was after an adjustment to the grinder and this time it worked... well... coffee came out.

Hi Andy, thanks for the review!

How do you keep the fresh ground coffee from coming out of the pod after you insert back into the machine?

Did you used few layers of glad wrap to seal it?

Very curious!  ;D


Cheers,
OzPete

[coffeeweasel]

Re: Aldi Expressi Coffee Machine Review - (Lots of pictures)

After reading your review I can only think that there must be some variation between machines.

Hi coffeeweasel,

Does your crema look anything like Andys photos?  The picture alone makes me shudder on the pale coloured crema (if you can call that crema! more like sudds).  It would be good if you could take a photo of your crema in comparison.  I have seen a nespresso pull a shot with dark hazelnut crema and taste 60 to 70% to what my Giotto can pull.  I was very impressed.  It did not look anything like the Expressi crema that Andys getting.  Unfortunately if you tell me your crema looks like the ones above, Id be inclined to agree with Andys review 100%.  I couldnt bring myself to drink whats in the photos. 

Hi.  My crema was definitely darker and more hazlenut colour than the one in the photos.  His looks quite white and I imagine it would be quite bitter based on my experience, where cafes have over extracted coffee and the shot turns white/blonde, thereby drawing out the bitter part.  Will try and get a snap.

Reggio tasted pretty good to me and I believe I know what good coffee tastes like, having been to the Maling Room, St Ali, Brother Baba Budan in Melbourne, and Villino Espresso in Hobart, and used fresh beans in a burr and my proper espresso machine.  Also dont mind the Nespresso Ristretto pod coffee.  Im not saying it is as good, but in my opinion, and in the opinion of several people I watched taste it, it is good. I agree its more expensive.