You\'ll be all hot and frothy

SYSTEM A MODO MIO

SAECO A MODO MIO EXTRA £119

This machine works only with Lavazza's A Modo Mio espresso capsules. The strongest blend tastes authentic, giving a bitter hit of good espresso. Shots look the part too, with a thick layer of oily bubbles — or crema — on top. After laborious priming, the machine is quick and easy to use. But don't let your guests near it, as what looks like brushed aluminium is plastic. It has a steamer for frothing milk, but it's a bit lively, spitting boiling water and steam. A £20 cashback promotion (until June) brings the price down, and it comes with 28 capsules.

Verdict: Buzzes and shakes in use, but delivers great coffee at a good price.

**** www.lavazzamodomio.co.uk[http://www.lavazzamodomio.co.uk]

SYSTEM NESPRESSO

MAGIMIX M200 £120

Nespresso, the best known, most heavily marketed capsule system (thanks to George Clooney's endorsement), works with half a dozen different machine makes. The odd-looking Magimix is a more affordable model, but handsomely, solidly built from metal and heavy plastic. Nespresso coffee doesn't hit the throat with the force of the Gaggia and Lavazza systems, but it looks the part, and is flavourful and easy to drink. An all-round classy operation.

Verdict: The espressos may not taste strictly like the real thing, but are rich and slickly delivered.

**** www.magimix.com[http://www.magimix.com]

SYSTEM TASSIMO T-DISCS

BOSCH TAS6515 £75

Despite the branding, this is an American coffee delivery system, its backer being Kraft, the giant US food group. That US connection has its advantages: as you'd imagine, the machine is incredibly easy to use, has step-by-step on-screen instructions, and a barcode on each coffee disc ensures the right amount of water is passed through. But the drinks seem designed for American tastes, and unless you halt it in mid-pour, every coffee comes out "long", with no frothy crema and precious little aroma.

Verdict: Coffee tastes like the endlessly served, bland brew you get in a diner.

** www.tassimo.co.uk[http://www.tassimo.co.uk]

SYSTEM EASY SERVING ESPRESSO (ESE)

DUALIT ESPRESSIVO 84200 £120

This fresh-ground espresso machine comes with a detachable filter that accepts teabag-like ESE pods. As a fresh-ground machine it is well priced.Materials aren't skimped on: it's made from steel and aluminium, is tough, has a cup-warming plate and develops a decent 15-bar pressure (which squeezes more taste from coffee). However, espressos lack the zing of the best sealed capsule systems, or those made from freshly ground coffee by the same device.

Verdict: Pleasant-tasting enough, but nothing like a genuine espresso.

*** www.dualit.com[http://www.dualit.com]

SYSTEM CAFFITALY

GAGGIA K-111 £155

The Italian maker Gaggia specialises in huge restaurant machines, but has smaller models designed for the Caffitaly capsule system. The K-111 is soundly made, quiet, quick to use from switch-on, and comes with a steamer/hot water wand. It makes an excellent espresso, with authentic aroma and crema and a fresh-ground taste. Using the capsule holder is a bit of a faff, however, as it must be pulled out to empty it (other devices consign used capsules into their depths), and the cost per cup is steep (see panel).

Verdict: Joint winner with the Lavazza for taste, but it's pricier.

**** www.gaggia.uk.com[http://www.gaggia.uk.com]

SYSTEM SENSEO

PHILIPS SENSEO LATTE SELECT £150

A product of Philips and Douwe Egberts, the Senseo system uses bags similar to ESE pods, but unlike them, demands a specialist machine. This Latte Select version has no steamer wand, but rather a milk container that warms and froths milk before adding it to coffee. The results, with milky drinks, look great, but are a little bland. Black coffee, meanwhile, tastes simply like strong, smooth instant, and the need to clean the milk container every day soon becomes a chore.

Verdict: Good for milky coffee, but serious caffeine-heads should look elsewhere.

** www.senseo.co.uk[http://www.senseo.co.uk]

SYSTEMS EXPLAINED

A Modo Mio Capsules available for four Lavazza Italian coffees: two espressos, one "longer" drink, and a decaff. Sold online in packs of 16. Cost per shot: 22p.

Caffitaly This offers about nine blends of espresso coffee in packs of 40 or 80 capsules. Cost per shot: 35p.

ESE A coffee bag held by an adaptor to the ground-coffee filter holder. Many brands and roasts are available in foil-wrapped ESE versions. Cost per shot: about 30p.

Nespresso Capsules sold in packs of 10 from "boutiques" or online. Thirteen regular varieties, plus specials. Cost per shot: about 30p.

Senseo Eight Douwe Egberts blends sold in packs of 16 online or from certain supermarkets.Packs are vacuum-sealed, but individual Senseo pods are not.Cost per shot: about 15p.

T-discs 35 varieties from Carte Noire, Kenco and Starbucks, plus hot chocolate and Twinings teas.Available online in packs of eight and 16. Cost per shot: about 20p.