Are you thinking of trying out a coffee pod system to quickly and effortlessly grab a fulfilling cup of coffee in the morning?
The Dolce Gusto machines are the best options you should consider, as they are famous for their affordability and availability!
In this article, I will introduce the best Dolce Gusto machine and 8 other outstanding alternatives to help you find your next home barista.
Best Dolce Gusto Machines
| Best Dolce Gusto Machines | Product | Features | Price |
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Best Dolce Gusto Machine  |
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Best Budget Dolce Gusto Machine  |
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Best Luxury Dolce Gusto Coffee Maker  |
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Best Value for Money Dolce Gusto  |
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Best Dolce Gusto Machine for Smaller Kitchens  |
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Best Compact Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine  |
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Best Automatic Dolce Gusto Coffee Maker  |
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Best Manual Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine  |
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DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Jovia
For those looking for great value for money, the DeLonghi Nescafe Dolce Gusto Jovia coffee machine is one of the best you can ask for.
The device comes with a powerful pump capable of a maximum of 15 bars of pressure to ensure that you can achieve cafe-quality coffee always.
And, if you like to switch things up often, you’d be happy to learn that this Dolce Gusto machine can accommodate 40 different varieties of hot and cold beverages!
From daily Americanos to specialty Macchiatos, everything is within your reach.
All you have to do is move the lever to manually switch from hot to cold drinks and pick your desired water amount to personalize your coffee cup.
FYI, the removable water tank capacity is 1 L (33.8 oz), so you don’t have to fill the tank frequently throughout the day.
And, if you want to make drinks in different cup sizes, simply adjust the drip tray to fit from short espresso cups to tall lattes!
What’s more, you’ll also enjoy its auto shut-off feature that turns off your De’Longhi coffee machine 5 minutes after brewing to save you unnecessary energy consumption.
Lastly, the Jovia has a descaling alert that would conveniently notify you when to give your Dolce Gusto machine a deep cleaning session. No more manually keeping tabs on maintenance tasks.
Pros
- High-pressure bar
- Multi-beverage accommodation
- Hot & Cold drinks are available
- Relatively compact design
- Adjustable drip tray for generous mug space
Cons
- Need to stay with the drink until it finishes brewing
- Some compatible coffee pods have since been discontinued, lessening the range of coffee
De’longhi Nescafe Dolce Gusto, Genio S Touch
If you’re looking for a wider range of brewing features from a coffee pod machine, you should definitely consider grabbing the Dolce Gusto Genio S model!
This is a sophisticated high-pressure coffee machine capable of 15 bars of pressure to create a perfect cuppa with a thick crema layer.
The best thing about this Nescafe Dolce Gusto machine is its temperature control, drink size adjustment and espresso boost function.
This way, the user can precisely manage the coffee brewing process to get the cup they’d most prefer.
The compact Genio S Plus is also extremely easy and quick to work with, enabling users to make over 50 different types of coffee, hot or cold, with just the touch of a button.
You can opt for either Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee pods or your favorites from Starbucks.
And, like many other Dolce Gusto machines, you’ll also find a Descaling alert system, a removable water tank, and an auto shut-off feature.
The differences are:
- The water tank capacity is only 0.8 l (27 oz)
- The Dolce Gusto coffee machine shuts off after just 1 minute of inactivity
Pros
- Brewing temperature control
- Drink size choices
- Espresso boost function
- Auto shut-off
- Easy to use with 50 varieties of hot and cold drinks
- Compact size
Cons
- Cheap plastic material can affect the coffee flavor
- Small tank capacity, requiring users to refill often
Krups Nescafe Dolce Gusto Oblo Coffee
If you just need a straightforward yet stylish Dolce Gusto coffee machine, the Oblo model is a great choice!
You can find these 3 basic coffee options – espresso, cappuccino, and latte- suitable for those who find comfort in these common espresso-base drinks.
But don’t worry. Your choices aren’t limited to just those. Other flavored one-time coffee pods are still compatible with this coffee machine.
But keep in mind that you get a bit small varieties of coffee pods compared to other machines listed here.
Particularly, it can only accommodate 30 different cold or hot drinks.
The bright side is that coffee lovers can also utilize these Dolce Gusto machines’ strength selectors to get the intensity they desire.
Wonder if these Dolce Gusto machines can handle these pressure-powered coffee drinks? With the 15-bar pressure pump, they sure can!
What’s more, you can also find a crema device along with this Dolce Gusto coffee machine, so you’ll always get fluffy and velvety crema.
Pros
- 15-bar pressure pump
- 30+ varieties of hot and cold beverages for great-tasting coffee
- Crema device included
- Adjustable cup stand
- Magnetic pod holder
- Auto shut-off function
- Parts are dishwasher-safe for ease of cleaning
- Compact size
Cons
- No auto stop function
- Water tank capacity is rather limited
De’Longhi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Mini Me
If you don’t have a lot of space to spare on your kitchen counter, the De’Longhi Nescafe Dolce Gusto Mini Me that’s only 6 inches (16 cm) wide, and 9 inches (24 cm) deep and can become your new coffee machine.
But that’s not all there is to this device. Similar to its compact size, its operation is also as simple as can be.
Like other automatic machines, all you have to do is slide in your favorite pod and customize your drink size, and voila.
Coffee is served once the brewing ceases, thanks to the automatic flow stop.
If you’re mindful of your energy consumption for environmental reasons and your own wallet, you’ll also love its convenient eco mode that automatically turns off the coffee maker after 5 minutes of inactivity.
Another great thing about this affordable Dolce Gusto machine is, despite its more modest size, it can accommodate over 50 different drink options, giving you enough variety of high-quality coffee to never get bored.
That’s not all! Unlike other Dolce Gusto coffee machines on this list, this device also comes with 6 extra boxes of pods for you to start with. What a deal! You can typically find:
- 16 Americano coffees
- 16 Americano Bold Morning coffees
- 16 Flat White coffees
- 16 Cappuccino coffees
- 16 Macchiato coffees
- 16 Chococino drinks (hot chocolate)
Pros
- Compact size
- Easy to use
- Automatic stop
- Eco mode
- Hot or cold water for 50+ drinks
- 6 extra boxes of pods
- Affordable
Cons
- Some don’t enjoy the accompanying coffee and milk pods
- The brewing temperature may be too high for your taste
Nescafe Dolce Gusto Krups Lumio
Want more extra compact Dolce Gusto coffee machines? The Lumio is another automatic coffee pod machine to consider.
It comes with your typical 1 l (34 oz) water tank and a powerful pressure pump capable of up to 15 bars to get a thick, velvety, and beautiful crema layer.
What’s more, you can enjoy over 40 varieties of hot and cold coffee drinks.
With one button push, everything is taken care of by the automatic Lumio coffee maker, freeing your hands and mind for other morning routines.
Additionally, compared to some of the other machines on this list, the Lumio is comparatively more compact! So you easily fit it on your counter.
It also particularly stands out with the interesting infinity-sign-like design as well, making it a great conversation piece whenever you have guests over.
Pros
- 15-bar pressure pump
- Automatic play
- Hot and cold function
- Adjustable drip tray
- Ultra-compact size
- Eco mode automatically switches the machine off after 1 minute of inactivity
Cons
- Can be messy
- There’s no power button, so it’s always on
Nescafé Dolce Gusto Piccolo Manual Coffee Machine
If you want more control over exactly how much coffee you want, coffee machines with a manual lever like the Piccolo can be the better choice.
The Dolce Gusto Piccolo has a slightly smaller water reservoir that can hold up to only 0.8 l (27 oz).
However, you’ll love its compatibility with a very large variety of beverage pods, including Nescafe Dolce Gusto (duh!) and Starbucks!
This is perfect for those that are fans of Starbucks coffees but can’t afford to buy from there every single day.
You’ll also be happy to know that the manual lever allows you to easily make hot or cold water to make hot or cold drinks.
And, best of all, as you can see from its name, the Piccolo is super compact, great for those with a more limited living space.
Pros
- 15-bar pressure pump for great-quality crema and espresso
- 50 beverage selections, including Starbucks pods
- Hot and cold switch function
- Compact size
- Manual lever
- One of the least expensive Dolce Gusto models
Cons
- Small water capacity, so you’ll have to refill often
- Hard to fit taller cups
DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Infinissima
For those looking for Nescafé Dolce Gusto machines with a larger capacity, the Infinissima with infinite possibilities may just be the right Dolce Gusto machine for you!
Particularly, you can enjoy an extra large water tank that can hold up to 1.2 l (41 oz), so you don’t have to refill it often throughout the day.
Additionally, since it’s a manual machine, you can simply pop in your pod of choice (from its array of 40 varieties) and move the lever to grab a perfect cuppa.
This is also one of the more unique-looking coffee machines.
The Infinissima boats have an infinity/hourglass design with a very slim footprint (15 cm/6 inches)!
This is perfect for households with very limited counter space.
And if you’re an absent-minded home barista, rest assured the 5-minute eco mode will be there for you!
After 5 minutes of inactivity, the device will automatically turn itself off to help you save energy and stay safe.
Pros
- Extra large water tank capacity
- Straightforward manual operation
- 15-bar pressure pump
- 40 varieties of hot and cold beverages
- Unique compact design
- 5-minute eco mode
Cons
- No auto-stop so you have to manually do it yourself
- Brew temperature may not be hot enough for you
NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine
If you want a cup of professional-grade coffee made with pods, consider one of the most stylish automatic capsule machines called Dolce Gusto Majesto!
Not only will you love the 1.8-l (61 oz) water tank but you’ll also be happy to know that it has an intelligent built-in water level detector, taking all of the guesswork out of the equation.
What’s more, the extra large capacity can make it a good fit for offices as well, in addition to larger households!
In terms of the types of coffee and variety of flavors, it can accommodate over 30 different creations with both hot and cold water.
Since it’s one of the automatic coffee makers, you don’t have to worry about manually stopping flow when just the right amount of water has been dispensed to make the perfect cup of Joe.
The intuitive interface also enables full personalization and customization to meet all users’ personal preferences.
And, like most machines you see on this list of Dolce Gusto range, the Majesto pod machines also come with a convenient eco mode that automatically switches off when inactive.
Visually, you think you’ve seen them all but you might just haven’t. The Dolce Gusto Majesto machine is basically designed to be a private throne for your great coffee — like in your local coffee shop!
Just look at the images and you’ll see what I mean by “Such unique features are definitely hard to come by.”
Pros
- 15-bar pressure pump
- Automatically makes great coffee
- Extra large water capacity with a built-in automatic water level detector
- Suitable for both households and offices
- Over 30 premium coffee choices
- Intuitive touch interface with personalization and customization capability
- Eco mode
- Modern design
- Automatic service reminders, including maintenance processes
Cons
- No saving function for personalized brews
- It may not be very durable
How To Use A Dolce Gusto Machine
If you want to get the full Dolce Gusto experience, it’s important to know how to use the machine properly.
Here are some quick and easy steps:
- Switch on the machine and wait for the green light to come on. This means that the machine is ready to use.
- Place your cup on the drip tray.
- Lift the locking handle and insert your chosen coffee pod.
- Push down the locking handle until you hear a click.
- Using the selection wheel, choose your desired beverage size.
- Push the lever to the hot or cold setting, depending on your drink preference.
- For manual machines, turn off the lever when your cup is full. For automatic machines, the machine will stop automatically.
- Remove your coffee pod and enjoy!
- After use, remember to switch off the machine.
Where To Buy Dolce Gusto Pods?
Some of the popular places to buy Dolce Gusto pods include Amazon, Walmart, Currys, and Dolce Gusto’s own website.
You can also find them at your local supermarket, although the selection may be more limited.
While Nestle recommends that you use their official Dolce Gusto pods, you can also find compatible pods from other brands.
These pods are often cheaper, but they may not produce the same quality of coffee.
Verdict: Which Model Of Dolce Gusto Machine Is Best?
After going through all the different types of Dolce Gusto machines, it’s time to choose which one is best for you.
From a personal standpoint, DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Jovia is my favorite. It’s one of the most affordable machines on the market, yet it still produces great-tasting coffee.
- Maximum 15 bar pump pressure.
- 40 varieties of hold and cold drinks.
- Easy to use and clean.
- Pods are widely available.
- 2-year guarantee.
If you have a small kitchen, the compact design of the Krups Nescaf Dolce Gusto Lumio will also be a big plus.
Which Dolce Gusto machine do you think is the best? Let us know in the comments below!
FAQs
Are Dolce Gusto machines any good?
Dolce Gusto machines are very popular and many coffee lovers swear by them. Using a pod system is a quick and easy way to make coffee, and the machines are often very compact, making them ideal for small kitchens.
How Many Cups Does a Dolce Gusto Pod Make?
Most Dolce Gusto pods will make between 2 and 3 cups of coffee. Some of the larger pods may make up to 4 cups.
What Do The Bars Mean On Dolce Gusto Pods?
The number of bars on a Dolce Gusto pod indicates the amount of water or milk that the pod needs to produce a beverage of the correct strength.
Can You Use Dolce Gusto Pods In A Tassimo Machine?
No, you cannot switch pods between Dolce Gusto and Tassimo machines. The pods are different sizes and will not fit in the other machine. If you try to use a pod that is the wrong size, it may not be pierced or may become lodged and jammed in the locking mechanism.
