Nespresso CitiZ&Milk Coffee Machine review

Tested by coffee lovers partial to a café cuppa, we were interested to see how drinks from this machine compared to our takeaway favourites, as well as to coffee made by other pod machines.

The machine was put through its paces in both the Saga Exceptional lab and at home. Using it over several days, we tested it for design, performance, ease of use and value for money.

From taking the machine out of its box and putting it together to drinking to the bottom of the mug, we assessed every aspect of it.

We looked at how long it took to set up and how quietly it produced a cup of coffee, comparing it to others on the market. And we tried a variety of black and milk-based coffees.

Made primarily from sturdy plastic, with a shiny chrome handle, cup stand and drip tray grill, the CitiZ&Milk feels strong and well constructed, and has a decent cable length for more flexible positioning. It comes in four colours, and the sleek,elongated design will add a touch of class to any kitchen worktop.

The main body of the machine is slim. However, the circular integrated Aeroccino milk frother sits to one side, making the overall shape slightly awkward. We also had issues with the fiddly parts of the frother (see below). If space is at a premium, you can buy it without the milk frother for £165.

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Nespresso by Magimix CitiZ Coffee Machine

RRP: £165

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The cup stand flips up to allow for taller drinks, and both it and the drip tray detach for easy cleaning. We liked that the bottom section of the capsule holder collects any last drips from the used pods, so they aren’t left swimming in cold coffee.

It was easy to get the machine out of its cardboard packaging, though we hit a hitch with setting it up as there were no instructions on how to fix the cup stand onto the capsule holder.

After 10 minutes of head-scratching – and feeling slightly foolish – we figured it out and, after running the initial clean cycle of the machine, we were ready to make our first cuppa.

With two buttons, for espresso or lungo, this was easy to do, and our first coffees – one black lungo, one latte (using the espresso coffee setting and the max level for milk) – were simple to make.

Over successive uses we refined the process, setting just the right amount of water to make a slightly stronger espresso and working out exactly how much milk created the stronger latte we like.

The handles and buttons are light and easy to use, and the pods can be inserted smoothly.

It’s worth noting that the Aeroccino milk frother must be dismantled for washing and has a few small parts, including a rubber sealant ring and mini whisk, that could very easily go astray. You cannot submerge the Aeroccino in water or put it in the dishwasher, and it is fairly heavy to hold, so cappuccino and latte lovers may find the fiddly cleaning process a hassle after every drink.

To froth the milk, you move the frothing spring from its storage place inside the lid of the Aeroccino to the whisk itself – a small point we missed in the instructions on first reading. It’s also a bit fiddly to attach this small part, especially for not-so-nimble fingers.

It’s hard to beat a good coffee shop drink, but if you want a consistently decent caffeine fix at home, this machine delivers.

While it only has buttons for espresso and lungo, these options are the starting point for other drinks including a latte, cappuccino and iced coffee.

We found the noise of the machine to be noticeable but not intrusive: our test centre registered a decibel level of 70, which is about the same level as normal conversation. The milk frother – which also froths cold milk for those iced coffees – operates very quietly. You can be whizzing up your milk at the same time as you make the coffee, so a latte is ready in quick time.

You can only make one cup at a time, but the machine is speedy enough that this really isn’t a drawback.

Our testing centre, which looks at the quality of each cup of coffee, found that some pods produced better quality and less bitter coffee than others.

Those from Starbucks didn’t fare well, coming out as weak or bitter, while the pods from the independent roaster Chimney Fire Coffee produced the sweetest-tasting espresso.

This is a nice-looking machine that makes a good cup of coffee. But, at more than £200, it isn’t one of the cheaper models. Of course, it comes with the Nespresso name, which gives it something of a premium cachet, but that’s only worth it if it’s matched by a good performance.

Fortunately, this machine does deliver. It’s a stylish gadget that makes good coffee. Some people will look for more features for the money, such as extra drinks options or more temperature controls, but others will be impressed with its simplicity and ease of use.

The price seems reasonable for a machine of this calibre. It’s a smart, classy and effective addition to the kitchen. As it is compatible with a huge range of pods, it is possible to save a little on the running costs if you look out for offers.

A few more pages in the instruction booklet with details of how to really get the most out of this machine would not go amiss. We felt it could do more if only we knew how.

There’s a lot of competition for coffee pod machines. Some people will like those with lots of features; others will prefer a machine that is easy to use and does the job well.

The Nespresso CitiZ&Milk by Magimix falls firmly into the latter camp, which may be surprising given that it was one of the priciest machines we tested.

Compared with a machine like the My Way 2, the CitiZ&Milk seems to lack a few bells and whistles, such as a Brita water filter in the tank.

Retailing at around £70 – around a third of the Nespresso price – the My Way 2 also has smart pods that automatically adjust the brewing time, temperature and water level for each drink.

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Tassimo by Bosch My Way 2

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Of the machines we tested, the closest in price to the CitiZ&Milk was the Lavazza A Moda Mio Deséa (RRP £249). This has eight different coffee-making options as well as features such a temperature boost for those who like their drink extra-hot. It also comes with a milk frother, although it would be hard to outperform the Aeroccino.

Perhaps the strength of the Nespresso machine is precisely its simplicity and the fact that it does its main job – make coffee – really well. And the milk frother, for all its fiddliness, also takes the experience to a different level.

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Lavazza A Modo Mio Deséa

RRP: £249

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The maker of the CitiZ&Milk machine claims it will give “barista-style coffee every time” and, while it’s virtually impossible to recreate the perfect bean-to-cup experience with any pod machine, this does come very close.

We like its simple design and how easy it is to operate, and we appreciate that it does make coffee very well. Those who value that above an array of snazzy buttons will struggle to find fault, though they may quibble slightly about the price.

The other downsides – flimsy instructions and an oh-so-fiddly milk frother (which admittedly made perfect hot milk and foam) – shouldn’t be overlooked, but there is still a lot to celebrate about this machine. If you like good coffee, you should love it.

We were loaned the Nespresso Citiz&Milk by ao.com