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OMG, this is so easy to use and it makes the best cappuccinos. Over the years, I've tried them all -- I've gone from a cheap Braun espresso machine, to an expensive Gaggia, to a stove-top Mukka, and this is without a doubt the best coffee I've had at home. Plus, it is so easy to clean up.

This is my first espresso machine and I couldn't be happier. A friend who owns a coffee shop recommended this machine to me because I wanted something easy to use but that wouldn't skimp on quality. And it's been a homerun.

* The shots come out exactly the same every time with that beautiful and elusive crema on the top.

* The espresso comes out nice and hot. My friend told me this and the bars of pressure were what put Nespresso apart from most similar machines. A luke warm espresso is no good.

* The machine is easy to clean and maintain.

* The Nespresso club is a nice touch that makes ordering more coffee a cinch. I thought being limited to Nespresso coffee (the pods) would be a downside, but I've liked all the pods I've tried and haven't felt like I needed more.

The only negative I'd list is that the frothing attachment is lackluster. I used it for about 6 months now and it just wouldn't produce the airy milk froth you get from a stand alone unit (like the Nespresso Aeroccino I just bought today and love!).

Bottom line: get this machine. You'll thank yourself over a cappuccino or a nice shot of espresso.

After a ton of research and finally a demo of the product, I was sold. The espresso is beyond easy to make-- perfect every time. No mess, no guessing with grinding beans, measuring, tamping. Many complain about the cost of the pods (appx 50 cents a shot)-- but compare that with a $15 one-pound bag of Starbucks espresso beans (appx 25-30 cents a shot) and the pods are well worth it.

With other espresso machines, there were always complaints about lack of steam pressure to make lattes/cappucinos. Not with the D290- you can either the manual wand or the "near automatic" attachment with great results.

Another frequent comment: the serious lack of instructions in the D290's manual. No problem though... just call the Nespresso customer service. I was conntected to a person almost immediately, and they were VERY helpful-- truly wanted me to have the best experience.

Final comment: My 1st Nespresso D290 actually did not work. I called Nespresso, and they immediately sent me a brand new replacement via 2-day air-- no hassle.

All the money that I've spent at Starbucks over the years -- no more! I got this machine about a week ago now and I absolutely love it.

Downsides:
* Manual really stinks. It's all in pictures, and not
very clear ones at that. Once you get the hang of it
though, its pretty easy.
* Price -- it is very pricey, but if it replaces a $5
-$10 a day Starbucks habit, that works for me.
* Proprietary espresso capsules-can only be bought
through the few Nespresso stores or
online. Online ordering is easy though, and they ship
2 day air.

Upsides:
* Produces great tasting espresso-better than Starbucks
* Easy and fast to prepare espresso
* Easy to clean
* Produces great milk froth-which is also easy to make
and clean
* Most Nespresso coffee pods are about fifty cents each-
even with two shots for a grande+, this still comes
out cheaper (and better tasting) than the Starbucks
equivalent.
* Large variety of available Nespresso espresso flavors
with easy ordering. Starbucks should consider
partnering with Nespresso to develop Starbucks
capsules for Nespresso machines. This
will benefit Nespresso by offering more selection with
a well known coffee brand -- and Starbucks
will benefit by getting some of the coffee biz that
they're losing by people buying Nespresso machines (or
other machines that can't use Starbucks).

Net Net -- if you can get past the price, buy this machine -- I highly recommend it!

At one time I owned a Krups espresso/cappuccino machine that I ended up using for only a few months since it was such a pain to set up and clean. Right now, it's sitting in my basement, gathering cobwebs. However, when I received this Nespresso machine as a gift, I now can have cappuccino whenever I want in mere minutes. I turn the machine on, wait for the solid red light to show proper heat/steam (it takes about 30 seconds), pop in a pod, and press the correct cup size for espresso or the larger "lungo." The coffee is forced through the pod and into the cup below in seconds, with a nice brown crema on top. For cappuccino or latte, you need only to then press the steam button (the machine comes with a steamer attachment), stick the tube in a cup of milk, press the lever, and watch the machine suck up the milk and deposit it, hot and foamy, into the cup. Clean up? A breeze. Even if you steam milk, you have only let the steamer suck in water for a few seconds and deposit it into another cup. The empty pods are tossed into an internal receptacle that holds ten or so. There is no tamping for preparation. No scraping the grounds out afterward. No dishwashing. It really is that simple. And the espresso and cappuccino taste just like they do in Italy.

Of course, there are downsides to every machine, and this one is expense. Not only is the machine pricey, but the pods must be purchased through Nespresso at approximately fifty cents per pod. (They come in sleeves of ten.) The Nespresso also must be particularly sensitive to power surges, since mine stopped working in less than a year, as did my sister's, for no apparent reason. But . . . the customer service is awesome. I called, and they sent a loaner machine overnight, with packing and a pre-paid label to send mine in for servicing. When mine was fixed a week later, I simply shipped the loaner machine back using, again, a pre-paid label. I didn't pay a cent. Still, I now leave my machine unplugged when not in use. Others may want to put it on a surge protector.

I was worried that the pre-measured portions of coffee would taste canned, but they have excellent flavor. Once you buy this machine, you will be part of the "Nespresso Club" (wait until you see how exclusive they make it seem -- you'll have to laugh!). You will buy your coffee off the web site or over the phone, and receive it within two days. The "Ristretto" pods make the best full-strength espresso and cappuccino. Even when I make "lungo" coffee, I tend to use the higher strength coffees such as "Arpeggio" since I'm not a fan of the milder types. "Decaffeinato Intenso" makes competent decaf cappuccino as well as lungo, although I wish they had an even stronger decaf. (The regular "Decaffeinato" is milder.)

This machine is a luxury, to be sure, and I doubt I would have splurged on my own. However, this is one gift that I use regularly, with as much appreciation for it as I had the first week. Unlike my Krups machine, this one sits proudly on my counter. Friends who come to dinner eye it longingly, hoping that, once again, I'll offer up espresso or cappuccino with dessert. Of course, I always oblige.