Coffee is America’s number one beloved caffeinated beverage. The prosumer espresso machine market is flooded every three months with newer products by companies that promise enhanced beverage taste and flavor. Seldom does a machine live up to the endorsement hype associated with it.
However, the Nespresso D121-US4-BK-NE1 Espresso Machine is an exception. Brewing coffee is a mean task in itself. With hundreds of variations available to choose from, coffee lovers have never swooned harder before.
Globalism has brought the world closer, providing avid coffee fans with a range of coffee beans grown in different parts of the world. Whether it’s grown in the Jamaican Islands or it hails its origin from the hills in India, people have been exposed to a multitude of coffee experiences.
Brewing coffee calls for a wide dynamic of knowledge oriented towards setting the right temperature and pressure to grind the coffee beans to their finest consistency for a smooth cappuccino; or to a coarser degree of grind to savor a stronger, more solid cup of espresso.
But, what about those who could not care less about the complicated sorcery that goes into manually brewing a puck of coffee? Sure, such drinkers do exist. People who just care about their cuppa joe in the morning to kick them back to their senses before they head out for work.
Semi-automatic espresso machines offer a higher degree of flexibility when it comes to choosing the kind of beverage one could want. These machines also feature pre-infusion capabilities to draw optimum flavor from each and every coffee bean in the maker.
But, for someone who neither has the time to head out to a coffee shop and wait in line for their dose of caffeine nor possesses any barista skills to craft a well-brewed cup of coffee, there’s the Nespresso D121-US4-BK-NE1 Espresso Machine.
Nespresso’s fully automatic CitiZ&Milk can be called into operation by just the press of a button. It’s unique pre-heat function is capable of bringing the machine up to speed for the brew in just under 25 seconds. Most coffee machines remain idle for much of the day after they are thronged in the morning. The CitiZ&Milk features an efficient energy saving mode that shuts the machine off after a duration of 9 to 30 minutes of inactivity.
This Nespresso also features its signature Aeroccinofrothier that can yield hot and cold froth of milk at just the touch of a button. An adjustable drip-tray offers the liberty to brew drinks such as shots of Espresso or a Lungo.
Advantages of the Nespresso D121-US4-BK-NE1 Espresso Maker
The Nespresso D121-US4-BK-NE1 features an energy saving mode that promises consumption of energy about 60% lesser than most models in the market. The automatic shut-off feature kills power to the machine after 9 minutes of inactivity. This duration can be increased to anywhere till a cap of 30 minutes.
The CitiZ&Milk boasts of a superior pre-heating capacity that can prep up the machine in just about 25 seconds for operation.
The signature Aeroccino frothier gives the user the power to froth up hot and cold milk in a matter of seconds. The press of a button on top of the espresso machine calls the frothier into operation instantaneously.This Nespresso machine comes with an adjustable drip tray. The level of the tray can be adjusted to suit the beverage requirements. An espresso shot can be delivered without spillage by raising the tray to a suitable height, whereas the un-adjusted drip tray is perfect for brewing a Lungo.
This Nespresso machine comes with an adjustable drip tray. The level of the tray can be adjusted to suit the beverage requirements. An espresso shot can be delivered without spillage by raising the tray to a suitable height, whereas the un-adjusted drip tray is perfect for brewing a Lungo.
Disadvantages of the Nespresso D121-US4-BK-NE1
The Nespresso is governed by the capsule system. Each capsule contains a puck of pre-ground coffee which is sucked by the machine as a whole while brewing. This system is exclusive to the Nespresso machines, hence limiting the flexibility in functionality.
The water tank of the CitiZ&Milk is compatible only with Nespresso’s espresso machines. Its signature shape makes it exclusive to the Nespresso range of espresso machines only.
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Key Features of the Nespresso D121-US4-BK-NE1 Espresso Machine
Nespresso Capsule System
The CitiZ&Milk espresso machine does not come with an integrated burr-grinder or a slot for administration of ground coffee beans. Nespresso’s machines feature an exclusive system of brewing coffee out of the ground stored in aluminium capsules which are hermetically sealed and recyclable for future use. These capsules offer a range of different aromas and tastes for a fulfilling coffee experience. This model can store and use 9 to 11 capsules of coffee. It also comes with an internal storage space to hold used and exhausted capsules.
Adjustable Cup Tray
The cup tray below the coffee dispenser is kept free to move vertically in order to make the brewing process flexible for an Espresso and a Lungo. The height-adjustability nature of the cup tray makes it easier to collect dispensed coffee without any spillage concerns.
Automatic Volume Quantity
The Nespresso CitiZ&Milk espresso machine features top panel buttons to choose the volume quantity of desired brew. The machine offers an automatic delivery of an espresso shot or an American lungo. A programmable internal system can yield either of the two coffee variants by the touch of a button.
Design
This model is designed with a rather neat user-centric approach. The buttons for starting the machine are conveniently placed on the top of the machine. An easy one-button design helps the user choose the volume quantity of coffee brewed, that is, an espresso or lungo. The unit sports a sleek, jet black design with metal finishes for the dispenser and buttons.
It measures 5.1 by 14.6 by 10.9 inches and weighs approximately 7.5 pounds. Such a compact design makes this model conducive to fit on your kitchen counter without hogging up too much space. It can easily fit beneath the kitchen shelves and its classy looks is sure to yield an air of sophistication and quality to your kitchen.
Pump Pressure
The Nespresso D121-US4-BK-NE1 houses a 120V 19-bar pressure pump. Most machines in the market come with a less powerful 15-bar pump for brewing. This model’s superior pump power makes it capable of extracting optimum flavor and aroma from each granule of the puck.
Since the operation is fully automatic, the high-pressure pump sucks water from the rear-attached flow tank and gushes it over the ground stored in the aluminium capsules. The heavier pressure ensures maximum absorption of taste and bitterness of coffee.
Aeroccino Frothier
The Nespresso CitiZ&Milk sports a signature Aeroccino milk frothier. The world is divided on how drinkers prefer their coffee. While some say the actual coffee experience can only be witnessed with a shot of pure, unadulterated espresso, there are many who prefer their cup of coffee with a dash of dairy. This model provides a milk frothier that can be engaged to generate cold and hot milk froth with the touch of a button.
Water Capacity
This espresso machine houses a rear-attached 34-ounce water tank. The capsule system characteristic of the D121-US4-BK-NE1 is only compatible with the signature Nespresso water tanks. The tank however, does not come with a filtration system of any sort.
Users online have found the technical specifications offered by the Nespresso to be above par than the rest of the competition since it features a more powerful 19-bar pressure pump compared to the industry standard of 15-bar.
This high pressure is capable of extracting maximum flavor out of each pod which contains about 6 grams of coffee. The durability has been pretty satisfying considering the price of the machine. Users claimed to have encountered with the need to descale after approximately 300 shots of espresso.
The quality of shots has been beyond what an average consumer had expected. Considering it to be almost as good as a Starbucks coffee, users have expressed gladness over the end result of this automated brewing process. Most users found using the frothier a little dicey.
The frothier only works well to form a nice foam with whole milk with certain levels of density. All in all, given the price-tag associated with the Nespresso CitiZ&Milk, users believe this machine offers the best value for money in the market of automatic espresso machines.
Final Verdicts
What truly sets the D121-US4-BK-NE1 apart is its capacity to deliver varying volumes of coffee with the touch of a button. The button is needed to be pressed till the desired quantity is dispensed. The machine also programs the same in its memory and you needn’t keep the button pressed the second time. Just a push will brew the same amount of coffee as the previous time.
Many users have found the absence of an ON-OFF button rather disturbing. This is one aspect where the users do not agree with the ergonomic design of the machine. However, the machine can be easily turned on by pushing one of the coffee buttons. The CitiZ&Milk’s efficient energy savings ensure that you will use 60% less power than other standard machines.
Nespresso provides a set of 16 differently flavored coffee capsules with every unit. Their Club members are also offered delivery of newer pods of coffee with an option of choosing an executive set-up.
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