I needed a coffee machine, to replace a Francis Francis ESE pod machine which had stopped working, and I think was an uneconomic repair

I considered a dolce gusto machnie, but was put off by the price of the pods.

I went for a Delonghi Distinta £100. Some reviews complained about the short frothing wand, but in general I am very pleased. Much cheaper using grounds compared to pods. Can be messy filling and emptying, all the while but generally good fun.

Would I have been better paying a more for a bean to cup machine?

I recently subscribed to Pact coffee (this isn't an advert) and i got a free v60 drip thing that lets me use a filter and ground coffee straight into my mug without a machine. I use it much more than my dolce gusto machine and it let's me switch brands rather than just having nescafe/nestle (whatever the coffee for dolce gusto is). I think you can get the drip thing for £5and filters pretty cheap.

All pod machines that use their own pods are expensive to use, the advantage is that you can get a good cup of coffee quality and easily, I have both the Dolce gusto and the Tassimo, both good machines in their own way and great for making a coffee that is better than instant if I am in a rush. But at about 30p or more per cup it is not cheap, about 60p for milk based drinks.

I have also got myself a Gaggia classic espresso machine, fantastic machine, but I did have to change the basket as it was a pressurised one, all home espresso machines seems to have pressurised baskets these days.

If you are just going to use ESE pods then you need it, but for normal ground coffee you can do away with it, you then learn how to get the best coffee and how to use the machine properly.

The one who have got looks ok, I would change the basket if I could, but that is just me, I never used ESE pods, I buy my coffee from a local company that roast the beans and I grind them here.

As for a bean to cup machine, they are ok, but I think they take the fun out of it.

If the machine you have got is doing the jkob then stick with it, £100 looks a good price, it is nearly £200 normally.