Coffee Heaven

Author's Rating:

Pros: Takes up less room than 2 separate units. Easy to use.

Cons: Not the easiest thing to keep clean!

The Bottom Line: 
If you like different types of coffee then this is an ideal buy, filter, expresso and cappuchino in one! Cheaper than buying 3 different units too!

Author's Review
I didn't think I could like a "gadget" as much as I did my Delonghi Caffe Firenze but I do! Ok so it is basically the same, only better!

The Delonghi Caffe Nabucco is a filter coffee maker, cappuccino and expresso maker all in one unit!

It is fairly bulky to look at but considering it replaced 2 machines it probably does take up slightly less space.

It is a very easy machine to use, firstly decide whether you want filter or cappuchino/expresso coffee and push one of the buttons on the front of the machine, there are 2 silver buttons it is simply a case of pressing the one that you want.

Once that is decided the rest of the process is just as easy.

Filter
******

Just the same as using a regular filter coffee maker really.
Remove the large jug from the base of the machine and fill it with water.
There is a lid on top of the machine which is where the water goes, pour the water in there. You can actually lift out the water reservoir to fill it if you prefer.
Next open the door on the front of the machine, here you will find the filter where you put your coffee. (There isn't a permanent filter included which is the only bad thing about this machine, however the permanent filter out of my old machine fitted, my old machine is a cookworks cheapie machine so I assume they must be a standard fit.) Anyway unless you have a spare permanent filter you will have to use a paper filter, you just open the filter up and sit it in the compartment then fill with the ground coffee of you choice.
I was always told that if you pour almost boiling water onto the coffee grounds first you get a better flavour so this is what I do next. The water won't run out so don't worry about that.
Close the door set the selector to how strong you want your coffee on the dial on top of the machine place the jug back on the machine and wait!
For a full pot of coffee it only takes around 5 minutes on strong setting if you prefer it weaker it takes a little less time.


Cappuchino/expresso
*************************

A bit more fiddly to use than the Caffe Firenze this has replaced in my kitchen but I have to admit it is better, for the cappuccino in the Firenze you put milk into the machine with this it just steams the milk.

There are 2 jugs with this machine the first I've already explained is for filter coffee the second, small jug is for cappuccino and expresso.
Fill this small jug with water and unscrew the cap on top of the machine, pour the water in. This is where the water boils and makes all the steam you need for the cappuccino and lets the water through for the expresso.
The cap is a special cap that once the machine is in use it would let you open it until it has either cooled down or until the water has emptied. This prevents scalding. Whilst the unit is still too hot the cap will just spin round but won't loosen.

Above where the small jug sits there is a handle sticking out, this hold the filter for the expresso coffee. You turn it and it unlocks from the machine so you can fill it with coffee. You can use normal filter coffee in this but it does taste better if you use a proper expresso coffee.
There is a permanent stainless steel filter which you fill with coffee, there are markers inside which shows how much to use depending on how many cups you are making.
When you have filled this lock it back into place and place the small jug under it
Make sure the button on front of the machine is set to cappuchino/expresso and set the strength selector which is the dial on top of the machine above where this jug sits.
It takes a few minutes for the water to heat up but when it has heated it only takes a couple of moments for the coffee to come through.
For your milk for a cappuccino you set the dial which is also the strength selector for the expresso so it is set to steam.
Put in the required amount of milk into the small jug, there is a guide on the side of the jug depending on how many cups you want.
To the side of the machine there is an arm with a white nozzle, this is where the steam comes out.
Place the jug of milk under this with the nozzle immersed into the milk and turn the knob at the side of the machine, this releases the steam into the milk.
The first time I used it it was quite scary, as if you don't have the nozzle in the milk it can just blow the milk around. It is very quick at steaming the milk and leaves you with a lovely frothy milk to pour on top of your coffee.
Cleaning is easy just remove the white nozzle and wash in hop soapy water and wipe the end of the stainless steel pipe that is under the nozzle. The jugs can be washed in hot soapy water or the dishwasher as can the filters. Beneath the small jug there is a drip tray which is removable and I usually just rinse it after each use.
It is only available in one colour which is black with silver buttons.
My one gripe with it is that it isn't the easiest item in the kitchen to keep clean. Cleaning after use is fine it's just that it does seem to collect a lot of kitchen debris and because of all the nooks and crannies this can be hard to get off!

It comes with a video on how to make the perfect coffee, i have to admit I haven't watched it yet but it is on my viewing list!!