‘I gave up my Pret subscription for Grind’s incredible Nespresso machine’

I’ll start by saying I’m no coffee snob, but I am a girl who appreciates a decent cup of coffee (or three) every day. I say I’m not a snob because I’ll happily nip into Pret a Manger for an oat latte, Starbucks for an iced coffee or Blank Street when I’m feeling fancy. My favourite coffee shop though, by a long shot (pun intended) is London Grind.

If you’re not local to London, you may not have heard of this coffee shop chain. It’s nailed both flavour and branding, and going into one of the shops is just a joyful – and joyously pink – experience. So when I found out Grind was selling a home Nespresso Compatible Pod Machine, £295, to give its signature blend at home and at just a flick of a switch, I knew I had to get my hands on it.

As someone who has religiously spent £30 a month on my Pret subscription (which gives me five ‘free’ coffees each day), the idea of giving it up seemed unlikely, but after a week of using the machine, that’s exactly what I’ve done. The machine has quickly replaced my daily coffee shop visits. Here’s why…

The Grind One Nespresso machine

With 19 bars of pressure, this machine promises to extract the best from Grind’s Nespresso-compatible coffee pods, delivering a fuller-bodied coffee with a perfect crema. Its polished stainless steel body, complete with aeroplane-style toggle switches, gives it a minimalist and sophisticated look that fits seamlessly into my kitchen. Having previously had a very bulky coffee machine on my countertop, I loved the look of the sleek and slimline design.

It also doesn’t have dozens of little buttons and switches. Instead, there’s an ‘on/off’ flick switch and a button that signals either a long shot of espresso or a short one. You’ll also find a water tank at the back of the machine that can be filled up easily – and without needing to move the machine out – when it runs low.

With every machine purchase, you receive 30 free home-compostable pods in Grind’s House, Light, and Dark blends. This not only ensures you have a variety of delicious coffees to try right out of the box but also gives you peace of mind knowing you’re making an environmentally friendly choice.

Grind also offers to repair the machine itself in London if it ever breaks, with repairs in the first year being completely free of charge.

Zoe says

I cleared my Thursday evening schedule to set my coffee machine up, but I needn’t have done. My last coffee machine took hours to rinse through, put together and work out, and I remember having to call my brother in despair when I couldn’t make sense of the 100-page instruction book. The Grind’s machine was so simple to set up that I didn’t even need to glance at the instruction book. It’s sitting neatly, unread, in my kitchen drawer, in case I need it in the future.

Honestly, the most fiddly part was removing it from its fully recyclable packaging. Once out, I simply filled up the water tank, attached the plug to the bottom of the machine and to the socket, inserted the cup tray and then stood back to admire my handy work. To make a coffee, all I do is pop a pod (I love the Vanilla ones) into the machine, pull the lever to shut the pod door, click on the single or double shot button and then wait a matter of seconds for it to work its magic.

Though so simple, Grind has really put thought into every detail of the machine. I was impressed by the smallest of things, ranging from the instruction stickers being easy to peel off without leaving a tacky residue to how much water such a small machine can hold. I’ve honestly never been so impressed by a gadget.

The coffee itself? Grind really has put its signature coffee flavour into the pods, and if I close my eyes and picture myself drinking from a takeout cup, it’s a very professional-tasting cup of coffee. Do you need one? I promise you do. You can snap one up for £295 here – you won’t regret it.

For other summer-perfect gadget recommendations, check out our reviews of Ninja’s Woodfire Electric Grill here and Dyson’s Hot + Cool Air Purifier here.