If you’re a coffee lover, one way to upgrade your mornings is with a decent coffee machine. Nespresso might be one of the biggest names out there, but its machines tend to come with a pretty hefty price tag. Most models retail at over £150 full price (and that’s before you even factor in the cost of the pods). But Express writer Rachael Penn found a budget-friendly alternative and hasn’t looked back.
She said: “I swapped my Nespresso for this cheaper coffee machine…The Philips L’or Sublime Barista has been my daily companion since I switched from my previous pod machine, a Nespresso Vertuo Plus. While both look good and make great coffee, the pods for the Philips are much cheaper – making it a winner in my book.”
Right now, as part of Amazon Prime Big Deals Days, the Philips L’or Sublime Barista is more than half price. Usually £109.99, it’s currently just £49.99, available in either black or red. While it’s also discounted at Argos, it’s £60 there, so Amazon’s definitely got the better deal.
But, the Prime Day event ends tonight at 11:59pm, so time’s running out if you want to snap one up.
Rachael isn’t the only one who’s ditched the pricier options for the Philips. One Amazon reviewer shared: “I swapped out a Nespresso Vertuo for this machine and honestly, I think this is miles better. It’s quick to heat up, compact on the counter, and makes consistently good coffee. I use all three sizes—ristretto, espresso, and lungo—and out of all the capsule brands I’ve tried, the original L’OR ones are still the best for taste.”
For Rachael, one of the biggest wins has been the cost savings when it comes to pods. “The Nespresso Vertuo Plus is a brilliant bit of kit, but it is only compatible with Nespresso’s own pods. These cost on average 65p per pod, which meant for just 10 coffees I was paying £6.50,” she explained.
“In contrast, as well as being compatible with L’or and Nespresso-branded pods, the Philips machine works with generic supermarket pods from Aldi and Lidl. I can get a pack of 10 coffee pods to fit the L’or for just £1.85 in Aldi, a saving of £4.65.”
She added: “You can also buy L’or branded XXL pods, which means you can get one large mug of coffee without having to keep pressing the button or using two pods.”
The machine itself measures 15.7 x 40.2 x 27.6cm, so it’s compact enough to sit neatly on your kitchen counter without hogging too much space. In terms of day-to-day use, an Amazon shopper said the machine is “very easy to set up and use.” Others also noted that the pod bin is simple to empty.
Rachael shared her own experience, explaining: “It’s really simple to use: you just need to fill the water tank to the rear, lift the lever at the front and pop your pod in and then select what size of coffee you want — small, medium or large. The drip tray is adjustable, so any mug will fit.”
That said, the machine doesn’t come with some of the more advanced features you get with a Nespresso.
“The Vertuo scans the pods to determine the length and strength of the coffee, which I did find worked particularly well for precision when it came to lattes and iced coffees,” said Rachael. “Cynics would say the barcode system just stops third-party pods from being used, however.”
One Amazon reviewer also pointed out that the size of a coffee might not be quite what you expect. They said: “Their idea of a large cup of coffee actually fills only a third of a standard (medium) mug.”
Still, with savings on the machine and the option to use cheaper pods, it’s a great way to enjoy barista-style coffee at home, without the premium price tag.
Remember, to access these deals, you’ll need to be an Amazon Prime member. If you haven’t already signed up, Amazon offers a 30-day free trial, which gives you full access to the sale plus speedy, free delivery. After that, you can decide whether to stick with it or cancel (no strings attached).