When I first saw the Nestle's Nespresso c190 espresso machine I was impressed by its futuristic look and clean lines, and a bit put-off by the capsules of pre-packaged espresso — you have to buy the capsules (approximately 45 cents each) to use the machine, and you can't find them at your neighborhood supermarket. Besides, I rather liked the ritual of tamping down the ground espresso. However, as I came to learn, that's a small price to pay for the world's greatest cup of espresso.

The Nespresso c190 makes a perfect cup everytime without fail. Even restaurants have a hard time making a good cup of espresso consistently; it's hit or miss depending on the grind, the humidity, and the skill of the barista. In all my years of ordering espressos, cappuccinos and lattes both in the U.S. and abroad, I've never had as good a cup as I can now have consistently in my own kitchen.

The hermetically sealed capsules offer 9 different flavors of coffee from which to choose, including the decaffeinato intenso, the best decaf  you'll ever have.

The machine's designers didn't forget about the details, either. The water reservoir is big, detachable, simple to fill, and clear so you can see how much is left.

When you open the machine the used capsule falls back into a trash receptacle that holds about 10 used capsules. The receptacle slides easily out and the used capsules can be unceremoniously dumped into a trash can — no messy grounds to deal with.

Excess water and coffee drips are caught in a reservoir that also slips out for easy cleaning.

The milk frother is also easy to use and easy to clean.

You can also use the machine for hot water for tea.

For those of you who frequently pay $2.50 to $3.50 for a mediocre latte at your local coffee house, you can now have a better cup at home, for just 45 cents.

The Nespresso c-190 comes in Titanium, Chrome, Powder Blue, and Yellow, and sells for about $350.

   — Scott Clemens

For more details, go to: www.Nespresso.com