'I'm a coffee snob, I tried the new L'OR machine that makes iced or hot drinks from 40p'

Daily Mirror

3 days ago

As a self confessed coffee addict, I put L'OR's newly released Barista Absolu coffee machine to the test to see if it could hold its own against my beloved barista drinks
As a confessed coffee snob, I'm partial to a pricey coffee shop drink. My love for iced coffees has a tendency to cost me a pretty penny, so when I heard L'OR had released a new machine that makes both cold and hot drinks, I knew I had to give the Barista Absolu Machine a try.
The machine retails for £109, but L'OR has an offer that includes the Barista Absolu machine and 100 capsules for £99, down from £169. Some of the capsules shoppers can choose from for their Barista Absolu Machine include the Iced XXL coffee, the Ristretto, and the Espresso Supremo.
The Barista Absolu Machine offers 18 different coffee creations, both hot and iced, and the machine takes any L'OR capsules.
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The brand's pods are made using airtight aluminium to retain intense aromatic flavour, which is released when you brew your coffee. The pods are recyclable too.
Shoppers can buy XXL capsules for large coffees or classic for smaller espresso-style drinks.
Pros
Easy to use
Makes tasty drinks in seconds
Aesthetically pleasing yet compact design makes it ideal for smaller kitchens
Drinks are of professional quality
Cons
Instructions for setup are not overly clear
Requires regular cleaning
Expensive compared to instant coffee
Can't fit taller glasses under the nozzle for larger iced drinks
L'OR Barista Absolu Coffee Machine Set Up
First things first, the Barista Absolu Machine has a movable water tank and is relatively compact, making it easy to store and fit onto countertops (even with minimal space).
The instructions for setup weren't overly clear, but overall, getting the machine ready was manageable and took minutes. After unboxing, the coffee machine needs the four parts to slot together, including the water tank and drip tray. The movable water tank at the back of the machine needs to be filled prior to use.
My initial thoughts were that as someone who values having appliances that are nice to look at, I was pleased that the machine is chic looking with a minimalist black design.
If you're in the market for a coffee machine, at the budget end of the scale I've found the Tassimo by Bosch Suny 'Special Edition' Coffee Machine that's been cut by 13% on Amazon, taking it from £40 to £35. It comes in a pretty cream shade and has over 18,000 reviews with one shopper saying: "Brilliant value for money and I love this colour."
Also available is the Nespresso by De'Longhi CitiZ Pod Coffee Machine that retails for £175 at Argos. One reviewer said: "Great coffee machine, pods readily available and easy to clean. No issues and good value for money."
How to use the L'OR Barista Absolu Coffee Machine
The machine is simple to use, with minimal buttons that are clearly labelled. The gadget also has an 'over ice' function that allows cold coffee drinkers like me to enjoy barista-style iced drinks at a fraction of the coffee shop price.
It also has an 'Intensity Boost' button that helps to amplify the capsule's aromas for a richer, deeper taste.
To start making a drink, simply lift the top flap and the pod holder rotates up at an ergonomically designed angle that makes putting it in easy. Once the flap has been pressed down, it pre-loads the pod.
On the top, at the back of the machine, is an 'on' button that readies the machine to load up the water, which needs to be filled in the tank. From there, the size of the coffee can be selected from three options.
Pressing the three buttons in a row makes a fuller cup. It takes around 25 seconds for the machine to go from cold to producing the coffee, which is faster than boiling a kettle.
L'OR Barista Absolu Coffee Machine maintenance
One of the downsides to the Barista Absolu Machine are that like many appliances it needs to be cleaned regularly. Given that the machine isn't huge it doesn't take a long time but can be fiddly.
L'OR recommends giving the machine a quick once-over on a daily basis and to clean more thoroughly on a weekly and monthly basis. It's recommended that all parts of the machine are cleaned using a cloth and that no abrasive detergents or scouring pads are used.
The recommended cleaning of the machine includes rinsing the lower drip tray and cup stand, cleaning the used capsule drawer and nozzles, and washing the water tank (which is sadly not dishwasher safe).
Is the L'OR Barista Absolu Coffee Machine worth the price?
Overall for the price tag, this is a good all-round machine. If you have guests, it may take a while to make multiple drinks compared with boiling a kettle. But, given that each drink takes less than a minute to make, it's not a deal breaker.
Personally I'd say most of the coffees from the pods are pretty strong, which as a rich coffee lover suits me well, but it may not be to some people's taste.
They're also pretty frothy and creamy which makes them feel like they've been professionally made, especially if you compare them to drinking watery instant. The machine also makes the whole house smell of fresh coffee which I liked, but some may not.
Though the price of the pods varies depending on the type, quantity, and place you purchase them, a ten pack of the Espresso Ristretto is currently £4 at Tesco.
This makes the coffees around 40p each which is a fraction of the cost of buying coffees out, though it may work out expensive to those used to drinking a few cups of instant coffee a day which is worth considering.