With three mediocre home espresso machines collecting dust in our kitchen, we've finally made an investment in a fourth. The Nespresso Essenza set us back about $230 and only works with firm, bullet-shaped coffee capsules that cost 49 cents apiece and can only be ordered online.

Despite these inconveniences, the Nespresso (made by Swiss foods giant Nestlé) has turned out to be far and away the best espresso maker yet. I'd venture to say the thick, dark, foamy and — important point — nonbitter espresso it makes is superior to any I've had in a restaurant or coffee shop in Atlanta.

Joey Ivansco/Staff (ENLARGE)

The Nespresso Le Cube at $299 may seem a bit pricey, but it draws solid reviews from espresso lovers.

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According to company materials, this is because of the high-pressure system, which steams the water at 19 bars of pressure as opposed to four bars in typical home machines.

I suspected the coffee had something to do with it, and not for the reasons Nespresso advertises. The "grand cru" blends come color-coded in a fetching display box and accompanied by all sorts of flowery language describing the origins. After a little digging, I discovered that many of the coffees have some robusta in their mix, which contributes to the heady crema they produce.

For comparison's sake, I tested another Nespresso model, the $299 Le Cube (pictured) on the Features staff at the newspaper. The results were the same, and the comments very positive.

More expensive models come with milk foamers for cappuccino and latte. There is also a little device called the Aeroccino that heats and foams single servings of milk with the touch of a button. While it works well, it invariably overflows. Besides, who needs milk?

— John Kessler