Will Aldi’s €80 coffee maker roast rivals?
ALDI has a treat in store for coffee lovers – an espresso maker that won’t blow the budget.
The discount supermarket chain is selling the machines for just €79.99, which is around half the cost of the equivalent branded appliance.
The machine boasts a 15-bar pump pressure, swivel steam nozzle with steam control and ‘removable water tank for easy filling’. It also includes a scoop/coffee presser and is available in red, gunmetal and pearl.
A similar machine in other homeware shops is the DeLonghi Motivo espresso maker which sells for €176.
With Aldi’s machine set to hit the shelves next Thursday, a spokesman said: ‘However you like your coffee, you can enjoy a real, barista-style cup every morning from Aldi.’
But James McCormack, of the Dublin Barista School, says people who want coffee-bar standards at home should be looking at spending far more than €79.99 on a coffee maker.
‘To be honest, to buy one for home that’s going to produce consistent coffee it’s going to cost you around €1,200 or €1,300,’ he said.
There’s no point spending €80, or even €150, €200 on a machine that’s not going to l i ve up to your expectations.’ And barista trainer Alan Andrews, of Dublin’s Coffee Culture, said: ‘What are you going to get for €80?
‘When you put it into perspective, cafes spend anywhere from €7,000 to €15,000 on theirs. We sell a hand grinder, made by one of the best, for €80.’
Elsewhere, Consumers’ Association of Ireland chief Dermott Jewell said: ‘[It’s] reasonable value but it needs to be seen how they stand up against the others. ‘It really is the test of time. ‘It’s great to see a competitive edge there as it means more will be able to avail of them. It’s just one to watch on how they stand up on quality.’