Owner of the machine for 6 months. My impressions are as follows:
Coffee Warm-up: 10/10
The machine heats up literally immediately before use and the coffee is always hot, I have no complaints here.
Coffee Quality: 10/10
I imagine this is the main issue. Initially, let me say that I am judging the machine relative to other Nespresso machines I have tried and Dolce Gusto.
Dolce Gusto is simply poor quality coffee. It's more like something boiled and has the form of coffee, rather than real coffee. It is not worth it in terms of quality.
However, I have to say that out of all the capsule machines I have tried (Nespresso or Dolce Gusto), I have found the perfect quality in this machine! The coffee is truly incredible and I enjoy it every time I try it, even if I already know how it will taste. The flavor is really very good!
I have heard about Illy machines, but I don't have any experience to compare. The only thing I noticed is that it only accepts capsules from the company itself, which means there are few options (so there is no variety) and the capsules are expensive.
Certainly, coffee that someone makes themselves, without a machine, is better in every way. The problem is that this requires time (and knowledge on the subject), which I simply do not have. So the machine is definitely necessary if I want to drink quality espresso at home.
Ease of Use: 10/10
Literally three simple steps to use it (1. Water, 2. Capsule, 3. Button). It can't get any easier!
Ease of Cleaning: 10/10
I clean it daily and I can say that it is a very easy process.
Milk Froth: 10/10
Almost as good as in some good coffee shops. Here you can really see the power that Nespresso machines have in making good milk froth.
Noise: 4/10
The truth is that when it dispenses the coffee, it makes a lot of noise. It's not certain whether the coffee will wake you up in the morning or if the noise will do it first... Of course, I must emphasize that it's the same with any capsule machine, so there isn't much difference to consider...
Appearance: 10/10
Small, modern, with a nice and simple design.
Build Quality: 10/10
I definitely haven't tested its durability (and I won't), but it seems to be well-made, especially in some parts.
Capsule Compatibility: 10/10
One of the main reasons I wanted a machine (among others) was to try the various coffee varieties available from different capsules. I am definitely satisfied!
Capacity: 10/10
It definitely holds more water or milk (for froth) than what I use.
Price: 10/10
It simply deserves 100% of its price! As for the capsules, they are definitely more economical than others (depending on the capsules one buys).
Favorite Capsule: Starbucks Blonde
Simply amazing flavor and it definitely combines the creation of good coffee from the machine with the quality coffee from Starbucks. I try different capsules, but I always come back to this one!
Note: For the milk froth, fresh milk is needed, of course.