The pandemic has made us all quite self-dependent (no, I’m not using you-know-what-word), and while ordering in once in a while is fun, a morning cuppa has to be convenient, quick, and should wake you up for that 8am Zoom call, right?

I definitely was on this tangent, also realising that it’s tougher to wake up on time knowing you don’t have to brave traffic to get to work. And being a coffee enthusiast who is addicted to her French Press, I needed something more fun to keep me going, given that I wasn’t going anywhere myself.

Coffeeza India, a gourmet coffee company, launched in 2018 with the aim to change how people in India drink coffee. We all know that artisanal coffee and the understanding of the drink has changed the way the country looks at coffee, coffee beans, and the method to consume the same. The best part about coffee right now is that brands like Coffeeza are sourcing coffee from estates in the country, and presenting them in various convenient ways to drink good quality coffee without having to go overboard for it.

So when they asked me to check out their Finero machine, I wanted to make sure I understand and like the workings of a Nespresso machine that requires capsules, a coffee-drinking style that isn’t too common in India as compared to a moka pot, or a drip coffee maker. I have used Nespresso in hotel rooms while travelling abroad, but is it as convenient as an at-home coffee machine? I was excited to know.

Finero Next Capsule Machine is sleek, compact, and quite easily placeable on your work desk at office, or at home, to make your espresso, or cappuccino. Coffeeza came up with three kinds of capsules, and I tried two of them: the Cremoso, a medium roasted blend with notes of dark chocolate, nuts, and citrus fruit, and Forte, a dark roast blend. The workings of the machine are pretty simple: fill water in the glass container attached to the machine, insert the capsule, press the button of the coffee you want (espresso for a shot, and lungo if you want to add milk or make a drink of your coffee). The water heats up, and the coffee is done. For a minute, I did feel intimidated by it I’ll admit, but really, it’s a quick, no-fuss machine that’ll do its job within five minutes. That’s precisely the time you have before you jump into your meetings when you wake up (yes, I know). The coffee tasted strong, hitting all the right senses, with a delicious froth on top. I also tried adding some spices and condensed milk to it to make a Vietnamese coffee, and my experiment went quite well. I still, occasionally, add flavours like vanilla or hazelnut to up the game.

When it comes to Nespresso machines, the machine is a one-time purchase, but more often than not, one can’t say the same about the capsules that have to be purchased, and that’s where the limited usage of one cup at a time comes in as a disadvantage as well. But here’s where Coffeeza has been fair, and their price is Rs. 550 for 10 capsules, which is doable, if you’re into that kind of quality of coffee drinking.

All in all, I’m still enjoying my coffee capsules, and my machine, and like most of us caffeine lovers, I wake up to drink coffee, and not vice versa.

Coffeeza Finero Next Coffee Machine price: Rs 13,598