The espresso was also reasonably disappointing, and Cousins admitted that “no type of espresso is perfect, but the TK-02 has good balance and a nice taste, but it lacks strength and feels a little weak.” Hunt backed this up, saying: “It doesn’t have enough strength or flavour. It doesn’t feel bitter, it doesn’t do much in terms of flavour, so it’s at the bottom of my list.”
Jura E8
Despite its premium pricing, great features, and good reputation, Jura Ready hasn’t found favor with our professional tasters. Hunt was quick to point out, “The milk tastes so hot, it almost ruins the espresso. There’s so much foam on top that it can’t be used as a latte either – it’s more like a cappuccino.” Cousins appreciated the appearance of the milk and the layers of espresso, but was also quick to mention the higher milk temperature, which was “hotter than the 65 to 66 degrees Celsius the barista needs.”
Both Cozens and Hunt were also surprised to find that their least favorite espresso came from the Jura E8. “This is classic imperfect extraction,” says Cousins. “It has a quite salty and sour taste, and is often described in the industry as tasting a bit like seaweed.” Hunt also noted the acidity of the espresso and thought it was also “definitely on the non-extracted side.”
Discover De’Longhi Eletta
The DeLonghi latte was the prettiest of the four, and the milk made a good impression on both Cousins and Hunt. “It’s too hot [like the Jura]“But I think the finer foam is better, which helps give the latte more of that signature sweetness,” says Cousins, while Hunt points out that “the milk is the best we’ve had, although there is more foam than I would normally expect from a latte.”
When considering the flavour, Cousins was happy to be able to taste “more of the chocolate flavor coming through, which I expect from a Brazilian Jungle blend. It has a good nutty flavour, but because of the amount of milk, it’s a little sweeter than the others.” [Terra Kaffe and Philips]”.
The espresso tasting was more polarizing for our pros, as Cousins disliked it and Hunt enjoyed extracting it. “There’s a fair amount of coffee flavor, but it’s sharp, which you shouldn’t experience with a forest blend. It’s a little sour,” says Cousins. Unlike his boss, Hunt enjoyed the shot. “I can really taste the flavor of our beans in this, and even though it’s so close [with Philips]If I was buying espresso alone, this is the option I would choose.
Philips Café Aromais 8000
Although it’s not a brand typically associated with coffee, Philips’ Aromis Café came out on top with both lattes and… and espresso. That’s especially impressive considering it has the lowest MSRP of the lot and given how “different” the latte is, with “brown foam on top, as Hunt noted, indicating that the milk was poured differently” than the rest. But when it came to taste, he was impressed. “I have the chocolate and nutty taste I’m looking for here, and there’s more coffee to come, with just the right level of sweetness. It’s a fun latte, with the coffee and milk blending really nicely.”
Cousins wasn’t exactly a guzzler, but he appreciated the “forward-to-coffee” nature of the drink, although there was a bit of bitterness. “I enjoyed the C latte [De’Longhi] Most, but Dr [Philips] It has more coffee flavor.”
