The espresso was also reasonably weak, and Cozens acknowledged that “No espresso is perfect, but the TK-02 has good balance and pleasant flavor, but lacks intensity and feels a little weak.” Hunt seconded this: “I don’t get enough strength or flavor in it. I don’t get the bitterness, it’s not really doing much in terms of flavor and as such it’s at the bottom of my list.”
jura e8
Despite premium pricing, impressive features, and reputation, the Jura didn’t get the thumbs up from our professional testers. Hunt was quick to point out that “the milk tasted too hot, and so it almost ruined the espresso. There’s too much foam on the top to be a latte, it’s like a cappuccino.” Cozens appreciated the look of the milk and the layer of espresso, but also noted the high temperature of the milk, which felt “hotter than the 65 to 66 °C required for a barista”.
Both Cozens and Hunt were surprised to learn that their least favorite espresso came from the Jura E8. “It’s a classic under-extraction,” says Cozens. “It has quite a salty, sour taste that is often described in the industry as having a slightly seaweedy taste.” Hunt also noted the acidity of the espresso and thought it was definitely in moderation.
De’Longhi Aletta Explore
The De’Longhi Latte was by far the prettiest of the four, and the milk made a good impression on both Cozens and Hunt. “It’s quite hot [like the Jura]But I think the microfoam is the best, which helps give the latte a little more sweetness,” says Cozens, while Hunt adds, “The milk is the best we have, although it has more foam than I would normally expect from a latte.”
When considering the taste, Cozens was pleased that he was getting “a little more chocolatey flavor than I expected from a Brazilian Forest Blend. It has a nice nutty flavor, but, because of the milk content, it’s a little sweeter than the others. [Terra Kaffe and Philips]”
The taste of the espresso was more polarizing for our pros, with Cozens disliking it and Hunt enjoying the extraction. “There’s a fair amount of coffee flavor coming through, but there’s a spiciness to it that you shouldn’t experience with a forage blend. It’s a little sour,” says Cozens. Unlike his boss, Hunt enjoyed the shot. “I can actually taste the nuttiness of our beans on this, and although it’s a close call [with Philips]If I were buying espresso alone, this is what I would choose.
Philips Café Aromas 8000
Despite not being a brand typically associated with coffee, Philips’ Café Aromas came out on top with both lattes And Espresso. This is especially impressive considering it has the lowest MSRP and considering how “different” the lattes look, as Hunt said, “There’s a brown froth on top that tells you the milk was poured differently than the rest”. But when it came to taste, they were impressed. “The chocolatey-nutty flavor I’m looking for is here, and there’s a little more coffee coming through, too, with just the right level of sweetness. It’s a delightful latte, with the coffee and milk blending really well.”
Cozens was not as impressed, but he appreciated the “coffee-forward” nature of the drink, although it had a slight bitterness. “I enjoy Latte C [De’Longhi] most, but d [Philips] It has more coffee flavor.”
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