CoffeeB's new pod-free coffee machine uses little round balls of compressed coffee instead of wasteful aluminium capsules. The balls are encased in a micro-thin, plant-based protective layer, which means they can be put straight into a home compost or food waste bin after use.
Harriet Addison, Deputy Editor at The Standard, put the Swiss-engineered Cosmos machine to the test on her kitchen countertop. She notes that more than 28,000 coffee capsules go into landfill every minute, a wastefulness that has long bothered her, while café coffee can cost £4 a cup.
Setup and brewing
The machine is easy to set up, taking about 10 minutes, and is mess-free. A see-through holder on top holds nine balls: spin it around, release a ball, depress the lever, press go, and the coffee drips into a mug, with a choice of short or long. It heats up almost instantly.
The coffee is described as creamy and quite gentle-tasting. Addison normally takes a double shot, so it wasn't quite the rocket fuel she is used to, but she suggests that might be a good thing. The water flow can be stopped at any point to adapt to taste.
Design and value
The machine itself is sleek and compact, with no wasted bulk. There is a founders offer at the moment: £199 for the Cosmos machine (normally £229) and 90 balls (normally £41.69). That averages out at about 42p per cup, similar to Nespresso and Grind.
Energy class is A+, with a pump pressure of 19 bar. Dimensions are 165mm x 274mm x 383mm. The machine is priced at £229 at Coffeeb.co.uk.
