Nescafé Dolce Gusto Lumio coffee machine review

Think that the Nescafé Dolce Gusto Lumio could be the space-saving capsule coffee machine with contemporary style you’ve been searching for? You can decide if it is the right one for your home with our review. I tested a wide selection of coffee machines to see how much of your worktop they’ll take up, how easy they are to use, how quickly they’ll deliver your drink, which coffees they’ll make, and – crucially – what the brews taste like. 

Make sure you check out more of the best coffee machines in our buying guide – and if you want one for a great price, keep an eye on our coffee machines deals page. 

Nescafé Dolce Gusto Lumio coffee machine specifications:

• Type: Dolce Gusto capsules 
• Pressure: 15 bar 
• Capacity: 1ltr water tank 
• Dimensions: H37cm x W18cm x D22cm

Who will the Nescafé Dolce Gusto Lumio suit?

Those with smaller kitchens who want a smart contemporary machine that’ll provide all sorts of coffees and more.

What is the Nescafé Dolce Gusto Lumio like to use?

Creating favourite hot and cold drinks is quick and simple with this machine.

Dolce Gusto machines are a fuss-free way to make a whole lot of different drinks, and the Nescafé Dolce Gusto Lumio is no exception. This machine swiftly produces all sorts of coffees (black and white), as well as teas and chocolate drinks.

 Coffee options and taste

I could brew up whatever I had a notion for with the Nescafé Dolce Gusto Lumio: espresso, americano, ristretto and more to satisfy black coffee cravings; and macchiato, flat white, cappuccino and so on for milky coffee moments. White coffees just need the appropriate pod, so this machine’s a top choice if you don’t want to worry about steam wands or separate frothers.

The coffees it produced all had enticing aroma, an authentic crema for the black versions, and an attractive foam on the milk-based drinks. 

The flavour of the black coffees was excellent. When it came to milky drinks, the cappuccino was a tad sweet for my tastes, but for many this will prove just the right drink.

Brewing up with the Nescafé Dolce Gusto Lumio

Getting started for the first time with the Lumio was easy, and I found operating the machine pretty intuitive. Removing and filling the tank was no hassle, and putting in a pod easy. Changing the volume of the drink with the selector was simple, too.

You can produce cold brews as well as hot with this machine, and this just required moving the switch to one side or the other to operate. The result? I felt like an all-round barista with this flexible machine. 

The whole process was super speedy, although, on the downside, I did find some noise while the machine was making a drink.

Cleaning and maintenance

Removing used capsules from the Nescafé Dolce Gusto Lumio was as fuss free as putting them in. You do need to do this each time because there’s no used capsule container, but this sacrifice is well worth it if you have a small kitchen as it means the machine is compact.

The capsule container can go in the dishwasher if you prefer – although I didn’t find cleaning this by hand was a chore because the grinds stay in the pod so there’s little to do. The drip grid and tray needed washing-up, but again cleaning them wasn’t taxing.

One of the reasons this is my top Dolce Gusto machine is that, despite its reasonable price tag, it comes with the benefit of a descaling alert. You’ll just need to use the Dolce Gusto branded descaler as necessary to keep it in tip-top condition.

What to watch for

If you want streamlined modern style and colour, you’ll love this machine’s curvaceous lines, and its choice of black, white or red finishes.

This coffee machine has an eco mode, so it switches itself after one minute of inactivity, and it has an A+ energy rating. 

Invest in the Lumio and you’re getting a really flexible machine that makes over 40 different coffees in one very unbulky package. The machine’s just H37 x W18 x D22cm, so it can fit into a compact kitchen without encroaching on work space. It’s also light at 2.5kg and therefore moving house with it won’t be hard work.

The capsules you require for this machine are easily available in supermarkets and online and there are compatible versions – in other words, you won’t need to be vigilant about supplies as they’re convenient to get hold of. There’s a recycling scheme – called CollectPlus – too.

Dolce Gusto machines in general are ideal if you want a really wide range of drinks with little clean up and easy shopping for capsules, so why is this my top Dolce Gusto choice? Well, if offers handy features, its design is intuitive, plus it’s easy on your bank account.

How does the Nescafé Dolce Gusto Lumio rate online?

Those who bought their machine via Dolce Gusto gave the buy four out of five stars overall. Users praised its speedy delivery, smooth coffee and the selection of drinks that can be made. For these buyers, a larger water tank would have been preferable, while the need to make sure the capsule holder was fully closed was a slight drawback.

Those who bought from Currys awarded an average of 8.7 out of 10. The machine’s appearance, ease of use, and value for money got the very best scores. Users acclaimed the speedy set up, the authentic layering of the coffees, and the coffees’ taste. Some of the machine’s users would have preferred that is made hotter coffee. 

About our review – and our reviewer

Sarah Warwick has specialised in homes and interiors for over 20 years. She was Executive Editor of Ideal Home magazine, and has written for nationals, magazines and websites including Real Homes, Homebuilding & Renovating, Grand Designs, Homes & Gardens, Houzz, The Guardian, House Beautiful and Country Homes & Interiors. She put the coffee machines to the test on a variety of drinks, as well as checking out how easy they were to set up, and to clean. 

@SMWarwick

Read more:

• How to clean a coffee machine
• How to make good coffee
• Pod or bean-to-cup coffee machine: which is best?