The Illy releases a small amount of water, which you might think is a feeble attempt at brewing an espresso. It's not. This is how the machine pre-infuses the capsule, giving a smoother flavor.

There are five capsule sizes in all, from Espresso and Double Espresso to Gran Lungo, Mug and extra large Alto. So, what’s so special about this machine? Well it looks good for a start and comes ...

so if you own an Illy machine, your choice is either Illy's IperEspresso espresso and coffee pods or nothing. Each company has its own pods, but recycling pods for whichever system you decide to ...