De’Longhi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Piccolo XS EDG210.BGY capsule coffee machine (compact) — hot & cold drinks

Key features worth living with

The De’Longhi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Piccolo XS EDG210.BGY is a compact capsule coffee machine built around convenience: quick drinks, little fuss, and the ability to switch between hot and cold beverages. It’s the kind of machine that suits everyday kitchens and smaller worktops, where a large coffee setup can feel like overkill.

On paper it also leans into control. The interface is described as intuitive, with an approach that aims to get you espressos with a rich, velvety crema “like at the bar”. You can adjust temperature and shot duration, which matters if you’re trying to dial in your preferred taste rather than simply accepting whatever a one-touch button delivers.

What matters most in daily use

If you mainly care about speed and consistency, the automatic shutdown is a practical touch. It switches off 1 minute after the previous coffee was dispensed, and the idea here is energy efficiency without you needing to remember to turn it off. It’s not a safety feature you can “set and forget” endlessly, but it does reduce the chances of leaving it on.

There’s also the hot-or-cold flexibility. Depending on what you fancy, you can choose hot drinks or cold beverages. That makes it a good match for households where tastes vary through the day—think a morning hot espresso-style coffee, then later a chilled drink when the weather (or your mood) changes.

A small realism check: “like at the bar” is marketing language, and crema quality can be subjective and dependent on the capsules you choose. Still, the fact it’s framed around adjustable temperature and shot duration suggests it’s meant to be more than just a basic, fixed-shot machine.

Capsule system and drink variety

With Dolce Gusto capsules, the pitch is variety. The product description states you can enjoy over 30 varieties of espressos and other beverages. Capsules are hermetically sealed with aluminium foil, which is intended to protect freshly ground coffee and preserve aroma.

This is where you’ll feel the biggest difference versus grinders or bean-to-cup machines: capsule systems are typically quicker and less messy, but you’re more committed to the capsule range. So, it’s worth considering whether you’ll genuinely use the variety available, or whether you’d rather have freedom to use your own beans.

Compact design, bar-style aiming, and where it fits

The Piccolo XS is positioned as compact, which is the right priority if you want something that takes up less room and still lets you create personalised drinks. If you’re used to café-style coffee and you miss the sense of “proper crema”, the ability to adjust temperature and shot duration is a sensible step.

However, it may not be the best choice if you’re the sort of person who wants to experiment outside the capsule ecosystem. Capsule machines can be brilliant for regular users, but they can feel limiting if you’re chasing maximum control over ingredients.

Key specifications (at a glance)

• Type: Coffee capsule machine
• Pressure: 15 bar
• Design: Compact
• Drinks: Hot and cold beverages
• Auto shutdown: 1 minute after previous coffee was dispensed
• Interface: Intuitive controls with temperature and shot duration adjustment

For whom it makes sense (and who should skip it)

It’s a solid pick if you want a space-friendly capsule machine that supports both hot and cold drinks, and you like the idea of tweaking temperature and shot length for a more personalised espresso-style result.

It’s not the best choice if you mainly want to use loose coffee, or if you expect the kind of depth and flexibility you get from more complex brewing setups. Also, if you rarely drink espresso-style drinks and mostly want one fixed beverage every time, you might not fully benefit from the adjustability.

In practice, a simple routine might look like this: you pop in a capsule, choose the hot or cold option you’re after, then adjust temperature and shot duration until the cup tastes how you want. It’s straightforward—less “process”, more “press and pour”.

Quick check FAQ

Can it make both hot and cold drinks?

Yes. The description states it can prepare hot and cold beverages.

Does it turn off automatically?

Yes. It has automatic shutdown 1 minute after the previous coffee was dispensed.

Is it designed for espresso-style drinks?

It’s described as aiming to produce crema-rich espressos “like at the bar”, with controls for temperature and shot duration.

How does the capsule system affect choice?

You’ll be using Dolce Gusto capsules, with the system designed to protect aroma using hermetically sealed aluminium foil.

Final verdict

Buying verdict