I have a Dolce Gusto and have had it for about 4 years now, so believe me, I’ve tried to find cheaper capsules to no avail. Basically, you’re paying for convenience; in my opinion, I think it’s worth it. However, I only drink the Americano – I can get 16 capsules for around £3.50, same goes for the espresso, they also come in 16 – it’s just the milk versions that come in 8 servings, they still have 16 capsules but 8 are coffee and 8 are milk.
I don’t know about specific espresso machines, but I’m totally allergic to these Stovetop Mochas. We had a collection of about 8 of these things that used to mess up the kitchen when I was a kid, they were always moving around on top of the stove – scary fumes always burned people and spilled over!
I prefer the simple (lazy) life. 60 seconds for a decent coffee – fine with me.