Product Review: Renato’s Espresso, Coffee and Tea Maker and Capsules

The Ranting Chef does not get paid or receive any revenue from manufacturers or retailers of products reviewed. I occasionally receive products that I am asked to use and see what I think. I take a look, try them out and tell you all about them.

Have I got something really cool to share with you today!

A big box came from Renato’s.

Inside was their premium single serve coffee, espresso and tea maker and a big box of their capsules (more on that later).

Utilizing the best of Swiss technology, this unit is designed to produce high-quality, great tasting hot beverages.

Let’s take a look. The unit comes ready to use.

First the water reservoir. The 50.7 ounce capacity is surprisingly large. So many units have tiny capacities which means you are constantly refilling them. Not here. One fill will last you many cups.

Also on the front of the unit is the removable container for the capsules. Used capsules automatically drop into the container, making it easier to start making your next cup.

I really like how the capsule container has this insert that allows you to pull out the used capsules to throw them away, and any residual liquids remain in the container for easy clean-up.

While Renato’s makes a really versatile machine, they excel at their coffee and tea. In my box was a selection of six different choices. I tried them all. Don’t think that what goes into the capsules is an afterthought. No way. Renato’s works with famed Italian espresso producer Cecchetto. All the espresso that goes into the pods is roasted in Italy, so every cup tastes like a vacation to Milan. The pods are eco-friendly, and are able to be recycled or incinerated.

The Espresso Forte is not for the faint of heart. A bold taste hits at first and is followed with a velvety finish.

The Espresso Supremo has all you want in an espresso. A complete espresso flavor and a nice, rich finish.

The decaffeinated Espresso Leggero really surprised me. Most decaf coffee has a processed taste. Not here. This has a great flavor and if you are looking for some espresso with your dessert and don’t want to be up until 4:30 in the morning, this is your choice.

The Caffè Crema is a step up from the more common Americano. Instead of adding water to an espresso shot (Americano), the espresso process is used with this more coarsely ground coffee to give a similar, but better tasting cup.

The Caffè Crema Supremo is the smoother version (and my favorite). A well-balanced cup with great flavor and a creamy finish.

Not stuck on coffee? Renato’s also has several tea options. The Chamomile tea is bright and a nice change from the heavier espressos.

Time to start making beverages! Once you turn it on, something special happens.

On top of the unit is a cup warmer because putting hot espresso in a cold cup is just wrong.

Warming up my cup.

Lift the lever on the top of the unit.

It reveals a capsule fixed hole.

The shape of the hole means you can’t put the capsule in the wrong way.

The capsules are small, but the contents inside have enormous flavor.

Drop the capsule in.

You can barely see it sitting inside. When you push the lever down, it punctures the capsule and gets everything ready.

The unit allows you to select three different sizes. The first is a standard espresso shot, the second a double and the larger size (best used for tea and the caffè style coffees.

 

Don’t press the button until you’ve moved your cup down. The espresso starts immediately which allows you to really get a quick shot when you need one without the wait.

Look at that beautiful crema!

The large setting calls for a larger cup.

And yes, I am the World’s Greatest Dad! With those credentials, my opinion should be all you need, but even I like to have a second opinion. For the Renato’s maker and capsules, I enlisted my niece who is a regular espresso drinker, has made espresso on commercial machines and a top-notch baker and pie maker.

Lauren gave it the full workout like I did and (luckily for me) had some of the same opinions. She loved how quickly the espresso was made. Having some experience with a commercial espresso machine she thought it was much easier and faster and really good for the home or office where you might want a quick cup to go.

She noted the tea is lightly steeped, so it give you a less intense flavor and thought the descriptions for the various flavors are right on target.

Overall she felt that it took several cups to get used to all the features of the machine and how it worked but loved the nice crema formation, although suggested a milk brother would be a great addition.

My Take: The Renato’s single serve espresso, coffee and tea maker is a wondrous machine. It produces quick, flavorful beverages and is easy to use. The capsules have high-quality coffee and Renato’s makes it easy to get them. Instead of selling the capsules through middlemen, they offer a direct delivery, keeping each cup to under $1. Their subscription service makes it even easier and guarantees you never run out of coffee again.

The units are expected to ship in July of 2019.

Interested in learning more? Renato’s can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.