How We Research
Each guide on My Time For Me answers one question: which capsule machine fits the person reading this page? That depends on the capsules you want, the drinks you make and the space on your counter.
Here is how we get to an answer.
1. We start with your drinks
Someone who drinks one espresso a day needs a different machine from a household that wants mugs of coffee and lattes. So we begin with the drink and the cup size.
We check which capsule system a machine takes, Vertuo or Original, and which cup sizes it brews. If you want milk drinks, we check for a built-in or bundled frother.
2. We compare the details that matter
We look at the capsule system, cup sizes, water tank size, footprint, heat-up time, used-capsule bin size and what comes in the box. For machines from other brands, we check which capsules the maker says it accepts.
Nespresso, Breville, De'Longhi and other makers describe their machines in their own words. We name the brand whenever we repeat one of its claims, and we note the warranty it lists.
3. We read what owners report
We look for patterns in buyer feedback, like leaks, weak flow, noisy pumps, frothers that stop heating or machines that need frequent descaling.
A single bad review doesn't rule a machine out. A repeated problem does.
4. We give each machine a score
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. The same machine can score lower in a guide written for a different need.
Scores are spread out on purpose, and a 10 is rare.
5. We keep guides current
Machines get new versions, colors and bundles under very similar names. We check model numbers and what's in the box, and we only link new units, never renewed ones.
We skip brands with no track record and any machine with a known recall. When we change a guide, its "Updated on" date changes too.
What our picks are not
Our picks come from research, not lab tests. We don't claim to have used every machine we write about.
These machines heat water close to boiling, and frothers heat milk. Follow the maker's manual, and we never call a machine safe or burn-proof.