Like many collegiettes, I absolutely love Starbucks drinks—there’s not much better than sitting down at my computer to get some work done with a grande non-fat latte by my side. But I rarely actually have time to stop at Starbucks on my way to work (especially considering how long the line usually is), and I can’t say I love swiping my Starbucks card every day and watching the dollars drain from my account (actually I definitely don’t).
To solve these problems but still get my Starbucks fix, I was lucky enough to be able to try the one-of-a-kind Verismo System by Starbucks, a machine that allows you to make Starbucks quality lattes, espresso and brewed coffee at home! The Verismo uses the same quality coffee and recipes Starbucks has been offering for more than 40 years, so you can have your fave Starbucks drinks in the comfort of your own home (or dorm!), whenever you want them, all from one machine (sweet—literally!).
The lattes are made to the Starbucks standard of caramelly, rich espresso and natural, creamy 2% milk, and the Verismo uses Swiss-engineered high-pressure technology (19 bars) to deliver a caramelly, rich Starbucks quality espresso shot. It functions as both a high-pressure (espresso) and low-pressure (brewed coffee) machine with automatic temperature settings.
The pods—which are available in Espresso Roast, Decaf Espresso Roast, as well as the full Starbucks Coffee Roast Spectrum (blonde, medium, and dark)—are made using 100% Arabica beans, the same coffee Starbucks serves in the store. Two models are available: the 580 (base, $199) (the one I tried) and V-585 (premium, $399) and are sold at Verismo.com, Starbucks stores, and specialty retailers.
After I got the Verismo, I first tried out the espresso, which was great, I’m just not a huge espresso person. Once I had the hang of the machine, I went for a latte, which was delicious! It was a super snowy morning in Boston and I had no intention of leaving my apartment, so to be able to just instantly create my own Starbucks latte in my apartment was amazing! Plus, the machine is super straightforward and easy to use and to clean (or else I would have no patience for it!).
While I can’t say you won’t spot me in an actual Starbucks some time soon (sometimes I need coffee while out and about!), I couldn’t be happier to have tried the Verismo and be able to make my own Starbucks drinks in my apartment and save a ton of time and money every time I do it (and save me trips outside when I don’t feel like going anywhere!).
Whether you need a gift for someone else or a mid-semester pick-me-up gift for yourself, you can find the Verismo at verismo.com or in Starbucks stores and specialty retailers. Buzz buzz buzz!