Some kitchens have a counter the size of a chopping board and a kettle already fighting for room. If that’s yours, a coffee machine has to earn its spot. The Nescafé Dolce Gusto Piccolo XS, made with De’Longhi, is one of the smallest pod machines on Amazon UK, and it has been a steady seller for a long time. Here’s what it’s like to live with, going on the real listing and what thousands of owners say, including the grumbles.
At a glance
- Best for: one or two coffee drinkers in a flat or a tight kitchen who want something simple
- Top feature: a footprint of 26.2 x 13.6cm (D x W) and 27.5cm tall, so it tucks beside a kettle
- Watch out for: noise, a small water tank, and a mixed record on how long it lasts
- Skip if: you want barista-style milk drinks without fuss, or you’d rather not buy pods at all
What it does
The Piccolo XS is a manual capsule machine. You fill the tank, drop a Dolce Gusto pod in, and slide the lever one way for hot drinks or the other for cold. It runs a 15 bar pump, switches itself off automatically a minute after the last drink, and the brand says over 30 pod varieties work with it, from espresso to lattes and hot chocolate.
It’s deliberately basic. There’s no screen and no programmes. You decide how much goes into the cup by moving the lever back to off, which is either charming or irritating depending on your patience at 7am.
Pros
- Properly small. Owners keep mentioning how little counter it takes up, and the numbers back that up
- The tank can be filled in place just by lifting the lid
- Heats up quickly, so you’re not waiting around for the first cup
- Simple enough that there’s little to go wrong, which one long-term owner counts in its favour
- Plenty of pod choice, and several reviewers say they’ve tried a range of pods without trouble
- With over 13,000 ratings averaging 4.4 stars, it’s a well-tested machine rather than a gamble on an unknown
Cons
- Reliability reviews are mixed. Many owners report no problems, but some say theirs stopped working completely, and a few describe it giving up after around four months
- It’s fairly loud and can vibrate a little while running, which two separate reviewers mention
- You stop the water by hand. Walk away and the cup can overflow
- The tank is small, only enough for about one and a half coffees per fill according to one unhappy reviewer, and another calls it fine for a small household but no more
- Latte and cappuccino style drinks need two pods run one after the other, which gets tedious
- It drips a little after you switch it off, so leave the cup there for a minute
- Not everyone gets on with the design. One buyer who upgraded from an older Dolce Gusto found the layout fiddly and the cup clearance tight for taller glasses
Who it’s for
This suits a student room, a first flat, a desk at work, or a second machine for the spare room. It makes a quick, decent cup with almost no learning curve. It’s less suited to a busy household where several people want coffee back to back, since the tank is small and the milk drinks mean extra pods.
How to use it
Fill the tank, pop the pod in with the handle up, then pick hot or cold with the lever. Stand beside it for the drink itself. You choose the volume by moving the lever back to off, so a small cup for espresso pods and a taller one for the milk-based ones works best. Put a mug under before you start, and leave it there for a few seconds afterwards to catch the last drips.
If you’re trying to cut down on pod waste, a few reviewers mention third-party adapters that let you use your own ground coffee or other capsule types. Those aren’t made by the brand, so treat that as a workaround you’d be trying at your own risk.
Cleaning and safety
Empty the tank and rinse it if the machine will sit unused for a few days. Wipe the drip tray and the area around the pod holder regularly, because milk-based pods in particular leave a film. Let the machine cool before wiping the outside, and run a plain water cycle now and then to flush out anything left in the system. Descale it periodically if you live in a hard-water area, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
FAQ
How much counter space does the Piccolo XS need?
The listing gives 26.2cm deep, 13.6cm wide and 27.5cm tall. In practical terms, it’s narrower than most kettles, though you’ll want a little extra room above to open the lid and fill the tank.
Can it make a latte or cappuccino?
Yes, but not in one go. Milk drinks use two pods, one after the other, so it takes a bit more effort than a single espresso-style cup.
Is it noisy?
A couple of owners describe it as fairly loud and slightly vibrating while it runs. It’s over quickly since each drink is short, but it’s not the machine for a silent open-plan flat at 6am.
Do I have to stand and watch it?
Yes. There’s no automatic cut-off for the water, so you move the lever back to off when the cup is full. Wandering off is the usual way people end up with an overflowing mug.
Will it last?
It’s a mixed picture. Plenty of people have used theirs for a long time, while others report early failures. It’s worth keeping your proof of purchase handy in case you need to make a claim.
The verdict
The Piccolo XS is an easy yes if space is your main problem and you want a no-fuss pod machine that does the basics. It’s noisy, a bit fiddly with milk drinks, and the reliability stories mean you shouldn’t buy it expecting a ten-year companion. For a tiny kitchen, it’s still one of the more sensible places to start.
