Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea review: super flexible frothy coffee maker

As much as I do like a decent coffee, I’m always amazed at just how many machines there are to choose from. Of course, this is a good thing if you like coffee too, because with so much competition there are always machines out there with healthy discounts. But it can also make choosing one a little on the tricky side. Often, I think it’s the discount that probably drives folks to pick their next coffee machine.

If you’re in the market for a replacement coffee machine, or are perhaps keen to buy one for the very first time, this little beauty is another one to add to the dazzling list of possible contenders. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea is a cute and reasonably compact capsule coffee machine, which means that it’ll need to be replenished with a one capsule each and every time you make a coffee. That’s something to be mindful of if you’re watching the pennies, even if the machine itself seems keenly priced.

It's also worth bearing in mind that there are many other options when it comes to making coffee. Our handy guides to the best pod coffee machine and the best Nespresso machine are well worth a look, as well as the best bean to cup coffee machine options, if you’ve got more budget to play with along with an obsession for enjoying jungle fresh coffee using freshly ground beans.

Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea review: Price and availability 

The Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea coffee capsule machine is available now and can be purchased from Amazon, as well as direct at Lavazza. Amazon might be a good option if you’re keen to own it as the appliance is currently discounted to £149.99, which is a 40% saving on its normal RRP of £249. That’s a solid offer and underlines just how competitive the coffee machine marketplace is, especially considering this is a very recent arrival.

Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea review: Unboxing and set-up

Simplicity lies at the core of the Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea and getting it out of the box and set up takes just a few minutes. It’s advised to clean all of the washable component parts first, of course, and I ran some hot water through the unit too, without a coffee capsule inserted. Aside from that, it’s all very obvious where everything goes, although Lavazza also provides a quick start guide and a chunky manual if you prefer to do things by the book.

Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea review: Design and features 

The Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea isn’t really too dramatically different from any of the myriad other capsule coffee machines out there, but it's a refreshing variation on the theme. This model comes in three different colour options too, with my white/cream model looking particularly good, but there is black and a funky shade of walnut on offer as alternatives depending on your taste and kitchen décor.

As I mentioned earlier, the Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea is reasonably compact, with dimensions of 7.4 cm deep by 19.8cm wide by 13.9cm high, so it’ll sit on the average countertop without fuss. At 4.5kg this model doesn’t weigh too much either, even though it comes with a solid plastic construction as well as a fancy glass coffee cup with Lavazza branding. This doubles as a milk frothing jug and has a steam wand and whisk top to it that slots into the machine itself.

Power-wise, the Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea features 1500 watts, comes with a one litre water tank capacity and is fully programmable. The top front of the appliance is where all of the action occurs in terms of controlling the drinks output, with an array of touch-sensitive controls for specifying drink sizes, water temperature boost, descaling of the machine and so on. There’s a decent length power cable located at the back too, which offers reasonable flexibility in terms of positioning in in your kitchen, bedroom or workspace.

Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea review: performance 

Capsule coffee machines have their limitations compared the likes of bean to cup models, but I do like the convenience factor. That’s something the Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea offers lots of, with the buttons on the front providing me with all the drink sizes needed for producing my preferred coffee. I like a milky coffee, which is where the appliance really excels as I quickly found out on my first drink foray.

I filled the detachable water jug at the back of the machine, dropped in a capsule and filled the included jug-come-coffee-cup with milk as per the instructions. There are lines that show you the correct amount to put in too, depending on drink type. The glass jug has a plastic top, which contains both a steam wand and milk whisk / frother, so once I’d popped that on, I slotted it into the area at the front of the machine.

All I needed to do then was press the button of choice on the top and away it went. This is a really quiet machine too, impressively so, while the drink-making process is fun to watch. The whisk whirs away while the steam wand does its thing. Meanwhile, the appliance adds in the coffee, which results in a very professional looking end result. Considering this is an out-of-the-box solution, it’s pretty impressive and is the main reason for me liking this appliance as much as I do.

Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea review: Verdict

I think the Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea is a great little capsule coffee machine and one that works particularly well for my tastes. It’ll handle all types of coffee drinks mind, so is well suited to any kind of coffee connoisseur.  While it’s still just another capsule coffee machine, the quality of drinks it produces is excellent. 

The Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea isn’t going to replace something like a bean to cup machine, but if you’re looking for speed, convenience and great results every time, I’d say this is a great bet. Get it at a discounted price and it makes total sense.

Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea review: Alternatives to consider 

If you like capsule and pod machines then options are many and varied, but the Nespresso Vertuo Plus and Vertuo Next are decent. They're both particularly great if you're looking for a larger machine to suit a sizeable family.

Another great pod coffee machine option is the Smeg Lavazza A Modo Mio. It has an ample 0.9-litre water reservoir and a large capsule bin so you should be able to make about ten espressos without heading for the sink or the recycling bin. Just like the Vertuo Pop, you just lift the chrome hatch, pop in a Lavazza pod and tap either short or long shot. It takes only a minute to warm up but the extraction is completed in about 30 seconds.