This is a fantastic machine. I've used similar ones in hotels that are fantastic and so I was inspired to try this one. I'm opposed to using plastic single service coffee pods because it's just one more way to create garbage on the planet, but this one is extra wonderful because it comes with multiple adapters so you can choose to use those pods or you can choose to use your own espresso ground coffee. I use the one that allows me to use my own coffee. The coffee is delicious. I don't really like my coffee super strong, but this is such a perfect machine because you can choose how much water you want to go through your chosen amount of coffee. I choose the max amount and I even run through the same coffee for half again the amount of water. So I'm basically running one and a half times the max amount of water through the same amount of coffee and for me that's perfect. But you could have it be as strong as you want simply by choosing to run little or more water through your coffee making process. There's a button that allows you to choose multiple different amounts of water to run through however much coffee you're using. The machine puts a perfect amount of frothy coffee foam on top as a function of how it works. That foam to me is extra delicious and pleasurable. If you want to use coffee pods but you don't want to use plastic, then Nespresso brand coffee pods come in recyclable aluminum pods. And they are supposed to work with one of the adapters that this coffee maker comes with. This is very easy to use and it's very compact. I have a pretty small kitchen with not a whole lot of counter space and this fits great on the counter. But it also would be very easy to simply tuck in a cupboard after you use it. This works so fast. You have a cup of coffee in hardly anytime. The coffee's not super hot, but it's easy to make the coffee into your favorite mug and then pop it into the microwave for a minute to heat it further. Admittedly, I like my coffee really hot so it's probably fine for the average person. It's extremely easy to clean and very easy to load your own coffee into the small metal receptacle. I am enamored with this coffee maker and I am loving it. It's super easy to use and makes fantastic coffee! I have a more traditional espresso machine and I think this little guy makes better coffee than my traditional espresso machine. And it's easier and faster to use. Thank you so much for such a wonderful and economically priced product!