Lelit Bianca PL162T Dual Boiler Espresso vs Nescafé Dolce Gusto Colors Pod Machine (2026)

✍️ By the 247Verdict Editorial Team📅 Updated 05 October 2026

Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.

Lelit Bianca PL162T Dual Boiler Espresso

9.4/10 Excellent

4.7★ (980 owners)

Dual boiler, flow profiling paddle, PID, E61 group, Italian made. Flow profiling at home.

Full Review

Nescafé Dolce Gusto Colors Pod Machine

8.5/10 Great

4.5★ (9,600 owners)

Dolce Gusto pods, 15 bar, manual milk adjustment, 1.4L, colourful design, under £60.

Full Review

At a Glance

	Lelit Bianca PL162T Dual Boiler Espresso	Nescafé Dolce Gusto Colors Pod Machine
247Verdict Score	9.4/10	8.5/10
Owner Rating	4.7★ (980)	4.5★ (9,600)
Verdict	Excellent	Great

Quick Verdict

Both are strong choices, but the Lelit Bianca PL162T Dual Boiler Espresso edges ahead with a 9.4/10 vs 8.5/10. Dual boiler, flow profiling paddle, PID, E61 group, Italian made. Flow profiling at home. That said, the Nescafé Dolce Gusto Colors Pod Machine is worth considering if Dolce Gusto pods, 15 bar, manual milk adjustment, 1.4L, colourful design, under £60. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

Lelit Bianca PL162T Dual Boiler Espresso

Flow profiling paddle controls water pressure during extraction for advanced espresso technique
Dual boiler PID allows precise simultaneous brewing and steaming temperature control
E61 group head thermal stability is the professional extraction standard
Italian manufactured by Lelit — family espresso equipment brand since 1993
Flow profiling unlocks extraction variables that fixed-pressure machines can't access

£2,200+ — flow profiling is an advanced feature requiring espresso skill to benefit from
Flow paddle requires technique development to extract meaningful improvement

Nescafé Dolce Gusto Colors Pod Machine

Under £60 — the most affordable capsule coffee machine with 15-bar extraction
Dolce Gusto pods include specialty drinks: lattes, cappuccinos, Americanos and hot chocolate
Manual lever controls milk-to-coffee ratio — more customisation than single-button alternatives
Colourful design in multiple colours is playful and kitchen-friendly
9,600 Amazon reviews at 4.5★ — extensively validated entry pod machine

Manual lever is less convenient than one-touch alternatives — requires monitoring
Dolce Gusto pod quality trails Nespresso Vertuo crema technology
Milk capsules are separate from coffee capsules — two pods per milk drink

FAQ

Which is better, Lelit Bianca PL162T Dual or Nescafé Dolce Gusto?

Is the Lelit Bianca PL162T Dual worth the extra cost?

Yes — Lelit Bianca PL162T Dual Boiler Espresso scores higher at 9.4/10 vs 8.5/10.

Who is the Lelit Bianca PL162T Dual best suited to?

Dual boiler, flow profiling paddle, PID, E61 group, Italian made. Flow profiling at home.

Who is the Nescafé Dolce Gusto best suited to?

Dolce Gusto pods, 15 bar, manual milk adjustment, 1.4L, colourful design, under £60.

What are the main downsides of each?

Lelit Bianca PL162T Dual Boiler Espresso: £2,200+ — flow profiling is an advanced feature requiring espresso skill to benefit from; Flow paddle requires technique development to extract meaningful improvement. Nescafé Dolce Gusto Colors Pod Machine: Manual lever is less convenient than one-touch alternatives — requires monitoring; Dolce Gusto pod quality trails Nespresso Vertuo crema technology.

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — Lelit Bianca PL162T Dual Boiler Espresso sits at 4.7★ from 980 verified Amazon owners, and Nescafé Dolce Gusto Colors Pod Machine at 4.5★ from 9,600.

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