Business, the Environment and … Coffee Machines

It seems the business of making coffee is becoming increasingly elaborate. One manifestation of this is the global success of the Nespresso brand of coffee and coffee makers.

Fans of Nespresso love the convenience and neatness, and they say the disposable capsules deliver a superior taste. Detractors say the packaging creates waste and that keeping the coffee machines warm is a further drain on the electricity grid.

Now it seems that there may be other concerns about high-end coffee machines.

Water in the reservoir of 17 deluxe machines made by Cimbali, an Italian company, has been found by European Union officials and other experts to contain elevated levels of lead and nickel.