Alternatively, if you’re buying an espresso machine for someone you actually still like – possibly yourself – you may be tempted by an idiot-proof apparatus that takes pre-measured pods or capsules filled with a precise dose of coffee grinds. Nespresso, with its selection of 16 Grand Cru coffees and irresistible George Clooney advertisements, dominates this sector. Now illycaffè, the most widely recognised name in premium Italian espresso coffee, has introduced the Francis Francis X7 (£199 in the UK, $395 from illy in the US). This machine employs iperEspresso capsules and a patented two-stage extraction process that ensures a flawless espresso every time. Better still, it doesn’t ask you to make difficult decisions at 6:30am in the morning, such as “which of these 16 magnificently mellow Grand Cru coffees am I in the mood for and will I be able to detect the subtle differences among them?” illycaffè’s selection of iperEspresso capsules is limited to classic (medium roast), dark roast, decaf and lungo (long or Americano-style). That’s manageable, even during the pre-caffeine hours of the morning when your body may be out of bed but your psyche is still suspended in dreamland .

I tried out a loaner of the Francis Francis X7, courtesy of illycaffè, and can vouch for the effectiveness and consistency of this beautiful object by Italian architect and product designer Lucca Trazzi. You warm up the machine, drop the capsule into the handle, press a button and 25 seconds later you have a lovely espresso with a thick head of golden crema. With a little practice using the steam wand  you can turn out thick, textured milk for creamy, microfoamy lattes and cappuccinos.

I may complain that the X7’s casing is made of crackable plastic rather than sturdy stainless steel, that the absurd angle of the frothing wand has you spraying scalding water all over the kitchen counter when you try to drain it, that you can’t make a full-strength double espresso (or two espressos at once) or that the capsules are not recyclable or refillable. I might find the price of the capsules somewhat high for a coffee at home, £41.20 for 6 tins of 21 capsules – about 33p per espresso – in the UK, $32 for 2 cans of 21 capsules – about 76 cents from illyusa! (Reminds me of HP printers: The price for the hardware is reasonable.  It’s the ransom paid on ink cartridges or, in this instance, coffee capsules, which bankrupt you). But the real reason I don’t like the Francis Franic X7 is that it works. You can count on it making you the same espresso every time.

Problem is I don’t want the same espresso every day, perfect or not. I wouldn’t restrict my wine cabinet and therefore home consumption to a single wine or even 4 wines. Why would I want to do that with coffee? I want to sample and compare superior coffees, single origins as well as custom blends, from outstanding UK roasters like Square Mile, Monmouth and Has Bean as well as from European and North American roasters and coffee shops I discover during my travels. Furthermore, I want to grind all my beans seconds before I brew them, filling my flat with the spellbinding, anticipatory aroma of coffee grinder gas. I want to calibrate the dose and tamping pressure so that, for better or worse, I know that I shaped the result.

If my week with the one-touch X7 is any guide, the verdict is clear: This great-looking machine is a satisfying, dependable, no-fuss espresso maker that won’t drive anyone mad, as most home espresso machines will. But coffee geeks in particular may find that perfection is limiting. Like me they may prefer something more DIY. They may sacrifice the comfort of consistency that illy offers in its machine as well as its coffee for the excitement of the unexpected.