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The L’OR Barista Absolu is a compact pod coffee machine and the follow up to the brand’s popular Barista Sublime, which you can read more about on our best coffee machine buying guide.
Style-wise, not that much has changed. There’s been a small update to the design and you can still use both regular pods and L’ORs XXL pods, which are equivalent to a double espresso. The machine is also compatible with original line Nespresso pods and other third-party pods of the same shape.
What sets the Absolu apart from the Sublime is its new ‘over ice’ and intensity buttons. This former brews your coffee at a lower temperature, allowing it to cool quicker over ice, while the latter intensifies the flavour of your coffee through slower extraction.
However, with the original Barista Sublime often on offer for as little as £60, can L’OR’s latest version justify its £100+ price tag?
Danielle testing the L’OR Barista Absolu at home
L’OR Barista Absolu coffee machine
Product Specs
- Machine typePod
- Coffee typeGround
- Dimensions15.2 x 39.6 x 28.3 cm (WDH)
- Milk steaming?No
What we love
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Great selection of podsNespresso original compatible
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Water tank can be movedHave it at the side or back
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Cold coffee optionCoffee comes out cooler for iced drinks
Our Verdict
L’OR’s original pod machine has long been one of my favourites because of its innovative but simplistic design, so I was really excited to hear it was coming out with a new model that added cold coffee.
I’ll start with the good. This machine is just as great as the previous model. The design is not only compact but has the added benefit of a moveable water tank, which can either be placed at the back or the side of the machine.
I love that L’OR still has its XXL capsules that give you a double espresso in one shot but that you can also use standard pods that are easily accessible in the supermarket. I also like that you have the option for cold coffee, it pours a longer drink that has a mellower taste, which is great over ice.
The problem? It’s expensive compared to the L’OR Barista Sublime, which has been out for a few years now, though you don’t get the option for cold coffee with that one.
It’s not that expensive when compared to rivals though, which is why I’ve still given it five stars. I’m also fairly sure the Absolu will be on offer during the upcoming sales periods, so keep an eye out for a discount then.
How we test
From general performance and consistency, we put all our coffee machines through a series of repeatable tests to ensure they live up to their claims and offer good value for money. You can read more about how we test coffee machines in full details on our dedicated page.
Why trust us
The Buyline team has been reviewing and writing about a variety of home, tech and beauty products for years. Danielle is a professional product reviewer and has been testing kitchen and home appliances for 7 years. Her years of experience mean she knows a good product from a bad one, and her reviews are always honest and impartial, taking our reader’s needs into account.
Coffee extraction was good on the L’OR Absolu
L’OR Barista Absolu pod coffee machine review
Design and features
Much like the original Barista Sublime, the Barista Absolu has three drink size options, ristretto, espresso and lungo. If you choose to use the XXL capsules that come included in the box, this equates to a double helping of each – or two singles, if you prefer.
Once again, this machines compatible with L’ORs own XXL and standard capsules, as well as Nespresso original line capsules and other third-party options, making it a very versatile machine.
New to the Barista Absolu is the over ice and intensity functions. The former is a button that allows you to brew your coffee at a lower temperature, so it can be enjoyed with ice without completely melting it. L’OR has also created specific iced coffee pods for these that are designed to be used with this function.
Three drink sizes and two extra function on top
The latter is a button that allows you to extend the extraction time of your espresso, bringing out the coffee’s more intense flavours and essentially making it taste that bit ‘stronger’.
Another little design feature I like is that the water tank is movable. You can either have it at the back of the machine, or if you prefer, unclip the bits at the bottom to move it to the side. This means you can adjust the coffee machine to suit your space and not the other way around.
Simply pop the pod in the top and you’re good to go
It has a fairly standard 1.2L capacity water tank, which I never once had to refill during the day and pods are automatically emptied into a pod bin, which should be cleared out every couple of days to keep it clean.
Performance
The biggest selling point of this machine in my opinion is and always has been the pod compatibility. This means the quality of the coffee will vary depending on how much you’re willing to spend on your pods and how fresh they are. I like L’ORs own pods and I like Nespresso’s but if you buy cheaper coffee the results wont be as good.
I mainly tested this machine with L’OR’s own brand of pods and the results impressed me. It does taste like pre-ground pod coffee, there’s no getting away from that, but when extending the extraction time with the intensity boost feature, I did get something close to a decent espresso, with a good full flavour and nice crema on top.
The Absolu produced a good crema on my coffee, if not a little over extracted
This still isn’t the machine to go for if you want the best quality coffee, but if you’re after something easy and don’t want to buy whole beans, it’s a very good compromise.
Value for money
When I first reviewed the original model of this machine a few years ago, I praised it for its reasonable price tag. When compared to similar machines, it’s pretty good value, especially considering its features and how highly compatible it is.
The issue is, the original Barista Sublime can now be picked up for as little as £60 during sales periods, which makes it a very tempting buy. I do like the addition of cold coffee and the intensity boost – I think it makes the coffee taste better. However, whether it’s worth the extra £50 is up to you.
It also wouldn’t surprise me to see the Barista Absolu reduced during deals periods like Black Friday though, so one to watch out for.
The L’OR Absolu has a dual spout like its predecessor
It’s also worth mentioning that this doesn’t come with any kind of milk frothing – but then I don’t know any machines at the price point that do. For that, you might want to consider something like the CitiZ&Milk or even picking up a milk frother, which will set you back around £69.
L’OR Barista Absolu coffee machine
How does it compare to similar products
As mentioned, the new L’OR Barista Absolu is very similar to the original Barista Sublime minus the new features. It makes nice espresso for a pod machine, is easy to use and often on offer. If you’re looking for something basic, this is a great alternative to consider.
The Barista Absolu also sits within the same price range as the tiny Nespresso Essenza, one of Nespresso’s most basic models. The Essenza has two coffee settings for espresso and lungo but can’t make cold coffee, giving the Absolu the edge.
How does it rate online
The Absolut gets an incredible 5-star rating on L’ORs own website, with people praising its petite design and great pod selection. The only minor quibbles we found were that a couple of reviewers would prefer more control over water amounts, while another said it was a little noisy – not unusual for a pod machine.
FAQs
Is L’OR a good coffee brand?
I really rate the L’OR coffee pods. I think they’re as good as Nespresso and because they are the same shape, they’re compatible with both Nespresso machines and L’OR’s own machines (which are cheaper).
Does L’OR Barista use Nespresso pods?
Yes, both the L’OR Barista Sublime and the Barista Absolu are compatible with Nespresso original line pods, as well as other third-party pods of the same shape. They are not, however, compatible with Nespresso Vertuo pods.
