Photos by Christina Emilie

Nespresso Vertuoline available at Target, Macy’s and in Brown Thomas in Ireland.

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“Home is where the good coffee is.”
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You’ll know from all my social media channels (especially Instagram & Snapchat -retroflame1) that I have a slight, OK huge, love for coffee. I honestly think it was my first Summer in NYC which really started it all off. New York can be tiring, to say the least, so coffee becomes an essential. While I was working from home last year in Ireland, I was lucky enough to have a Nespresso machine in our house. I got it as a Christmas present (yes, I’m that weirdo that asks for coffee machines for Christmas) and honestly never looked back. When moving to New York, I did actually contemplate bringing it with me but then realized that my suitcases (all 6 of them) were already chocker-block. Oh and by then, my whole family had become obsessed with this coffee too…so they were having none of it.

I’ve mentioned before that moving to New York is crazy crazy expensive and so I kept putting off buying a new one as I felt it wasn’t a priority (what was I thinking!?). Me and the girls always laugh about the fact that we’ll visit three different grocery stores to find the cheapest vegetables, even if there’s just a 50c difference, but then we’ll go out after work on a Friday and spend $20 on a cocktail. Managing money here is NOT easy and up until now, I had been putting off big purchases. But since starting my new job, I really began to notice just all the money I was spending on (average) take-away coffees. I went through a phase of having iced coffees with almond milk which were $5 each (!!) so if I had two of these every day, that was $70 dollars each week. So crazy when you look at it like that. So about 2 weeks ago, I finally got my very own Nespresso Vertuoline for my NYC apartment. My housemate, Ciara, will tell you that I haven’t stopped smiling (and using it) ever since. A bold statement to make but I genuinely think it’s now my favorite thing I own and look how nicely it fits in! If, like me, you have a small space to work with – this is the absolute perfect size.

So now in the mornings, I have my coffee before I leave (favourite part of the day) and this means that I just have to buy one more coffee throughout the day. I’ve changed over to $3 iced americanos (usually from Macaron Cafe in midtown), so my coffee spend is now a third of what it used to be. I know it’s only a small saving, but honestly, it all adds up in NYC. I don’t know what it is about coffee but it just makes me weirdly happy and also…extremely productive. I recently did a post all about how to be more productive and I’m just after realizing that I should have included ‘Drink more coffee!!’. Yes, I know some people say that this is all a myth, but I think it all comes down to the brand/type of coffee you’re drinking. I’ve had experiences where I’ve drank coffee and literally nearly fell asleep afterwards…but certainly not with Nespresso. It’s like rocket-fuel. If your to-do-list is as long as mine, I guarantee you’ll love this brand too. I recommend the Vanilla & Hazelnut flavors. SO good!

Penneys/Primark Ice Cube Tray (Similar) // Sur La Table Mason Jar (Similar) // Straws

How to make Iced Coffee

The best thing about this machine is that it is super easy to use (and clean). I drink black coffee, so it’s literally a matter of putting the coffee pod into the machine and voila! Now that it’s a little warmer though, I’ve changed over to iced coffees which are my absolute favourite! I always thought there was some secret behind making them but after doing a lot of ‘How to make iced coffee’ google searches, I’ve realized there is absolutely no secret. It’s extremely quick and simple.

1. The first step is to place the coffee pod into the machine and add ice into your glass. How cute is this ice tray that the girls from Penneys in Ireland sent me? Perfect for Summer. Make sure to add LOTS of ice…I’ve found that the more you can add, the better.

2. Click the start button and you’re ready to go. The best thing about this machine is that it creates the foam itself. It’s honestly like getting a coffee from a cafe…only better! My worry was always that the coffee wouldn’t be cold enough because it’s hot water going into the glass, but after stirring for a few minutes, it’s perfect. You can also add a tiny bit of cold water too. I drink mine black, but feel free to add in some milk & sugar. If you haven’t tried almond milk yet, I’d definitely recommend it.

You can shop the coffee accessories here…

Topshop Ripped Jeans // River Island Stripe Jumper // Forever21 Rose Gold Loafers (Similar) // Penneys/Primark Cushions

It’s funny how small things like this can make such a difference!
Let me know in the comments if you’re also a Nespresso fan?

Hope you’re all having a great week,

Stylishly Yours,

Erika x