Now I use a Nespresso every morning and save the $3 I would've spent at work (though two capsules plus milk and syrup comes to not much under $1).
Not very familiar, no. I have seen them, my grandmother used to have one -- but I don't think I ever used it myself.
Many people here (who try to resist the Nespresso tsunami) use a thing that I just found out is called a "French press":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_press
or for a better picture:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/bodum-chambord-34-ounce-french...
It's quite popular and makes decent coffee (my wife uses one) but it's still more complex than pressing the button on a Nespresso!
I switched to this steel filter, which is pretty good :
http://www.amazon.com/Filter-AeroPress-Ultra-Stainless-Coffe...
The comment above suggests using a stovetop or Moka pot: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moka_pot
Two very different things.
Tastes good, is cheap, takes a short satisfying routine to make the espresso (instead of being told by a machine to empty this or refill that). The hot stove can also heat the milk. The whole procedure takes a few minutes, just long enough to prepare breakfast or clean up a few things in the kitchen.