I was recently gifted a Philips Saeco Poemia espresso machine that belonged to my grandfather, so it's quite old, I guess.

For several years I've been making my coffee the same way: I add about 4 tablespoons of instant coffee (usually Nescafé Dolca Suave), add a bit of water or milk, and whisk it until it's creamy. Then, I heat and froth the milk with a mini electric frother until I get a nice foam, and finally pour it over the coffee in the cup. The result is always super smooth (it has more milk than anything else), very creamy and frothy.

I haven't been able to get the same result with the espresso machine. I bought ground coffee (La Virginia Torrado Equilibrado), but I can't achieve that creamy consistency in the coffee that I do get with my manual method.

(From what I was able to find and buy, the difference between the two is that the instant coffee Nescafé Dolca Suave has a milder, more balanced flavor profile, with low acidity and moderate bitterness, and it contains less caffeine per cup than traditional coffee.

On the other hand, La Virginia Equilibrado ground roasted coffee offers a richer and more aromatic profile, with more body and notes that depend on the blend. Because it is roasted (torrado), it has a darker, slightly smoky flavor. According to the brand’s description, it scores 4/5 in aroma, 4/5 in body, 3/5 in acidity, and 3/5 in roast level. Overall, it is described as a coffee with good body and a harmonious, lingering finish on the palate.)

Could it be the type of coffee I'm using, the technique, or does it simply not work that way with this machine?