Nespresso Coffee Machines
Unlike drip coffee makers, Nespresso models are small and compact. They're black in color and range in price and sophistication. Some include a milk froth for latte art, and can be linked to the company's app to manage recipes and receive descaling alerts.
The most basic machines, such as our choice, the Essenza Mini, are simple and inexpensive, but they do not have features that create more complicated drinks. Other machines can brew bigger sizes of drinks, like gran lungos.
What is what is a Nespresso Machine?
Since 1986, Nespresso has marketed single-serve machines that utilize capsules to make espresso and coffee drinks. The company has a large number of loyal customers due to the speed, ease and consistency with which their machines brew up an espresso-like hot drink. These machines are a great alternative to making espresso at home with a moka pot, which both require time and care after each use.
A Nespresso machine utilizes a pressure system to extract the flavor of the pod. It then heats up water and it froths the milk to create coffee drinks, such as cappuccinos and lattes. Nespresso has a wide variety of tea and coffee blends to fit different tastes and moods as well as decaffeinated and flavored options. The machines are stylish, compact, and easy-to-use and make the perfect choice for those looking to grab a quick cup of tea or coffee in the afternoon.
The Vertuo line was introduced to replace the Nespresso machines in 2014, which used capsules from the Original capsules to brew espresso shots. The smaller model in this line is the Essenza Mini, which is extremely compact, with a small water tank and a space for used capsules. Its simple operation, using just two buttons--one for an espresso and the other for a lungo -- makes it easy to master.
Contrary to Keurig machines that require you to manually add water before each use, all Nespresso models automatically dispose of the capsules that are used after making. Based on the size of the water reservoir and capsule storage they can store up to 12 used pods, which are disposed of in the built-in receptacle every time you open the machine.
Some of the most popular models also support the brand's mobile app that lets you make your own recipes and reorder capsules from your home. We tested this feature on the sleek stainless steel Vertuo Creatista, which also allows you to make hot chocolate and iced coffee using the frothing chamber that is built-in to the. The only drawback of the machine we test is that it does not support all milk types. You will need to purchase a separate frothing tool if you wish to make drinks with whole or 2% almond milk.
The Original Line
The Original line of pod-only machines includes the sleek Citiz and Essenza Mini. Both machines pierce the capsule and then pump hot water at high pressure through it, delivering an espresso or a lungo. The Original machines use 19 bars of pressure which is more than the 15 to 18 bar pumps found in the more expensive Vertuo models.
The Original machines produce crema (a thin layer of tiny microbubbles that sits on the top of the espresso), which is thicker and more affluent than the foam of the Vertuo line. The crema is not just froth. As the Spruce notes it can account as much as 25% of an espresso's flavor. The Original line also offers pricier Creatista and Lattissima machines that have built-in milk frothers to make lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos at the touch of the button.
The Lattissima Line
This line of machines is ideal for people who prefer milky coffee drinks, such as lattes and cappuccinos, and want one machine that can handle everything. It comes with three different recipes and its 4.2 1 ounce milk container is easily removed and washed in the dishwasher. It's also light, which makes it easy to transport and store in a tight space. However, some customers say it's not as easy to use as other Nespresso models.
The jug of this machine has lines that show the type of beverage you'd like. You can choose your beverage while the machine is heating up. It is equipped with a sensor that will stop the steaming automatically when it is unable to make milk.
The Lattissima One offers a great value for the price. It's available in four colors including porcelain white, dark gray, and silky-white. It's easy to clean and has a a minimalist aesthetic that won't overwhelm small spaces. It's also fairly affordable and has a price of $385/PS279.
Similar to the OriginalLine models, it comes with an automatic drip tray that collects any loose grounds while you pour your espresso. This feature is great to prevent spills and overflow, which could spoil the flavor of your espresso.
The Pro and Gran Lattissima have larger water tanks than the Lattissima One. This allows them to hold more liquid without needing refill. These two models have a quicker heat-up time (15 seconds for an Espresso and 25 seconds for a Lungo) and a hot water function that can be used to make iced coffee or tea.
The only real drawback of the Lattissima line is the difficulty of changing the consistency of your milk foam. The machine is only suitable with skim milk (sorry vegans and those who are lactose intolerant) and the foaming mechanism doesn't work well with vegetable or almond milks. The wand that froths can be difficult to clean and is a common complaint from Nespresso owners. Fortunately coffeee and Gran Lattissima have a self-cleaning cycle which cleans the milky intestines after every use of the frother.
The Vertuo Line
A Nespresso Vertuo machine makes a small cup of coffee that's perfect for those who love espresso and prefer a quick strong drink. The machine reads the barcode that is located on the outer rim of each capsule to determine the amount of coffee it will make. Nespresso uses an exclusive extraction method to ensure you get the best flavor from each Vertuo pod.
Vertuo Line has a variety of drinks, including Ristretto, Espresso, Lungo (mini espresso), Americano, and Cappuccino. The machines can be combined with the Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother to make frothy lattes and cappuccinos.
Each Vertuo Line coffee machine heats quickly and is ready to brew in less than 30 seconds. They use smaller water tanks than the Original Line machines and require less maintenance. There are many models available that you can choose one that suits your style and budget.
Vertuo Line machines can also brew regular filter coffee, unlike the Original Line machines that only can brew Nespresso. This is done through a separate spout located at the bottom of machine.
VertuoLine machines come with a brand new brewing technology that uses centrifusion to softly extract coffee and espresso. This creates natural crema that is safe for and improves the quality of coffee aromas. The VertuoLine System also features an intelligent recognition feature that can adjust the extraction parameters according to each Grand Cru blend.
Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer's guarantee and a starter pack of Nespresso capsules. The company also offers a subscription service that delivers fresh new Nespresso capsules each month.
The Nespresso VertuoPlus machine is the best overall machine. It is easy to use, heats up quickly and comes in a variety of colors. It can make five different sizes of espresso and coffee including a ristretto espresso, lungo and flat white. It also brews a latte macchiato and can be used together with the Aeroccino milk mixer to create a cappuccino or the latte.
The VertuoPlus has only one disadvantage, that it takes longer to brew when compared to other machines, particularly when making an Americano. Comparing the Bunn Fastbrew to the Nespresso VertuoPlus which can brew an 8-ounce Americano in 42 seconds, it took 1 minute and 51 seconds. You can accelerate the process by selecting an automatic mode.