Nespresso Coffee Machines

Nespresso coffee makers are compact and small and are not as bulky as drip coffee machines. They are black in color and can vary in price and complexity. Some have a milk frother that can be used to create latte art, and they can be connected to an app that allows you to manage recipes or receive descaling notifications.

The most basic machines, such as our pick, the Essenza Mini, are simple and affordable, but they leave out features that create more complicated drinks. Other machines can make larger sizes of drinks, like gran lungos.

What is a Nespresso machine?

Since 1986, Nespresso sells single-serve machines which use capsules to brew coffee drinks and espresso. The brand has an army of loyal customers thanks to the ease, speed, and consistency with which their machines brew up an espresso-like hot beverage. These machines are a great alternative to making espresso at home with a drip coffee maker or moka pot, which both require a lot of time and attention after each use.

A Nespresso machine uses an air pressure system to extract the flavor of a pod. It then heats up water and makes froths of the milk to make coffee drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. Nespresso Vertuo Plus coffee machine offers a wide selection of coffee and blends that can be customized to suit your preferences and mood, including decaffeinated and flavored options. Their machines are compact elegant, stylish, and simple to use and make them a great choice for those who need an instant cup of coffee in the morning or an afternoon energy boost.

The Vertuo line replaced the original Nespresso machines in 2014, which used the Original capsules to make espresso shots. The Essenza Mini is the smallest model in the line. It's compact and comes with a tiny water tank and room for used capsules. Its user-friendly operation that has only two buttons one for espresso and another for lungo - makes it simple to master.

In contrast to Keurig machines, which require you to add water manually prior to every use, all nespresso machine portable models automatically discard any used capsule after brewing. Based on the size of the reservoir and storage for capsules they can store up to 12 pods that are used up, and are disposed of into the built-in receptacle when you open the machine.

Many of the most well-known models can be used with the mobile app of the company, which lets you customize recipes and reorder the capsules at home. This feature was tested on the sleek stainless steel Vertuo Creatista. It also allows you to make hot coffee and iced tea using a dedicated frother room. The only drawback to the machine we tried was that it does not support all milk varieties and requires you to purchase an additional frothing wand should you wish to make drinks with whole milk, 2%, or almond milk.

The Original Line Original Line

The Original line of pod-only machines include the stylish Citiz and the Essenza Mini. Both models penetrate the capsule, pump hot water under high pressure through it and produce an espresso or lungo. The Original machines use 19 bars of pressure which is much higher than the 15 to 18 bar pumps in some of the more expensive Vertuo models.

The Original machines produce a crema (a thin layer of tiny microbubbles layered on the top of the espresso), which is thicker and more affluent than the foam found in the Vertuo line. The crema is more than just froth, though--as the Spruce notes, it can be responsible for nespresso vertuo plus coffee machine as much as 25% of espresso's flavor. The Original line comes with more expensive Creatista or Lattissima espresso machines with built-in milk frothers to create cappuccinos and lattes at the touch of one button.

The Lattissima Line

This line is perfect for those who need machines which can make cappuccinos, lattes, and other milky coffee drinks. It comes with three different recipes and its 4.2 cup milk container can be removed and washed in the dishwasher. It is also lightweight and easy to store and move around in small areas. However, some users say it's not as intuitive to use as other Nespresso models.

The jug's drink-specific lines are that are etched into it, which means you can choose the beverage you'd like to make as the machine is heating up. It comes with a sensor that stops steaming at the moment it is unable to make milk.

The Lattissima One is a good value for its price, and it's available in four colors that include black with gray accents, dark gray porcelain white and silky white. The machine is easy-to-clean and has a minimalistic aesthetic that won't overwhelm smaller spaces. It's also reasonably priced with a retail price of $385/PS279.

Like the OriginalLine models, it has an automatic drip tray that catches any loose grounds when you pour your espresso. It's a nice feature to minimize mess, and also helps to prevent spills that could spoil the flavor of your beverage.

The Pro and Gran Lattissima have larger water tanks than the Lattissima One. This allows them to hold more water without having to refill. Both models also have a speedier heating time (as as little as 15 seconds for espresso and 25 seconds for a lungo) and have an enhanced hot water function for making tea or iced coffee.

The only downside to the Lattissima is the difficulty in adjusting the consistency and density of your milk foam. The machine only works with skim or almond milk. Sorry vegans and those who are intolerant to dairy. The frothing wand is also difficult to clean. This is a typical complaint from Nespresso users. The Lattissima Pro or Gran Lattissima comes with a self-cleaning feature that cleans out the milky interior of the frothing device after each use.

The Vertuo Line

A Nespresso Vertuo machine makes a small cup of coffee that is ideal for espresso lovers who prefer a short and intense drink. Each capsule has a barcode around the outside of its rim, which is read by the machine's computer to determine the size of drink it can make. Nespresso's Vertuo pods are extracted with a unique technology.

Vertuo Line has a variety of drinks including Ristretto, Espresso, Lungo (mini espresso), Americano, and Cappuccino. The machines can also be used with the Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother to create frothy cappuccinos and lattes.

Each Vertuo Line coffee machine heats quickly and can be brewed in less than 30 seconds. They use smaller water tanks than Original Line machines and require less maintenance. There are several models to pick from, so you can find one that fits your home's style and your budget.

In contrast to the Original Line machines, which only can brew Nespresso capsules The Vertuo Line also brews regular filter-brewed coffee. This is done via an additional spout that is 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 an organic crema that preserves and enhances the coffee's aromas. The VertuoLine System also has an intelligent recognition feature that adjusts the extraction parameters to each Grand Cru blend.

Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer's warranty and an initial pack of Nespresso capsules. The company also offers an optional subscription service that sends new Nespresso capsules each month.

While there are many different VertuoLine machines to pick from but the nespresso machine white VertuoPlus is our pick as the top overall machine. It's easy to operate and quick to heat up and comes in a variety of colors. It can make five different sizes of espresso and coffee including a flat white, ristretto and lungo. It also makes a latte macchiato and is able to be used together with the Aeroccino milk mixer to make a cappuccino or Latte.

The only drawback to the VertuoPlus is that it takes longer to prepare than other machines, specifically when making an Americano. Comparing the Bunn Fastbrew with the Nespresso VertuoPlus which can brew an 8-ounce Americano within 42 seconds, it took 1 minute and 51 seconds. Luckily, you can speed up the process by selecting an automatic mode.