Nespresso Coffee Machines

Nespresso coffee makers are small and compact, unlike drip coffee machines. They're black-colored and vary in price and complexity. Some come with a milk frother to make Latte art, and they can be linked to an app that allows you to manage recipes or receive descaling notifications.

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

What is an Nespresso Machine?

Since 1986, portable nespresso pod machine has marketed single-serve machines that use capsules to make espresso and coffee drinks. The brand has gained a loyal fan base because of its ease, speed and consistency in making a hot espresso-like beverage. 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 uses pressure to extract the flavor from a pod, then heats water and froths milk for coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. Nespresso provides a range of coffee and blends that can be customized to fit your preferences and mood as well as decaffeinated and flavor choices. Their machines are small elegant, stylish and easy to operate and make them a great option for those looking for an easy cup of coffee in the morning or for an afternoon refreshment.

The Vertuo line replaced the Nespresso original machines in 2014, which utilized the Original capsules to make espresso shots. The smallest model in this line is the Essenza Mini, which is super compact with a tiny water tank as well as a room for used capsules. Its easy operation, with only two buttons - one for espresso and the other for a lungo--makes it easy to master.

In contrast to Keurig machines, which require you to manually add water prior to each use, all Nespresso models automatically dispose of the capsules that are used after the brewing. Based on the size of the water reservoir and the capsule storage they can store between four and 12 used pods, which are disposed of in the built-in receptacle when you open the machine.

Some of the most popular models are compatible with the mobile app of the company, which lets you to customize recipes and order capsules at home. We tested this feature on the sleek stainless steel Vertuo Creatista, which also allows you to make hot chocolate and iced drinks using a dedicated frothing chamber. The only downside to the machine we tried was that it does not support all types of milk which means you'll need to purchase a separate frothing wand if you plan to make drinks with whole or 2% almond milk.

The Original Line

The Original line of pod machines includes the stylish Citiz Mini and the Essenza Mini. Both models pierce the capsule, pump hot water under high pressure through it, and then deliver an espresso or lungo. The original machines employ 19 bar of pressure, which is higher than the 15-18 bar pumps that are found in the more expensive Vertuo models.

The Vertuo machines produce an espresso that is more rich and thicker than the crema produced by the Original machines. The crema is more than just froth, though--as the Spruce states, it could make up a quarter of an espresso's flavor. The Original line is more expensive and comes with Creatista or Lattissima espresso machines that have built-in milk frothers that can make cappuccinos and lattes at the press of one button.

The Lattissima Line

This line of machines is perfect for those who like milky coffee drinks, such as lattes and cappuccinos, and want one machine that does it all. It comes with three user-friendly recipes, and its 4.2-ounce milk container is removable and dishwasher safe. It's also light and easy to store and move in small spaces. However, some users complain that it's not as easy to use as other Nespresso models.

The jug's lines for drinks are that are etched into it, which means you can decide beforehand which drink you'd like to make as the machine is heating up. It also has a sensor that automatically stops steaming when the jug has run out and stops the waste of milk.

The Lattissima One is a good value for the money, and it's available in four colors including 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 is also reasonably priced, with a suggested retail cost of $385/PS279

Similar to the OriginalLine models, this one also has an automatic drip tray that catches any loose grounds as you pour your espresso. It's a great feature for minimizing the mess, and helps prevent overflow that can alter the taste of your coffee.

The Pro and Gran Lattissima both have a larger water tank than the Lattissima One, allowing them to hold more liquid before needing to refill. These two models have an earlier time to heat up (15 seconds for an Espresso and 25 seconds for Lungo) and a hot water function that can be used to make tea or iced espresso.

The only downside to the Lattissima is the difficulty of adjusting the consistency and density of the foam you make with your milk. The machine can only be used with skim milk (sorry vegans and people who are lactose-intolerant), and the foaming system doesn't work well with almond or vegetable milks. Its frothing wand can also be tricky to clean, which is a common complaint among Nespresso owners. Fortunately, the Lattissima Pro and Gran Lattissima come with a self-cleaning system which cleans the milky intestines after each use of the frothing.

The Vertuo Line

A Nespresso Vertuo machine makes a small cup of coffee that is ideal for espresso lovers who prefer a short, intense drink. Each capsule is equipped with an engraved barcode on its outer rim that is read by the machine's computer to determine what size beverage it should create. Nespresso utilizes an innovative extraction process to ensure that you get the best flavor from each Vertuo pod.

The Vertuo Line offers a wide selection of different drinks including Ristretto (mini espresso), Espresso, Lungo, Americano and Cappuccino. The machines can be combined with the Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother to make frothy cappuccinos and lattes.

Each Vertuo Line coffee pods for nespresso machine machine heats quickly and is ready to brew in less than 30 seconds. They use smaller water tanks than Original Line machines and require less maintenance. There are a myriad of models to choose from that you can choose one that is compatible with your home's style and budget.

Unlike the Original Line machines, which only brew portable nespresso pod machine capsules The Vertuo Line also brews regular, filter-brewed coffee. This is done via the spout, which is located at the bottom of machine.

VertuoLine machines come with a new brewing technology that uses centrifusion to extract gently coffee and espresso. This allows for the creation of natural crema that protects and enhances coffee aromas. The VertuoLine system also has an intelligent recognition system that adjusts extraction parameters to suit each Grand Cru blend.

Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer's guarantee and comes with a starter pack of 10 free Nespresso capsules. The company offers a subscription service that delivers new Nespresso capsules every month.

There are many VertuoLine machines to choose from, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is our choice as the top overall machine. It is simple to use, heats up quickly and comes in a variety of colors. It can make five different sizes of espresso and coffee, including a flat white, ristretto, and coffee pods for nespresso Machine lungo. It also makes a latte macchiato and can be used together with the Aeroccino milk mixer to create a cappuccino or the latte.

The VertuoPlus has one drawback, which is that it takes longer to brew when compared to other machines, specifically when making an Americano. For instance, when compared to the Bunn Fastbrew, which brewed an 8-ounce Americano in just 42 seconds, the Nespresso VertuoPlus took 1 minute and 51 seconds. You can accelerate the process if you select an automatic mode.