Nespresso Coffee Machines

Unlike drip coffee makers, Nespresso models are small and compact. They're black in color and range in terms of price and complexity. Some have a milk frother that can be used to create Latte art, and they can be linked to an app to manage recipes or receive descaling notifications.

The most basic machines, like our pick, the Essenza Mini, are simple and inexpensive, but they do not have features that can make more complex drinks. Other machines can brew bigger sizes of drinks, like gran lungos.

What is an Nespresso machine?

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

A Nespresso machine makes use of pressure to extract the flavor from the pod, then it heats water and froths milk for coffee drinks such as lattes or cappuccinos. Nespresso offers a wide selection of tea and coffee blends to fit different moods and tastes, including flavored and decaffeinated choices. The machines are compact, stylish, and easy to operate and make them a great choice for those who need a quick cup of coffee in the morning or an afternoon refreshment.

Original Nespresso machines that make espresso-like shots using the company's Original capsules were the only machines available until 2014, when the Vertuo line was launched. The Essenza Mini is the smallest model in this line. It is small and has a small water tank, and room for capsules that are used. Its easy-to-use operation with only two buttons - one for an espresso, and another for lungos which makes it easy to master.

Contrary to Keurig machines, which require you to add water manually before each use, all Krups Nespresso Pixie Coffee Machine - Titanium Gray models automatically dispose of the capsules that are used after making. The machines can hold anything from four to twelve pods used up, based on the size of their water reservoirs and capsule storage. They are then thrown away into the built-in receptacle each time you open the machine.

Many of the most well-known models are compatible with the mobile app of the brand, which lets you customize recipes and reorder 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 by using a dedicated room for frothing. The only downside to the machine we test was that it didn't support all milk varieties which means you'll need to purchase an additional frothing tool if you plan to make drinks using whole milk, 2%, or almond milk.

The Original Line

The Original line of pod machines includes the elegant Citiz Mini and Essenza Mini. Both machines are pierced by the capsule and then pump hot water at a high pressure through it, delivering an espresso or a lungo. The Original machines have higher pressure of 19 bars than the Vertuo models that have pumps that range from 15 to 18 bars.

The Vertuo machines produce foam that is more dense and thicker than the crema produced by the original machines. The crema is more than just foam but also. As the Spruce states, it can make up for up to 25% of an espresso's flavor. The Original line also comes with more expensive Creatista and Lattissima machines that come with built-in milk frothers to create cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos at the push of the button.

The Lattissima Line

This line of machines is ideal for people who prefer milky coffee drinks, such as cappuccinos and lattes and want one machine that can handle it all. It has three customizable one-touch recipes and its 4.2-ounce milk container is reusable and dishwasher-safe. It's also light, making it easy to move and store in a small space. However, some users say it's not as intuitive to use as other Nespresso models.

The jug's lines for drinks are in it, so you can choose the beverage you'd like to make as the machine is heating up. It is equipped with a sensor that stops steaming at the moment it runs out of milk.

The Lattissima One offers a great value for money. It's available in four different colors including porcelain white, dark gray and silky-white. The machine is easy-to-clean and has a minimalistic aesthetic that won't overwhelm smaller rooms. It's also reasonably priced, with a retail price of $385/PS279.

It comes with an automatic drip tray just like the OriginalLine models. This tray will catch any loose ground when you pour espresso. It's a great feature to minimize the mess, and helps prevent overflow that could spoil the flavor of your drink.

The Pro and Gran Lattissima have larger water tanks than the Lattissima One. This allows them to hold more liquid without having to refill. The two models also have a quicker heating time (as as short as 15 seconds for espresso and 25 seconds for a lungo) and also have an improved hot water function that can be used to make tea or iced coffee.

The only real disadvantage of the Lattissima line is the difficulty of changing the consistency of the milk foam. The machine is only compatible with almond or skim milk. Sorry Vegans and those who are allergic to dairy. Its frothing wand can also be difficult to clean, which is a common complaint from Nespresso owners. The Lattissima Pro or Gran Lattissima has a self-cleaning feature that scrubs the milky insides of the frother after each use.

The Vertuo Line

The Nespresso Vertuo makes a small and concentrated cup of coffee. It's the perfect choice for espresso lovers. The machine reads the barcode that is located on the outer rim of each capsule in order to determine how much coffee it will make. Nespresso's Vertuo capsules are extracted using an exclusive technology.

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 machine heats up quickly and is ready to brew in about 30 minutes. They have a smaller reservoir for water than the Original Line and require less maintenance. There are a variety of models to choose from, so you can find the one that is compatible with your style and budget.

In contrast to the Original Line machines, which only make Nespresso capsules The Vertuo Line also brews regular filter-brewed coffee. This is done through a separate spout located at the bottom of machine.

VertuoLine machines have a brand new brewing system that gently extracts espresso and coffee by using patented centrifusion technology. This allows the creation of natural crema that protects and enhances the coffee's aroma. The VertuoLine system also has an intelligent recognition system that adjusts extraction parameters to match each Grand Cru blend.

Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer's assurance and an initial pack of Nespresso Original Coffee Machine capsules. The company also offers a subscription service which delivers new Nespresso capsules every month.

There are a variety of VertuoLine machines to pick from but the Nespresso VertuoPlus is our pick for best overall machine. It's simple to operate, quick to heat up and comes in several colors. It can produce five different sizes of coffee and espresso including a ristretto lungo, espresso, and flat white. It also makes the latte-macchiato and can be used in conjunction with the Aeroccino Milk Frother to create cappuccino or lattes.

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