Nespresso Coffee Machines
Nespresso coffee makers are compact and small and are not as bulky as drip coffee machines. They're black-colored and range in terms of price and complexity. Some include a milk frother that can be used to create latte art, and they can be linked to an app to manage recipes or receive notifications about descaling.
The simplest machines, like our favorite, the Essenza Mini, are simple and affordable but forgo features that make more complicated drinks. Other machines can also make larger sizes of drinks like grand lungos.
What is a Nespresso Machine?
Since 1986, Nespresso sells single-serve machines that use capsules to make coffee and espresso. The brand has an army of loyal customers thanks to the speed, ease, and consistency with which their machines can make an espresso-like hot beverage. These machines are a great alternative to brewing at home espresso using a moka pot or drip coffee maker both of which take some time and careful cleaning after each use.
A Nespresso machine uses pressure to extract the flavor of the pod, then it heats water and froths milk for coffee drinks such as lattes or cappuccinos. Nespresso offers a wide selection of coffee and blends that can be customized to suit your mood and taste as well as decaffeinated and flavor choices. The machines are compact elegant, stylish and easy to use, making them the ideal option for those looking for a quick cup of coffee in the morning or for an afternoon energy boost.
The Vertuo line replaced the Nespresso original machines in 2014, which used the Original capsules to brew espresso shots. The Essenza Mini is the smallest model of this line. nespresso vertuo machine is small, with a small water tank and room for capsules that are used. Its easy-to-use operation with only two buttons one for espresso, and another for lungo - makes it simple to master.
Contrary to Keurig machines, which require you to add water manually prior to each use, all Nespresso models automatically dispose of any used capsule after brewing. Based on the size of the reservoir and the capsule storage the capsules can hold between four and 12 used pods, which are disposed of in a built-in receptacle each time you open the machine.
A few of the most sought-after models can be used with the mobile app of the brand, which allows users to create custom recipes and to reorder capsules at home. We tested this feature on the sleek, stainless steel Vertuo Creatista, which also allows you to make hot chocolate and iced coffee with the frothing chamber that is built-in to the. The only downside of the machine we tried is that it doesn't support all milk types. You'll need purchase a separate frothing machine in order to make drinks using whole almond, 2% or 2% milk.
The Original Line Original Line
The Original line of pod machines includes the stylish Citiz Mini and Essenza Mini. Both models are pierced by the capsule, and then pump hot water at high pressure, and produce an espresso or lungo. The Original machines use 19 bars of pressure which is higher than the 15 to 18 bar pumps in some of the more expensive Vertuo models.
The Vertuo machines create a foam that is richer and more dense than the crema produced by the Original machines. The crema is more than just froth, though--as the Spruce states, it could be responsible for as much as 25% of espresso's taste. The Original line also has more expensive Creatista and Lattissima machines that have built-in milk frothers to create cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos at the push of an button.
The Lattissima Line
This line of machines is perfect for those who enjoy milky coffee drinks, such as cappuccinos and lattes and need a machine that can do everything. 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 tight space. However, some users say it's not as intuitive to use as other Nespresso models.
The jug's lines for drinks are etched into it, so you can pre-select which beverage you want to make while the machine is heating up. It has a sensor which automatically stops the steaming when it runs out of milk.
The Lattissima One is a good value for the money and is 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 minimalist design that won't overwhelm smaller rooms. The machine is also reasonably priced, with a retail price of $385/PS279
It has an automatic drip tray just like the OriginalLine models. This tray catches any loose ground as you pour espresso. It's a nice option to minimize the mess, and helps to avoid spills that can alter the taste of your beverage.
The Pro and Gran Lattissima have larger water tanks than the Lattissima One. This allows them to hold more liquid without having refill. The two models feature a quicker heat-up time (15 seconds for an Espresso and 25 seconds for Lungo) and hot water functions that can be used to make tea or iced espresso.
The only issue with the Lattissima is the difficulty of changing the consistency and density of the foam you make with your milk. 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 almond or vegetable milks. The wand that froths is difficult to clean. This is a common complaint from Nespresso users. Fortunately the Lattissima Pro and Gran Lattissima come with a self-cleaning system that cleans the milky insides after every use of the frother.
The Vertuo Line
The Nespresso Vertuo makes a small and concentrated cup of coffee. It's perfect for those who love espresso. Each capsule is equipped with an engraved barcode on its outer rim that is read by the machine's software to determine the size of drink it will create. Nespresso uses a unique extraction technology to ensure you get the most flavor from each Vertuo pod.
The Vertuo Line offers a wide variety of drinks, including Ristretto (mini espresso), Espresso, Lungo, Americano and Cappuccino. The machines can also be used 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 have a smaller reservoir of water than the Original Line and require less maintenance. There are a variety of models available and you can pick one that fits your design and budget.
Contrary to the Original Line machines, which only brew Nespresso capsules however, 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 revolutionary brewing technique that uses centrifusion to softly extract espresso and coffee. This allows for the creation of natural crema, which preserves and enhances the coffee's aroma. The VertuoLine System also comes with an intelligent recognition feature that can adjust the extraction parameters to each Grand Cru blend.
Each VertuoLine machine is covered by a manufacturer's warranty. It also comes with a starter pack of 10 free Nespresso capsules. The company also offers a subscription service that sends new Nespresso capsules every month.
There are many VertuoLine machines to pick from however, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is our choice for best overall machine. It is simple to use, warms up quickly and comes in a range of colors. It can make five different sizes of espresso and coffee, including a ristretto, espresso, lungo and flat white. It also makes a latte-macchiato, and it can be used in conjunction with the Aeroccino Milk Frother to make lattes or cappuccino.
The VertuoPlus has only one disadvantage, that it takes longer to brew compared to other machines, especially when making an Americano. In comparison, for instance, to Bunn Fastbrew, which brewed 8-ounce Americano in just 42 seconds the Nespresso VertuoPlus brewed it in 1 minute and 51 seconds. You can accelerate the process if you choose an automatic mode.