Don't Buy Into These "Trends" About Nespresso Machine

Nespresso Coffee Machines

In contrast to drip coffee makers, Nespresso models are small and compact. They are simple in their black aesthetic and range in price and complexity. Some come with a milk frother to make latte art, and they can be connected to an app to manage recipes or get notifications on descaling.

The simplest machines, like our favorite, the Essenza Mini, are simple and affordable, but they leave out features that create more complicated drinks. Other machines can brew bigger sizes of drinks, like Gran lungos.

What is an Nespresso Machine?

Since 1986, Nespresso sells single-serve machines that use capsules to make coffee and espresso. The brand has gained a devoted following because of its ease, speed and consistency in brewing a hot espresso-like drink. These machines can be a great alternative to brewing at-home espresso with a moka pot or drip coffee maker both of which take time and careful cleaning after each use.

A nespresso machine​ machine makes use of pressure to extract the flavor from the pod, then it heats water and froths milk for coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. Nespresso offers a variety of coffee and blends that can be customized to fit your preferences and mood with decaffeinated and flavored choices. Their machines are small, stylish, and easy to use and make them a great choice for those who need an easy cup of coffee in the morning or a mid-day pick-me-up.

Original Nespresso machines that brew espresso-style shots from the company's Original capsules were the only machines on the market until 2014, when the Vertuo line was introduced. The Essenza Mini is the smallest model of this line. It's compact, with a small water tank and space for used capsules. Its simple operation, with just two buttons - one for an espresso and another for lungo - makes it simple to master.

Contrary to Keurig machines that require you to add water manually prior to each use, all Nespresso models automatically discard any used capsule after making. Based on the size of the reservoir and storage for capsules, these can hold anywhere from four to 12 pods that are used up, and are disposed of into a built-in receptacle each time you open the machine.

Some of the most popular models are compatible with the mobile app from the brand, which lets users to create custom recipes and to reorder capsules from home. This feature was tested on the sleek stainless steel Vertuo Creatista. It also allows you to make hot coffee as well as iced tea with a separate frothing room. The only drawback to the machine we test was that it didn't support all types of milk, requiring you to buy an additional frothing tool if you wish to make drinks using whole milk, 2%, or almond milk.

The Original Line

The Original line of pod-only machines include the elegant Citiz and the Essenza Mini. Both machines are pierced by the capsule and pump hot water through it to deliver an espresso or a lungo. The Original machines have a higher pressure of 19 bars than some of the Vertuo models that have pumps ranging from 15 to 18 bars.

The Vertuo machines create a foam that is richer and thicker than the crema produced by the Original machines. The crema is more than just froth. As the Spruce notes, it can make up 25% of espresso's flavor. The Original line comes with more expensive Creatista or Lattissima espresso machines that have built-in milk frothers to make lattes and cappuccinos at the press of one button.

The Lattissima Line

This line is ideal for those who need machines that can make cappuccinos, lattes, and other milky coffee drinks. It offers three customizable one-touch recipes and its 4.2-ounce milk container is removable and dishwasher-safe. It is also lightweight and easy to store and move around in small spaces. However, some users say it's not as easy to use as other Nespresso models.

Its jug has drink-specific lines in it, so you can choose the beverage you'd like to prepare before the machine heats 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 the price. It's available in four different colors that include porcelain white, dark gray, and silky-white. The machine is easy-to-clean and has a minimalistic aesthetic that doesn't take up too much space in smaller spaces. It's also relatively affordable and has a price of $385/PS279.

Similar to the OriginalLine models, it has an automatic drip tray that collects any loose grounds when you pour your espresso. It's a nice option for minimizing mess, and also helps to avoid spills which could affect 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 needing refill. The two models feature 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 tea or iced espresso.

The only downside to the Lattissima is the difficulty in altering the consistency and thickness of your milk foam. The machine only works with almond or skim milk. Sorry Vegans and those who are allergic to dairy. The wand for frothing is difficult to clean. This is a typical complaint from Nespresso users. Fortunately the Lattissima Pro and Gran Lattissima come with a self-cleaning system that cleans the milky innards after every use of the frothing.

The Vertuo Line

The Nespresso Vertuo makes a small but concentrated cup of coffee. It's perfect for espresso lovers. Each capsule is equipped with an engraved barcode on the outside of its rim, which is read by the machine's system to determine the amount of coffee it should create. Nespresso utilizes an innovative extraction process to ensure that you get the best flavor from each Vertuo pod.

Vertuo Line has a variety of drinks like Ristretto, Espresso, Lungo (mini espresso), Americano, and Cappuccino. The machines also work with the nespresso cappuccino machine Aeroccino milk frother to create frothy lattes and cappuccinos.

Each Vertuo Line machine heats up quickly and can be brewed in about 30 minutes. They have a smaller water tank than the Original Line machines and require less maintenance. There are many models available and you can pick one that suits your style and budget.

Vertuo Line machines can also brew regular filter coffee, unlike the Original Line machines that only make Nespresso. This is done through a separate spout that is located at the bottom of the machine.

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

Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer's warranty and includes an initial pack of 10 free Nespresso capsules. The company also offers an optional subscription service that delivers fresh new Nespresso capsules each month.

There are many VertuoLine machines to pick from, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is our pick for best overall machine. It is easy to use, warms up quickly and comes in a variety of colors. It can make five different sizes of espresso and coffee, including a ristretto, lungo, espresso and flat white. It also brews a latte macchiato and is able to be used together with the Aeroccino milk mixer to make a cappuccino or the latte.

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