Nespresso Coffee Machines
Nespresso coffee makers are small and compact unlike drip coffee machines. They are simple in their black look and range in terms of price and complexity. Some include a milk froth for latte art, and can be linked to the app used by the company to manage recipes and receive descaling notifications.
The simplest machines, like our favorite, the Essenza Mini, are simple and affordable but forgo features that create more complicated drinks. Other machines can brew larger drinks, like gran lungos.
What is a Nespresso Machine?
Since 1986, Nespresso has marketed single-serve machines that make use of capsules to create coffee and espresso drinks. best nespresso machine has gained a loyal fan base thanks to its ease speed, consistency and speed in making a hot espresso-like beverage. These machines are a great alternative to brewing at-home espresso with moka pots or a drip coffee maker both of which take some time and careful cleaning after each use.
A Nespresso machine makes use of pressure to extract the flavor of a pod, then heats water and froths milk to create coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. Nespresso offers a wide selection of coffee and blends that can be adapted to your preferences and mood as well as decaffeinated and flavor options. Their machines are compact elegant, stylish and easy to operate which makes them the perfect option for those looking for a quick cup of coffee in the morning or an afternoon pick-me-up.
Original Nespresso machines, that made espresso-like shots using the company's Original capsules, were the only machines available until 2014 when the Vertuo line was introduced. The smaller model in this line is the Essenza Mini, which is super compact with a tiny water tank and a space for used capsules. Its simple operation, using only two buttons - one for an espresso and the other for a lungo--makes it simple to master.
All Nespresso machines eliminate used capsules after brewing. This is in contrast to Keurig machines that require you to manually add water each time. Depending on the size of the reservoir and the capsule storage they can store anywhere from four to 12 pods that have been used, which are disposed of into a built-in receptacle each time you open the machine.
Some of the more popular models are also compatible with the brand's mobile app, which allows you to modify recipes and order capsules from your 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 frother room. The only downside of the machine we test is that it does not support all types of milk. You'll need purchase a separate frothing tool for making drinks with whole or 2% almond milk.
The Original Line 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 create an espresso or a lungo. The Original machines have an increased pressure of 19 bars than the Vertuo models that have pumps of 15 to 18 bars.
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. However, as the Spruce says, it can account for up to a quarter of an espresso's taste. The Original line also comes with more expensive Creatista and Lattissima machines, which include built-in milk frothers that can make lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos at the touch of an button.
The Lattissima Line
This series of machines is ideal for people who prefer milky coffee drinks like cappuccinos and lattes and want one machine that can do it all. It has three customizable one-touch recipes and its 4.2-ounce milk container is removable and dishwasher safe. It's also lightweight, making it easy to move and store in a small space. Some customers have complained that it is not as intuitive as other Nespresso machines.
The jug in this machine is marked with lines that indicate the kind of beverage you want. You can choose your beverage while the machine is heating up. It has a sensor which will stop the steaming automatically when it is unable to make milk.
The Lattissima One is a good value for the money and is available in four colors including black with gray accents, dark gray, porcelain white and silky white. It's easy to clean and has an elegant design that doesn't overwhelm small spaces. It's also reasonably priced and has a price of $385/PS279.
Like the OriginalLine models, it comes with an automatic drip tray that captures any loose grounds when you pour your espresso. This feature is great for reducing mess and preventing overflow, which could spoil the taste of your espresso.
The Pro and Gran Lattissima both have a larger water tank than the Lattissima One, allowing them to hold more water before having to refill. The two models feature faster heating times (15 seconds for an Espresso and 25 seconds for Lungo) and a hot water function that can be used to make iced coffee or tea.
The only drawback to the Lattissima line is the difficulty in changing the consistency of your milk foam. It only works with skim or almond milk. Sorry Vegans and people who are allergic to dairy. The wand that froths is difficult to clean. This is a typical complaint from Nespresso users. Fortunately the Lattissima Pro and Gran Lattissima have a self-cleaning cycle that cleans the milky insides after every use of the frothing.
The Vertuo Line
The Nespresso Vertuo makes a small and concentrated cup of coffee. It's ideal for espresso lovers. Each capsule has an engraved barcode on its outer rim that is read by the machine's system to determine the amount of coffee it will make. Nespresso utilizes a unique extraction technology to ensure that you get the best 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 also integrate with the Nespresso Aeroccino milk frother to create frothy lattes and cappuccinos.
Each Vertuo Line coffee machine heats quickly and can be brewed in less than 30 seconds. They have a smaller water reservoir than the Original Line and require less maintenance. There are several models to choose from, so you can choose one that fits your style and budget.
Vertuo Line machines can also brew regular filter coffee, unlike the Original Line machines that only brew Nespresso. This is done through a separate spout situated at the bottom of machine.
VertuoLine machines are equipped with a brand new brewing technology that uses centrifusion to softly extract espresso and coffee. This allows for the creation of natural crema, which protects and enhances the coffee's aroma. The VertuoLine System also features an intelligent recognition feature that adapts the extraction parameters to each Grand Cru blend.
Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer's guarantee and a starter pack of Nespresso capsules. The company also offers a subscription service that delivers new Nespresso capsules each month.
There are a variety of VertuoLine machines to pick from, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is our pick for best overall machine. It's user-friendly, quick to heat up and comes in several colors. It can make five different sizes of espresso and coffee which include a ristretto lungo, espresso, and flat white. It can also make an espresso-latte, and it can be used with the Aeroccino Milk Frother to make lattes or cappuccino.
The VertuoPlus' only downside is that it takes longer to brew when compared to other machines, particularly when making an Americano. For instance, when compared to Bunn Fastbrew, which could brew 8-ounce Americano in just 42 seconds, the Nespresso VertuoPlus took 1 minute and 51 seconds. You can speed up the process by choosing an automatic mode.