Nespresso Coffee Machines

Contrary to drip coffee makers Nespresso models are compact and compact. They're black-colored and vary in terms of price and complexity. Some come with a milk frother to create latte art. They can also be connected to the app used by the company to manage recipes and receive descaling alerts.

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 a Nespresso machine?

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

A Nespresso machine uses the pressure system to extract the flavor of a pod. It then heats water and makes froths of the milk to make coffee drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. Nespresso provides a range of coffee and blends that can be adapted to your mood and taste with decaffeinated and flavored options. Their machines are compact elegant, stylish, and simple to use which makes them the perfect choice for those who need an instant cup of coffee in the morning or for an afternoon refreshment.

The Vertuo line was introduced to replace the Nespresso machines in 2014, using capsules that were the Original capsules to make espresso shots. The Essenza Mini is the smallest model in this line. It's compact and has a small water tank, and room for used capsules. Its user-friendly operation that has only two buttons one for espresso and another for lungo is easy to master.

All Nespresso machines eliminate used capsules after making. This is different from Keurig machines that require you to manually add the water each time. Based on the size of the water reservoir and capsule storage they can store up to 12 used pods, which are discarded into the built-in receptacle when you open the machine.

Some of the most popular models also support the brand's mobile app, which allows you to modify recipes and order capsules from home. We tested this feature on the sleek, stainless steel Vertuo Creatista, which also allows you to make hot chocolate and iced coffee using an ice-making chamber that is specifically designed for frothing. The only downside of the machine we tried is that it doesn't support all milk types. You will need to purchase a separate frothing device for making drinks with whole almond, 2% or 2% milk.

The Original Line

The Original line of pod-only machines includes the stylish Citiz and the Essenza Mini. Both models penetrate the capsule, pump hot water at high pressure, and deliver an espresso or lungo. The Original machines use an increased pressure of 19 bars than the Vertuo models that have pumps that range from 15 to 18 bars.

The Original machines produce crema (a thin layer of tiny microbubbles on the top of the espresso) which is more dense and richer than the foam in the Vertuo line. The crema isn't just froth. As the Spruce says, it could make up as much as 25 percent of the flavor of an espresso. The Original line is more expensive and comes with Creatista or Lattissima espresso machine with built-in milk frothers that can make lattes and cappuccinos at the press of one button.

The Lattissima Line

This line is ideal for those who need a machine 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 dishwasher-safe and dishwasher-safe. It is also lightweight 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 in this machine has lines that show the kind of beverage you'd like. You can choose your beverage while the machine is heating. It comes with a sensor that automatically stops the steaming when it runs out of milk.

The Lattissima One is a good value for money and is available in four colors: black with gray accents, dark gray porcelain white, and silky white. The machine is easy to clean and features a an uncluttered design that won't overwhelm small spaces. It's also fairly affordable, with a retail price of $385/PS279.

It has an automatic drip tray similar to the OriginalLine models. The tray is designed to catch any loose ground when you pour espresso. This feature is ideal to prevent spills and overflow, which could spoil the flavor of your espresso.

The Pro and Gran Lattissima both have a larger water tank than the Lattissima One, allowing them to hold more liquid before having to refill. Both models also have a speedier heating time (as as little 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 downside to the Lattissima is the difficulty of adjusting the consistency and the density of your milk foam. The machine only works with skim or almond milk. Sorry vegans and those who are allergic to dairy. The wand that froths is difficult to clean. This is a frequent complaint from Nespresso users. Fortunately, the Lattissima Pro and Gran Lattissima have a self-cleaning mechanism that cleans the milky insides after each use of the frothing.

The Vertuo Line

A Nespresso Vertuo machine makes a small cup of coffee that's perfect for those who love espresso and prefer a short and intense drink. The machine scans the barcode on the outer rim of each capsule in order to determine the amount of coffee it can make. Nespresso's Vertuo capsules are extracted using an exclusive technology.

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

Each Vertuo Line coffee machine heats quickly and can be brewed in less than 30 seconds. They have a smaller reservoir for water than the Original Line and require less maintenance. There are many models available and you can pick one that suits your home's style and budget.

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

VertuoLine machines come with a new brewing technology that uses centrifusion to softly extract coffee and espresso. This enables the creation of a natural crema that protects and enhances the coffee's aromas. The VertuoLine system also has an intelligent recognition system that alters the extraction parameters to match each Grand Cru blend.

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

There are a variety of VertuoLine machines to choose from, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is our choice for best overall machine. It is easy to use, heats up quickly and comes in a variety of colors. It can make five different sizes of coffee and espresso, including a ristretto, lungo, espresso and flat white. It can also make an espresso-latte, and it can be used in conjunction with the Aeroccino Milk Frother for the creation of lattes or cappuccino.

The only issue with the VertuoPlus is that it takes longer to prepare than other machines, specifically when making an Americano. Comparing the Bunn Fastbrew to the pink nespresso machine 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.