Nespresso Coffee Machines

Nespresso coffee makers are compact and small unlike drip coffee machines. They have a basic black aesthetic and range in price and complexity. Some include a milk froth for latte art and can be linked to the app of the company to manage recipes and receive descaling notifications.

The Essenza Mini is a simple machine that is reasonably priced however it lacks the features required to make complex drinks. Other machines can brew bigger drinks, such as gran lungos.

What is a Nespresso Machine?

Since 1986, Nespresso sells single-serve machines which use capsules to brew coffee drinks and espresso. The brand has a loyal following due to its ease of use speed, consistency and speed in brewing a hot espresso-like drink. They can be an ideal alternative to brewing at-home espresso with moka pots or drip coffee maker both of which take the time and care to clean after each use.

A Nespresso machine makes use of pressure to extract the flavor from a pod, then heats water and froths milk to make coffee drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos. Nespresso offers a wide selection of blends and coffees that can be adapted to your mood and taste, including decaffeinated and flavored choices. The machines are compact, stylish, and easy to use, making them the ideal choice for those who need an instant cup of coffee in the morning or for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Original Nespresso machines that made espresso-like shots using 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 in this line. It is small and has a small water tank and space for capsules that are used. Its easy-to-use operation with only two buttons one for espresso and another for lungo which makes it easy to master.

All nespresso vertuo Plus machine machines automatically dispose of capsules that are used after the brewing. This is different from Keurig machines, which require you to manually add the water every time. Based on the size of the water reservoir and storage for capsules the capsules can hold between four and 12 pods that are used up, and are discarded into the built-in receptacle every time you open the machine.

A few of the most sought-after models can be used with the mobile app of the company, which lets you to customize recipes and order 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 tested was that it doesn't support all milk varieties, requiring you to buy an additional frothing tool if you plan to make drinks with whole or 2% almond milk.

The Original Line

The Original line of pod machines includes the stylish Citiz Mini and 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 use 19 bars of pressure, which is higher than the 15 to 18 bar pumps in some of the more expensive Vertuo models.

The Original machines produce crema (a thin layer of tiny microbubbles that sits on top of the espresso), which is thicker and more rich than the foam found in the Vertuo line. The crema is more than just froth, though--as the Spruce states, it could be responsible for as much as 25% of espresso's flavor. The Original line also has more expensive Creatista and Lattissima machines that include built-in milk frothers that can make lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos at the push of a button.

The Lattissima Line

This line is perfect for those looking for an appliance that can make cappuccinos lattes and other milky coffee drinks. It has three customizable recipes and its 4.2 ounce milk container can be removed and washed in the dishwasher. It's also light and easy to store and transport in small areas. Some users claim that it's not as intuitive as other Nespresso machines.

Its jug has drink-specific lines etched into it, so you can decide beforehand which drink you'd like to prepare before the machine is heating up. It comes with a sensor that stops steaming at the moment it runs out of milk.

The Lattissima One is a good value for its price and is available in four colors that include black with gray accents, dark gray, porcelain white and silky white. It's easy to clean and features a an elegant design that doesn't overpower small spaces. It's also fairly affordable and has a price of $385/PS279.

It comes with an automatic drip tray, exactly like the OriginalLine models. This tray will catch any loose ground when you pour espresso. It's a nice option to minimize the mess, and helps to prevent spills that could spoil the flavor 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 to refill. The two models also have a quicker heat-up time (as little as 15 seconds for an espresso and 25 seconds for lungo) and have an enhanced hot water function to make tea or iced coffee.

The only real disadvantage of the Lattissima line is the difficulty of altering the consistency of your milk foam. It only works with skim or almond milk. Sorry Vegans and those who are not tolerant to dairy. The wand that froths can be difficult to clean, Nespresso Vertuo Plus Machine which is a common complaint from Nespresso owners. The Lattissima Pro or Gran Lattissima features a self-cleaning function that removes the milky interior of the frother after every use.

The Vertuo Line

A delonghi nespresso coffee machine Vertuo machine makes a small cup of coffee that's ideal for espresso lovers who prefer a quick and intense drink. Each capsule is equipped with a barcode around its outer rim that is read by the machine's computer to determine what size beverage it will make. Nespresso uses a unique extraction technology to ensure that you get the most flavor from each Vertuo pod.

Vertuo Line has a variety of drinks including Ristretto, Espresso, Lungo (mini espresso), Americano, and Cappuccino. The machines also are compatible with the Nespresso Aeroccino milk frother to create frothy lattes and cappuccinos.

Each Vertuo Line machine heats up quickly and is ready to brew in just 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 is compatible with your design and budget.

Vertuo Line machines can also brew regular filter coffee, unlike the Original Line machines that only brew Nespresso. This is done via an additional spout that is that is located at the bottom of the machine.

VertuoLine machines feature a new system of brewing that softly extracts espresso and coffee using the unique centrifusion technology. This allows for the creation of natural crema, which protects and enhances coffee aromas. The VertuoLine system also features an intelligent recognition system that alters the extraction parameters to match each Grand Cru blend.

Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer's assurance and a starter pack of Nespresso capsules. The company also offers a subscription service that delivers fresh new Nespresso capsules each month.

The Nespresso VertuoPlus machine is the top overall machine. It's simple to operate, quick to heat up and comes in several colors. It can make five different sizes of coffee and espresso including flat white, ristretto and lungo. It also brews a latte macchiato, Nespresso Vertuo Plus Machine and can be combined together with the Aeroccino milk mixer to create a cappuccino or Latte.

The only drawback to the VertuoPlus is that it takes a little longer to make a cup than other machines, particularly when making an Americano. Comparing the Bunn Fastbrew to the Nespresso VertuoPlus, which can brew an 8-ounce Americano in just 42 seconds, it took 1 minute and 51 seconds. You can speed up the process by choosing an automatic mode.