Nespresso Coffee Machines

Nespresso coffee makers are small and compact unlike drip coffee machines. They have a basic black look and range in price and complexity. Some come with a milk frother for latte art and can be connected to the app of the company to manage recipes and receive descaling alerts.

The simplest machines, like our choice, the Essenza Mini, are simple and affordable but forgo features that create more complicated drinks. Other machines can brew bigger drinks, such as Gran lungos.

What is an Nespresso Machine?

Since 1986, Nespresso sells single-serve machines which make use of capsules to brew coffee and espresso. The brand has an army of loyal customers thanks to the ease, speed and consistency their machines can make a hot, espresso-like beverage. These machines are a great alternative to brewing at-home espresso with a moka pot or drip coffee maker, both of which require the time and care to clean after each use.

A Nespresso Coffee machine machine makes use of pressure to extract the flavor from the pod, and then heats water and froths milk to create coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. nespresso coffe machine offers a wide selection of coffee and tea blends that can be adapted to different moods and tastes such as decaffeinated and flavor options. Their machines are compact elegant, stylish and easy to operate, making them the ideal option for those looking for an easy cup of coffee in the morning or a mid-day pick-me-up.

Original Nespresso machines, that make espresso-like shots using the company's Original capsules, were the only machines on the market until 2014, when the Vertuo line was launched. The Essenza Mini is the smallest model of this line. It's compact and has a small water tank and room for used capsules. Its easy-to-use operation with only two buttons one for espresso, and another for lungos is easy to master.

In contrast to Keurig machines that require the user to manually add water prior to every use, all Nespresso models automatically dispose of any capsule that is not used after brewing. They can store between four and twelve pods used up, based on the size of their water reservoirs and capsule storage. They are then thrown away into the built-in receptacle each time you open the machine.

Some of the most popular models are also compatible with the app for mobile, which allows you to customize recipes and reorder 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 by using a dedicated room for frothing. The only issue with the machine we tested is that it does not support all types of milk. You'll need to purchase a separate frothing device in order to make drinks using whole or 2% almond milk.

The Original Line

The Original line of pod-only machines include the stylish Citiz and the Essenza Mini. Both machines are pierced by the capsule and pump hot water at high pressure through it to create an espresso or a lungo. The Original machines use a higher pressure of 19 bars than the Vertuo models, which have pumps of 15 to 18 bars.

The original machines create a crema (a thin layer of tiny microbubbles on the top of the espresso), which is thicker and richer than the foam of the Vertuo line. The crema is more than just froth, though--as the Spruce states, it could make up one quarter of espresso's taste. The Original line offers more expensive Creatista or Lattissima espresso machines with built-in milk frothers to make lattes and cappuccinos at the press of one button.

The Lattissima Line

This line is perfect for those looking for machines that can make cappuccinos, lattes and other milky coffee drinks. It comes with three user-friendly recipes and its 4.2-ounce milk container is removable and dishwasher-safe. It's also light, making it easy to move and store in a tight space. Some users claim that it's not as intuitive as other Nespresso machines.

The jug in this machine has lines that indicate the type of beverage you'd like. You can select your beverage while the machine is heating up. It comes with a sensor that automatically stops the steaming 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 uncluttered design that won't overpower small spaces. The machine is also moderately priced, with a retail price of $385/PS279

It has an automatic drip tray exactly like the OriginalLine models. The tray is designed to catch any loose ground as you pour espresso. It's a nice feature to reduce mess, and it helps to prevent spills that can alter the taste of your drink.

The Pro and Gran Lattissima both have a larger water tank than the Lattissima One, allowing them to hold more liquid prior to needing to refill. The two models feature faster heating times (15 seconds for an Espresso and 25 seconds for a Lungo) and hot water functions that can be used to make iced or tea.

The only real drawback of the Lattissima line is the difficulty in 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 is difficult to clean. This is a typical complaint from Nespresso users. The Lattissima Pro or Gran Lattissima comes with a self-cleaning feature that scrubs the milky insides of the frothing wand after each use.

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, intense drink. Each capsule is equipped with an engraved barcode on its outer rim that is read by the machine's computer to determine the amount of coffee it can create. Nespresso's Vertuo pods are extracted with an innovative technology.

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

Each Vertuo Line coffee machine heats quickly and can be brewed 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, so you can choose one that fits your home's style and budget.

Contrary to the Original Line machines, which only make Nespresso capsules The Vertuo Line also brews regular, filter-brewed coffee. It does this by using a separate spout at the bottom of the machine.

VertuoLine machines are equipped with a revolutionary brewing technique that uses centrifusion to softly extract espresso and coffee. This allows the creation of natural crema that protects and enhances coffee aromas. The VertuoLine system also features an intelligent recognition system that adjusts extraction parameters to suit each Grand Cru blend.

Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer's guarantee and comes with the starter pack of 10 free Nespresso capsules. The company offers a subscription service that delivers new Nespresso capsules each month.

There are a variety of VertuoLine machines to choose from, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is our pick as the top overall machine. It's easy to operate and heats up quickly and comes in a variety of colors. It can produce five different sizes of coffee and espresso, including a ristretto, lungo, espresso, and flat white. It also makes the latte-macchiato and can be used in conjunction 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, specifically when making an Americano. Comparing the Bunn Fastbrew to the Nespresso VertuoPlus, which can make an 8-ounce Americano within 42 seconds, it took 1 minute and 51 seconds. It is possible to speed up the process by selecting an automatic mode.