Nespresso Coffee Maker Nespresso Machines
Nespresso coffee makers are small and compact unlike drip coffee machines. They sport a basic black design and vary in price and complexity. Some have a milk frother to make Latte art, and they can be linked with an app to manage recipes or get notifications on descaling.
The most basic machines, like our favorite the Essenza Mini, are simple and affordable but forgo features that make more complicated drinks. Other machines can also make larger drinks, like Gran Lungos.
What is an Nespresso machine?
Since 1986, Nespresso sells single-serve machines which make use of capsules to brew espresso and coffee drinks. The brand has a huge number of loyal customers thanks to the ease, speed and consistency with which 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 some time and careful cleaning after each use.
A Nespresso machine makes use of a pressure system to extract the flavor of a pod. It then heats water and froths the milk to create coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. Nespresso offers a variety of coffee and tea blends that can be adapted to different tastes and moods such as decaffeinated and flavor choices. Their machines are compact, stylish, and easy to operate and make them a great choice for those who need a quick cup of coffee in the morning or for an afternoon refreshment.
The Vertuo line replaced the original Nespresso machines in 2014, which used the Original capsules to brew espresso shots. The Essenza Mini is the smallest model of this line. It’s compact, with a small water tank and space for capsules that are used. Its user-friendly operation that has only two buttons one for espresso and another for a lungo which makes it easy to master.
All Nespresso machines automatically dispose of used capsules after the brewing. This is unlike Keurig machines, which require users to manually add water every time. Based on the size of the water reservoir and capsule storage they can store anywhere from four to 12 pods that are used up, and are disposed of in the built-in receptacle when you open the machine.
Some of the more well-known models also work with the app for mobile, which allows you to make your own recipes and reorder capsules from the comfort of 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 frother room. The only issue with the machine we tried is that it doesn’t support all types of milk. You’ll need to purchase a separate frothing tool if you wish to make drinks using whole, 2% or almond milk.
The Original Line Original Line
The Original line of pod machines includes the stylish Citiz Mini and the Essenza Mini. Both models pierce the capsule, pump hot water at high pressure through it, and produce an espresso or lungo. The original machines utilize 19 bars of pressure, which is higher than the 15 to 18 bar pumps in some of the more expensive Vertuo models.
The Vertuo machines produce a foam that is richer and thicker than the crema produced by the original machines. The crema isn’t just frost. As the Spruce notes it can account up to 25 percent of the flavor of an espresso. The Original line also comes with more expensive Creatista and Lattissima models that have built-in milk frothers to make cappuccinos, lattes 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 cup milk container can be removed and washed in the dishwasher. It’s also light, which makes it easy to transport and store in a compact space. Some users claim that it is not as intuitive as other Nespresso machines.
The jug in this machine has lines that show the type of beverage you want. You can select your beverage while the machine is heating up. It has a sensor which automatically stops the steaming when it is unable to make milk.
The Lattissima One offers a great value for money. It’s available in four colors that include porcelain white, dark gray, and silky-white. The machine is easy-to-clean and has a minimalist design that doesn’t take up too much space in smaller spaces. The machine is also moderately priced, with a suggested retail cost of $385/PS279
It comes with an automatic drip tray, just like the OriginalLine models. This tray catches any loose ground while you pour espresso. This feature is fantastic for minimizing mess and preventing overflow, which can ruin the taste of your espresso.
The Pro and Gran Lattissima have larger water tanks than the Lattissima One. This allows them to hold more liquid without needing to refill. These two models have an earlier time to heat up (15 seconds for an Espresso and 25 seconds for Lungo) and hot water functions that can be used to make tea or iced espresso.
The only drawback to the Lattissima line is the difficulty in altering the consistency of your milk foam. The machine only works with almond or skim milk. Sorry Vegans and people who are not tolerant to dairy. The wand for frothing can be tricky to clean and is a common complaint from nespresso machine with milk frother owners. Fortunately, the Lattissima Pro and Gran Lattissima have a self-cleaning cycle that cleans the milky innards after every use of the frother.
The Vertuo Line
The Nespresso Vertuo makes a small but concentrated cup of coffee. It’s the perfect choice for those who love espresso. Each capsule has a barcode around the outside of its rim, which is read by the machine’s software to determine the size of drink it can create. nespresso coffee maker uses an exclusive extraction method to ensure 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 are compatible with the Nespresso Aeroccino milk frother to make frothy cappuccinos and lattes.
Each Vertuo Line machine heats up quickly and can be brewed in about 30 minutes. They have a smaller water reservoir than the Original Line and require less maintenance. There are a myriad of models to choose from and you can pick one that suits your style as well as your budget.
Vertuo Line machines can also make regular filter coffee machines for nespresso pods, unlike the Original Line machines that only make Nespresso. It does this by using a separate spout at the bottom of the machine.
VertuoLine machines come with a brand new nespresso coffee machine brewing technology that makes use of centrifusion to extract gently espresso and coffee. This enables the creation of an organic crema that preserves and enhances the quality of coffee aromas. The VertuoLine System also comes with an intelligent recognition feature that can adjust the extraction parameters to each Grand Cru blend.
Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer’s assurance and a starter pack of Nespresso capsules. The company also offers an optional subscription service that sends new nespresso white machine capsules each month.
While there are many different VertuoLine machines to pick from, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is our pick as the top overall machine. It’s easy to operate, quick to heat up and comes in a variety of colors. It can create five different sizes of espresso and coffee including a flat white, ristretto and lungo. It also brews a Latte macchiato, and can be combined together with the Aeroccino milk mixer to create a cappuccino or latte.
The only issue with the VertuoPlus is that it takes a little longer to make a cup than other machines, especially when making an Americano. Comparing the Bunn Fastbrew to the Nespresso VertuoPlus, which can brew an 8-ounce Americano in just 42 seconds, the VertuoPlus took 1 minute, 51 seconds. You can speed up the process by making sure you choose an automatic mode.
