Nespresso Coffee Machines
Contrary to drip coffee makers Nespresso models are small and compact. They're black in color and vary in price and sophistication. Some include a milk froth to create latte art. They can also be linked to the app used by the company to manage recipes and receive descaling notifications.
The most basic machines, such as our pick the Essenza Mini, are simple and inexpensive, but they do not have features that can make more complex drinks. Other machines can brew larger sizes of drinks like grand lungos.
What is what is a Nespresso Machine?
Since 1986, Nespresso has marketed single-serve machines that utilize capsules to make espresso and coffee drinks. The brand has gained a loyal fan base due to its ease of use of use, speed and consistency when brewing a hot espresso-like drink. These machines are a great alternative to making espresso at home with a moka pot, both of which require time and care after each use.
A Nespresso machine uses pressure to extract the flavor from the pod, and then heats water and froths milk for coffee drinks such as lattes or cappuccinos. Nespresso offers a variety of tea and coffee blends to fit different tastes and moods as well as decaffeinated and flavored choices. Their machines are small elegant, stylish, and simple to operate which makes them the perfect choice for those who need a quick cup of coffee in the morning or an afternoon pick-me-up.
Original Nespresso machines, which 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 most compact model in the line is the Essenza Mini, which is extremely compact, with a small water tank as well as a room for used capsules. Its easy-to-use operation with only two buttons one for espresso, and the other for lungos which makes it easy to master.
All Nespresso machines automatically dispose of used capsules after brewing. This is different from Keurig machines that require users to manually add water each time. Depending on the size of the reservoir and storage for capsules the capsules can hold between four and 12 pods that have been used, which are disposed of into a built-in receptacle each time you open the machine.
Some of the most popular models also work with the mobile app of the brand, which allows you to modify recipes and order capsules from the comfort of your home. We tested this feature on the sleek, stainless steel Vertuo Creatista, which also lets you make hot chocolate and iced drinks using an ice-making chamber that is specifically designed for frothing. The only downside of the machine we test is that it does not support all types of milk. You will need to purchase a separate frothing device in order to make drinks with whole almond, 2% or 2% milk.
The Original Line Original Line
The Original line of pod-only machines include the sleek Citiz and the Essenza Mini. Both models are pierced by the capsule, then pump hot water under high pressure, and deliver an espresso or lungo. The Original machines have a higher pressure of 19 bars than the Vertuo models, which have pumps ranging from 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 notes, it can make up a quarter of an espresso's taste. The Original line also has more expensive Creatista and Lattissima machines that come with built-in milk frothers to make lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos at the touch of the button.
The Lattissima Line
This line is perfect for those who need machines that can make cappuccinos lattes and other milky coffee drinks. It has three customizable recipes and its 4.2 cup milk container is easily removed and washed in the dishwasher. It is also lightweight and easy to store and transport in small spaces. Some users claim that it's not as intuitive as other Nespresso machines.
The jug of this machine is marked with lines that indicate the type of beverage you'd like to drink. You can choose your beverage while the machine is heating. It also has a sensor that automatically stops steaming when the jug is empty and prevents the waste of milk.
The Lattissima One is a good value for the money, and it's available in four colors that include black with gray accents, dark gray, porcelain white and silky white. It's easy to clean and has a minimalist design that doesn't take up too much space in smaller spaces. It's also fairly affordable and has a price of $385/PS279.
It has an automatic drip tray, just like the OriginalLine models. This tray will catch any loose ground while you pour espresso. This feature is great to prevent spills and overflow, which could ruin the flavor 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 faster heating times (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 downside to the Lattissima is the difficulty of changing the consistency and the density of your milk foam. The machine is only compatible with skim milk (sorry vegans and those who are lactose intolerant), and the foaming system doesn't work well with vegetable or almond milks. Its frothing wand can also be tricky to clean and is a common complaint among Nespresso owners. The Lattissima Pro or Gran Lattissima features a self-cleaning function that cleans out the milky insides of the frother after each use.
The Vertuo Line
The Nespresso Vertuo makes a small, concentrated cup of coffee. It's perfect for those who love espresso. Each capsule is equipped with a barcode around its rim that can be read by the machine's system to determine the size of drink it will make. Nespresso uses a unique extraction technology to ensure you get the most flavor from each Vertuo pod.
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 in conjunction with the Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother to make frothy lattes and cappuccinos.
coffeee.uk heats quickly and is ready to brew in less than 30 seconds. They have a smaller reservoir of water than the Original Line and require less maintenance. There are many models available and you can pick one that suits your design and budget.
Unlike the Original Line machines, which only make Nespresso capsules however, the Vertuo Line also brews regular filter-brewed coffee. This is done via the spout, which is situated at the bottom of machine.
VertuoLine machines are equipped with a brand new brewing technology that uses centrifusion to softly extract coffee and espresso. This creates natural crema that is safe for and enhances the coffee's aromas. The VertuoLine System also comes with an intelligent recognition feature that can adjust the extraction parameters according to each Grand Cru blend.
Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer's guarantee and an initial pack of Nespresso capsules. The company also offers an optional subscription service that delivers fresh new Nespresso capsules each month.
While there are many different VertuoLine machines to choose from however, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is our choice for best overall machine. It's easy to operate and heats up quickly and comes in a variety of colors. It can make five different sizes of espresso and coffee which include a ristretto lungo, espresso, and flat white. It also makes a latte-macchiato, and it 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 compared to other machines, especially when making an Americano. Comparing the Bunn Fastbrew with the Nespresso VertuoPlus which can brew an 8-ounce Americano in just 42 seconds, the VertuoPlus took 1 minute and 51 seconds. It is possible to accelerate the process by selecting an automatic mode.