Nespresso Coffee Machines
Nespresso coffee makers are small and compact unlike drip coffee machines. They are simple in their black design and vary in price and complexity. 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, like our pick the Essenza Mini, are simple and inexpensive, but they do not have features that create more complicated drinks. Other machines can also make larger drinks, such as gran lungos.
What is what is a Nespresso Machine?
Since 1986, Nespresso sells single-serve machines that use capsules to make espresso and coffee drinks. The brand has gained a devoted following due to its ease of use, speed and consistency in brewing a hot espresso-like drink. They can be an ideal alternative to brewing at-home espresso using moka pots or drip coffee maker, both of which require time and careful cleaning after each use.
A nespresso machine (click) uses a pressure system to extract the flavor of the pod. It then heats up water and froths the milk to create coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. nespresso machone offers a wide selection of tea and coffee blends that can be adapted to different tastes and moods as well as decaffeinated and flavored choices. The machines are compact, stylish, and easy to operate and make them a great choice for those who need an instant cup of coffee in the morning or for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Original Nespresso machines, which make 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 of this line. It is small and comes with a tiny water tank and room for capsules that are used. Its easy-to-use operation with only two buttons – one for an espresso, and the other for lungo which makes it easy to master.
Unlike Keurig machines, which require you to manually add water prior to each use, all nespresso coffee machine models automatically discard any capsule that is not used after making. Depending on the size of the reservoir and capsule storage, these can hold up to 12 pods that are used up, and are disposed of into a built-in receptacle each time you open the machine.
Some of the more popular models also work with the mobile app of the brand that lets you make your own recipes and reorder capsules from the comfort of your home. We tested this feature on the sleek, stainless steel Vertuo Creatista, which also offers the option to make hot chocolate and iced coffee using a dedicated frothing chamber. The only drawback to the machine we tried was that it does not support all milk varieties which means you’ll need to purchase a separate frothing wand if you wish to make drinks using whole, 2%, or almond milk.
The Original Line
The Original line of pod-only machines comprises the sleek Citiz and the Essenza Mini. Both machines are pierced by the capsule and then pump hot water at a high pressure through it to deliver an espresso or a lungo. The Original machines have higher pressure of 19 bars than the Vertuo models, which have pumps ranging from 15 to 18 bars.
The Vertuo machines create an espresso that is more rich and thicker than the crema created by the original machines. The crema is not just frost. As the Spruce says, it could make up as much as 25 percent of the flavor of an espresso. The Original line also has more expensive Creatista and Lattissima machines that have built-in milk frothers to create cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos at the push of a button.
The Lattissima Line
This line is ideal for those looking for a machine that can make cappuccinos, lattes, and other milky coffee drinks. It has three customizable one-touch recipes, and its 4.2-ounce milk container is reusable and dishwasher-safe. It’s also light, which makes it easy to transport and store in a small space. Some users have complained that it is not as intuitive as other Nespresso machines.
The jug of this machine has lines that indicate the kind of beverage you want. You can select your beverage while the machine is heating. It also has a sensor that will automatically stops the steaming process when the jug runs out and prevents the waste 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. The machine is easy to clean and features a an uncluttered design that won’t overpower small spaces. It’s also relatively affordable with a retail price of $385/PS279.
Like the OriginalLine models, it has an automatic drip tray that collects any loose grounds while you pour your 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 also have a faster heating process (as little as 15 seconds for espresso and 25 seconds for a lungo) and have an enhanced hot water function that can be used to make tea or iced coffee.
The only issue with the Lattissima is the difficulty in altering the consistency and density of your milk foam. The machine is only suitable with skim milk (sorry vegans and those who are lactose intolerant), and the foaming system does not work well with almond or vegetable milks. The wand that froths is difficult to clean. This is a common complaint from nespresso coffee machine deals users. Fortunately, the Lattissima Pro and Gran Lattissima have a self-cleaning mechanism which cleans the milky intestines after each use of the frothing.
The Vertuo Line
A Nespresso Vertuo machine makes a small cup of coffee that’s perfect for espresso lovers who prefer a quick, intense drink. The machine reads the barcode on the outer edge of each capsule to determine how much coffee it should make. Nespresso’s Vertuo pods are extracted using a unique technology.
Vertuo Line has a variety of drinks including Ristretto, Espresso, Lungo (mini espresso), Americano, and Cappuccino. The machines can also be used in conjunction with the Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother to make frothy cappuccinos and lattes.
Each Vertuo Line coffee machine heats quickly and is ready for brewing in less than 30 seconds. They have smaller water tanks than the Original Line machines and require less maintenance. There are several models to choose from, so you’ll be able to find one that fits your style and budget.
Vertuo Line machines can also make regular filter coffee, unlike the Original Line machines that only make Nespresso. This is accomplished by an additional spout that is located at the bottom of machine.
VertuoLine machines are equipped with a new brewing technology that uses centrifusion to softly extract coffee and espresso. This allows for the creation of natural crema that protects and enhances the coffee’s aroma. The VertuoLine System also has an intelligent recognition feature that can adjust the extraction parameters to match each Grand Cru blend.
Each VertuoLine machine is covered by a manufacturer’s warranty and includes the starter pack of 10 free Nespresso capsules. The company also offers an optional subscription service that provides new nespresso original machine capsules every month.
The Nespresso VertuoPlus machine is the most efficient machine overall. It is simple to use, heats up quickly and comes in a range of colors. It can create five different sizes of coffee and espresso, including a flat white, ristretto and lungo. It also brews a latte macchiato and can be used with the Aeroccino milk frother to make a cappuccino or latte.
The VertuoPlus has one drawback, which is that it takes longer to brew compared to other machines, specifically when making an Americano. Comparing the Bunn Fastbrew with the Nespresso VertuoPlus, which can brew an 8-ounce Americano in just 42 seconds, it took 1 minute, 51 seconds. You can speed up the process by choosing an automatic mode.