Nespresso Coffee Machines

Nespresso coffee makers are compact and small, unlike drip coffee machines. They're black in color and vary in price and complexity. Some include a milk frother to create latte art. They can also be linked to the company's app to manage recipes and receive descaling alerts.

The most basic machines, such as our pick the Essenza Mini, are simple and affordable but forgo features that create more complicated drinks. Other machines can brew bigger sizes of drinks, like gran lungos.

What is an Nespresso machine?

Since 1986, Nespresso sells single-serve machines which use capsules to brew espresso and coffee drinks. The brand has gained a loyal fan base due to its ease of use, speed and consistency in making a hot espresso-like beverage. These machines are a great alternative to making espresso at home with a moka pot, which both require a lot of time and attention after each use.

A Nespresso machine utilizes an air pressure system to extract the flavor of the pod. It then heats up water and makes froths of the milk to make coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. Nespresso offers a variety of coffee and blends that can be customized to suit your mood and taste, including decaffeinated and flavored choices. The machines are stylish and compact, as well as easy to use which makes the perfect option for those looking to take a quick sip of tea or coffee in the afternoon.

Original Nespresso machines that brew espresso-style shots from the company's Original capsules were the only machines available until 2014 when the Vertuo line was launched. The Essenza Mini is the smallest model in this line. It's compact and has a small water tank and room for capsules that are used. Its simple operation, using just two buttons, one for espresso and the other for a lungo--makes it simple to master.

All Nespresso machines eliminate used capsules after the brewing. This is unlike Keurig machines, which require you to manually add water each time. These machines can store between four and twelve pods that have been used, based on the size of their water reservoirs as well as capsule storage. They are then thrown away into an internal receptacle time you open the machine.

Many of the most well-known models can be used with the mobile app from the brand, which allows 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 as well as Iced tea by using a dedicated frother room. The only issue we found with the machine we test was that it didn't support all types of milk which means you'll need to purchase an additional frothing wand should you wish to make drinks with whole, 2%, or almond milk.

The Original Line

The Original line of pod machines includes the elegant Citiz Mini and the Essenza Mini. Both machines pierce the capsule and then pump hot water at a high pressure through it to create an espresso or a lungo. The original machines employ 19 bar of pressure, which is more than the 15-18 bar pumps that are found in the more expensive Vertuo models.

The Vertuo machines create foam that is more dense and more dense than the crema produced by the Original machines. The crema isn't just foam but also. As the Spruce states, it can make up up to 25% of an espresso's flavor. The Original line also has more expensive Creatista and Lattissima models that include built-in milk frothers that can make lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos at the push of the button.

The Lattissima Line

This line of machines is ideal for those who like milky coffee drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos and need a machine that can handle everything. It offers 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 move and store in a tight space. Some users have complained that it is 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 pick your beverage while the machine is heating. It has a sensor which automatically stops the steaming when it runs out of milk.

The Lattissima One is a good value for the money It's available in four colors: black with gray accents, dark gray porcelain white and silky white. The machine is easy-to-clean and has a minimalist design that won't overwhelm smaller rooms. The machine is also moderately priced, with a retail cost of $385/PS279

Like the OriginalLine models, it comes with an automatic drip tray that catches any loose grounds as you pour your espresso. It's a nice option to minimize mess, and also helps to prevent spills which could affect the taste of your coffee.

The Pro and Gran Lattissima have larger water tanks than the Lattissima One. This allows them to hold more water without having 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 tea or iced espresso.

The only drawback to the Lattissima line is the difficulty of adjusting the consistency of the foam you make. The machine can only be used with skim milk (sorry vegans and those who are lactose intolerant) and the foaming system doesn't work well with almond or vegetable milks. The wand that froths can be difficult to clean it, which is a frequent complaint among Nespresso owners. Fortunately, the Lattissima Pro and Gran Lattissima have a self-cleaning cycle that cleans the milky insides after every use of the frother.

The Vertuo Line

The Nespresso Vertuo makes a small, concentrated cup of coffee. It's perfect for espresso lovers. The machine scans the barcode that is located on the outer edge of each capsule to determine how much coffee it will make. Nespresso's Vertuo capsules are extracted using an innovative technology.

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

Each Vertuo Line coffee machine heats quickly and is ready for brewing in less than 30 seconds. They have a smaller water tank than Original Line machines and require less maintenance. There are a variety of models available that you can choose one that suits your style and budget.

Vertuo Line machines can also make regular filter coffee, unlike Original Line machines that only make Nespresso. They do this via an additional spout located at the bottom of the machine.

VertuoLine machines have a brand new system of brewing that gently extracts coffee machines for nespresso pods and espresso using the patented centrifusion technology. This allows for the production of natural crema, which protects and enhances the aroma of coffee. The VertuoLine System also features an intelligent recognition feature that adapts the extraction parameters according to each Grand Cru blend.

Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer's guarantee and a starter pack of Nespresso capsules. The company also offers an optional subscription service that provides new Nespresso capsules every month.

The Nespresso VertuoPlus machine is the most efficient machine overall. It's user-friendly and heats up quickly and comes in a variety of colors. It can make five different sizes of coffee and espresso including a flat white, ristretto and lungo. It also makes a latte macchiato, and can be combined with the Aeroccino milk frother to create a cappuccino or the latte.

The only drawback to the VertuoPlus is that it takes longer to make a cup than other machines, specifically when making an Americano. In comparison, for instance, to Bunn Fastbrew, which could brew an 8-ounce Americano in just 42 seconds the Nespresso VertuoPlus brewed it in 1 minute and 51 seconds. You can speed up the process by making sure you choose an automatic mode.