Nespresso Coffee Machines
Nespresso coffee makers are compact and small unlike drip coffee machines. They're black in color and can vary in price and sophistication. Some have a milk frother that can be used to create latte art, and they can be linked with an app to manage recipes or get notifications on descaling.
The Essenza Mini is a simple machine that is affordable, but does not have the features needed to make more complex drinks. Other machines can brew bigger drinks, such as the gran lungos.
What is what is a Nespresso machine?
Since 1986, Nespresso has marketed single-serve machines that use capsules to make espresso and coffee drinks. The brand has a loyal following thanks to its ease speed, consistency and speed in making a hot espresso-like beverage. These machines are an excellent alternative to making espresso at home using a moka pot. Both require time and care after each use.
A Nespresso machine makes use of pressure to extract the flavor from the pod, then it heats water and froths milk for coffee drinks such as lattes or cappuccinos. Nespresso offers a variety of blends and coffees that can be customized to suit your preferences and mood as well as decaffeinated and flavor options. The machines are compact elegant, stylish and easy to operate and make them a great choice for those who need an instant cup of coffee in the morning or an afternoon pick-me-up.
The Vertuo line was introduced to replace the Nespresso machines in 2014, which used capsules from the Original capsules to brew espresso shots. The Essenza Mini is the smallest model in this line. It is compact, with a small water tank, and room for capsules that are used. Its simple operation, with just two buttons--one for an espresso and the other for a lungo--makes it easy to master.
All Nespresso machines automatically dispose of capsules that are used after brewing. This is different from Keurig machines, which require users to manually add water each time. The machines can hold anything from four to twelve pods used up, based on the size of their water reservoirs and capsule storage. They are then disposed of into the built-in receptacle each time you open the machine.
Some of the more well-known models also work with the app for mobile, which allows you to customize recipes and reorder capsules from home. We tested this feature on the sleek stainless steel Vertuo Creatista, which also offers the option to make hot chocolate and iced drinks using the frothing chamber that is built-in to the. The only downside to the machine we test was that it didn't support all varieties of milk, requiring you to buy an additional frothing wand should you wish to make drinks using whole, 2%, or almond milk.
The Original Line
The Original line of pod-only machines include the stylish Citiz and the Essenza Mini. Both machines penetrate the capsule and pump hot water at high pressure through it, delivering an espresso or a lungo. The Original machines have a higher pressure of 19 bars than some of the Vertuo models that have pumps ranging from 15 to 18 bars.
The original machines create a crema (a thin layer of tiny microbubbles layered on the top of the espresso), which is thicker and more affluent than the foam of the Vertuo line. The crema is not just foam but also. As the Spruce notes it can account as much as 25% of an espresso's flavor. The Original line offers more expensive Creatista or Lattissima espresso machines that have built-in milk frothers to create lattes and cappuccinos at the touch of the button.
The Lattissima Line
This series of machines is ideal for those who enjoy milky coffee drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes and want one machine that does it all. 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 transport and store in a small space. However, some users say it's not as easy to use as other Nespresso models.
The jug's drink-specific lines are that are etched into it, which means you can decide beforehand which drink you'd like to make as the machine is heating up. It is equipped with a sensor that automatically stops the steaming when it is unable to make milk.
The Lattissima One is a good value for money and is available in four colors including black with gray accents, dark gray porcelain white, and silky white. The machine is easy-to-clean and has a minimalistic aesthetic that won't overwhelm smaller rooms. It's also reasonably priced with a retail price of $385/PS279.
Like nespresso machines , it has an automatic drip tray that catches any loose grounds when you pour your espresso. It's a great feature to reduce the mess, and helps prevent overflow that could spoil the flavor of your drink.
The Pro and Gran Lattissima both have a larger water tank than the Lattissima One, allowing them to hold more water before needing to refill. Both models also have a quicker heating time (as as little as 15 seconds for an espresso and 25 seconds for lungo) and have an enhanced hot water function that can be used to make tea or iced coffee.
The only real downside to the Lattissima is the difficulty in altering the consistency and the density of your milk foam. The machine is only suitable with skim milk (sorry Vegans and dairy-intolerant folks) and the foaming mechanism doesn't work well with vegetable or almond milks. The wand for frothing can be tricky to clean, which is a common complaint among Nespresso owners. Fortunately the Lattissima Pro and Gran Lattissima come with a self-cleaning system which cleans the milky intestines after each use of the frother.
The Vertuo Line
The Nespresso Vertuo makes a small and concentrated cup of coffee. It's the perfect choice for those who love espresso. The machine scans the barcode on the outside rim of each capsule in order to determine how much coffee it should make. Nespresso uses an exclusive extraction method 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 also are compatible with the Nespresso Aeroccino milk frother to create frothy lattes and cappuccinos.
Each Vertuo Line coffee machine heats quickly and is ready to brew in less than 30 seconds. They have a smaller water reservoir than the Original Line and require less maintenance. There are many models to choose from, meaning you'll be able to find one that matches your style and budget.
In contrast to the Original Line machines, which only brew Nespresso capsules, the Vertuo Line also brews regular filter-brewed coffee. They do this via a separate spout at the bottom of the machine.
VertuoLine machines come with a revolutionary system of brewing that softly extracts espresso and coffee using patented centrifusion technology. This allows the creation of natural crema, which protects and enhances coffee aromas. The VertuoLine System also has 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 offers a subscription service that delivers new Nespresso capsules every month.
There are many VertuoLine machines to pick from, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is our choice for best overall machine. It is easy to use, heats up quickly and comes in a range of colors. It can create five different sizes of coffee and espresso, including flat white, ristretto and lungo. It can also make the latte-macchiato and can be used with the Aeroccino Milk Frother to create cappuccino or lattes.
The VertuoPlus has one drawback, which is that it takes longer to brew when compared to other machines, especially when making an Americano. For instance, if you compare it to the Bunn Fastbrew, which made 8 ounces of Americano in just 42 seconds The Nespresso VertuoPlus required 1 minute and 51 seconds. You can speed up the process by choosing an automatic mode.