Nespresso Coffee Machines

Unlike drip coffee makers, Nespresso models are small and compact. They are black in color and vary in terms of price and complexity. Some come with a milk frother for latte art, and can be connected to the app of the company to manage recipes and receive descaling notifications.

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 gran lungos.

What is an Nespresso Machine?

Since 1986, Nespresso sells single-serve machines that use capsules to make coffee and espresso. The brand has gained a loyal fan base 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 of which require time and care after each use.

A Nespresso machine makes use of pressure to extract the flavor of the pod, and then heats water and froths milk to make coffee drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos. Nespresso offers a wide selection of coffee and tea blends to fit different moods and tastes, including flavored and decaffeinated options. The machines are stylish and compact, making them easy to use and make the perfect choice for those looking to have a quick cup of tea or coffee in the afternoon.

Original nespresso maker 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 launched. The smallest model in this line is the Essenza Mini, which is super compact with a tiny water tank and a storage space for capsules that are used. Its simple operation, using just two buttons--one for espresso and the other for a lungo -- makes it easy to master.

Contrary to Keurig machines, which require you to add water manually prior to each use, all breville nespresso Machine models automatically dispose of the capsules that are used after making. Based on the size of the water reservoir and the capsule storage, these can hold between four and 12 pods that are used up, and are discarded into a built-in receptacle each time you open the machine.

Some of the most popular models can be used with the mobile app of the company, which lets you customize recipes and reorder capsules at home. This feature was tested on the sleek stainless steel Vertuo Creatista. It also allows you to make hot coffee and iced tea with a separate room for frothing. The only issue with the machine we tried is that it does not support all types of milk. You will need to purchase a separate frothing tool for making drinks with whole almond, 2% or 2% milk.

The Original Line Original Line

The Original line of pod-only machines comprises the elegant Citiz and the Essenza Mini. Both machines are pierced by the capsule and pump hot water through it to create an espresso or a lungo. The Original machines use higher pressure of 19 bars than the Vertuo models that have pumps of 15 to 18 bars.

The Original machines produce a crema (a thin layer of tiny microbubbles that sits on the top of the espresso) which is more dense and richer than the foam in the Vertuo line. The crema is more than just froth. As the Spruce notes it can account for up to 25 percent of the flavor of an espresso. The Original line comes with more expensive Creatista or Lattissima espresso machines that have built-in milk frothers to create lattes and cappuccinos with the press of a button.

The Lattissima Line

This line is perfect for those who need machines which can make cappuccinos, lattes and other milky coffee drinks. It has three customizable one-touch recipes and its 4.2-ounce milk container is removable and dishwasher safe. It's also light and easy to store and move around in small spaces. However, some users complain that it's not as easy to use as other Nespresso models.

Its jug has drink-specific lines etched into it, so you can pre-select which beverage you'd like to prepare before the machine heats 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 the price. It's available in four different colors: porcelain white, dark gray and silky-white. The machine is easy to clean and has a minimalistic design that won't overwhelm smaller rooms. The machine is also reasonably priced, with a suggested retail cost of $385/PS279

It has an automatic drip tray, similar to the OriginalLine models. This tray catches any loose ground as you pour espresso. It's a nice option to minimize mess, and it helps to avoid spills that can alter the taste of your beverage.

The Pro and Gran Lattissima both have a larger water tank than the Lattissima One, allowing them to hold more liquid before needing to refill. These two models also have a speedier heating time (as as short as 15 seconds for an espresso and 25 seconds for a lungo) and also have an improved hot water function to make tea or iced coffee.

The only downside to the Lattissima is the difficulty of altering the consistency and density of your milk foam. The machine can only be used with skim milk (sorry Vegans and dairy-intolerant folks), and the foaming system does not work well with almond or vegetable milks. Its frothing wand can also be difficult to clean, which is a common complaint from Nespresso owners. Fortunately, the Lattissima Pro and try Telegra Gran Lattissima have a self-cleaning cycle that cleans the milky insides after every use of the frothing.

The Vertuo Line

A Nespresso Vertuo machine makes a small cup of coffee that's perfect for those who enjoy espresso but prefer a quick strong drink. Each capsule is equipped with an engraved barcode on its rim that can be read by the machine's software to determine the amount of coffee it can make. Nespresso uses an exclusive extraction method to ensure that you get the most flavor from each Vertuo pod.

Vertuo Line has a variety of drinks like Ristretto, Espresso, Lungo (mini espresso), Americano, and Cappuccino. The machines can also be used in conjunction with the nespresso mini coffee machine Aeroccino Milk Frother to create frothy cappuccinos and lattes.

Each Vertuo Line machine heats up quickly and is ready to brew within 30 seconds. They have a smaller reservoir for water than the Original Line and require less maintenance. There are many models available, so you can choose one that is compatible with your home's style as well as your budget.

Contrary to the Original Line machines, which only can brew Nespresso capsules, the Vertuo Line also brews regular filter-brewed coffee. This is done via a separate spout situated at the bottom of machine.

VertuoLine machines feature a new brewing system that softly extracts espresso and coffee using the unique centrifusion technology. This allows for the creation of natural crema, which protects and enhances the coffee's aroma. The VertuoLine System also has an intelligent recognition feature that adapts the extraction parameters 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 sends new Nespresso capsules every month.

The Nespresso VertuoPlus machine is the most efficient machine overall. It's simple to operate, quick to heat up and comes in several colors. It can create five different sizes of espresso and coffee including flat white, ristretto and lungo. It also brews a Latte macchiato and is able to 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 when compared to other machines, particularly when making an Americano. Comparing the Bunn Fastbrew with the Nespresso VertuoPlus which can make an 8-ounce Americano in just 42 seconds, it took 1 minute, 51 seconds. Luckily, you can speed up the process by selecting an automatic mode.