Nespresso Coffee Machines

Nespresso coffee makers are compact and small and are not as bulky as drip coffee machines. They are black in color and can vary in price and complexity. Some come with a milk frother to make latte art, and they can be linked with an app to manage recipes or receive descaling notifications.

The simplest machines, like our choice the Essenza Mini, are simple and inexpensive, but they do not have features that can make more complex drinks. Other machines can brew bigger drinks, such as gran lungos.

What is an Nespresso Machine?

Since 1986, Nespresso has marketed single-serve machines that make use of capsules to make coffee drinks and espresso. The brand has an army of loyal fans thanks to the speed, ease and consistency with which their machines brew up an espresso-like hot beverage. These machines are a great alternative to making espresso at home with a moka pot. Both require a lot of time and attention after each use.

A Nespresso machine uses pressure to extract the flavor from a pod, then heats water and froths milk to make coffee drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos. Nespresso has a wide variety of tea and coffee blends that can be adapted to different moods and tastes as well as decaffeinated and flavored choices. Their machines are small elegant, stylish, and simple to operate, making them the ideal choice for those who need an easy cup of coffee in the morning or a mid-day energy boost.

Original Nespresso machines, which make espresso-like shots using the company's Original capsules, were the only machines available until 2014, when the Vertuo line was launched. The most compact model in the line is the Essenza Mini, which is super compact with a tiny water tank and a storage space for used capsules. Its easy operation, with just two buttons--one for an espresso and one for a lungo -- makes it easy to master.

All Nespresso machines automatically dispose of capsules that are used after making. This is unlike Keurig machines, which require you to manually add water each time. Based on the size of the reservoir and storage for capsules, 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 well-known models also work with the app for mobile, which allows you to customize recipes and reorder capsules from 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 frother room. The only downside to the machine we test was that it didn't support all types of milk which means you'll need to purchase a separate frothing wand if you want to make drinks using whole milk, 2%, or almond milk.

The Original Line

The Original line of pod machines includes the stylish Citiz Mini and Essenza Mini. Both models are pierced by the capsule, and then pump hot water under high pressure through it, and produce an espresso or lungo. The Original machines use 19 bars of pressure which is higher than the 15 to 18 bar pumps in some of the more expensive Vertuo models.

The original machines create crema (a thin layer of tiny microbubbles that sits on the top of the espresso) that is thicker and more rich than the foam found in the Vertuo line. 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 is more expensive and comes with Creatista or Lattissima espresso machines that have built-in milk frothers that can make lattes and cappuccinos with the touch of one button.

The Lattissima Line

This line is perfect for those looking for machines that can make cappuccinos, lattes and other milky coffee drinks. It comes with three user-friendly recipes, and its 4.2-ounce milk container is removable and dishwasher-safe. It's also light and easy to store and transport in small spaces. Some users have complained that it is not as intuitive as other Nespresso machines.

The jug's drink-specific lines are that are etched into it, which means you can pre-select which beverage you want to make while 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 money. It's available in four colors: porcelain white, dark gray, and silky-white. The machine is easy to clean and has a minimalistic aesthetic that won't overwhelm smaller rooms. It's also fairly affordable with a retail price of $385/PS279.

Like the OriginalLine models, this one also has an automatic drip tray that catches any loose grounds as 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 both have a larger water tank than the Lattissima One, allowing them to hold more liquid prior to needing to refill. These two models also have a speedier heat-up time (as as short as 15 seconds for an espresso and 25 seconds for a lungo) and have an enhanced hot water function to make tea or iced coffee.

The only issue with the Lattissima is the difficulty of adjusting the consistency and the 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 doesn't work well with vegetable or almond milks. The wand that froths can be difficult to clean it, which is a frequent complaint among nespresso maker owners. Fortunately, the Lattissima Pro and Gran Lattissima have a self-cleaning mechanism 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 ideal for those who enjoy espresso but prefer a quick strong drink. The machine scans the barcode on the outside rim of each capsule to determine how much coffee it should make. Nespresso utilizes an exclusive extraction method to ensure that 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 work 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 tank than Original Line machines and require less maintenance. There are a myriad of models to choose from, so you can choose one that fits your home's style as well as your budget.

Unlike the Original Line machines, which only can 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 brewing technique that uses centrifusion to softly extract espresso and coffee. This allows the creation of natural crema that is safe for and enhances the coffee's aromas. The VertuoLine system also comes with an intelligent recognition system that adjusts extraction parameters to match each Grand Cru blend.

Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer's guarantee and an initial pack of Nespresso capsules. The company also offers a subscription service that delivers fresh new nespresso capsule coffee machine capsules every month.

There are many VertuoLine machines to choose from but the Nespresso VertuoPlus is our pick for best nespresso coffee machine overall machine. It is easy to use, heats up quickly and comes in a range of colors. It can make five different sizes of espresso and coffee, including a ristretto, lungo, espresso, and flat white. It also makes a latte macchiato, and can be combined with the Aeroccino milk frother to make a cappuccino, or the latte.

The VertuoPlus has one drawback, which is that it takes longer to brew when compared to other machines, particularly 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 required 1 minute and 51 seconds. You can accelerate the process if you select an automatic mode.