Nespresso Coffee Machines

Contrary to drip coffee makers Nespresso models are small and compact. They sport a basic black design and vary in terms of price and complexity. Some include a milk frother to make Latte art and can be linked to an app to manage recipes or receive descaling notifications.

The Essenza Mini is a simple machine that is reasonably priced, but does not have the features to make more complex drinks. Other machines can make larger drinks, like grand lungos.

What is an Nespresso Machine?

Since 1986, Nespresso sells single-serve machines which make use of capsules to brew espresso and coffee drinks. The brand has gained a devoted following thanks to its ease speed, consistency and speed in making a hot espresso-like beverage. These machines are an ideal alternative to brewing at-home espresso using moka pots or drip coffee maker, both of which require the time and care to clean after each use.

A Nespresso machine uses an air pressure system to extract the flavor of a pod. It then heats water and froths the milk to create coffee drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos. Nespresso has a wide variety of tea and coffee blends to suit different tastes and moods such as decaffeinated and flavor choices. The machines are stylish and compact, as well as easy to use which makes nespresso cappuccino Machine (privatehd.org) a fantastic option for those looking to take a quick sip of coffee or tea in the afternoon.

The Vertuo line was introduced to replace the Nespresso machines in 2014, which utilized the Original capsules to brew espresso shots. The Essenza Mini is the smallest model in this line. It is compact and comes with a tiny water tank and room for capsules that are used. Its easy operation, with only two buttons - one for an espresso and the other for a lungo--makes it simple to master.

Unlike Keurig machines that require you to manually add water prior to each use, all Nespresso models automatically discard the capsules that are used after the brewing. Depending on the size of the reservoir and storage for capsules the capsules can hold anywhere from four to 12 pods that have been used, which are discarded into a built-in receptacle each time you open the machine.

Some of the more well-known models are also compatible 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 lets you make hot chocolate and iced coffee using an ice-making chamber that is specifically designed for frothing. The only drawback to the machine we test was that it didn't support all varieties of milk, requiring you to buy an additional frothing tool if you wish to make drinks with whole or 2% almond milk.

The Original Line

The Original line of pod-only machines include the stylish Citiz and the Essenza Mini. Both machines are pierced by the capsule and then pump hot water at high pressure through it to create an espresso or a lungo. The Original machines use higher pressure of 19 bars than some of the Vertuo models, which have pumps of 15 to 18 bars.

The original machines create crema (a thin layer of tiny microbubbles that sits on top of the espresso), which is thicker and more affluent than the foam found in the Vertuo line. The crema is more than just froth, though--as the Spruce notes, it can be responsible for as much as a quarter 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 with the push of one button.

The Lattissima Line

This line of machines is perfect for those who enjoy milky coffee drinks like cappuccinos and lattes and want one machine that can handle everything. It has three customizable one-touch recipes, and its 4.2-ounce milk container is reusable and dishwasher-safe. It is also lightweight and easy to store and move in small areas. However, some customers say it's not as easy to use as other Nespresso models.

The jug of this machine has lines that show the kind of beverage you'd like. You can pick your beverage while the machine is heating. It also has a sensor that will automatically stops steaming when the jug runs out and stops the waste of milk.

The Lattissima One is a good value for money, and it's 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 a minimalist aesthetic that won't overpower small spaces. It is also reasonably priced, with a suggested retail price of $385/PS279

Like the OriginalLine models, it has an automatic drip tray that captures any loose grounds as you pour your espresso. This feature is ideal to prevent spills and 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 water before having to refill. Both models also have a speedier heating process (as little as 15 seconds for espresso and 25 seconds for lungo) and also have an improved hot water function that can be used to make tea or iced nepresso coffee machines.

The only issue with the Lattissima is the difficulty in adjusting the consistency and the density of your milk foam. The machine is only compatible 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 for frothing is difficult to clean. This is a frequent complaint from Nespresso users. The Lattissima Pro or Gran Lattissima features a self-cleaning function that scrubs the milky insides of the frother after each use.

The Vertuo Line

The nespresso expert machine Vertuo makes a small, concentrated cup of coffee. It's ideal for espresso lovers. The machine scans the barcode on the outer rim of each capsule to determine how much coffee it should make. Nespresso uses an exclusive extraction method to ensure that you get the best 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 can also be used in conjunction with the Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother to make frothy lattes and cappuccinos.

Each Vertuo Line machine heats up quickly and can be brewed in just 30 seconds. They have a smaller reservoir for water than the Original Line and require less maintenance. There are several models to choose from, meaning you can find the one that is compatible with your style and budget.

Contrary to the Original Line machines, which only brew nespresso machines white capsules, the Vertuo Line also brews regular filter-brewed coffee. This is done via an additional spout that is situated at the bottom of machine.

VertuoLine machines come with a new nespresso machine brewing technology that makes use of centrifusion to extract gently espresso and coffee. This allows for the production of natural crema, which protects and enhances the coffee's aroma. The VertuoLine System also comes with an intelligent recognition feature that can adjust 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 a subscription service which delivers new Nespresso caps each month.

While there are many different VertuoLine machines to pick from, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is our pick as the top overall machine. It is easy to use, warms up quickly and comes in a variety of colors. It can make 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 only one disadvantage, that it takes longer to brew when compared to other machines, especially when making an Americano. For instance, when compared to Bunn Fastbrew, which made 8-ounce Americano in just 42 seconds, the Nespresso VertuoPlus took 1 minute and 51 seconds. You can accelerate the process if you choose an automatic mode.