Nespresso Coffee Machines
Nespresso coffee makers are compact and small unlike drip coffee machines. They're black in color and range in price and sophistication. Some include a milk frother to make Latte art and can be connected with an app to manage recipes or receive notifications about descaling.
The Essenza Mini is a simple machine that is inexpensive however it lacks the features required to make complex drinks. Other machines can make larger sizes of drinks, like Gran lungos.
What is an Nespresso Machine?
Since 1986, Nespresso sells single-serve machines which make use of capsules to brew coffee and espresso. The company has a large number of loyal customers thanks to the speed, ease and consistency with which their machines brew up a hot, espresso-like beverage. These machines can be an excellent alternative to making at home espresso using moka pots or drip coffee maker both of which take the time and care to clean after each use.
A Nespresso machine uses pressure to extract the flavor from the pod, then it heats water and froths milk to make coffee drinks such as lattes or cappuccinos. Nespresso offers a variety of coffee and tea blends to fit different moods and tastes such as decaffeinated and flavor options. Their machines are small, stylish, and easy to use, making them the ideal choice for those who want a quick cup of coffee in the morning or an afternoon pick-me-up.
The Vertuo line replaced the original Nespresso machines in 2014, which utilized capsules from the Original capsules to make espresso shots. The smallest model in this line is the Essenza Mini, which is extremely compact, with a small water tank and a space for used capsules. Its simple operation, using only two buttons - one for an espresso and one for a lungo -- makes it easy to master.
All Nespresso machines automatically dispose of used capsules after making. This is unlike Keurig machines, which require you to manually add water each time. The machines can hold between four and twelve pods used up, based on the size of their water reservoirs as well as capsule storage. They are then disposed of into an internal receptacle time you open the machine.
Some of the most popular models can be used with the mobile app developed by the company, which lets you customize recipes and reorder the 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 frother room. The only drawback of the machine we test is that it does not support all milk types. You'll need purchase a separate frothing machine if you wish to make drinks with whole or 2% almond milk.
The Original Line Original Line
The Original line of pod-only machines include the stylish Citiz and Essenza Mini. Both models are pierced by the capsule, then pump hot water at high pressure through it, and deliver an espresso or lungo. The original machines utilize higher pressure of 19 bars than some of the Vertuo models that have pumps ranging from 15 to 18 bars.
The Vertuo machines produce foam that is more dense and thicker than the crema created by the Original machines. The crema is more than just froth. As the Spruce says, it can be responsible for as much as 25% of espresso's taste. The Original line offers more expensive Creatista or Lattissima espresso machines that have built-in milk frothers to create cappuccinos and lattes at the push of the button.
The Lattissima Line
This line of machines is perfect for those who enjoy milky coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos and want one machine that can do everything. It offers 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 in small spaces. However, some users say it's not as easy to use as other Nespresso models.
The jug of this machine has lines that indicate the type of beverage you'd like to drink. You can select your beverage while the machine is heating. It is equipped with a sensor that will stop the steaming automatically when it is unable to make milk.
The Lattissima One offers a great value for money. It's available in four different colors including porcelain white, dark gray and silky-white. The machine is easy to clean and has a a minimalist aesthetic that won't overpower small spaces. It's also relatively affordable, with a retail price of $385/PS279.
It has an automatic drip tray, exactly like the OriginalLine models. This tray catches any loose ground as you pour espresso. This feature is fantastic for minimizing mess and preventing overflow, which could ruin the flavor 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 come with 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 real drawback of the Lattissima line is the difficulty of adjusting the consistency of the foam you make. The machine only works with almond or skim milk. coffee machines for nespresso pods and people who are not tolerant to dairy. Its frothing wand can also be difficult to clean, which is a common complaint among Nespresso owners. Fortunately, the Lattissima Pro and Gran Lattissima have a self-cleaning mechanism 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 reads the barcode that is located on the outer rim of each capsule in order to determine the amount of coffee it will make. Nespresso utilizes an innovative extraction process to ensure that you get the best 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 with the Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother to make frothy cappuccinos and lattes.
Each Vertuo Line machine heats up quickly and can be brewed in just 30 seconds. They use a smaller water tank than Original Line machines and require less maintenance. There are many models available that you can choose one that fits your design and budget.
Vertuo Line machines can also brew regular filter coffee, unlike Original Line machines that only brew Nespresso. They do this via a separate spout at the bottom of the machine.
VertuoLine machines come with a revolutionary brewing system that gently extracts coffee and espresso by using the patented centrifusion technology. This allows the creation of natural crema, which preserves and enhances the coffee's aroma. The VertuoLine system also has an intelligent recognition system that adjusts extraction parameters to match each Grand Cru blend.
Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer's guarantee and comes with the starter pack of 10 free Nespresso capsules. The company offers an annual subscription service that provides new Nespresso capsules every month.
The Nespresso VertuoPlus machine is the most efficient machine overall. It's user-friendly, quick to heat up and comes in a variety of colors. It can produce five different sizes of espresso and coffee, including a ristretto, espresso, lungo and flat white. It also brews a Latte macchiato, and can be combined with the Aeroccino milk frother to make a cappuccino or the latte.
The only issue with the VertuoPlus is that it takes longer to prepare than other machines, particularly when making an Americano. For instance, if you compare it to the Bunn Fastbrew, which could brew 8 ounces of Americano in just 42 seconds The Nespresso VertuoPlus required 1 minute and 51 seconds. You can speed up the process if you choose an automatic mode.