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Coffee Aim testers have spent a lot of time testing kitchen appliances, coffee makers, drip coffee makers, Keurig coffee makers, single-cup brewers, French presses, and coffee accessories like coffee grinders, travel mugs, and Nespresso machines. Before testing, we rounded up the best Nespresso models on the market and evaluated their ease of use, time to brew, consistency, taste, and noise level. When we tested Nespresso Aeroccino 3, Aeroccino 4, integrated and separate milk frothers, we tested them with both skim and oat milk. We’ve made all espresso-based milk recipes like lattes, macchiato, latte macchiato, and many other milk recipes. By far, we find the Nespresso coffee makers and milk frothers the best.
After gaining popularity in Japan, Italy, France, Germany, and other European countries for many years, Nestlé Nespresso has gained full popularity in the United States. For those who don’t know, just like Keurig k-cup coffee makers, Nespresso offers coffee machines that brew espresso and coffee from single-serve coffee pods.
Is Nespresso an espresso, or is the beverage made from traditional espresso machines the real espresso – there’s a lot of debate about that. Both Nespresso and conventional espresso machines produce espresso, but there is a difference in quality. It is a high-quality espresso when you grind freshly roasted coffee beans on a manual grinder to make espresso using a bean-to-cup coffee machine. But it is very important to have good barista skills using a manual espresso machine. You do not need barista skills to make espresso on Nespresso machines. In contrast, Nespresso, Keurig, or other coffee pod systems are required when you have less time, and you prefer convenience and ease of cleaning.
How are Nespresso shots different from regular coffee?
Nespresso has both medium and full-bodied shots. They have a rich flavor, a good aroma, and a slight acidity. The Nespresso shots are a little less intense and tasty than a shot of espresso from a manual espresso machine if compared to an espresso shot made from hand-ground coffee beans with a bean-to-cup coffee machine. Nespresso is stronger and more intense when compared to your regular cup of black coffee made from Lavazza or any other common brand of pods.
Here begs the question!
Is Nespresso coffee better than Keurig?
I will answer that it depends on your choice and preference. If Keurig brews good coffee, Nespresso coffee is better! It is because Nespresso uses its advanced centrifugation technology to make coffee by its VertuoLine machines, which is why its rich and authentic flavor is trusted.
Now Nespresso is also offering its Pour-Over Style Carafe (532 ml) (18 oz) coffee pods, a rare gift for those who like Pour-Over coffee. You can use these longest coffee pods only with Nespresso Vertuo Next Machines.
Nespresso offers two lines of machines: OriginalLine and VertuoLine. In the same way, Nespresso provides two lines of capsules: OriginalLine and VertuoLine. Original line machines accept OriginalLine capsules, while VertuoLine machines accept VertuoLine capsules.
It is much easier to make espresso on Nespresso machines than on manual ones. You have to choose the size of the beverage by inserting the capsule of your choice, and the rest of the work is done by your best Nespresso machine.
But if you want to understand how Nespresso machines work, let’s go a little deeper!
Despite their unique design, all Nespresso original line machines work the same way. When you insert a compatible capsule and close the seat, it punctures the capsule several times from above. The coffee machine pumps the right amount of water from the water tank to the capsule according to the size of the beverage you choose.
Each Nespresso capsule contains a filter that ensures no coffee ground in your coffee cup. The machine rotates the waterline around the heating element to reach the perfect temperature. The device continues to pump hot water into the capsule under high pressure until the capsule releases a rich, crema-topped good espresso.
The VertuoLine system brings the coffee closer to the American style of filtered coffee, with a thick layer of crema. Since Nestle Nespresso introduced the Vertuoline coffee system, Nespresso’s market share has grown significantly compared to its competitors throughout the United States, and especially in North America.
The biggest difference between the brewing system of Nespresso Original Line and VertuoLine is that in Original Line machines, you press the button to select the size of the beverage, while in VertuoLine machines no need to press it, but the VertuoLine machine reads the barcode on the capsule and automatically adjusts the brewing parameters for that particular coffee or espresso.
The other big difference is that VertuoLine machines use a new revolutionary technology called Centrifusion, unlike the original line machines that use pump pressure to make espresso.
The third major difference between the two Nespresso lines is that the original line machines produce only ristretto, espresso, or lungo-size cups. In contrast, the Vertuo machines brew coffee and ristretto espresso and lungo. Instead, Nespresso has introduced Vertuo Next machines that also brew 18 oz-sized pour-our style coffee. Like most Americans, if you prefer a long-size coffee, a VertuoLine model is your best bet.
Four companies specialize in making Nespresso machines: DeLonghi, Breville, Krups, and Magimix. Breville and DeLonghi make machine models mostly for the USA and Canada, while Magimaix and Krups make machine models for Europe. Nespresso oversees all of its partners to produce coffee machines and keeps all manufacturing to its standards. In this way, Nespresso ensures that all its devices meet the highest standards for consumers.
There are about twenty-one models of original machines, the most popular of which are: Nespresso Pixie, Nespresso Essenza Mini, Nespresso Citiz & Milk, Nespresso Creatista Pro, Lattissima Pro, etc. We have divided Nespresso Original machines into three sections including:
The advantage of a small Nespresso machine is that you can easily adjust it in your kitchen or office cabinet. What’s more, it doesn’t seem difficult to carry a small espresso machine with you on the go. Especially when you go out camping or sightseeing. Essenza Mini is by far the most popular as the best Nespresso machine in size, but some other Nespresso devices are nearly the size of Essenza Mini like:
the Nespresso CitiZ, Nespresso CitiZ & Milk, and Nespresso Pixie Nespresso Essenza Mini, Nespresso Essenza Plus, Nespresso Inissia, and Mixpresso Espresso Machine
Product Line: OriginalLine.
US/CA Manufacturer Partners: Breville and DeLonghi.
UK Manufacturer Partners: Krups and Magimix.
External Material: The External material of Nespresso CitiZ, Nespresso CitiZ & Milk, and Nespresso Pixie is Aluminum, while Nespresso Essenza Mini, Nespresso Essenza Plus, Nespresso Inissia have ABC recycled plastic.
Integrated Milk Frother: None of these machines come with Integrated Milk Frother.
Milk Frother: None of these machines come with an integrated milk frother, so you’ll have to buy milk frother separately to make Lattes, Latte Macchiato, cappuccinos, hot milk, and other milk recipes.
Milk Container: None of these machines have a milk container
Cup Sizes: These machines brew only espresso and lungo. If you want to brew other coffee drinks without milk, you should go for Nespresso Essenza Plus; it could brew Americano and Americano XL along with espresso and lungo.
Milk Recipes: You can make cappuccino, lattes, latte macchiato, and other milk recipes by purchasing a separate milk frother.
Pressure: All these machines brew with 19 bar pressure.
Spent Capsules: Nespresso CitiZ, Nespresso CitiZ & Milk, Nespresso Pixie and Nespresso Inissia have 10 spent capsules while Nespresso Essenza Mini and Nespresso Essenza Plus have 6 spent capsules.
Weight: All these machines have different weights.
Water Tank: Nespresso CitiZ, Nespresso CitiZ & Milk, and Nespresso Essenza Plus have 34 oz, Nespresso Pixie, Nespresso Inissia have 24 oz, and Nespresso Essenza Mini has 20 oz water tank.
Hot Water Spout: No
Dimensions (in) WxDxH: All these machines have different dimensions. Not only Essenza Mini, but all these machines are slim in size and easily squeeze between kitchen appliances with the countertop to spare.
Wireless Connectivity: None of these machines have wireless connectivity.
Other Features: All these machines Auto-Off after 9 minutes.
Price: All these machines have different prices; check their prices on Amazon.
When buying the best Nespresso machine, if you do not know which are the expensive Nespresso models and the more expensive Nespresso models, you may be mistaken in deciding.
We’ve listed the features of all expensive Nespresso models below so you can read once before you buy the best Nespresso machine for you. Nespresso offers 26 old and new models, out of which the following 8 are the most expensive Nespresso coffee makers:
Product Line: OriginalLine.
US/CA Manufacturer Partners: Breville and DeLonghi.
UK Manufacturer Partners: Krups, Magimix, and Sage by Heston Blumenthal.
External Material: Nespresso Creatista Pro and Nespresso Creatista Plus have a fully stainless steel exterior body; the rest have ABC recycled plastic.
Integrated Milk Frother: All these machines come with integrated milk frothers.
Milk Frother: Nespresso Creatista Pro, Nespresso Creatista Uno, and Nespresso Creatista Plus have swivel milk frothing arms; the rest have Automatic milk frother.
Milk Container: Creatista Pro, Creatista Plus, and Creatista Uno come with milk frothing pitchers; others have milk containers of different sizes.
Milk Recipes: You can easily make cappuccino, lattes, latte macchiato, and other milk recipes. Cup Sizes: Creatista Pro, Creatista Plus, and Creatista Uno have cup sizes of 0.85 oz ristretto, 1.35 oz espresso, 3.70 oz lungo; others have an additional 3.05 oz cappuccino, 6.40 oz latte cup sizes.
Pressure: All these machines have 19 bar pump pressure.
Spent Capsules: Creatista Pro has 18, Lattissima Pro and Lattissima One have 8, and the rest have 10 spent capsules.
Weight: All these machines have different weights.
Water Tank: Creatista Pro (67 oz), Creatista Plus (50 oz), Gran Lattissima (44 oz), Lattissima Pro (34 oz), Lattissima Touch (44 oz), Creatista Uno (50 oz), Lattissima Plus (30 oz), Lattissima One (34 oz).
Hot Water Spout: Only Creatista Pro has a dedicated hot water spout for tea and long blacks.
Dimensions (in) WxDxH: All these machines have different sizes.
Wireless Connectivity: None of these machines have wireless connectivity.
Other Features: All these machines Auto-Off after 9 minutes.
Price: All these machines have different prices; check their prices on Amazon.
Although these models of Nespresso machines have been discontinued, they are still in demand in the market, so we have described their features in detail below.
Product Line: VertuoLine.
US/CA Manufacturer Partners: Breville and DeLonghi.
UK Manufacturer Partners: Krups, Magimix, and Sage by Heston Blumenthal.
External Material: All these machines have ABS recycled plastic outer material.
Integrated Milk Frother: None of these machines have an integrated milk frother.
Milk Frother: None of these machines have a milk frother.
Milk Container: None of these machines have milk containers.
Milk Recipes: You can make cappuccino, lattes, latte macchiato, and other milk recipes by purchasing a separate milk frother.
Cup Sizes: All these machines can brew espresso (1.35 oz), double espresso (2.7 oz), a gran lungo (5 oz), coffee (7.8 oz), and alto (14 oz) capsules programmable from 0.3-17 oz. Moreover, Vertuo Next can brew 18 oz pour-over style coffee.
Pressure: No pump; all Vertuo machines use Centrifusion for extraction.
Spent Capsules: Nespresso Evoluo (17), Nespresso Vertuo (12), Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe (10), Nespresso Vertuo Next (10), Nespresso VertuoPlus (10).
Weight: All these machines have different weights.
Water Tank: Nespresso Evoluo (60 oz), Nespresso Vertuo (40 oz), Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe (60 oz), Nespresso Vertuo Next (37 oz), Nespresso VertuoPlus (40 oz).
Hot Water Spout: No
Dimensions (in) WxDxH: All these machines have different sizes.
Wireless Connectivity: None of these machines have wireless connectivity.
Other Features: All these machines Auto-Off after 9 minutes.
Price: All these machines have different prices; check their prices on Amazon.
Nespresso offers two types of capsules: OriginalLine and Vertuoline. Original capsules can be used in OriginalLine machines, and Vertuoline capsules can be used in Vertuoline machines. Nespresso fills these capsules with high-quality Arabica and Robusta beans, which it collects from countries producing high-quality coffee beans in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.
Each OriginalLine capsule contains 5–7 grams of ground coffee, while the Vertuo Gran Lungo capsules contain 9.5 grams of ground coffee.
Nespresso mostly uses beans from Brazil, Indonesia, India, Colombia, Guatemala, Uganda, Ethiopia, Hawaii, Peru, and Arabica and Robusta coffee beans. The capsules are hermetically sealed so that their freshness lasts longer than open coffee beans.
Nespresso capsules are about three times more expensive than open coffee beans. But suppose you compare the cost of Nespresso capsules with regular coffee available at coffee shops. In that case, you can save up to 80% of your valuable money annually by using Nespresso capsules compared to the coffee found at coffee shops. See the cost comparison of Keurig k cups and Nespresso capsules vs. coffee drinks at coffee shops below.
The chart above shows that you can save up to 80% per year if you start supplementing your caffeine needs with Nespresso or Keurig System coffee instead of regular coffee at coffee shops.
Another way to save is to use third-party capsules instead of Nespresso-branded capsules, three times cheaper than Nespresso-branded capsules. Like Starbucks, Lavazza, and Peet’s coffee, hundreds of coffee brands sell Nespresso compatible capsules, which are easily available online and in brick-and-mortar stores.
If you buy stainless steel OriginalLine or Vertuoline reusable capsules, you can save up to five times more than Nespresso’s brand capsules. Plus, you’ll be getting a cup of freshly brewed coffee made from hand-ground coffee beans. All you have to do is buy a grinder and bring whole coffee beans and grind them yourself to fill Nespresso capsules. Stainless steel reusable capsules are available in both original and Vertuoline. If you have an OriginalLine machine, you can buy Originalline stainless steel capsules. And if you use a Vertuoline machine, buy Vertuoline stainless steel capsules. Let me tell you where to buy these Nespresso capsules.
As you see in the above pic, Nespresso offers 54 OriginalLine capsules; However, some of these capsules are available as a Limited Edition; Nespresso has divided OriginalLine capsules into the following 12 groups:
Nespresso offers 5 capsules in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of Nespresso Intenso capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 4 capsules in this coffee range; view features and specifications of Nespresso Espresso capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 4 capsules in this coffee range; view features and specifications of Nespresso Pure Origin capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 4 capsules in this coffee range; view features and specifications of Nespresso Lungo capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 5 capsules in this coffee range; view features and specifications of Nespresso Decaffeinato capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 3 capsules in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of Nespresso Variation capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 9 capsules in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of Nespresso Barista Creation capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 6 capsules in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of Nespresso World Exploration capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 1 capsule in this coffee range; view the features, and specifications of the Nespresso Reviving capsule in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 5 capsules in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of Nespresso Master Crafted Single Origin capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 5 capsules in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of Nespresso Ispirazione Italiana capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 7 capsules in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of Nespresso Exclusive capsules in the following picture:
As you see in the above pic, Nespresso offers 41 VertuoLine capsules. However, some of these capsules are available as a Limited Edition; Nespresso has divided VertuoLine capsules into the following 10 groups:
Nespresso offers 7 capsules in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of Nespresso Espresso capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 2 capsules in this coffee range; view features and specifications of Nespresso Double Espresso capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 4 capsules in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of Nespresso Gran Lungo capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 7 capsules in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of Nespresso Coffee capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 1 capsule in this coffee range; view the features, and specifications of, the Nespresso Alto XL (Intenso XL) capsule in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 5 capsules in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of Nespresso Master Crafted Single Origin capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 8 capsules in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of Nespresso Barista Creation capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 11 capsules in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of Nespresso Exclusive capsules in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 1 capsule in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of the Nespresso Reviving Origin capsule in the following picture:
Nespresso offers 2 capsules in this coffee range; view the features and specifications of Nespresso Craft Brew capsules in the following picture:
Earlier, no company other than Nespresso was making pods for Vertuo machines in the entire market, but since Nespresso and Starbucks have started working as joint ventures, Starbucks has been making pods for Nespresso Vertuo machines.
There was a time when Nespresso, Starbucks, Keurig, Lavazza, Tassimo, and Dolce Gusto were considered as competitors of each other as these brands make single-serving coffee and espresso makers easy-serving coffee capsules and espresso pods that have different qualities and tastes.
You can no longer call Starbucks the competitors of Nespresso because, under an agreement reached in August 2018, the two brands are now working on joint venture projects.
Although Dolce Gushto’s espresso pods are many times cheaper than Nespresso, you can’t call Dolce Gusto the competitors of Nespresso because Dolce Gusto is a subsidiary brand of Nestle like Nespresso.
Just as the parent brand of Keurig and Peet’s Coffee & Tea Company is Jab Holding Company, and the parent brand of Tassimo is Dow Egberts. And the parent brand of Dow Egberts is also a Jab Holding Company, so now we can’t call Pete’s Coffee & Tea Company the competitors of Keurig and Tassimo. Similarly, we cannot say Dolce Gusto is the competitor of Nespresso because they are both lower brands of Nestle. However, Dolce Gushto’s espresso pods are many times cheaper than Nespresso.
Related: Nespresso Descaling Solution Review →
Due to strong criticism from environmentalists, Nestle Nespresso has launched a program to recycle its used capsules, which allows you to send used capsules back to Nespresso for free recycling. The odor can cause the environment to stink and pollute, so we recommend putting the capsules in a bag and freezing them if you have enough space in your freezer.
And if you don’t have space in your freezer, leave used capsules in a bowl or open basket to dry for a week or more before adding them to the recycling bag. Once the bag is full, you can send it free of charge to Nespresso recycling facilities at any UPS drop point (unless you live in Hawaii, Alaska, or the US). You can also leave recycling bags locally.
Be a Nespresso Ambassador!
Although George Clooney and Penelope Cruz are major ambassadors for Nespresso, whose videos of ads have made headlines on YouTube, you too can become an ambassador for Nespresso. It is easy; just by purchasing Nespresso coffees, machines, and capsules via the Nespresso Website, you can become a Nespresso ambassador.
Happy caffeinated!
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