Nespresso Coffee Machines
Contrary to drip coffee makers Nespresso models are compact and compact. They're black in color and vary in 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 alerts.
The simplest machines, like our favorite, the Essenza Mini, are simple and inexpensive, but they do not have features that can make more complex drinks. Other machines can brew larger sizes of drinks like gran lungos.
What is a Nespresso Machine?
Since 1986, Nespresso has marketed single-serve machines that utilize capsules to make coffee drinks and espresso. The brand has gained a devoted following thanks to its ease of use, speed and consistency when making a hot espresso-like beverage. These machines are an excellent alternative to making at-home espresso with a moka pot or drip coffee maker both of which take the time and care to clean after each use.
A Nespresso machine uses an air pressure system to extract the flavor of the pod. It then heats up water and makes froths of the milk to make coffee drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes. Nespresso has a wide variety of coffee and tea blends to fit different tastes and moods, including flavored and decaffeinated choices. The machines are compact elegant, stylish, and simple to use and make them a great choice for those who need a quick cup of coffee in the morning or for an afternoon refreshment.
Original Nespresso machines, which made espresso-like shots using the company's Original capsules, were the only machines available until 2014, when the Vertuo line was introduced. The Essenza Mini is the smallest model of this line. It's compact, with a small water tank and space for capsules that are used. Its simple operation, with just two buttons one for espresso, and another for lungo - makes it simple to master.
Unlike Keurig machines, which require you to manually add water prior to each use, all Nespresso models automatically dispose of any capsule that is not used after making. They can store between four and twelve pods that have been used, based on the size of their water reservoirs as well as capsule storage. They are then thrown away into the built-in receptacle each time you open the machine.
Some of the most popular models can be used with the mobile app from the brand, which allows 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 as well as Iced tea by using a dedicated frothing room. The only issue we found with the machine we tried was that it does not support all types of milk and requires you to purchase an additional frothing wand should you wish 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 the Essenza Mini. Both models are pierced by the capsule, pump hot water at high pressure, and deliver an espresso or lungo. The Original machines use an increased pressure of 19 bars than the Vertuo models, which have pumps of 15 to 18 bars.
The Original machines produce crema (a thin layer of tiny microbubbles that sits on top of the espresso) that is thicker and richer than the foam of the Vertuo line. The crema is more than just froth, though--as the Spruce states, it could be responsible for as much as a quarter of an espresso's flavor. The Original line also comes with more expensive Creatista and Lattissima machines that have built-in milk frothers to create cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos with the touch of an button.
The Lattissima Line
This line is perfect for those who need an appliance 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, which makes it easy to transport and store in a small space. However, some users complain that it's not as intuitive to use as other Nespresso models.
The jug's lines for drinks are that are etched into it, which means you can pre-select which beverage you'd like to prepare before the machine heats up. It also has a sensor that will automatically stops steaming when the jug runs out and prevents the waste of milk.
The Lattissima One offers a great value for the price. It's available in four colors: porcelain white, dark gray, and silky-white. The machine is easy-to-clean and has a minimalist design that won't overwhelm smaller rooms. It's also reasonably priced, with a retail price of $385/PS279.
It has an automatic drip tray, similar to the OriginalLine models. The tray is designed to catch any loose ground as you pour espresso. It's a great feature for minimizing mess, and it helps to prevent spills which could affect the taste of your coffee.
The Pro and Gran Lattissima both have a larger water tank than the Lattissima One, allowing them to hold more liquid prior to having to refill. These two models also have a quicker heating process (as little as 15 seconds for espresso and 25 seconds for a lungo) and also have an improved hot water function that can be used 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. It only works with skim or almond milk. Sorry Vegans and those who are allergic to dairy. The frothing wand is also difficult to clean. This is a frequent complaint from Nespresso users. Fortunately the Lattissima Pro and Gran Lattissima have a self-cleaning cycle that cleans the milky insides after each use of the frothing.
The Vertuo Line
A Nespresso Vertuo machine makes a small cup of coffee that's ideal for espresso lovers who prefer a quick and intense drink. The machine scans the barcode on the outer rim of each capsule to determine the amount of coffee it will make. Nespresso's Vertuo pods are extracted with a unique technology.
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 cappuccinos and lattes.
Each Vertuo Line coffee machine heats quickly and is ready for brewing in less than 30 seconds. They use smaller water tanks than the Original Line machines and require less maintenance. There are many models available that you can choose one that suits your home's design and budget.
Vertuo Line machines can also brew regular filter coffee, unlike the Original Line machines that only can brew Nespresso. This is done through an additional spout that is located at the bottom of machine.
VertuoLine machines come with a revolutionary brewing system that softly extracts espresso and coffee 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 feature that can adjust the extraction parameters to match 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 annual subscription service that provides new Nespresso caps each month.
The Nespresso VertuoPlus machine is the top overall machine. It's user-friendly and heats up quickly and comes in a variety of colors. It can make five different sizes of coffee and espresso including a ristretto lungo, espresso and flat white. It also brews a latte macchiato, and can be combined with the Aeroccino milk frother to make a cappuccino or latte.
The only issue with the VertuoPlus is that it takes a little longer to make a cup than other machines, especially when making an Americano. In nespresso machines compared , for instance, to Bunn Fastbrew, which made 8 ounces of Americano in just 42 seconds, the Nespresso VertuoPlus took 1 minute and 51 seconds. It is possible to speed up the process by choosing an automatic mode.