Nespresso Coffee Machines
Unlike drip coffee makers, Nespresso models are compact and compact. They are black in color and vary in price and complexity. Some include a milk frother for latte art and can be connected to the company's app to manage recipes and receive descaling alerts.
The Essenza Mini is a simple machine that is reasonably priced, but does not have the features required to make complex drinks. Other machines can brew larger drink sizes 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 brand has a loyal following thanks to its ease, speed and consistency in making a hot espresso-like beverage. These machines can be a great alternative to brewing 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 pressure to extract the flavor of the pod, and then heats water and froths milk for coffee drinks such as lattes or cappuccinos. Nespresso provides a range of blends and coffees that can be customized to suit your mood and taste as well as decaffeinated and flavor options. The machines are compact elegant, stylish and easy to use, making them the ideal choice for those who want a quick cup of coffee in the morning or a mid-day pick-me-up.
Original Nespresso machines, that make espresso-like shots using the company's Original capsules were the only machines available until 2014 which was when the Vertuo line was launched. The smaller model in this line is the Essenza Mini, which is super compact with a tiny water tank and a storage space for used capsules. Its simple operation, using only two buttons - one for espresso and the other for a lungo--makes it simple to master.
All Nespresso machines eliminate used capsules after making. This is different from Keurig machines that require you to manually add water every time. Depending on the size of the reservoir and capsule storage, these can hold between four and 12 pods that have been used, which are discarded into a built-in receptacle each time you open the machine.
Many of the most well-known models can be used with the mobile app of 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 and Iced tea by using a dedicated room for frothing. Read Significantly more with the machine we tried is that it does not support all types of milk. You'll need purchase a separate frothing device for making drinks with whole almond, 2% or 2% milk.
The Original Line Original Line
The Original line of pod-only machines comprises the stylish Citiz and the Essenza Mini. Both models penetrate the capsule, and then pump hot water at high pressure through it and then deliver an espresso or lungo. The Original machines use an increased pressure of 19 bars than the Vertuo models that have pumps of 15 to 18 bars.
The Vertuo machines produce an espresso that is more rich and thicker than the crema produced by the Original machines. The crema is more than just froth. However, as the Spruce notes, it can be responsible for as much as 25% of espresso's taste. The Original line offers more expensive Creatista or Lattissima espresso machines with built-in milk frothers to create lattes and cappuccinos at the touch of one button.
The Lattissima Line
This line is perfect for those looking for a machine which can make cappuccinos, lattes and other milky coffee drinks. It has three customizable recipes and its 4.2 cup milk container can be taken out and washed in the dishwasher. It's also light and easy to store and transport in small spaces. However, some customers say it's not as easy to use as other Nespresso models.
The jug in this machine has lines that show the type of beverage you want. You can pick your beverage while the machine is heating up. It is equipped with a sensor that stops steaming at the moment 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. It's easy to clean and features a a minimalist aesthetic that won't overpower small spaces. It's also fairly affordable, with a retail price of $385/PS279.
It has an automatic drip tray, exactly like the OriginalLine models. The tray is designed to catch any loose ground when you pour espresso. It's a nice option to minimize mess, and it helps to prevent spills which could affect the taste of your beverage.
The Pro and Gran Lattissima both have a larger water tank than the Lattissima One, allowing them to hold more liquid before having to refill. Both models come with faster heating times (15 seconds for an Espresso and 25 seconds for Lungo) and hot water functions that can be used to make tea or iced espresso.
The only downside to the Lattissima is the difficulty of adjusting the consistency and thickness of your milk foam. The machine only works with almond or skim milk. Sorry Vegans and those who are intolerant to dairy. The wand for frothing can be difficult to clean it, which is a frequent complaint among Nespresso owners. The Lattissima Pro or Gran Lattissima comes with a self-cleaning feature that scrubs the milky interior of the frothing wand after every use.
The Vertuo Line
A Nespresso Vertuo machine makes a small cup of coffee that's perfect for those who enjoy espresso but prefer a short, intense drink. Each capsule has a barcode around its rim that can be read by the machine's system to determine the amount of coffee it can create. Nespresso's Vertuo pods are extracted with an innovative 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 with the Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother to create frothy cappuccinos and lattes.
Each Vertuo Line coffee machine heats quickly and can be brewed in less than 30 seconds. They have a smaller reservoir for water than the Original Line and require less maintenance. There are a variety of models to pick from, so you'll be able to find one that fits your style and budget.
Vertuo Line machines can also brew regular filter coffee, unlike the Original Line machines that only can brew Nespresso. This is done via the spout, which is situated at the bottom of machine.
VertuoLine machines come with a revolutionary system of brewing that softly extracts espresso and coffee using the unique centrifusion technology. This enables the creation of natural crema that is safe for and enhances the coffee's aromas. The VertuoLine System also comes with an intelligent recognition feature that adjusts the extraction parameters to each Grand Cru blend.
Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer's guarantee and a starter pack of Nespresso capsules. The company offers a subscription service that delivers new Nespresso capsules every month.
The Nespresso VertuoPlus machine is the most efficient machine overall. It is easy to use, heats up quickly and comes in a variety of colors. It can produce five different sizes of coffee and espresso including a ristretto espresso, lungo and flat white. It can also make an espresso-latte, and it can be used in conjunction with the Aeroccino Milk Frother to make lattes or cappuccino.
The VertuoPlus has one drawback, which is that it takes longer to brew when compared to other machines, particularly when making an Americano. Comparing the Bunn Fastbrew with the Nespresso VertuoPlus which can brew an 8-ounce Americano in 42 seconds, it took just 1 minute and 51 seconds. Luckily, you can speed up the process by choosing an automatic mode.