Nespresso Coffee Machines
In contrast to drip coffee makers, Nespresso models are small and compact. They're black-colored and range in terms of price and complexity. Some have an milk frother to create Latte art, and they 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 needed to make more complex drinks. Other machines can make larger drink sizes, like gran lungos.
What is what is a Nespresso Machine?
Since 1986, Nespresso sells single-serve machines that use capsules to make coffee and espresso. The brand has gained a devoted following due to its ease of use of use, speed and consistency when brewing a hot espresso-like drink. These machines are an excellent alternative to making espresso at home with a moka pot. Both require time and care after each use.
A Nespresso machine uses pressure to extract the flavor from a pod, then heats water and froths milk for coffee drinks such as lattes or cappuccinos. Nespresso offers a variety of coffee and tea blends to suit different tastes and moods as well as decaffeinated and flavored options. The machines are compact elegant, stylish, and simple to operate and make them a great choice for those who need a quick cup of coffee in the morning or a mid-day refreshment.
Original Nespresso machines, that make espresso-like shots using the company's Original capsules, were the only machines on the market until 2014 which was when the Vertuo line was launched. The most compact model in the line is the Essenza Mini, which is super compact with a tiny water tank and a storage space for used capsules. Its easy operation, with just two buttons, one for an espresso and the other for a lungo--makes it simple to master.
Unlike Keurig machines that require you to add water manually before each use, all Nespresso models automatically dispose of any used capsule after the brewing. These machines can store anything from four to twelve pods that have been used, based on the size of their water reservoirs and capsule storage. They are then disposed of in an internal receptacle time you open the machine.
Some of the most popular models also work with the app for mobile, which allows you to modify recipes and order 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 downside to the machine we tried was that it does not support all types of milk, requiring you to buy an additional frothing tool if you want to make drinks using whole milk, 2%, or almond milk.
www.coffeee.uk of pod-only machines includes the sleek Citiz and the Essenza Mini. Both models penetrate the capsule, pump hot water at high pressure, and deliver an espresso or lungo. The Original machines use 19 bars of pressure, which is more than the 15 to 18 bar pumps that are found in the more expensive Vertuo models.
The original machines create a crema (a thin layer of tiny microbubbles layered on the top of the espresso) which is more dense and richer than the foam of the Vertuo line. The crema is more than just froth. However, as the Spruce states, it could make up one quarter of espresso's taste. The Original line comes with more expensive Creatista or Lattissima espresso machines with built-in milk frothers to create cappuccinos and lattes at the push of a button.
The Lattissima Line
This line of machines is ideal for those who like milky coffee drinks, such as lattes and cappuccinos and want one machine that does everything. It has 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 areas. Some users have complained that it's not as intuitive as other Nespresso machines.
Its jug has drink-specific lines that are etched into it, which means you can choose the beverage you'd like to prepare before the machine heats up. It also has a sensor that will automatically stops the steaming process when the jug has run out and stops milk waste.
The Lattissima One offers a great value for money. 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 doesn't take up too much space in smaller spaces. It's also fairly affordable with a retail price of $385/PS279.
Like the OriginalLine models, it comes with an automatic drip tray that collects any loose grounds while you pour your espresso. This feature is great for minimizing mess and preventing overflow, which can 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 liquid before needing 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 in adjusting the consistency of your milk foam. The machine is only suitable with skim milk (sorry Vegans and dairy-intolerant folks), 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. Fortunately, the Lattissima Pro and Gran Lattissima come with a self-cleaning system that cleans the milky insides after every use of the frothing.
The Vertuo Line
A Nespresso Vertuo machine makes a small cup of coffee that's ideal for those who love espresso and prefer a quick strong 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 capsules are extracted using an innovative technology.
Vertuo Line has a variety of drinks including Ristretto, Espresso, Lungo (mini espresso), Americano, and Cappuccino. The machines can be combined with the Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother to make frothy cappuccinos and lattes.
Each Vertuo Line machine heats up quickly and can be brewed in about 30 minutes. They have a smaller reservoir for water than the Original Line and require less maintenance. There are a myriad of models to choose from that you can choose one that fits your home's style as well as your budget.
Unlike the Original Line machines, which only make Nespresso capsules The Vertuo Line also brews regular, filter-brewed coffee. This is done through the spout, which is that is located at the bottom of the machine.
VertuoLine machines are equipped with a new brewing technology that uses centrifusion to softly extract espresso and coffee. This creates natural crema that is safe for and improves the quality of coffee aromas. The VertuoLine system also features an intelligent recognition system that alters the extraction parameters to match each Grand Cru blend.
Each VertuoLine machine is backed by a manufacturer's warranty. It also comes with an initial pack of 10 free Nespresso capsules. The company offers a subscription service which delivers new Nespresso capsules each month.
There are many VertuoLine machines to choose from however, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is our choice for the best overall machine. It is simple to use, warms up quickly and comes in a variety of colors. It can make five different sizes of coffee and espresso including flat white, ristretto and lungo. It can also make an espresso-latte, and it can be used with the Aeroccino Milk Frother for the creation of lattes or cappuccino.
The VertuoPlus has only one disadvantage, that it takes longer to brew when compared to other machines, specifically when making an Americano. Comparing the Bunn Fastbrew to the Nespresso VertuoPlus which can brew an 8-ounce Americano within 42 seconds, it took 1 minute and 51 seconds. You can speed up the process by choosing an automatic mode.