The two Greatest Nespresso Machines of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

It’s indeniable: Espresso makes mornings simpler. At the same time as a longtime early chook, I nonetheless want a robust dose of caffeine to get me from surviving to thriving most days. The world of espresso can really feel big (and admittedly intimidating) to these of us who’re simply trying to flip beans into brew. That’s the place Nespresso is available in.

Like Keurig espresso makers, Nespresso machines brew single servings from pre-portioned espresso capsules. Not like Keurig, they concentrate on brewing espresso—a job that will in any other case require a full setup of apparatus, to not point out the entire analysis and numerous hours of follow it takes to tug high-quality photographs at dwelling. It’s a worthy obsession for these with a ardour for it, however not one that everybody has the time or vitality to pursue. Alternatively, Nespresso machines might not require the artisanship of doing it your self, however they nonetheless produce a sip that many are more likely to take pleasure in, simplified with one push of a button.

To seek out the perfect Nespresso machines, I examined six fashions. My lineup included choices from each of Nespresso’s main product traces (Authentic and Vertuo) and ranged in value from $140 to $650. Some made solely espresso, whereas others may dispense espresso or whip up lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos in a flash. My favorites have been intuitive to make use of, fast to brew, and easy to wash.

The Winners, at a Look

The VertuoPlus was past straightforward to function and will brew espresso (together with double espressos and gran lungos, a.ok.a. lengthy blacks) in addition to espresso. It’s good for households with totally different sorts of espresso drinkers and those that like to modify up their caffeine routines.

The Gran Lattissima has an attachable milk tank that routinely steams, froths, and dispenses pillowy microfoam into freshly brewed espresso to create lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos in minutes. It could actually additionally produce straightforward flat whites and 15-second photographs of espresso. On high of all that, it cleaned up in a snap. The milk system has a self-rinse mode, and all of its components are dishwasher-safe.

The Assessments

• Espresso Take a look at: I brewed three totally different capsules with every Nespresso machine and tasted them as-is. For Vertuo machines, I included a espresso pod (which brewed a 7.8-ounce cup) along with the assorted espresso sizes (like lungos and double espressos). I timed how lengthy every pod took to brew and recorded any noticeable flavors. 
• Latte Take a look at: I made a single espresso shot with every mannequin and mixed it with about 5 to 6 ounces of entire milk to create a latte. I steamed the milk with fashions that had built-in milk frothers and ready the milk on the facet utilizing a Nespresso Aeroccino for those who didn’t.
• Different Operate Take a look at (Winners Solely): I used all of the features I had not beforehand explored with the top-performing fashions. For machines with computerized milk techniques, this meant making a flat white, cappuccino, latte macchiato, and steamed and frothed milk.
• Cleansing and Usability Assessments: I cleaned the Nespresso machines (together with their capsule containers, drip trays, and water tanks) in response to their instruction manuals after every use, operating the self-cleaning cycles when out there. All through testing, I paid shut consideration to how fast and intuitive every mannequin was to function and if it was adaptable to totally different cup sizes and brew varieties.

What We Realized

There Are Two Sorts of Nespresso Machines

Selecting the best Nespresso machine mannequin can really feel overwhelming, given the sheer variety of choices. The Nespresso lineup contains greater than a dozen designs (some with their very own deluxe or restricted variations) that may range barely relying on which Nespresso companions they’re distributed by. The entire espresso makers I examined have been manufactured by both Breville or De’Longhi, not by Nespresso itself, and a few designs are licensed to a number of producers. Fortunately, it’s straightforward to simplify all of these decisions all the way down to Nespresso’s two product traces: Authentic or Vertuo.

Nespresso’s Authentic fashions are targeted on espresso, and all of their appropriate espresso capsules are the identical dimension. It’s as much as the person to decide on how they’d wish to brew them based mostly on their machine’s capabilities. My favourite Gran Lattissima may make ristrettos, customary, and lungo espressos (0.85, 1.35, and three.7 ounces, respectively), whereas the Inissia and Essenza Mini solely had button presets for the latter two sizes. What impressed me most concerning the Authentic machines I examined was their velocity: They might energy on, warmth up, and dispense a shot of espresso in below a minute.

Whereas the Authentic machines brewed by inserting pressurized water into their pods to extract the espresso (similar to conventional espresso brewing), the Vertuo fashions labored by spinning their capsules at excessive speeds to push water by way of the grinds inside, utilizing centrifugal pressure. In testing, they took a bit of longer than Authentic machines—a couple of minute-and-a-half to 2 minutes per cup, together with heat-up and computerized pre-wetting and infusing occasions—however have been extra adaptable to totally different sorts of espresso drinkers. The Breville Vertuo and successful De’Longhi VertuoPlus may each brew five-ounce lungos and seven.7-ounce cups of espresso along with espresso and double espresso photographs. (Another fashions within the Vertuo line can even make 12-ounce extra-large altos and 18-ounce carafes.) The Vertuo capsules have been sized in response to their drink kind and had a barcode beneath their rims that the machine scanned to routinely load the right methodology and quantity. This meant I may simply press a single button after inserting the capsule to arrange my espresso or espresso.

I didn’t discover any important distinction within the high quality of the capsules made with both the Vertuo or the Authentic machines, and fashions that I examined side-by-side inside these classes brewed kind of identically to one another. In different phrases, an Authentic espresso pod produced related outcomes regardless if it was brewed within the unassuming Essenza Mini or the souped-up Gran Lattissima. It was their dimension, value, and extra options (just like the Gran Lattissima’s milk features) that set them other than each other.

Nespresso’s Comfort Comes at A number of Prices

Nespresso machines are quick, constant, and straightforward to function. They’re approachable for newbies and remove limitations just like the preliminary studying curve and monetary funding a higher-end conventional espresso maker would demand. However they’ve some main drawbacks, too. Espresso professional Ashley Rodriguez coated just a few of those, together with a quick overview of Nespresso’s historical past (and its ethically questionable mother or father firm, Nestlé), when she first thought of the execs and cons of those computerized espresso makers.

Maybe the least distasteful disadvantage of Nespresso is the espresso itself. As Rodriguez explains, grinds within the Nespresso pods are usually roasted fairly darkish, which might contribute to bitterness. I attempted almost 20 several types of Nespresso pods and located this to be largely true. I most well-liked pods that have been decrease on Nespresso’s roast stage, acidity, and total depth scales as a result of they have been much less astringent and I may style extra of their nuances, like cocoa, caramel, or nuttiness. 

The capsules may also be expensive in the long term. The Authentic pods price round $0.80 every, whereas the Vertuo choices vary roughly from $1 to $1.10 per single shot of espresso (and round $1.25 per espresso pod). Compared, a bag of freshly roasted, whole-bean home espresso mix from considered one of my native favourite espresso outlets breaks all the way down to about $0.50 per espresso shot. It’s additionally price mentioning that yow will discover Authentic-compatible cups from non-public labels and different grocery retailer manufacturers that are usually cheaper than Nespresso-branded pods, however the Vertuo capsules are patented and proprietary to Nespresso, so choices are extra restricted for them.

Along with their value, single-use espresso pods have an environmental price, too. Nespresso pods are recyclable however can’t be processed in regular recycling techniques as a result of they’re made out of a hard-to-separate mixture of aluminum and plastic. They must be dropped off at considered one of Nespresso’s assortment websites or mailed again in particular envelopes (that are free to order and return). In keeping with Nespresso, 90% of their clients are close to a recycling level, however solely a couple of third of their pods have been recycled in 2020.

The Nespresso Crema Wasn’t Really Crema

One main promoting level that Nespresso advertises is the ample “crema” on high of every cup its machines brew. In conventional espressos, crema is the results of carbon dioxide produced and trapped within the espresso beans once they have been roasted, which escapes and types a effective foam on high of the shot throughout brewing. Whereas it’s probably not an indicator of the high quality of beans, their roast, or their grind, it could point out freshness as a result of older beans gained’t produce as sturdy of a crema layer (if in any respect). 

Throughout testing, I seen the Nespresso crema didn’t act just like the crema I used to be used to seeing out of our handbook espresso machine. As a substitute of wanting like a easy emulsification that pale slowly, the Nespresso crema was foamy and fast to dissipate right into a bubbly froth. For the reason that espresso contained in the Nespresso pods is all however assured to have been floor weeks (or months) earlier than it will get to the patron, it stands to purpose that this crema isn’t really from escaping CO2. Relatively, the espresso simply will get quickly aerated as a facet impact of Nespresso’s distinctive brewing processes, a degree that espresso connoisseur James Hoffmann proved by getting ready Nespresso grinds (that he lower out of Vertuo pods) utilizing a pour-over methodology. He whipped the brewed espresso in a blender and—voila—achieved a remarkably related foam to that of the Nespresso-brewed espresso.

The Standards: What to Search for in a Nespresso Machine

The precise Nespresso machine for you is determined by what sort of espresso drinker you’re. If you happen to love espressos and like Americanos to espresso, an Authentic line mannequin could be an excellent decide. If you would like the adaptability of extra serving choices and the convenience of single-button brewing, a Vertuo espresso and espresso maker is the best way to go. Double-check the particular mannequin you propose to purchase to verify it contains all of the cup sizes you’d wish to brew, as they range from machine to machine. You may select a mannequin that fits your finances and counter area from there. Make sure to think about any extra options of every machine, like an computerized milk frothing wand that turns a easy espresso maker right into a do-it-all computerized barista.

Our Favourite Nespresso Machines

What we appreciated: The VertuoPlus was good for groggy mornings and fast pick-me-ups as a result of it solely required two primary working steps: Insert the pod and push the button. The machine scanned the barcode on the underside of the inserted capsules and routinely brewed them to their ideally suited dimension. It had an adjustable drip platform to accommodate taller mugs and its water tank could possibly be shifted from left to proper to suit your counter area. This mannequin may make espressos, double espressos, gran lungos, or full cups of espresso, so that you wouldn’t have to have a separate machine for non-espresso brews. This Nespresso machine was additionally comparatively reasonably priced in comparison with different fashions within the Vertuo line.

What we didn’t like: The VertuoPlus’s self-cleaning cycle took longer than different fashions and ran by way of nearly three cups of water for every rinse. The cycle didn’t have for use day by day, although, and could possibly be run weekly or every time the machine wanted an intensive cleanse. As soon as heated, it took a couple of minute to brew and dispense a single shot of espresso, though this was solely sluggish in comparison with the 15 seconds it took machines from the Authentic line. 

Key Specs

• Weight: 9.3 kilos
• Dimensions: 5.75 x 16 x 12.5 inches
• Nespresso system compatibility: Vertuo
• Used capsule bucket capability: 14
• Water tank capability: 40 fluid ounces
• Acknowledged heat-up time: 25 seconds
• Brewing choices: Espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, and low
• Different options: Computerized power-off after 9 minutes, adjustable cup shelf, adjustable water tank positioning, automated rinse cycle
• Care directions: Don’t use abrasive cleansing brokers or put any piece of the machine within the dishwasher. To run the automated cleansing operate, place a container that may maintain at the very least 27 fluid ounces below the spout and press the highest button 3 times inside two seconds. The process will take about 5 minutes and contains three rinse cycles.

What we appreciated: As I wrote in my notes throughout testing, the Gran Lattissima was “outrageously quick” and “fantastically straightforward” to make use of. It brewed Authentic capsules and will produce ristrettos, espressos, and lungos in about 15 seconds. What actually set it aside, although, was its removable milk tank that could possibly be refrigerated between makes use of after which snapped into the machine for lightning-fast flat whites, lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos. As soon as loaded with a capsule, the machine brewed espresso after which routinely allotted steamed and frothed milk into the cup with one push of a button. 

Not solely was it a cinch to function, however all of its milk-based drinks have been really good. The microfoam that it produced was effective, comfortable, and downright marshmallowy—with out requiring any effort or experience on my half. The dispenser spout may additionally rinse itself after every use, and the entire milk system’s parts have been top-rack dishwasher-safe.

What we didn’t like: As a result of this was a machine from the Authentic line, I needed to choose which dimension of espresso I wished to brew as a substitute of the machine studying the capsule’s code and selecting for me, however this was a minor gripe (and it didn’t apply when making milk-based drinks). Not like the Creatista Plus, which was the opposite mannequin within the lineup with milk-frothing capabilities, it wasn’t as straightforward to make quantity changes with the Gran Lattissima, and I couldn’t modify the froth stage or milk temperature away from the predetermined settings. This machine was additionally very expensive, costing greater than a few of our favourite customary espresso machines. 

Key Specs

• Weight: 11.3 kilos
• Dimensions: 7.75 x 14.5 x 11 inches
• Nespresso system compatibility: Authentic
• Used capsule bucket capability: 14
• Water tank capability: 34 fluid ounces
• Milk container capability: 16.9 fluid ounces
• Acknowledged heat-up time: 25 seconds
• Brewing choices: Ristretto, espresso, lungo, flat white, caffé latte, cappuccino, latte macchiato, scorching steamed milk, scorching milk foam
• Different options: Constructed-in milk steaming and frothing system (milk container might be eliminated and refrigerated between makes use of), computerized power-off after 9 minutes, elective cup pedestal, descale and clear indicator lights
• Care directions: All parts of the milk frothing system might be cleaned on the higher rack of the dishwasher or washed by hand in response to the producer’s directions. For day by day care, place an empty cup below the espresso spout, flip the milk froth knob to “clear” to rinse it with steam and scorching water, then choose the “lungo” operate (with out a capsule inside) to rinse the espresso traces.

The Competitors

• Nespresso Creatista Plus Espresso Machine by Breville: The Creatista Plus had a self-regulating wand that might steam and froth milk in a separate pitcher to the facet of the espresso dispenser. It was an in depth runner-up to the successful Gran Lattissima, nevertheless it was only a contact much less handy and intuitive. Its dial-and-button interface felt sluggish at occasions, though its digital display was a giant assist for visualizing the machine’s quantity, temperature, and milk froth choices. I needed to bump up the froth a stage or two with a view to get the type of pillowy microfoam I’d anticipate for a cappuccino (or perhaps a latte); in any other case, the milk for these drinks got here out thinner than I appreciated. I’d nonetheless suggest this mannequin for individuals who wish to dial in on their most well-liked cups (and those that need to follow their latte artwork).
• Nespresso Essenza Mini Espresso and Espresso Machine by De’Longhi: The Essenza solely had two brew sizes for Authentic capsules: espresso or lungo. It was quick and couldn’t match my four-inch mug beneath the spout, which meant dirtying one other cup once I wished to make an Americano or add steamed milk for a latte. Nonetheless, this is able to be a good selection for espresso devotees who’re tight on area because it solely wanted half the counter space in comparison with the successful fashions.
• Nespresso Vertuo Espresso and Espresso Machine by Breville: This good-looking mannequin had the identical capabilities and carried out equally to the VertuoPlus, nevertheless it price $50 extra on the time of testing.
• Nespresso Inissia Espresso Machine by De’Longhi: Just like the Essenza Mini, this mannequin was reasonably priced, compact, and brewed espressos or lungos. It was considerably louder than the remainder of the lineup, although.

FAQs

How do you clear a Nespresso machine?

To maintain your Nespresso machine clear, eject any spent capsules, then empty and rinse the used capsule container and drip tray day by day. You must also empty, rinse, and refill the connected water tank with recent, potable water. Some machines (together with these with built-in milk techniques) have an computerized cleansing operate that may flush out the inner traces, whereas others might be rinsed by operating the machine on a lungo cycle with out a espresso capsule inserted. Make sure to examine your machine’s handbook for particular directions based mostly in your mannequin.

How do you descale a Nespresso machine?

Nespresso recommends utilizing its descaling resolution each three months to take away mineral buildup and guarantee easy operation. If you happen to use your espresso maker closely, it ought to be descaled after each 300 capsules. In keeping with Nespresso, vinegar or store-bought descalers might harm your machine. Some fashions embody a descaling reminder which might be adjusted to your water hardness and will “lock out” the machine from brewing if it’s not descaled inside a sure variety of makes use of. Seek the advice of your particular Nespresso machine’s instruction handbook for find out how to function its descaling mode.

How do you utilize a Nespresso machine?

Nespresso machines are useless easy to make use of—simply insert the espresso capsule you’d wish to brew and press the button. Vertuo fashions scan the barcode on their pods and routinely modify the water quantity to go well with the kind of capsule being brewed. Espresso makers from Nespresso’s Authentic line have separate buttons for every cup dimension that the machine could make, which range from mannequin to mannequin. Customers can even modify the programmed quantity for every brew kind relying on their preferences.

Why We’re the Consultants

• Ashlee Redger is a contract meals author who has been reviewing tools for Severe Eats since 2022. She has interned at America’s Take a look at Kitchen, created client merchandise and restaurant menus for nationwide manufacturers, and developed a whole bunch of recipes for dwelling cooks.
• Ashlee has written many opinions for Severe Eats, together with kitchen tongs and good countertop ovens.
• For this assessment, she examined six Nespresso machines and brewed over three dozen cups of espresso and espresso-based drinks. She rated every mannequin on its efficiency, comfort, practicality, and value.