What The 10 Most Worst Nespresso Machine Failures Of All Time Could Have Been Prevented
Nespresso Coffee Machines
Nespresso coffee makers are compact and small and are not as bulky as drip coffee machines. They're black-colored and range in terms of price and complexity. Some include a milk frother that can be used to create Latte art and can be connected with an app to manage recipes or get notifications on descaling.
The most basic machines, such as our pick, the Essenza Mini, are simple and inexpensive, but they do not have features that can make more complex drinks. Other machines can also make larger sizes of drinks, like the gran lungos.
What is a Nespresso Machine?
Since 1986, Nespresso has marketed single-serve machines that use capsules to make coffee drinks and espresso. The brand has gained a devoted following because of its ease of use, speed and consistency when making a hot espresso-like beverage. They can be an excellent alternative to making at-home espresso with moka pots or drip coffee maker, both of which require time and careful cleaning after each use.
A Nespresso machine makes use of a pressure system to extract the flavor of the pod. It then heats up water and froths the milk to create coffee drinks, such as lattes and cappuccinos. Nespresso offers a variety of tea and coffee blends to fit different moods and tastes as well as decaffeinated and flavored options. Their machines are compact elegant, stylish and easy to use and make them a great choice for those who need an instant cup of coffee in the morning or a mid-day energy boost.
Original Nespresso machines that made 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 introduced. The Essenza Mini is the smallest model in this line. It's compact and comes with a tiny water tank and space for capsules that are used. Its easy-to-use operation with only two buttons - one for an espresso and another for a lungo - makes it simple to master.
Contrary to Keurig machines, which require the user to manually add water prior to every use, all Nespresso models automatically discard any used capsule after the brewing. The machines can hold anything from four to twelve used pods depending on the size of their water reservoirs as well as capsule storage. They are then disposed of into an internal receptacle time you open the machine.
Some of the more well-known models are also compatible with the mobile app of the brand that lets you make your own recipes and reorder capsules from home. We tested this feature on the sleek stainless steel Vertuo Creatista, which also offers the option to make hot chocolate and iced coffee using an ice-making chamber that is specifically designed for frothing. The only issue with the machine we test is that it doesn't support all milk types. You'll need purchase a separate frothing tool for making drinks with whole or 2% almond milk.
The Original Line
The Original line of pod-only machines includes the stylish Citiz and Essenza Mini. Both machines penetrate the capsule and pump hot water through it to deliver an espresso or a lungo. The Original machines use an increased pressure of 19 bars than some of the Vertuo models, which use pumps that range from 15 to 18 bars.
The Vertuo machines produce a foam that is richer and thicker than the crema produced by the original machines. The crema is more than just froth. As the Spruce states, it could make up one quarter of espresso's flavor. The Original line also offers pricier Creatista and Lattissima machines that have built-in milk frothers to make cappuccinos, lattes and macchiatos at the push of an button.
The Lattissima Line
This line of machines is ideal for people who prefer milky coffee drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos and need a machine that does it all. It comes with three recipes that can be customized and its 4.2 1 ounce milk container can be removed and washed in the dishwasher. It's also light and easy to store and move in small areas. However, some users complain that 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'd like to drink. You can select your beverage while the machine is heating. It has a sensor which automatically stops the steaming when it runs out of milk.
The Lattissima One offers a great value for the price. It's available in four different colors: porcelain white, dark gray and silky-white. It's easy to clean and has a minimalistic aesthetic that doesn't take up too much space in smaller spaces. The machine is also moderately priced, with a retail cost of $385/PS279
It has an automatic drip tray similar to the OriginalLine models. This tray catches any loose ground while you pour espresso. It's a nice feature to minimize mess, and it helps prevent overflow that could spoil the flavor of your drink.
The Pro and Gran Lattissima have larger water tanks than the Lattissima One. This allows them to hold more liquid without having refill. The two models feature a quicker heat-up time (15 seconds for an Espresso and 25 seconds for a Lungo) and hot water functions that can be used to make iced or tea.
The only downside to the Lattissima is the difficulty in altering the consistency and the density of the foam you make with your milk. The machine can only be used with skim milk (sorry Vegans and dairy-intolerant folks) and the foaming system doesn't work well with vegetable or almond milks. The wand for frothing is difficult to clean. This is a typical complaint from Nespresso users. Fortunately, the Lattissima Pro and Gran Lattissima have a self-cleaning cycle that cleans the milky insides after every use of the frother.
The Vertuo Line
The Nespresso Vertuo makes a small but concentrated cup of coffee. It's the perfect choice for espresso lovers. Each capsule has a barcode around its outer rim that is read by the machine's software to determine the amount of coffee it will make. delonghi nespresso coffee machine are extracted using a unique technology.
Vertuo Line has a variety of drinks including Ristretto, Espresso, Lungo (mini espresso), Americano, and Cappuccino. The machines also are compatible with the Nespresso Aeroccino milk frother to create frothy lattes and cappuccinos.
Each Vertuo Line coffee machine heats quickly and is ready for brewing in less than 30 seconds. They have a smaller water tank than Original Line machines and require less maintenance. There are a variety of models to choose from, so you can choose one that matches your style and budget.
Vertuo Line machines can also make regular filter coffee unlike the Original Line machines that only make Nespresso. This is accomplished by the spout, which is located at the bottom of machine.
VertuoLine machines come with a revolutionary brewing technique that uses centrifusion to softly extract coffee and espresso. This creates an organic crema that preserves and improves the quality of coffee aromas. The VertuoLine System also has an intelligent recognition feature that adjusts the extraction parameters according to each Grand Cru blend.
Each VertuoLine machine comes with a manufacturer's warranty and a starter pack of Nespresso capsules. The company also offers a subscription service that delivers new Nespresso capsules every month.
The Nespresso VertuoPlus machine is the best overall machine. It is simple to use, heats up quickly and comes in a range of colors. It can make five different sizes of espresso and coffee including a flat white, ristretto, and lungo. It also brews a latte macchiato and can be used together with the Aeroccino milk mixer 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, specifically when making an Americano. For instance, if you compare it to the Bunn Fastbrew, which could brew 8 ounces of Americano in just 42 seconds The Nespresso VertuoPlus required 1 minute and 51 seconds. You can speed up the process by choosing an automatic mode.