10 Best Nespresso Machines of 2024 & Vertuo vs Original

By: Kev
Updated On: February 26, 2024 at 11:19 am

In this post, I'm going to talk about what I believe to be the best Nespresso machines in 2024.

Before I do that though, there are a couple of key bits of information I reckon all Nespresso machine users or would-be Nespresso machine users need to know before deciding on which may be the best Nespresso machine for them.

Éric Favre, inventor of Nespresso Machines.
Éric Favre, inventor of the Nespresso machine. Credit: houseofswitzerland

Nespresso machines have come a long way since the guy who invented the technology in the mid-70s, got himself a job in packaging at Nestle', just to get himself in the building so that he may one day be able to pitch his invention!

Such an interesting story, the invention of the Nespresso machine. They'll make it into a film one day I reckon, or Netflix series. 

These coffee machines have become so popular, I think, because of the following:

1: Convenience. They're ridiculously quick. They heat up in seconds, not minutes, and take around 12 seconds to produce your coffee. Perfect for busy folk who need fast coffee but don't want to make do with instant.

2: Price. The machines themselves are very inexpensive, compared to buying a semi automatic espresso machine and a semi decent grinder.

If you work out the price of the coffee by weight, it would seem very pricey, but given the small amount of coffee used in a Nespresso pod, the price per cup works out relatively low, especially given that you can get Nespresso compatible pods from around 17p each.

3: Availability and Variety. When you look at other disk and capsule coffee machines, from what I can see none quite have the range and availability of pods that Nespresso offers.

Nespresso themselves offer a pretty big range of capsules, you can buy Nespresso compatible capsules almost everywhere these days, and more importantly, for me, decent UK roasters are now offering their coffee via Nespresso pods – so you can drink speciality coffee via Nespresso.

Nespresso Compatible CapsulesNespresso Compatible Pods - Speciality Coffee

But here's the main thing I think Nespresso machine users need to be aware of:

Nespresso Machines Do Not Produce Espresso

Nespresso's original machines are coffee machines that produce a short espresso-style shot of coffee, but technically speaking it's not actually espresso.

A Nespresso “espresso” is similar to a true espresso, but it's not quite the same. It differs in ratio (coffee to water), brew temperature, and brew pressure, and the resulting drink is different. 

Éric Favre's Nespresso Prototype.
Éric Favre's Nespresso Prototype.

Éric Favre, the industrious and persistent inventor who came up with the idea for what ultimately became the Nespresso machine, didn't look at the way espresso machines worked and then re-engineer them.

Instead, he started from scratch in a bid to replicate the espresso served in one particular ultra-popular espresso bar in Rome – but from the convenience of a home coffee machine.

He figured out that the Barista at this coffee shop was pumping the lever multiple times, which was therefore oxidating the coffee more than at other coffee shops where the espresso machines were being used more conventionally.

So it was this oxidation that was key to the invention of the Nespresso machine, and in order to do this, he created an entirely different kind of coffee machine to Espresso machines. 

It isn't espresso, it's something different, it's Nespresso – a whole new thing. It is similar to traditional espresso, but it's not the same.

It's coffee extracted at higher pressure, the flow rate is much faster, and the ratio of coffee to water is much lower (so it's not as strong as true espresso). It's usually slightly cooler than espresso, too.

To say Nespresso is Espresso is similar to saying that filter coffee is Americano, or that a flat white is a cappuccino, although actually in many cafe's that is the case.

This isn't to say it's not as good as espresso. I'm just saying that coffee that comes from a Nespresso machine is not the same as coffee that comes from a traditional espresso machine.

In fact, some people prefer it. Generally speaking, Nespresso coffee is milder than espresso, and a lot of coffee drinkers prefer that – which is why Nespresso became such a huge commercial hit.

But if you're looking for true espresso:

Best Bean to Cup Espresso Machines

Best Home Espresso Machines

Best Coffee Grinders

Best manual coffee grinders review

Also just keep in mind that the main difference between Nespresso machines and espresso machines is freshness. Pod machines have a lot going for them mainly where convenience is concerned, but the main area they're lacking is when it comes to the freshness, or not so freshness, of the coffee in the pods. 

With any bean to cup coffee machine or traditional espresso machine (or any other coffee maker) with a stand-alone grinder, you can enjoy the freshest coffee possible, by buying high quality, freshly roasted coffee beans, and then grinding them fresh as you brew. 

The other benefits of going this route, instead of going for a pod machine, are the lack of individual packaging and therefore how easier on the environment grinding fresh is, and variety. 

Packaging
These days, brands like Nespresso are taking steps toward reducing the impact of their capsules on the planet, but I just don't think you can get away from the fact that coffee pods and capsules require individual packaging for every single cup of coffee made – sometimes more than one capsule per coffee as some people use multiple pods per coffee. 

When using fresh, whole bean coffee, the only packaging is the bag the coffee comes in, so one 250g bag for the equivalent of 50 pods for standard Nespresso espresso capsules, or one 1 kg bag for the equivalent of 200 pods.

Given the fact that on top of this, genuine Nespresso pods need to be returned to Nespresso to be recycled (even though this is free to the user via the return bags), and the carbon footprint relating to this, I think it's fair to assume that using whole bean or pre-ground coffee is nicer to the planet.

Variety
I do think Nespresso original is the best kind of pod machine, at the time of writing, when it comes to variety, as there is a fairly wide variety of genuine Nespresso pods and a huge variety of compatible pods. But, I don't believe it's possible to quite match the huge variety of whole bean coffee with pod coffee. 

When all you need is coffee beans, it removes all limitations and means you can buy from a huge range of different coffee roasters and other speciality coffee suppliers, including, of course – my coffee, from The Coffeeworks. I offer a range of 16 freshly roasted coffee beans at the time of writing, check them out:

Use discount code CBNC25 for 25% off your first order at Coffeeworks

If Nespresso is definitely for you, there's one more thing I think you need to know before I get to the best Nespresso machines:

Nespresso Original Vs. Nespresso Vertuo, What's The Difference?

Nespresso Vertuo is the latest machine range from Nespresso, at the time of writing there isn't as much variety with Vertuo, when it comes to the machines or the pods, due to the fact that you can't currently get compatible pods for the Vertuo. 

The main difference, though, is that Nespresso's original is for small coffees, espresso sized shots, while their Veruo range includes bigger “mug” sized pods, and even carafe pods. 

With Nespresso original, even their bigger lungo size pods only deliver 110ml coffees, and standard sized coffee mug in the UK is around 250 – 300ml. 

If single or double shot sized coffee, or 110ml lungo is OK with you, then Nespresso original is fine. If you're wanting bigger mugs of coffee, either black or to add milk, then you have a couple of options where Nespresso is concerned.

1: Go Nespresso original, and re-load.

Use two lungo pods, or three double-shot pods, for example, to make a bigger cup of coffee via Nespresso original. I do think many people do this, and it does raise questions, for me, about value for money in terms of price per cup, and also the environmental impact.

2: Go Nespresso Vertuo

I'm covering both original Nespresso, and Vertuo in this best Nespresso machine post (original first, then Vertuo) after all, they're both Nespresso machines. 

Vertuo is the newer range of Nespresso machines aimed at coffee lovers who prefer larger cups of coffee. 

The Vertuo pods have barcodes on them that tell the machine how much water to deliver (depending on how much ground coffee is in the pod) giving the user a good range of sizes, from Espresso all the way to “Alto” which is just over 400ml, or just under 14 ounces, a pretty big cup of coffee.

While Vertuo is a more convenient option for bigger mugs of coffee than reloading the smaller pods via original Nespresso machines, there's a financial consideration too.

If you're comparing the cost of genuine Nespresso original pods vs Vertuo pods, it's going to work out cheaper, usually, to use one bigger Vertuo pod vs using multiple original pods to reach the same volume & strength. 

But the cheapest Nespresso genuine pods are around 35p, and thanks to the huge availability of compatible pods for original Nespresso, you can get compatible pods for as little as around 7p each.

So if you shop around and buy in bulk, you'll be able to produce big mugs of coffee via original Nespresso with multiple pods, quite a bit cheaper than you'd be able to produce with a single Nespresso Vertuo pod.

This is because there are currently no compatible pods for Vertuo, and I doubt there will be for quite some time. 

A couple of other things to consider is that there is a lot more choice when it comes to Nespresso's original machines, and it's not quite the same coffee. Nespresso Vertuo is a completely different concept from Nespresso Original. 

So if you're currently a Nespresso original user, you might want to try a Nespresso Vertuo coffee before making the change, to check you're happy with the coffee it produces. Easier said than done at the moment, I admit! More on Nespresso Vertuo a bit later in this post.

Best Original Nespresso Coffee Machines

Remember, the original Nespresso machines deliver short shots of espresso-style coffee. If you're looking for a machine to conveniently deliver bigger mugs of Nespresso coffee, scroll down to Vertuo Nespresso machines.

 

Nespresso Essenza Mini 

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Features

  • 0.9L water tank
  • Auto-off timer
  • Simple controls: Two programmable options for espresso &  lungo with automatic flow-stop
  • Heat up time: around 30 seconds
  • Energy-saving: Low energy use mode auto-starts after 3 minutes, with an automatic off function after 9 minutes

Size & Weight:

38.6 x 31.7 x 14.1 cm. 2.34 Kilograms

Good:

  • Cheap
  • Small 
  • Simple to use machine

Bad:

Not brilliant in terms of cup height.

Some of the other Nespresso original machines allow you to use a taller cup. You won't fit a standard “builders mug” under the group, and this is something a few people complain about in the reviews.

But if you're wanting a big cup of coffee, as I said earlier I'd go for the newer Nespresso Vertuo machines. 

The capsule bin is small.

My Observations:

One of the original Nespresso machines, the Essenza Mini is a very small machine, as the name suggests. As with the other original and official Nespresso machines, the Essenza is available with either Krups branding and styling or Magimix. 

If you're asking yourself the Magimix vs Krups question that many people ask in the Amazon questions & answers, the difference is just the styling. 

When it comes to the look of the Essenza, personally I prefer the straight sides of the Krups to the angled size of the Magimix.

This isn't going to make any difference to the taste of your coffees of course ;-).

 

 

Grind One Nespresso Machine

Grind one nespresso machine.

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Features

  • 1.2 L water tank
  • Very simple controls
  • Heat up time: around 25 seconds
  • Pods bin capacity: 15
  • Looks like a traditional lever espresso machine with an E61 group head

Size & Weight:

18.6cm wide x 25.9cm tall x 33.6cm deep. 4.3kg

Good:

  • Relatively inexpensive
  • Small 
  • Quiet
  • The footprint isn't lost as the top is flat*
  • Looks ace
  • Big max cup height at just under 16cm without the drip tray
  • No auto off

Bad:

  • Pods occasionally stick when ejecting

My Observations:

The Grind One machine from London-based Grind doesn't look like your everyday Nespresso-compatible machine. In fact, it's a deliberate design choice to be the antithesis of Nespresso machines, Grind states on their website that the Grind One is “an antidote to the mass-market plastic machines that seem destined for landfill”. 

It's clearly been designed to look like a traditional lever espresso machine, and the top of the brew nozzle looks like an E61 group, which I'm sure isn't an accident.

The drip tray looks like a mini version of a traditional espresso machine drip tray, and the rails on the top look like a mini version of the cup warmer on a commercial espresso machine. OK, the top of the machine doesn't kick out much heat, but it's better than nothing. 

Being able to turn it on with a standard old-school toggle switch, and leave it on until you want to turn it off, is a great thing. I'm not sure how much impact this has on energy use, but I'd assume not much, it's a thermoblock machine so it's effectively in standby mode except for when a shot button is pressed at which point the thermoblock and pump are engaged. 

The case is all shiny stainless steel, and it feels sturdy, although I do have to say in reply to their comment about plastic-looking machines destined for landfill, that what the machine is encased by doesn't determine the quality of the components and how well built it is on the inside, so this may well be a very well-built machine that is built to last, it looks that way, but we can only see the shiny exterior. 

Although this machine is sold by the London based (Shoreditch) roaster Grind, it's a Scandinavian design, and they picked it as the perfect machine to pair up with their compostable Nespresso compatible pods. 

I've only used this machine with their own pods, as they sent me some and I then ordered a box of all of their various pod options so that the video review worked as a review of the machine and their pods, so when I mention in the “bad” above that the pods sometimes stick, I have a feeling this is probably to do with the compostable pods rather than being down to the machine itself, and it's not a big deal, I just found that I occasionally had to help the pod to fall out of the machine.

Black Grind One

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Get 30 free home-compostable coffee pods in House, Light & Dark Blend with every machine purchase.

 

I was very impressed with their range of pods, though:

House Blend, a blend specifically made to work well as the base for a flat white
Light blend, a blend of Ethiopian and Peruvian coffee
Dark blend, from Brazil, India, and Uganda
Decaf, single origin Mexico
Long blend, a blend of Brazilian and Guatemalan coffees designed for longer coffees.
Editions India, an Indian single origin. 
Editions Ethiopia, an Ethiopian single origin.

Find out More from grind.co.uk

They come with a free pods tin, too, which was a nice little gesture, and a handy little thing to chuck some pods in and chuck in your bag in the morning on the way to the office, if you're using the machine at work, for example. 

This is one of the things I think this machine works well for, it has a small footprint, a relatively big water tank for a pod machine, a big empty pods drawer, and it's very quiet and unassuming, but looks very pretty.

If I wasn't one of the luckiest people I've met, in that I get to waffle on about coffee and coffee machines, etc., as my “job” ;-), and if I didn't have a studio full of espresso machines behind me including the stonking Gaggia Reale, and it was back when I had to go to “work” every day, then I think having one of these on my desk so I could drink decent coffee when I didn't have time to go to the canteen and use my Aeropress, would be great.

Yes, back then I could have stuck an Essenza Mini or a Citiz on my desk, but what I think makes the Grind machine so cool is the fun of using it.

Flicking the toggle switch, waiting 25 seconds or so, and then slotting the pod into the pod shaped slot (it's not just a hole, it's pod shaped so you have to put it in the right way round), pulling the lever, and then pressing the metal shot button, and finally ejecting the pod with the lever, it's a great little minute or so distraction from your screen.

If you're looking for a Nespresso compatible machine for home, then if you have a similar looking traditional espresso machine and you want a Nespresso machine so you can try the increasing number of speciality coffee pods hitting the market, then I reckon this is the perfect choice at least where looks are concerned.

It's also great for home use in terms of size and noise, as it's very slim and short, it's really quiet and the pump doesn't make the entire machine shake as is common with pod machines.

*Something that maybe isn't obvious though, is that the square top of the Grind One means it doesn't actually take up the small footprint it fills, you can share it with whatever you choose to put on top of it, whether that's a few cups (or more if they'll stack), your pods tin, your milk frother, whatever you like really. 

Black Edition Bundle

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Best milk frothers review

Just have a look at the top of all the other Nespresso and Nespresso compatible machines on the market, nearly all of them take up all of their footprint because the top is rounded or has controls on the top or whatever. So if you have a small kitchen, although Nespresso machines usually take up small footprints, most take up all of that footprint as you can't put cups or anything else on top of them.

The rails on the top mean your cups won't slide off, and OK, as a cup warmer it's not great as it doesn't kick off much heat, but as storage, it works quite well. I've just tried, and with the 8 oz glasses I use for flat whites, you can fit four of them on there just within the rails, no problem, and at a push, I think 8 would be OK, and that's if you don't obstruct the pod slot and the water tank.

 

Nespresso Citiz 

Nespresso Citiz.

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Features

  • 1L water tank.
  • Folding cup tray
  • Room for bigger cups
  • Simple controls: Two programmable options for espresso &  lungo with automatic flow-stop
  • Heat up time: 25 seconds
  • Energy-saving: Low energy use mode auto-starts after 3 minutes, with an automatic off function after 9 minutes

Size & Weight:

13 x 37.1 x 27.6 cm; 3.1 Kilograms

Blurb:

Good:

  • Looks good
  • Feels decent quality 
  • Relatively inexpensive

Bad:

The beachboys wrote a song about this Nespresso machine ;-). The vibrations may be good, but they're good enough to move lighter cups right off the cup tray. 

My Observations:

I have this Nespresso machine, and I've had it for a few years now, about 4 years I think at the time of writing.

I don't use Nespresso machines a great deal, I prefer to use traditional Espresso machines, but I used to use the Citiz when I was in need of a very quick coffee at home, and later I moved it into our rehearsal studio (I play drums in a band).

I was immediately impressed by the quality of the feel of this Nespresso machine.

It's really not expensive (if you think it is – see my best bean to cup coffee machines post and my best espresso machines post), there are much more expensive Nespresso machines, and for the money, this machine does look and feel decent. 

It fits bigger cups than some of the smaller Nespresso machines, which is a plus, but I did find the capsule bin filled fast. To be fair, this is probably because I would always use 2-3 capsules at a time, I should really have bought a Vertuo machine, but I don't think they were actually available at the time I bought the Citiz.

The only slight negative is it's a bit on the violent side when it comes to the pump, if you're using a lightweight cup on the fold-out cup tray you do need to just keep an eye on it so that the cup doesn't walk its way right off the thing.

 

Nespresso by De'Longhi Lattissima Touch EN560

De'Longhi Lattissima Touch EN560 Nespresso Machine.

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Features:

  • Dimensions: 32 cm tall x 17.3 cm wide x 25.8 cm deep.
  • Integrated milk steaming creating instant cappuccinos & Lattes.
  • Manual froth level settings
  • Six tactile beverage buttons to choose your favourite coffee drink; ristretto, cappuccino, latte, espresso, long, hot milk
  • Personalised drink option to memorise the amount of coffee and milk required for your favourite drink
  • Water tank capacity: 1 Litre
  • Milk tank capacity: 0.35 Litre

Size & Weight:

Blurb:

Indulge yourself with this silver pod coffee machine from Nespresso® by De’Longhi.

This model is compatible with the full range of Nespresso® Capsules, which means you can experiment with every delicious blend. You can enjoy café quality coffee with the automatic cappuccino system, which creates a perfect thick foam topping for your drinks.

One Touch technology takes care of all the hard work for you, so you can enjoy a morning macchiato or an evening espresso at the push of a button. The fast heat up feature is great for when you’re in a hurry, as you’ll spend less time waiting for your morning pick me up.

Once you register your new coffee machine online with Nespresso®, you’ll activate your warranty and gain access to the Nespresso® Club for exclusive, member-only perks.

  • Enjoy the full range of Nespresso® coffee
  • Cappuccino System – creates beautifully creamy drinks
  • Prepares delicious coffee at the touch of a button
  • Heats up quickly so you can enjoy incredible coffee sooner

Good:

  • One Touch Milkies
  • Plenty of clearance for bigger cups

Bad:

  • Milkies are a bit on the cool side for some people.
  • Slightly complex to set up
  • Slightly fiddly to clean

My Observations

This is a very interesting machine if you like Latte, Latte Macchiato & Cappuccino.

It steams milk to 65C, froths it based on how frothy you have selected your textured milk to be, and does it all for you at the touch of the button.

As to be expected with a machine like this, there's a bit more to it than with the other Nespresso machines, and I've read that it can take a little bit of learning – in other words, you may actually have to read the instructions ;-).

I've read that the touch buttons are very sensitive so you need to watch that you don't accidentally press the wrong button and get the wrong coffee, and there are a few other idiosyncrasies reported by users, but most seem to love it, it does have a heck of a lot of largely positive reviews.

The one thing I think is worth mentioning is that you will need to clean out the steamer after each use. I've seen some users suggesting that although the machine alerts you after each use of the milk steamer, that it needs cleaning (which requires the user to press and hold a button), you don't really need to clean it after each use. This is bad advice, and it explains why there are comments saying that the machine stinks after a few months of use.

If you don't put it through the cleaning cycle after each milk usage, you're going to end up with sour milk in the pipes, and that smell is almost impossible to get rid of! So if you do go for this machine, or any other machine with a milk frother or steam wand, make sure you keep it clean.

 

L'OR Barista Sublime Coffee Capsule Machine

Check Price - Amazon

My Observations:

This is one of the latest Nespresso compatible machines from L'or made for use with L'or capsules but is also compatible with Nespresso Original and the most compatible pods.

Probably the key feature of this machine is the volume personalisation, which makes it simple for you to adjust the amount of coffee produced from each pod.

Sage Discount Code

If you're thinking of buying any product from Sage Appliances, I have an active discount code that works (UK & most of EU) so you might want to drop me an email. Click here to join my “Brew Time” mailing list, and then email me (kev@coffeeblog.co.uk).

Sage currently have a number of deals, the discount code applies on top of these deals, PLUS there's currently up to £200 cashback available!

Sage Creatista Plus

Sage Nespresso Creatista Plus

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Features (which differ from the now Discontinued Creatista Uno): 

  • 8 milk texture levels & 11 milk temperatures (vs 3 for each with the Uno)
  • Stainless steel finish (vs plastic with the Uno)
  • Digital colour display screen (vs buttons with the Uno)

Size & Weight:

16.8 x 41.4 x 31 cm. 5.2 Kg (same as the Uno)

Good:

All the same as above, but with the addition of:

Even better for milk texturing than the Creatista Uno, due to the finer tuning of foam and temp.

Really simple to use controls with colour screen.

Bad:

Nothing really other than the fact that they're not cheap.

Blurb:

The Nespresso Creatista Plus gives you the ability to easily create personalised café-style quality coffees at home. With a stylish sleek design and stainless steel finish, the Creatista Plus has a 3 second heat up time, 8 texture levels, and 11 milk temperature settings. Each machine includes a stainless steel milk jug.

sage Creatista Plus view from the top.

My Observations:

This is basically the same as the Uno, but with:

  • Colour screen display
  • 11 temperature settings 
  • 8 milk texture settings
  • More stainless steel and less plastic

If you're a flat white fan, as I am, then this may be your perfect Nespresso machine.

The ability to finely tune the temperature and texture to this degree is incredible. It's no wonder there are comments in the Amazon reviews from people who're using this machine in restaurants!

Again the only slight negative is cost, they're among the more expensive Nespresso machines – but you're paying the extra mainly for the abilities of this machine when it comes to milk, as well as the unique style of these machines. 

If you're not interested in milk, then you may not get the full benefit of your investment. These are good Nespresso machines, but what they're amazing at, which makes them worth the money, is their auto milk texturing capabilities.

RRP wise, the Plus is £12o more than the Uno – but it's worth checking the prices on Amazon, and on the Sage website, as the Plus is sometimes available cheaper than the Uno!

 

Sage Creatista Pro

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Features (which differ from Creatista Plus): 

  • 2L water tank
  • Dedicated water spout
  • 8 pre-programmed coffees 
  • Full touch screen 

Size & Weight:

19.7 x 42.9 x 32.8 cm. 6.5 Kg

Good:

All the same as above, but with the addition of:

  • Bigger 2 Litre water tank.
  • Touch screen controls. 
  • Water spout
  • One touch long black coffees (thanks to water spout).

Bad:

  • Cost!

Blurb:

The Nespresso Creatista Plus gives you the ability to easily create personalised café-style quality coffees at home. With a stylish sleek design and stainless steel finish, the Creatista Plus has a 3 second heat up time, 8 texture levels and 11 milk temperature settings. Each machine includes a stainless steel milk jug.

2 Cappuccinos in 75 Seconds

Make your favourite coffee without the wait. Innovative dual ThermoJet heating system is ready in 3 seconds and allows simultaneous coffee extraction and automatic milk texturing.

Swipe. Select. Enjoy

Simply swipe and select to enjoy café style coffee at home. Innovative colour touch screen allows you to easily select from the café menu. The interface provides step by step on screen guide for machine set up and first use as well as necessary cleaning processes.

Cafe Style Coffee at Home.

We know everyone is different and it doesn’t stop with coffee. With 8 different presets, create café favourites like a barista at home. Creatista Pro lets you fully customise your drink with adjustable coffee volume, milk temperature, and milk texture. Then, save it to your drinks menu for convenient access.

My Observations:

The Creatista Pro is basically what the Oracle Touch is to the Sage Oracle, what the Sage Barista Touch is to the Sage Barista Pro.

In other words, mainly it's a touch screen version of the other machines in the range. 

Although, there is a bit more to it than just the touch screen. 

The pro has a bigger 2L water tank, it has more programmed pre-sets, and it has the one touch long black coffee option thanks to the dedicated hot water spout that this machine boasts. 

So while the other two Creatista machines above are mainly for milky lovers – the pro aims to also impress lovers of long black. Being able to press one button and get a longer black coffee from a Nespresso machine will definitely appeal to many people. 

It appeals to me, for example. I drink mainly flat whites at home at the weekends, via my Sage Bambino Plus usually. 

 

the Vertuo Creatista

the Vertuo Creatista

 

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Features:

Water Tank: 2L
Dimensions: 23 cm wide x  42 cm deep x 32.1 cm tall
Weight: 7 Kg
Water Heater: Sage ThermoJet
PID?: 
Yes
Milk Steaming: Pro steam wand with auto-steaming
Used Pod Capacity:
 12
Pod Type: Nespresso Vertuo
Milk Temperature Settings: 3
Milk Texture Settings: 3
One Touch Presets: Espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, XL mug, carafe
Interface: Buttons
Construction: Stainless steel

My Observations:

The latest addition the the Creatista range, the Creatista Vertuo is the most interesting Vertuo Nespresso machine on the market, in my opinion.

My main issue with Nespresso original, when it comes to the coffee itself, putting sustainability and cost per cup etc., aside, is that it only produces very small shots, ristretto, espresso and lungo, and they're all made with a 5-6g dose. 

So whenever I've used Nespresso machines, if I'm making a flat white for example, I couldn't drink a one pod flat white, that would be coffee flavoured milk to me, I'd need to re-load 3-4 pods to get the kind of intensity I'm used to and similar for Americano. 

This is the main thing Nespresso did with the Vertuo, as the range of pods includes much bigger doses, including mug pods, and even carafe-sized pods. OK, some may argue that what they really did when creating the Vertuo range is to give themselves another range that they have pod exclusivity with as it'll probably be a long time before anyone is brave enough to start releasing compatible pods. 

So the main benefit of going for the Vertuo machines over Nespresso original is the bigger pods, so you can just slap in a mug pod, or an XL mug pod for example, or a double espresso pod if you want a more intense flat white or cappuccino. 

The main downside of Vertuo vs original, though, is that with Nespresso original thanks to Dualit and others having the balls to go to battle with them, there are masses and masses of compatible pod options, so you don't have to stick to Nespresso pods, if you don't have to – with Vertuo, at the moment you're locked into Nespresso pods, and I think this is likely to be the case for years.

The other downside of Nespresso Vertuo is the lack of choice where machines are concerned, but this is something that has been improved with the release of the Creatista Vertuo.

The Creatista Veruo is more or less the same machine where performance is concerned, as the discontinued Creatista Uno, with the three temperature and texture settings, but with the more premium shell of the pro and plus.

Personally, I'd say if you're not fussed about the ability to use the bigger dose pods, and you're happy to re-load when you need to, I think the Nespresso Original Creatista machines are the better choice, but if you really need the bigger Vertuo pods, then at the time of writing in my opinion the Sage Creatiesta Vertuo is the best Nespresso Vertuo machine on the market. 

On weekdays though, when I'm in the office, I exclusively drink big cups of black coffee, that I make via AeroPress.

Read my AeroPress Review

The thought of just being able to walk over to a Nespresso machine, slap a pod in, press a button, and walk off with my coffee – I definitely see the attraction. 

Having said that, given that this is a Nespresso original machine – if you want a big strong cup of coffee as opposed to a big weak cup, you'll still have re-load the machine with two or more pods, as I do when I'm using Nespresso machines. 

So if you are a lover of big black coffees, one of the Vertuo Nespresso machines below might be more down your street.

Best Vertuo Nespresso Coffee Machines

OK, so we've covered what I believe to be the best original Nespresso machines, now let's look at the Vertuo machines. 

As discussed earlier, Vertuo is the newer range of machines from Nespresso, aimed at people who prefer bigger cups of coffee.

Reading through the reviews of all of the Nespresso original machines, there's a common theme: makes very small coffees. 

This isn't the fault of Nespresso, it's simply a misunderstanding of what Nespresso machines are. They were made to produce short shots of coffee, as an alternative to espresso machines, although as I've said, it's not exactly espresso as it's a different process.

If you want bigger cups, of coffee, you have to add water. Also, most people find that if they do want a traditional mug sized coffee (285 – 350ml) they need to reload, even with lungo sized pods, for a full-strength coffee.

Nespresso realized that they were missing a gap in the market, so they produced the Vertuo range of pods & machines. 

Nespresso Vertuo vs Original

While original Nespresso pods are made for 25ml – 110ml coffees, Vertuo offers a range from single espresso all the way to Alto – which is 414ml, about three quarters of a pint! 

So if you like standard sized mugs of coffee, or bigger, either black or with milk, keep reading, as the Vertuo machines may be your perfect solution to remaining caffeinated in style while working from (or trapped at) home.

One thing to note, if you're currently a Nespresso original user, is that although it's Nespresso, the Vertuo machines make coffee which is quite a bit different from the original Nespresso. 

The way the system works means that you end up with a huge “crema”, even on large cups of coffee.

I'm using the quote marks, as it's really not crema – it's foam. Crema isn't just foam, but I won't get into this here. Briefly, if you want true crema, you need true espresso, you won't get true crema from anything else.

But the Vertuo “crema” in particular, is really big and thick – I reckon it would keep a Cadbury Flake erect! You get some crema/foam with Nespresso original, but not to this extent.

I'm not saying you won't like it, you may well love it – I'm just saying if you're used to original Nespresso, don't expect your coffee to be the same but bigger, it's different, it's brewed completely differently than original Nespresso.

Also, keep in mind that at present there are no compatible Vertuo pods, Nespresso still owns the patent at the time of writing, and it hasn't been challenged. 

What this means is that you have to use genuine Nespresso Vertuo pods, and where you can buy them from is limited to, which isn't the case with original Nespresso pods which you can get from virtually anywhere.

You'll notice that there isn't as much choice with the Vertuo machines. There are just a few different versions (largely aesthetic differences) of the three machines. Vertuo plus, Vertuo Chrome & Vertuo Next.

So if you were wondering what the difference was in terms of Nespresso Vertuo vs original, now you know :-).

 

Nespresso 11389 Vertuo Plus Special Edition

Nespresso 11389 Vertuo Plus Special Edition.

Check Price - AmazonCheck Price - Currys

Features:

  • 1.2L movable water tank (handy if you want to squeeze into a corner or around another appliance etc)
  • 40 second warm up time
  • Touch button open and close 
  • Capsules bin accessed from rear
  • Pods bin capacity 10

Size & Weight:

22 x 34.9 x 32.5 cm. 4.6 Kg

Good:

  • Fairly Quiet
  • Very inexpensive
  • Auto opening and closing
  • You can move the water tank 

Bad:

  • Appears to have been a fairly high number of failures

Blurb:

Enjoy a nice cappuccino with this red Nespresso by Magimix pod coffee machine.

This model uses Nespresso® Vertuo capsules, which means you’ll always find a blend you love.

It also comes with 5 programmable cup sizes, including alto, mug, gran lungo, double espresso, and espresso. And with Centrifusion™ Technology, every drink will be as aromatic as the last, as it extracts the flavours in the most optimal way.

You won’t have to wait long for your morning caffeine fix either, thanks to the super-handy Fast Heat Up function. Plus, you can register with the Nespresso® Club for exclusive perks and manufacturer warranty registration.

The VertuoPlus machine has the additional features of an automatic opening and closing of the machine head and a moveable water tank to suit the space in your kitchen.

My Observations:

This is the special edition or “limited edition” version of the Nespresso Vertuoplus machine. 

The “special” bits are the auto opening and closing, and the water tank is movable, meaning that you can move the position of the water tank.

It's also about £20 cheaper than the standard Vertuoplus Nespresso machine.

If you're looking for a low-cost solution to big cups of coffee, this doesn't appear to be a bad choice. 

Looking through the reviews, there are a fair amount of people mentioning faults, but as I mentioned earlier with the Nespresso original L'or machine, these seem to be faults that manifest issues within a fairly short amount of time. So if you buy from Amazon or another reputable supplier you should be fine if you're unlucky enough to get a Friday machine…

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Vertuo Next

Check Price - AmazonCheck Price - John LewisCheck Price - Currys

Features:

  • 1.1L water tank
  • Wifi & Bluetooth connection for updates
  • 30 second heat up time
  • 2 minute auto off
  • Capsules bin accessed from side
  • Made largely from recycled materials (the box is, too)
  • Pods bin capacity 10

Size & Weight:

14.2 x 42.9 x 31.4 cm. 4 Kg

Good:

  • Inexpensive
  • Simple to use

Bad:

  • Fixed position water tank means you can't reduce the depth as you can with the Virtuplus special edition. 
  • As with the Virtuoplus, there appears to have been a fair number of faults.

Blurb:

If you feel like a Mug this morning, an Espresso after lunch, and a Gran Lungo this afternoon, Vertuo Next has you covered.

So that you can decide how far you want to take your coffee experience, it encompasses the full range of coffee styles with its five cup sizes, all at the touch of a button.

Vertuo Next offers the Nespresso coffee experience, just one step forward, with a new brewing system: the Centrifusion technology. It allows the machine to read the barcode integrated into each capsule.

It then spins up, adjusting even the slightest settings, to extract the hidden treasures of each capsule. To give each blend its own coffee.

To prove that Vertuo Next will go to any lengths to please you, it is available in a large choice of colours.

With its chrome accents, it will certainly fit any kitchen. And to please the planet, it is made of 54% recycled plastics, a first in the Nespresso galaxy.

To go the extra mile, and to make sure it is never out of place, the machine even connects to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to update itself and offer you a constantly seamless experience. Taking today’s coffee experience to the next level.

My Observations

This is another low-cost option, and to be fair it seems fine for the money.

The plus special edition version above has a water tank which you can either keep behind the machine, inline, or you can move it to the right or left if you need to reduce the depth.

The Next machine has a standard fixed position water tank, so you don't quite have the same flexibility when it comes to where you want to put the machine. 

The Vertuo Next has the pods bin on the left-hand side of the machine, which is a bit easier to access than with machines such as the Plus, which has the pods bin at the back.

 

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12 thoughts on “10 Best Nespresso Machines of 2024 & Vertuo vs Original

  1. Pamela Ashworth says:

    Hi Kev, love following your blogs on various machines, but would love your input on the Sage Vertuo Creatista, as I had the Sage Creatista Pro because of the added milk frother, which Sage does so good! And convenient! So swapped it for this new Sage machine for the longer coffees. Not cheap, but a lovely vertuo machine.

  2. Lynne Weddle says:

    Great reviews, but I’m still no further forward….I have to go decaf for health reasons. We have a De Longhi bean to cup, but until they find a way to have both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee beans in the coffee filler, I’m stuffed. My hubby can tell the difference when I try to sneak decaf coffee beans into the machine, so even with a straight face I cannot lie!! I’m tempted to go for the CitiZ but I read they are no longer made?

    1. We have the Grind One and use decaf pods from grind. Since this review they have a darker roast decaf as well which we really like. The machine is really nice to use and makes a nice coffee. Tip: tap the pod to loosen the coffee before using. The machine looks really great sitting on the side next to our sage machine which we use to make espresso etc as well if we have guests, which we often do.

  3. Claudio G says:

    Hi Kev, thanks for such a detailed article. I am Italian and totally agree with your observations about Nespresso only being a “relative” of the Italian bar-style espresso (not to mention the one we make with Moka). I bought an Essenza machine (the straight looking design one) but had to return it. Despite having read somewhere that Nespresso claim that their pods should be drunk at a temperature of circa 80 degrees, I found the coffee produced by this machine too cold. Measured it with a thermometer and the temperature reached when poured on a cold espresso cup does not exceed 57 degrees Celsius. Too cold for me, used to the Moka. If I heat up the cup on the microwave beforehand, coffee stays warmer but that’s a hassle. So my question to you is: could you recommend a Nespresso compatible machine which produces espresso at a higher temperature or has a cup heater within it? Thanks so much! Claudio.

  4. Hi Kev – only just discovered your website today – because I was searching for reviews & information on the Sage Creatista Range – and was very pleased to find your no-nonsense ones above. I need to replace my old Nespresso machine and was sorely tempted by this range because of the milk steamer. Thanks to your Discount code, I am now waiting delivery of a Creatista Plus 🙂

    1. Fantastic Gill,
      Glad you have found my blog helpful 🙂
      Cheers
      Kev

  5. Hi Kev,

    I just opted for a Vertuo Plus Magmix which says it comes with a 1.8L tank (well 1.6L on John Lewis’s website, so who knows what will turn up). I’m crossing my fingers there’s no failure with this one.

    Our original DeLonghi Lattissima Plus has been going since 2013 but has gotten a bit leaky of late despite regular descaling and spout cleaning. I also prefer longer coffees so it made sense to switch over. They weren’t my first choice of a route to coffee but when I’m being too lazy to manually grind my beans and Aeropress or V60 they do the job well.

    Thanks for the article.

    1. Cheers 🙂
      Haha, I’ve just found another one that states the water tank is 1.7L… so will be interesting to find out what it actually is ;-).
      Ta
      Kev

  6. Thanks for this really useful article. It has helped me decide whether to replace my original one or go for vertuo.

  7. Ashley Cook says:

    Great, and extensive, article.

    Vertuo pods are a mix of Instant Coffee and ground coffee, as I discovered after reading the text on the pod box. The size is not enough to hold enough ground coffee for a mug of authentic espresso taste, so it is bulked up with freeze dried.

    This is why the coffee does not match an espresso coffee. But Vertuo does have unmatched convenience when you just want a mug of coffee ‘right now’ with no effort, knowlege or experience needed.

    Personally, as a 10 year Nespresso pod user, and about 5 years with Vertuo, I am parking my convenient Vertuo for a semi-auto espresso machine in the search for better flavour and a more satisfying cup, to further my home coffee experience. I have accepted the extra effort and time needed to make a better coffee, and look forward to having more control over the output.

    Thank you for sharing your extensive experience.

    1. Hi Ashley – thanks for your view on Nespresso pods. It’s all about time and convenience with Nespresso. the coffee is good but not as good as you’ll get by grinding whole coffee beans yourself and using a dedicated espresso machine but you’ll need to spend a bit more time creating your coffee of choice.

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