An automatic espresso machine is a great way to enjoy a delicious coffee from the comfort of your own home. Small appliances like a Nespresso machine are easy and quick to use, delivering rich flavour from espresso pods that match your taste preferences.
This post will help you figure out which Nespresso model will be the best home espresso machine for your budget, space, and coffee preferences. Keep reading to learn more—there are a lot of different Nespresso machines available, so it’s important to choose the right one for your lifestyle!
Table of contents:
- How does a Nespresso machine work?
- How Nespresso differs from its competitors
- Which line of Nespresso machines is best for me?
- Is a Nespresso a good coffee maker for espresso lovers?
- FAQs
How does a Nespresso machine work?
Nespresso machines are automatic, pod-based espresso makers. They extract shots of espresso at the touch of a button: just pop in your pod, select the drink you want to make, and press a button to extract.
They’re that easy to use. The most difficult step is choosing which Nespresso pods you want to stock your coffee shelf with!
How Nespresso differs from its competitors
Nespresso machines are espresso machines, not coffee makers. They’re a great choice for coffee lovers who want a very hands-off experience. You don’t need to know how to pull a shot of espresso or how to dial in your bean grind to make a great espresso drink with this type of at-home espresso machine.
If you’re comparing Nespresso vs De’Longhi or Nespresso vs Breville machines, look no further. These brands aren’t competitors—they’re collaborators. While De’Longhi and Breville machines use loose grounds, Nespresso uses pods.
You can find products like the Nespresso Vertuo Next in Breville and De’Longhi variations, produced in collaboration with each brand. The variations slightly change the product’s casing and colourways, giving you a De’Longhi “look” or a Breville “look” at your coffee bar while still delivering the ease of a Nespresso appliance.
Nespresso vs Keurig machines: how are they different?
Nespresso machines are also very different when compared to products like the Keurig. “Keurig vs Nespresso” isn’t a fight—the machines are just… Different. Nespresso focuses on espresso-based drinks, while Keurig focuses on drip coffee.
The best home coffee machine for you depends on your coffee vs espresso drink preferences, not on your brand loyalty. Some households have both a Keurig and a Nespresso, or opt for a Nespresso Vertuo to be able to make both drinks with ease.
Which line of Nespresso machines is best for me?
The right line of Nespresso machine for your home coffee bar depends on your drink preferences. Nespresso Original machines only make espresso drinks, while Nespresso Vertuo machines make both espresso drinks and larger coffees.
Nespresso Original machines: pod espresso
If you’re an espresso lover through and through, then the Nespresso Original machines are going to be your top choice for caffeinated drinks. These machines are a compact way to make fresh, high-quality espresso from the comfort of your home or office. They use a high-pressure 19-bar extraction system with Nespresso Original pods—those are the pods that look like little coffee creamers.
The Nespresso Original machine range includes the Nespresso Pixie Pod, the Nespresso Coffee Machine, and the Nespresso CitiZ. All Nespresso Original machines use Nespresso Original pods.
| Nespresso “Espresso” machine | Automatic | Drink sizes | Best for… |
|---|---|---|---|
| CitiZ | Fully | 2 (40 ml and 110 ml) | Iced drinks |
| Pixie | Fully | 2 (40 ml and 110 ml) | Smallest countertop footprint |
| Lattissima One Touch | Fully | 2+ (40 ml and 110 ml), and up to a 14.8 cm travel mug | Lattes and cappuccinos |
| Gran Lattissima | Fully | 2+ (40 ml and 110 ml), and up to a 14.8 cm travel mug | XL milk jug |
| Creatista Plus | Yes (but with steam wand) | 3+ (25 ml to 110 ml, plus milk) | Latte art |
| Creatista Pro | Yes (but with steam wand) | 4+ (25 ml to 230 ml, plus milk) | Latte art |
What can I make with a Nespresso Original machine?
Nespresso Original espresso machines only make espresso drinks—no lattes or cappuccinos here. You can use your Original machine to make ristretto, espresso, and lungo drinks at a single press of a button. You can also make an espresso shot to use in your Americanos and long black coffees.
Nespresso machines with milk integration
The Nespresso range with milk integration includes the Nespresso Creatista and the Nespresso Original Lattissima lines. These are espresso machines that have a milk carafe integrated into the machine.
The Creatista range is optimized for customization and latte art. It’s a semi-automatic system: it has an automatic steam wand, auto frothing, and assisted cleaning, but you’re in charge of steaming your milk and pouring your latte. It’s great for people who know exactly how they want their espresso drink.
The Lattissima range is optimized for espresso, lungo, cappuccino, latte, and macchiato drinks. It’s a hands-off machine: you load in the milk carafe, select your drink, and wait for the machine to make it for you.
What can I make with a Nespresso Original machine with milk integration?
Nespresso Original espresso machines with integrated milk frother make all of the same drinks as the Originals without milk integration, but they can also make milk-based beverages. That includes cappuccinos, lattes, and iced lattes.
Nespresso Vertuo machines: large cup espresso, coffee, and carafes
The Vertuo line makes up the bulk of the Nespresso line. They’re the machine that you want if you want you’re creating a home coffee bar with variety and flexibility. They make both coffee and espresso, in five cup sizes ranging from a 25 ml ristretto to a 535 ml carafe (depending on the model).
Nespresso Vertuo coffee machines use Centrifusion™ technology to spin their capsules up to 7000 times a minute to deliver a drink with a rich flavour profile. All Vertuo machines use Vertuo capsules—they’re larger, and look like a half-dome.
The Nespresso Vertuo range includes the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+, the Vertuo Next, the Vertuo Lattissima, and the Vertuo Up. All Vertuo machines use Nespresso Vertuo pods.
| Nespresso “Large Cups” machine | Automatic | Drink sizes | Best for… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertuo Up | Fully | 7 (25 ml to 535 ml) | Slim design |
| Vertuo Pop+ | Fully | 6 (25 ml to 150 ml) | Iced drinks |
| Vertuo Next | Fully | 7 (25 ml to 535 ml) | De’Longhi and Breville colourways |
| Vertuo Creatista | Yes (but with steam wand) | 7 (25 ml to 535 ml) | Latte art |
| Vertuo Lattissima | Fully | 7 (25 ml to 535 ml) | Lattes and cappuccinos |
What can I make with a Nespresso Vertuo machine?
Nespresso Vertuo espresso machines make both espresso drinks and drip-style coffees. That includes drinks like espressos, lattes, macchiatos, cappuccinos, flat whites, long blacks, and cold brew (only certain models).
Nespresso milk frothers
Nespresso milk frothers are a great option for Nespresso Original users who occasionally want to be able to make milk-based drinks. The brand’s flagship milk frother is the Nespresso Aeroccino, a sleek, electric milk frother that makes both cold and hot milk froth.
The Aeroccino makes milk froth in just under a minute. It’s as close as you can get to steamed milk foam without a steam wand, delivering rich, dense foam in both hot and cold milk. If you don’t want to fuss around with a steam wand, they’re a great choice for your kitchen or coffee bar.
Is a Nespresso a good coffee maker for espresso lovers?
Yes. Nespresso machines are one of the best home espresso machines for espresso lovers. Unlike other automatic, pod-based coffee systems, they focus on making espresso—not drip coffee. They’re simple, easy to use, and require no fuss to make a delicious drink.
Perfect for mornings, afternoons, and even office break rooms, these machines are an elegant way to include a little coffee moment in your day.
Alternatives to a Nespresso machine
If you love drip coffee and are looking for a convenient, pod-based system for making them, consider a Keurig instead of a Nespresso.
If you love espresso and you want a manual, semi-automatic, or non-pod automatic machine for making it, check out Best Buy’s De’Longhi Buying Guide and Breville espresso machine selection.
FAQs
Which home coffee maker is best for making lattes quickly and easily?
If you love making lattes but don’t want to deal with loose coffee grounds, a Nespresso Vertuo Gran Lattissima is a great choice for you.
What’s the best, smallest automatic espresso machine?
The Nespresso Essenza Mini is the smallest coffee machine that the brand makes. The Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ is the smallest coffee machine that they make for milk-based drinks.
What kind of pods do Nespresso Original machines take?
Nespresso Original machines like the Pixie, Original, and CitiZ take only Nespresso Original pods.
What kind of pods do Nespresso Vertuo machines use?
Nespresso Vertuo machines take only Nespresso Vertuo pods.
Can I use a K-Cup in my Nespresso?
No. Nespresso machines do not fit K-Cups.
Should I get a Nespresso or a Keurig?
That depends on what you’re looking for! You should look at Keurig machines if you like drip coffee, and Nespresso machines if you like espresso. Nespresso is also the better option if you want to be able to make both espresso and drip coffee, as the Nespresso Vertuo line does both.
