It’s indisputable: Coffee makes mornings easier. Even as an established early bird, I still need a strong dose of caffeine to get me from surviving to thriving most days. The world of coffee can feel huge (and frankly intimidating) to those of us who are just looking to turn beans into brew. That’s where Nespresso comes in.

Like Keurig coffee makers, Nespresso machines brew single servings from pre-portioned coffee capsules. Unlike Keurig, they specialize in brewing espresso—a task that would otherwise require a full setup of equipment, not to mention all of the research and countless hours of practice it takes to pull high-quality shots at home. It’s a worthy obsession for those with a passion for it, but not one that everyone has the time or energy to pursue. On the other hand, Nespresso machines may not require the artisanship of doing it yourself, but they still produce a sip that many are likely to enjoy, simplified with one push of a button.

To find the best Nespresso machines, I tested six models. My lineup included options from both of Nespresso’s major product lines (Original and Vertuo) and ranged in price from $140 to $650. Some made only espresso, while others could dispense coffee or whip up lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos in a flash. My favorites were intuitive to use, quick to brew, and simple to clean.

The Winners, at a Glance

The VertuoPlus was beyond easy to operate and could brew espresso (including double espressos and gran lungos, a.k.a. long blacks) as well as coffee. It’s good for households with different kinds of coffee drinkers and those who like to switch up their caffeine routines.

The Gran Lattissima has an attachable milk tank that automatically steams, froths, and dispenses pillowy microfoam into freshly brewed espresso to create lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos in minutes. It can also produce easy flat whites and 15-second shots of espresso. On top of all that, it cleaned up in a snap. The milk system has a self-rinse mode, and all of its parts are dishwasher-safe.

The Tests

• Espresso Test: I brewed three different capsules with each Nespresso machine and tasted them as-is. For Vertuo machines, I included a coffee pod (which brewed a 7.8-ounce cup) in addition to the various espresso sizes (like lungos and double espressos). I timed how long each pod took to brew and recorded any noticeable flavors. 
• Latte Test: I made a single espresso shot with each model and combined it with about five to six ounces of whole milk to create a latte. I steamed the milk with models that had built-in milk frothers and prepared the milk on the side using a Nespresso Aeroccino for those that did not.
• Other Function Test (Winners Only): I used all the functions I had not previously explored with the top-performing models. For machines with automatic milk systems, this meant making a flat white, cappuccino, latte macchiato, and steamed and frothed milk.
• Cleaning and Usability Tests: I cleaned the Nespresso machines (including their capsule containers, drip trays, and water tanks) according to their instruction manuals after each use, running the self-cleaning cycles when available. Throughout testing, I paid close attention to how quick and intuitive each model was to operate and if it was adaptable to different cup sizes and brew types.

What We Learned

There Are Two Types of Nespresso Machines

Choosing the right Nespresso machine model can feel overwhelming, given the sheer number of options. The Nespresso lineup includes more than a dozen designs (some with their own deluxe or limited versions) that can vary slightly depending on which Nespresso partners they are distributed by. All of the espresso makers I tested were manufactured by either Breville or De’Longhi, not by Nespresso itself, and some designs are licensed to multiple manufacturers. Luckily, it’s easy to simplify all of those choices down to Nespresso’s two product lines: Original or Vertuo.

Nespresso’s Original models are focused on espresso, and all of their compatible coffee capsules are the same size. It’s up to the user to choose how they’d like to brew them based on their machine’s capabilities. My favorite Gran Lattissima could make ristrettos, standard, and lungo espressos (0.85, 1.35, and 3.7 ounces, respectively), while the Inissia and Essenza Mini only had button presets for the latter two sizes. What impressed me most about the Original machines I tested was their speed: They could power on, heat up, and dispense a shot of espresso in under a minute.

While the Original machines brewed by inserting pressurized water into their pods to extract the coffee (comparable to traditional espresso brewing), the Vertuo models worked by spinning their capsules at high speeds to push water through the grinds inside, using centrifugal force. In testing, they took a little longer than Original machines—about a minute-and-a-half to two minutes per cup, including heat-up and automatic pre-wetting and infusing times—but were more adaptable to different kinds of coffee drinkers. The Breville Vertuo and winning De’Longhi VertuoPlus could both brew five-ounce lungos and 7.7-ounce cups of coffee in addition to espresso and double espresso shots. (Some other models in the Vertuo line can also make 12-ounce extra-large altos and 18-ounce carafes.) The Vertuo capsules were sized according to their drink type and had a barcode underneath their rims that the machine scanned to automatically load the correct method and volume. This meant I could just press a single button after inserting the capsule to prepare my espresso or coffee.

I didn’t notice any significant difference in the quality of the capsules made with either the Vertuo or the Original machines, and models that I tested side-by-side within those categories brewed more or less identically to each other. In other words, an Original espresso pod produced similar results regardless if it was brewed in the unassuming Essenza Mini or the souped-up Gran Lattissima. It was their size, price, and additional features (like the Gran Lattissima’s milk functions) that set them apart from one another.

Nespresso’s Convenience Comes at Several Costs

Nespresso machines are fast, consistent, and easy to operate. They are approachable for beginners and eliminate barriers like the initial learning curve and financial investment a higher-end traditional espresso maker would demand. But they have some major drawbacks, too. Coffee expert Ashley Rodriguez covered a few of these, along with a brief overview of Nespresso’s history (and its ethically questionable parent company, Nestlé), when she first considered the pros and cons of these automatic espresso makers.

Perhaps the least distasteful drawback of Nespresso is the coffee itself. As Rodriguez explains, grinds in the Nespresso pods tend to be roasted quite dark, which can contribute to bitterness. I tried nearly 20 different types of Nespresso pods and found this to be largely true. I preferred pods that were lower on Nespresso’s roast level, acidity, and overall intensity scales because they were less astringent and I could taste more of their nuances, like cocoa, caramel, or nuttiness. 

The capsules can also be pricey in the long run. The Original pods cost around $0.80 each, while the Vertuo options range roughly from $1 to $1.10 per single shot of espresso (and around $1.25 per coffee pod). In comparison, a bag of freshly roasted, whole-bean house espresso blend from one of my local favorite coffee shops breaks down to about $0.50 per espresso shot. It’s also worth mentioning that you can find Original-compatible cups from private labels and other grocery store brands that tend to be less expensive than Nespresso-branded pods, but the Vertuo capsules are patented and proprietary to Nespresso, so options are more limited for them.

In addition to their price, single-use coffee pods have an environmental cost, too. Nespresso pods are recyclable but can’t be processed in normal recycling systems because they’re made from a hard-to-separate combination of aluminum and plastic. They have to be dropped off at one of Nespresso’s collection sites or mailed back in special envelopes (which are free to order and return). According to Nespresso, 90% of their customers are near a recycling point, but only about a third of their pods were recycled in 2020.

The Nespresso Crema Wasn’t Actually Crema

One major selling point that Nespresso advertises is the ample “crema” on top of each cup its machines brew. In traditional espressos, crema is the result of carbon dioxide produced and trapped in the coffee beans when they were roasted, which escapes and forms a fine foam on top of the shot during brewing. While it’s not really an indicator of the quality of beans, their roast, or their grind, it can indicate freshness because older beans won’t produce as strong of a crema layer (if at all). 

During testing, I noticed the Nespresso crema didn’t act like the crema I was used to seeing out of our manual espresso machine. Instead of looking like a smooth emulsification that faded slowly, the Nespresso crema was foamy and quick to dissipate into a bubbly froth. Since the coffee inside the Nespresso pods is all but guaranteed to have been ground weeks (or months) before it gets to the consumer, it stands to reason that this crema isn’t actually from escaping CO2. Rather, the coffee just gets temporarily aerated as a side effect of Nespresso’s unique brewing processes, a point that coffee connoisseur James Hoffmann proved by preparing Nespresso grinds (that he cut out of Vertuo pods) using a pour-over method. He whipped the brewed coffee in a blender and—voila—achieved a remarkably similar foam to that of the Nespresso-brewed coffee.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Nespresso Machine

The right Nespresso machine for you depends on what kind of coffee drinker you are. If you love espressos and prefer Americanos to coffee, an Original line model would be a great pick. If you want the adaptability of more serving options and the ease of single-button brewing, a Vertuo coffee and espresso maker is the way to go. Double-check the specific model you plan to buy to make sure it includes all the cup sizes you’d like to brew, as they vary from machine to machine. You can choose a model that suits your budget and counter space from there. Be sure to consider any additional features of each machine, like an automatic milk frothing wand that turns a simple espresso maker into a do-it-all automatic barista.

Our Favorite Nespresso Machines

What we liked: The VertuoPlus was perfect for groggy mornings and quick pick-me-ups because it only required two basic operating steps: Insert the pod and push the button. The machine scanned the barcode on the underside of the inserted capsules and automatically brewed them to their ideal size. It had an adjustable drip platform to accommodate taller mugs and its water tank could be shifted from left to right to fit your counter space. This model could make espressos, double espressos, gran lungos, or full cups of coffee, so you wouldn’t need to have a separate machine for non-espresso brews. This Nespresso machine was also relatively affordable compared to other models in the Vertuo line.

What we didn’t like: The VertuoPlus’s self-cleaning cycle took longer than other models and ran through almost three cups of water for each rinse. The cycle did not have to be used daily, though, and could be run weekly or whenever the machine needed a thorough cleanse. Once heated, it took about a minute to brew and dispense a single shot of espresso, although this was only slow compared to the 15 seconds it took machines from the Original line. 

Key Specs

• Weight: 9.3 pounds
• Dimensions: 5.75 x 16 x 12.5 inches
• Nespresso system compatibility: Vertuo
• Used capsule bucket capacity: 14
• Water tank capacity: 40 fluid ounces
• Stated heat-up time: 25 seconds
• Brewing options: Espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, and coffee
• Other features: Automatic power-off after nine minutes, adjustable cup shelf, adjustable water tank positioning, automated rinse cycle
• Care instructions: Do not use abrasive cleaning agents or put any piece of the machine in the dishwasher. To run the automatic cleaning function, place a container that can hold at least 27 fluid ounces under the spout and press the top button three times within two seconds. The procedure will take about five minutes and includes three rinse cycles.

What we liked: As I wrote in my notes during testing, the Gran Lattissima was “outrageously fast” and “fantastically easy” to use. It brewed Original capsules and could produce ristrettos, espressos, and lungos in about 15 seconds. What really set it apart, though, was its detachable milk tank that could be refrigerated between uses and then snapped into the machine for lightning-fast flat whites, lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos. Once loaded with a capsule, the machine brewed espresso and then automatically dispensed steamed and frothed milk into the cup with one push of a button. 

Not only was it a cinch to operate, but all of its milk-based drinks were actually good. The microfoam that it produced was fine, soft, and downright marshmallowy—without requiring any effort or expertise on my part. The dispenser spout could also rinse itself after each use, and all of the milk system’s components were top-rack dishwasher-safe.

What we didn’t like: Because this was a machine from the Original line, I had to select which size of espresso I wanted to brew instead of the machine reading the capsule’s code and choosing for me, but this was a minor gripe (and it didn’t apply when making milk-based drinks). Unlike the Creatista Plus, which was the other model in the lineup with milk-frothing capabilities, it wasn’t as easy to make volume adjustments with the Gran Lattissima, and I couldn’t adjust the froth level or milk temperature away from the predetermined settings. This machine was also very pricey, costing more than some of our favorite standard espresso machines. 

Key Specs

• Weight: 11.3 pounds
• Dimensions: 7.75 x 14.5 x 11 inches
• Nespresso system compatibility: Original
• Used capsule bucket capacity: 14
• Water tank capacity: 34 fluid ounces
• Milk container capacity: 16.9 fluid ounces
• Stated heat-up time: 25 seconds
• Brewing options: Ristretto, espresso, lungo, flat white, caffé latte, cappuccino, latte macchiato, hot steamed milk, hot milk foam
• Other features: Built-in milk steaming and frothing system (milk container can be removed and refrigerated between uses), automatic power-off after nine minutes, optional cup pedestal, descale and clean indicator lights
• Care instructions: All components of the milk frothing system can be cleaned on the upper rack of the dishwasher or washed by hand according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For daily care, place an empty cup under the coffee spout, turn the milk froth knob to “clean” to rinse it with steam and hot water, then select the “lungo” function (without a capsule inside) to rinse the coffee lines.

The Competition

• Nespresso Creatista Plus Espresso Machine by Breville: The Creatista Plus had a self-regulating wand that could steam and froth milk in a separate pitcher to the side of the espresso dispenser. It was a close runner-up to the winning Gran Lattissima, but it was just a touch less convenient and intuitive. Its dial-and-button interface felt sluggish at times, although its digital screen was a big help for visualizing the machine’s volume, temperature, and milk froth options. I had to bump up the froth a level or two in order to get the sort of pillowy microfoam I’d expect for a cappuccino (or even a latte); otherwise, the milk for those drinks came out thinner than I liked. I’d still recommend this model for people who like to dial in on their preferred cups (and those who want to practice their latte art).
• Nespresso Essenza Mini Coffee and Espresso Machine by De’Longhi: The Essenza only had two brew sizes for Original capsules: espresso or lungo. It was short and couldn’t fit my four-inch mug underneath the spout, which meant dirtying another cup when I wanted to make an Americano or add steamed milk for a latte. Still, this would be a good choice for espresso devotees who are tight on space since it only needed half the counter area compared to the winning models.
• Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Machine by Breville: This handsome model had the same capabilities and performed similarly to the VertuoPlus, but it cost $50 more at the time of testing.
• Nespresso Inissia Espresso Machine by De’Longhi: Like the Essenza Mini, this model was affordable, compact, and brewed espressos or lungos. It was significantly louder than the rest of the lineup, though.

FAQs

How do you clean a Nespresso machine?

To keep your Nespresso machine clean, eject any spent capsules, then empty and rinse the used capsule container and drip tray daily. You should also empty, rinse, and refill the attached water tank with fresh, potable water. Some machines (including those with built-in milk systems) have an automatic cleaning function that will flush out the internal lines, while others can be rinsed by running the machine on a lungo cycle without a coffee capsule inserted. Be sure to check your machine’s manual for specific instructions based on your model.

How do you descale a Nespresso machine?

Nespresso recommends using its descaling solution every three months to remove mineral buildup and ensure smooth operation. If you use your espresso maker heavily, it should be descaled after every 300 capsules. According to Nespresso, vinegar or store-bought descalers may damage your machine. Some models include a descaling reminder which can be adjusted for your water hardness and may “lock out” the machine from brewing if it’s not descaled within a certain number of uses. Consult your specific Nespresso machine’s instruction manual for how to operate its descaling mode.

How do you use a Nespresso machine?

Nespresso machines are dead simple to use—just insert the coffee capsule you’d like to brew and press the button. Vertuo models scan the barcode on their pods and automatically adjust the water amount to suit the type of capsule being brewed. Espresso makers from Nespresso’s Original line have separate buttons for each cup size that the machine can make, which vary from model to model. Users can also adjust the programmed volume for each brew type depending on their preferences.

Why We’re the Experts

• Ashlee Redger is a freelance food writer who has been reviewing equipment for Serious Eats since 2022. She has interned at America’s Test Kitchen, created consumer products and restaurant menus for national brands, and developed hundreds of recipes for home cooks.
• Ashlee has written many reviews for Serious Eats, including kitchen tongs and smart countertop ovens.
• For this review, she tested six Nespresso machines and brewed over three dozen cups of coffee and espresso-based drinks. She rated each model on its performance, convenience, practicality, and price.