Which nespresso machine should i buy

You can order up to two recycling bags at a time from the Nespresso website and have them shipped to your home for free. The used capsules can give off a faint coffee odor, so we recommend plopping the bag in a freezer if you have enough space.

The bags can also leak when full; one suggestion, from former Wirecutter senior editor Nathan Edwards, is to leave recently used capsules in a bowl to dry out for a week or so before adding them to the recycling bag. Once the bag is full, you can ship it back free of cost to Nespresso recycling facilities at any UPS drop point unless you live in Hawaii, Alaska, or the US territories. Everyone who buys Nespresso capsules in the US has access to the recycling plan.

Also, people who love the ease of a one-touch coffee maker may not feel compelled to collect their used capsules for four months and then ship the batch out to a recycling facility. So if you try to recycle a capsule on your own, it may slip through the filtering screen or jam the processing machines.

All methods of making coffee create some amount of waste, such as filters and the bags that hold your beans. But you can minimize those effects by composting grounds and using paper filters. We also tested Sealpods , reusable steel capsules that offer the greenest way to use a Nespresso machine. To use a Sealpod, first fill the open steel capsule with grounds and tamp it down tightly.

Then, cover the filled capsule with a one-use sticker and, sealing it tight, pop the capsule into the machine to brew an espresso like normal.

First off, you need to have beans ground fine enough for an espresso, meaning you need a premium coffee grinder or access to a coffee shop that will do the job. Third, no matter how tightly we packed the grounds, our Sealpod espresso came out consistently under-extracted. For reference, note that machines with a small footprint take up about as much space as a hot water kettle, medium machines approximate a two-slice toaster in size, and large machines approach the size of a coffee maker. For our update, we tested the Vertuo Next , which is the slimmest machine in the Vertuo line at 5.

But if you are interested in a Nespresso machine that can brew a drink approximately the size of a small coffee, this is the Vertuo model we recommend. In this recent update, we also replaced our former upgrade pick, the CitiZ , with the Essenza Plus. Although the CitiZ is a sturdier, larger, and better-looking version of the Essenza Mini, we prefer the Essenza Plus because it can brew two sizes of Americanos and allows you to program the size of your drinks on an app.

Since our initial tests in , Nespresso has added several new upscale machines to the line. The Creatista Uno is a smaller, scaled-down version of the milk-frothing Creatista.

It offers fewer milk textures and temperatures than its big cousins, the Creatista and Creatista Plus. Although it does boast a steam wand for latte art, we think anyone who wants to get artistic with their espresso would prefer a Nespresso with more capabilities—or a real espresso machine. The coffee company Illy makes similarly priced capsule-based machines that can make espresso or coffee at the press of a button.

Empa, Taking a close look at the eco-balance of coffee capsules , Phys. Our pick. Upgrade pick. Nespresso Essenza Plus A more versatile Nespresso This larger-capacity machine can also brew Americanos, making it a good option for households that want both espressos and more diluted coffee drinks.

Also great. Everything we recommend. The competition Sources. Why you should trust us. What to expect from a Nespresso machine.

Who should get a Nespresso. How we picked. How we tested. The Nespresso machine we recommend: Nespresso Essenza Mini. The Essenza Mini has a removable drip platform to accommodate larger cups that can hold lungos.

Photo: Michael Hession. Flaws but not dealbreakers. Upgrade pick: Nespresso Essenza Plus. The Essenza Plus has a hot water button that you press along with the espresso or lungo button to make different sizes of Americano. Photo: Sarah Kobos.

Also great: Instant Pod. Neither the Capresso milk frother left nor the Nespresso Aeroccino right produced satisfyingly thick froth. Choosing and buying Nespresso capsules. The environmental case against Nespresso. What about reusable pods? The competition. About your guide. Sabrina Imbler. The CitiZ is a slim coffee machine with a fold-down grid for different-sized cups.

This model has an integrated milk frother for hands-free milky brews. Slim profile designed to sit back against the wall, leaving your kitchen worktop free. Has three different temperature settings and makes four coffee types: ristretto, espresso, lungo and Americano.

Connects to Nespresso App. Built-in automatic milk frother for a one-touch brew. This model has a steam pipe, giving you more control over the level of froth in your lattes and cappuccinos. A high-spec version of the automatic milk frothing Lattissima models, with touchscreen controls.

Prices correct as of August Want to narrow down your choices? See our list of Best Buy coffee machines. We asked Nespresso owners to tell us how happy they are with their machine and if they had any problems with it.

We've taken this data, and test data from our years of lab tests, and analysed the numbers to bring you our verdict on how good Nespresso machines are at making coffee, and how long they're likely to last when you get them home. In the table below you can find out:.

Only logged-in Which? If you're not already a member, you can join Which? Read which coffee machine brand to buy to discover what coffee machine owners had to say about other brands.

You don't need to spend a fortune to get a decent Nespresso machine, but some extract flavour from the capsules better than others. We've found some good value models that make it into our Best Buy list, but others were less impressive.

Check our list of the best coffee machines to get the lowdown on the good ones. What you might miss if you opt for a cheaper model are the fancy extras — milk-frothing accessories and personalisation or smart control.

However, one bonus of the cheaper models is they are usually very compact, and will easily squeeze onto the most crowded of kitchen worktops. As with all capsule coffee machines, it's worth considering the ongoing cost of buying Nespresso pods, which are more expensive per cup than using ground coffee, and differ if you opt for a Vertuo or Original machine. This graphic shows how much capsule coffee machines cost to run in comparison with other models.

The most expensive is buying a takeaway coffee. This is based on two espressos per day over five years, plus the upfront cost of the cheapest relevant Best Buy coffee machines. See our coffee machine buying guide for advice on other coffee machine types and how to choose the right one for you. There is a healthy market in third-party compatible pods for Nespresso Original pod machines.

In our most recent test, we rounded up well over 20 espresso machines in the Lab, brewing over 60 cups of espresso. If the machine had a milk frother , we tested it with both skim and oat milks. While we haven't formally tested every one of these Nespresso machines in the Lab, we've selected many of our road-tested top picks from the main espresso machine category, vetted user reviews, and know what to look for when it comes to buying.

Here, we prioritized machines that balance useful features with price, that are easy to set up and use, and that brew consistent espresso time after time. Most Nespresso models produce the same quality of espresso, but during taste tests, we assured each machine produced a hot, smooth cup of espresso that had depth and wasn't too bitter or acidic, with crema that was smooth without any noticeable big or small air bubbles.

Ready to find your favorite? These are the best Nespresso machines of Our choice for the best espresso machine overall, the VertuoPlus perfectly balances features, price, and design, making it the best Nespresso machine for most people. Choose from five drink types, including espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, mug, and alto.

In our tests, every cup of coffee came out hot and rounded with a luxurious, thick crema. We also like that the position of the water tank can be moved around to accommodate any size counter space, and that the lid opens and closes with one touch of the lever. The small-but-mighty Essenza Mini is a Nespresso machine in its purest form: It makes a good, full-bodied espresso with a nice crema and nothing else.

Choose from espresso or lungo, with the option to use or remove the drip base for a bigger cup. The water container is small, but we didn't mind refilling it for the freshest tasting cups during testing. With its classic Breville stainless steel design and complementary carafe, the Creatista Plus looks like a high-end machine — and it has the features to match. The integrated steam wand for milk frothing is perfect for making lattes and other drinks , and an LCD menu allows you to select from different temperature and milk settings.

Like the Essenza, the CitiZ is a sleek, simple Nespresso machine from the original line — but it has a larger 34 ounce water tank, meaning you can brew more espresso without refills. You can select from espresso or lungo, and 19 bars of pressure will deliver a smooth espresso with a nice crema.

If you want a milk frother, you can get the Aeroccino as part of a bundle with the machine. The Gran Lattissima strikes a happy medium between the sleek, easy-to-use design of the VertuoPlus and the more complex features of the Creatista series.

It has an integrated milk frother, with a built-in, modern pitcher that can be detached and stored in the fridge. In testing, we found the Gran Lattissima to be somewhat inconsistent between drinks, and the milk frother was difficult to clean. Nespresso have pulled out all the stops to show us what a real top-of-the-line Nespresso machine looks like, and the Creatista and Creatista Plus is the result. The Nespresso Expert coffee machine has several new great innovations under its sleeve, but the first thing you notice about this coffee machine is its looks.

The sleek, minimalist style is designed to grace a tabletop while being able to be tucked away and still look incredibly elegant. For someone who appreciates a good espresso over lots of different options for water sizes and milk, the Inissia might be a great choice. It is particularly suited for those who are looking to explore the Nespresso range for the first time, given how little space it takes up and how little it weighs.

Rather than being made out of plastic, the construction of the Nespresso KitchenAid coffee machine is predominantly metal. According to Nespresso themselves, the machines are aiming for a practical design while sending out an artistic message — and they do look really sleek!