Nespresso machines are a quick-fire way of making and enjoying a coffee in the comfort of your home. We've recently reviewed the Nespresso Vertuo Pop which has got our vote for the best entry-level machine, and it's available in six fabulous colors.
Jennifer Oksien, Editor - Homes
The best Nespresso machines are perfect for coffee lovers who'd rather not have the wait, the effort or the mess of more traditional coffee makers. They deliver superb coffee without any fuss and without any mess, and the range of available flavors is huge. No matter what kind of coffee you love, these machines make it beautifully.
We think Nespresso coffee machines are among the best coffee makers and best espresso machines for single-serve coffee thanks to the variety of Nespresso capsules you can get. Nespresso offer a wide range of coffees for their Original and Vertuo machines, and new flavors are constantly being added.
There's plenty of variety in the range of Nespresso machines too. That's because Magimix, Sage, Krups and others are throwing their weight behind Nespresso and making some really impressive machines. Some even include steam wands that'll froth up milk to make your Cappucinos or Lattes even better.
We've tested every Nespresso machine listed here, as well as many more that didn't make the cut. We tested to see how easy they are to set up and use, how simple they are to clean, what maintenance if any they need and of course, how good their coffee is. So no matter what kind of coffee you like or what kind of kitchen you have, you'll find the best Nespresso machine for you right here.
Best Nespresso machine 2023: tried and tested by us
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If you're tightly restricted on countertop space then the Nespresso Pixie by Krups is the answer to your single-serve coffee wishes.
On test, our reviewer found that the Pixie was very easy to use, and offered a hassle-free way of making a morning coffee. It took on average 25 - 30 seconds to preheat, and an espresso took just 15 seconds to pour. We were really impressed with the thick crema that the machine consistently produced, too, which resulted in a coffee tasting neither burnt nor overly bitter.
A favorite feature of ours on the Nespresso Pixie is that upon removing the drip tray, it reveals an integrated bin for 10 used capsules. It's easily removed for emptying and cleaning. Additional cleaning is occasionally required to rinse the bin and drip tray, but that's about it, so there's not too much washing-by-hand to do - although it would be useful if you could pop the parts into the dishwasher. As with all coffee makers, a descale will be required to help maintain the machine after every 1000 capsules.
Read more: Nespresso Pixie by Krups review
The Nespresso by Krups Vertuo Plus is a good option for sharing with housemates, or not sharing in the 'home office'. It has an automatic head and capsule ejection, and a moveable water tank, so it has a bit more going on than some of the other Vertuo machines in the range.
What we liked about this pod coffee machine during testing is how convenient, neat, reliable and easy to use it is. The machine is all self-contained and we feel that there are few kitchens, living rooms or offices that you couldn't sneak one of these into. A downside to using this machine is that we felt it was pretty sterile in that we couldn't smell it when coffee was being brewed. If you're eco-conscious then signing up to the Nespresso pod recycling scheme would be a thing to do.
With 5 different cup sizes and a quick heat-up time of around 15 - 20 seconds, we feel that this Nespresso machine is worth a punt (if it meets all your requirements).
Read more: Nespresso Vertuo Plus review
Made from stainless steel and backed by a two-year guarantee, the Grind One is a Nespresso machine that (we feel) is built to last. The quality of materials used to make the machine means that it looks good sitting on the countertop, too.
During testing, we found that the Grind One produced smooth, rich espresso with a thick crema quality. We liked that you can customize the volume of coffee dispensed during the brewing process, which makes it a good choice for those wanting to try their hand at playing barista. The machine itself is very easy to use, since it is a pod machine after all. It takes Grind coffee pods and all other original-style Nespresso capsules.
A thing to note is that it doesn't come with a built-in milk texturizer, although one can be bought separately. It's also a little on the bulky side so if space is tight, we'd recommend the next Nespresso machine on the list: the De'Longhi Lattissima One.
Read more: Grind One pod machine
Available in a crisp white or shiny black colorway, the De'Longhi Lattissima One is a compact and easy to clean espresso machine which we think is best suited to kitchens where countertop space is tight.
The machine may well be the smallest in the Nespresso lineup at De'Longhi but it has everything you need on board to create delicious coffee - from thick and creamy espressos to tall and creamy lattes. Our reviewer found that it produced a 'satisfying in strength and smooth to drink' espresso, although we found that the smaller the coffee cup the thicker and tastier the crema.
It is worth noting that Lattissima One does not come with a steam wand for making micro foam, but it does have its own automatic ‘Rapid Cappuccino System’ to dispense milk straight into your cup. This capsule machine won’t allow you to experiment with freshly ground beans and artisan filter flavors, either, which is the case for all of the machines featured in this guide.
Read more: De’Longhi Lattissima One review
The Nespresso Vertuo Pop is the latest addition to the brand's lineup of pod coffee machines. It's main USP – which is, perhaps, the most obvious – is that it's available in six gorgeous colors, allowing you to select a model to suit your kitchen decor or to make a statement.
The Nespresso Vertuo Pop is a compact coffee pod coffee maker. It measures 136 x 426 x 250mm / 5.3 x 16.7 x 9.8in, so it doesn't take up much space on the countertop. In addition, it weighs just 3.5kg / 7.7lbs, so it can be easily moved if you need to store it out of sight.
This is a really good option for single folks and for Nespresso beginners. It's super-easy to set up and use and it makes a lovely coffee with a thick crema; the ability to pour into larger mugs is also handy for anyone who wants to grab and go on the way to work or school. However, its compact size means it's a little limited in what it can do: you can only make one coffee at a time, and the water tank is only big enough to make two mugs of coffee, one after the other.
Read our full Nespresso Vertuo Pop review
The Philips L'OR Barista Sublime is one of the latest Nespresso machines to be launched. Its USP is that it is double spouted, meaning that it can make two drinks at the same time. It also accepts the new and exclusive L’OR Barista XXL capsules, which contain double the amount of coffee than the smaller capsules
Our reviewer found that this pod coffee machine was easy to use and produced delicious results. The machine does come with a selection box of nine capsule samples which is plenty to get going - although we would have preferred some more decaf options - and each one did not disappoint. The most useful out of the three settings we found was Lungo because it suited our 350ml mugs the best.
There are a couple of things that the Philips L'OR Barista Sublime is missing for us. The first is that there is no integrated milk frother with this model of L'OR coffee machine. And the second point to make is that you would struggle to make more than two cups or mugs of coffee quickly and on demand.
Read more: Philips L’OR Barista Sublime review
We've said a few times how simple Nespresso machines are. But they don't have to be, and The Morning Machine is not your average Nespresso pod machine. It has water volume settings, temperature control, in-built scales and customizable pressure programs that allow you to extract the best possible flavor from any blend. And the makers have teamed up with pod producers all over the world to provide an interesting range of flavors over and above the ones you'll find with Nespresso branding.
The key here is the smartphone app, which gives you complete control over every single detail of your brew from the pressure and time to the temperature, which you can set anywhere from 65ºC to 99ºC (149ºF to 210ºF).
That sounds expensive, we know, but it isn't: the Morning Machine isn’t anywhere near as expensive as some of the other best coffee machines available today.
Read our full Morning Machine review
The Vertuo Next is the smallest in the Nespresso Vertuo line-up of coffee makers. If space is tight, and you need a near-instant coffee, then this would be a good option to consider.
We found that it created consistently smooth espresso and americanos and that it genuinely couldn't be easier to use - all you have to do is place a pod inside, and press a button. There are five different cup sizes to choose from, and the clean-up time is very minimal.
As with a lot (if not all) Nespresso machines featured in this guide, you can only make espressos or americanos with this coffee machine unless you buy a separate milk frother. You are also going to be left with empty capsules which can't go in the household recycling so, if you're eco-conscious, signing up for the Nespresso recycling scheme would be of interest.
Read more: Nespresso Vertuo Next review
The Dualit Cafe Plus is the only dedicated capsule coffee maker from the brand. It's compatible with Nespresso original capsules, plus Dualit even makes its own range; we tried out the 50-capsule taster pack.
During our at-home tests, we found that it made coffee with ease - and tea, too. It doesn't come with a milk frother to heat or froth milk, but there is a standalone milk frother to purchase separately. If you want, Dualit also has its own means of enabling you to recycle the used coffee pods at home - the Dualit EcoPress - which can be used by all Nespresso compatible brands.
Overall we think that this Nespresso machine performed well, but the lack of space on the drip tray for a full-size mug proved frustrating, and espressos had a disappointingly thin crema. Therefore, is a good option for making a quick, convenient cup of coffee.
Read more: Dualit Cafe Plus review
If you want to make a coffee when you're out exploring or would prefer to save some dollar instead of visiting a coffee house, then we can highly recommend the Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker.
It's a pocket-sized Nespresso machine which will brew an espresso with a few pumps. After a few attempts on test, we achieved a gorgeously smooth, rich crema with every shot. It's so simple to use and, therefore, easy to tweak the settings to suit your taste requirements. You can switch between Nespresso pods and grinds, so it's a versatile little coffee maker too.
You will need to boil water and find a flat spot to pour the coffee into, but this is the most complicated the Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker will get.
Read more: Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker review
How we test Nespresso coffee machines
To create this guide we drank a lot of coffee. Each Nespresso coffee maker has been tested in the home of our reviewers for at least a couple of weeks, with coffee being drunk at least once a day from the machine on review.
As well as assessing how well the Nespresso machine makes coffee, we've also looked into how easy the product is to set up and keep clean. From the point of delivery through to cleaning the machine after a few weeks of heavy use, we've covered all the things that you, the customer, will be wanting to know about before buying one.
During testing, we also take into account the overall design of each Nespresso coffee maker - how it looks, how much space it’ll take up on your kitchen counter, whether the water tank is removable for easy refills, and how the machine looks as a whole.
The majority of these Nespresso machines are single-serve so we've considered how easily, and quickly, you can make more than one cup/mug of coffee on demand. You would have seen that a lot of them have removable drip trays or drip trays with an adjustable height so your favorite mugs can be catered for, so we've put this to the test too.
Recycling Nespresso coffee pods
There's no denying that there is a fair amount of waste from using a Nespresso coffee pods, but the company are on to this. There are four recycling options which can be achieved by following 3 easy steps.
- 1. Get your free recycling bag. These can be added to your next order, or picked up from your nearest store
- 2. Fill your bag with used capsules.
- 3. Choose one of four recyling options; Podback Collect+, Doorstep pickup, Boutique (store) drop off or Podback kerbside collection.
It's great that there are four recycling options, but what do you have to do?
We found that Collect + means that you have to print a label to stick on the recycling bag and to drop it in to a local store for scanning and shipping. Doorstep pickup (the easiest option by far) can be booked when visiting Nespresso.com to order more coffee capsules. Although this not leave you with much flexibility over where you buy your coffee capsules, you can recycle and replenish all in one places which is a big time saver for us.
Let's not forget that you can also drop off a recycling bag full of used capsules to a Nespresso boutique (store) or, if you're eligible for kerbside collection (we were not), you can recycle the capsules with other coffee brands.
What is the difference between a coffee machine and a Nespresso machine?
The main difference between a coffee machine and a Nespresso machine is that a Nespresso machine only makes an espresso coffee. Coffee machines consume the drip, pour and filter coffee machines, too. All of these make a greater volume of coffee than a Nespresso machine, which are often only single-serve.
