How do you like your coffee in the morning? If the answer is 'fast', then a Nespresso machine might be for you. They are more compact than manual espresso machines, and rather than grinding beans, tamping them, and worrying about extraction times, you just pop a capsule in and hit a button.
When picking a Nespresso machine, note that there are two different types: those that use Nespresso Original capsules and those that use Nespresso Vertuo pods.
1. Nespresso Vertuo Pop
If you have a tiny kitchen, a small budget, or both, this is the best Nespresso machine for you. It uses Nespresso Vertuo capsules, and is one of the cheapest models around, often discounted to under $100 / £60 / AU$100 during sales events like Black Friday (which is coming up fast).
It's not an elaborate machine. If you want textured milk with your drink, then you'll need a separate frother like the Nespresso Aeroccino. The water tank is quite small, and there's only one spout, so you can only pour one drink at a time. However, it's solidly made and a piece of cake to use and keep clean.
Another of the Vertuo Pop's best features is that it comes in so many colors. I have the sunny yellow version in my kitchen, but there are lots more options to choose from. A few months ago, the company released it in a shade called Candy Pink, and more recently, it added versions in soft Pistachio and Pastel Yellow to coincide with the release of its limited edition coconut vanilla and pistachio vanilla cold-brew capsules.
Read our full Nespresso Vertuo Pop review
2. De'Longhi Lattissima One
If you like to start your day with a latte or cappuccino, take a look at the Lattissima One. This is one of the few Nespresso machines with its own milk steamer, allowing you to make authentically milky drinks at the touch of a button. Sure, it won't do latte art for you, but it has all the other essentials covered.
The milk container is removable and has a lid, so you can keep it in the fridge between uses and avoid waste. Both it and the Lattissima One's water tank are dishwasher-safe too, for easy clean-up.
Like the Nespresso Vertuo Pop, it's made for single servings (bigger Nespresso machines are available), but there's no easier way to create a milk-based coffee drink when you're in a hurry to get to work. During our tests, we found it worked well with both dairy milk and plant-based substitutes, creating a rich and silky microfoam every time.
Read our full De'Longhi Lattissima One review
3. Ninja Prestige DualBrew System
The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System (and the almost identical Ninja Espresso and Coffee Maker Barista System, which is sold in the US) doesn't just brew tasty espresso in seconds, it also includes a full-size drip coffee maker.
It's an ingenious design, giving you the two most convenient ways to make your morning brew in one machine. Either fill the brew basket with ground coffee before bed, set the timer, and wake to a hot pitcher full of delicious pour-over, or drop in a Nespresso Original pod and enjoy a rich espresso with zero effort.
It's the little features that really make the DualBrew System special. For example, the hotplate under the pour-over pitcher has adjustable time and temperature settings, so you can keep your coffee pleasantly warm without risk of stewing it. Remove the pitcher and you'll find a fold-down drip tray so you can dispense coffee directly into a cup or travel mug instead.
You can adjust the height of the espresso drip tray to accommodate different-sized cups, too, and around the side of the machine, there's a fold-out milk frother so you can turn your Nespresso drinks into lattes or cappuccinos. It doesn't heat the milk like a steam wand would, but Ninja's designers have added a 'recipe' label telling you how long to microwave and then whisk the milk for different drinks.
It's not small, but it's got everything you need for your coffee station, and it's a lot of fun to use, even when you're half-asleep and bleary-eyed in the morning.
Read our full Ninja Prestige DualBrew System review
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