10 Best Nespresso Machines of 2021

A Nespresso machine is designed to ensure that making your daily cup of espresso is a quick and effortless task that does not require you to have professional barista skills.

It is a capsule-based espresso machine with ease of use and user convenience at the heart of its design. With the best Nespresso machine, you can be confident of getting great tasting espressos in seconds, consistent brewing and the perfect crema at the top of each cup.

Although Nespresso is the name of a specific Swiss company under the Nestle Group, over the years it has partnered with several other brands. And now you can find Nespresso machines made from several companies like Breville and DeLonghi.

What all this means is that there will be plenty of Nespresso models to pick from. Because all are not created equal, you need to know how to pick the perfect one for you.

However, this in-depth guide has you covered as we explain in detail all you need to know about these convenient coffee machines and review 10 top-rated Nespresso machines.

10 Best Nespresso Machines – Review

• Water Tank: 20.29 ounces/0.6 Liter
• Pump Pressure: 19 bars
• Used Capsules: 5-6
• Heat Up Time: 25 seconds

If you are on the hunt for the best under $100 Nespresso machine, the Essenza Mini by Breville is one of the best options you will get anywhere.

It is a 19-bar pressure model that delivers more than enough pressure for quick and efficient extraction. But what will draw many coffee lovers to it is its sleek design with a modern finish as it will look great on any counter.

The Nespresso machine is designed to be compact and space-saving as it will take up little counter space. It is also an intuitive and easy-to-use coffee maker with a one-touch operation.

This espresso machine will heat up in 25 seconds and also brews up superfast, and there is a convenient energy-saving mode that will switch it off automatically after 9 minutes of idling.

The adjustable cup size with its two programmable buttons makes the Essenza Mini more versatile and will ensure it meets all your single serve needs.

Water tank feels a little awkward to remove and its 20.29-ounce capacity is the smallest on our list, but it should still not be a dealbreaker as it is durable enough and easy to refill.

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2. Breville BEC420TTN1AUC1 – Surprisingly Compact Nespresso Machine

• Water Tank: 24 ounces/0.7 liters
• Pump Pressure: 19 bars
• Used Capsules: 11
• Heat Up Time: 25 seconds

Counter space is always limited in most homes, and so the fact that the Pixie takes up little of it is enough to make it a great buy.

This surprisingly compact Nespresso machine delivers an impressive 19 bars of pressure for quick and efficient extraction. It is a programmable coffee maker with a couple of one-touch buttons that make it easy to prepare your favorite brews.

With this espresso machine, you can also easily tell when you need to refill the water tank as it has a convenient red backlight indicator.

The folding drip tray is also quite convenient as it allows you to not only use larger single serve cups but also make other brews like lattes and cappuccinos with ease.

This is also a highly-energy efficient machine thanks to the automatic power off function that will switch it off after 9 minutes.

Cleaning it could be easier, but it should still be quite quick and straightforward once you get used to the machine. And the relatively louder operation also takes some getting used to.

3. DeLonghi EN560W – Italian Craftsmanship at its Best

• Water Tank: 30 ounces/0.9 liter
• Pump Pressure: 19 bars
• Used Capsules: 10
• Heat Up Time: 40 seconds

The sleek Italian craftsmanship on this Nespresso machine is hard to miss anywhere, and you can be confident that it will not only compliment your kitchen decor but also add a touch of class.

Besides the look, this is also an easy-to-use machine with a simple one-touch button operation that you can use to easily choose one of the 6 coffee recipes.

There is also an advanced automatic milk frother that will create some rich and long-lasting foam for your milk brews.

With the more practical sliding tray design, you can use various cup and glass sizes to ensure that you always have the amount of coffee that you prefer.

The ease of cleaning and maintenance also helps to make this one of the best Nespresso coffee machines. And it is thanks to the removable milk container with a rinse function, automatic ejection of empty capsules and intuitive descaling.

When compared to others in our list, this is a relatively pricier model but the quality and capability make it worth every buck.

4. Breville BNV220CRO1BUC1 – Great Quality at a Great Price

• Water Tank: 40 ounces/1.2 liters
• Pump Pressure: 19 bars
• Used Capsules: 13-20
• Heat Up Time: 15 seconds

Breville's Vertuo is not only the cheapest model in our Nespresso machines review but also one of the best for the money. Given its performance and quality, it is hard to get anything better at that price range.

Apart from its highly affordable price tag, it also has some impressive features with key among them being the Centrifusion extraction technology that ensures perfect and consistent brewing. The automatic blend recognition is also a great feature as it ensures best-in cup results.

To ensure maximum user convenience, this espresso maker has a single touch button operation and 5 different single serve cup sizes.

The removable water reservoir provides quick and hassle-free refilling and the 15-second heat up time is as good as it can get for such an affordable machine.

Pods can be a little pricier but this is typical of most top-quality single-serve machines, and you can always save some cash by buying them in bulk.

• Water Tank: 54 ounces/1.6 liters
• Used Capsules: 17
• Heat Up Time: 15 seconds

The versatility of the Vertuo Evoluo is one of its best traits, and it stems from the fact that you can use it to make several cup sizes and various kinds of brews.

Its 54-ounce removable water reservoir has one of the highest capacities on our list, and it is designed to be quick and easy to refill. Also, the 17 used capsules capacity is quite good. The high capacities will ensure you can make several cups before you need to refill or empty anything.

But, for the true coffee aficionados, the barcode brewing technology, and Centrifusion extraction will be the most impressive features as they ensure great tasting coffee and consistent results.

The 15-second heat up time is also quite fast and good enough for most users, and this is also a one-touch button machine for easy operation.

Although the coffee temperature is a little lower when compared to what you get with other types of coffee makers, many people will not even notice it.

6. DeLonghi EN167B – An Amazing Nespresso Machine by an Amazing Brand

• Water Tank: 34 ounces/1 liter
• Pump Pressure: 19 bars
• Used Capsules: 10
• Heat Up Time: 25 seconds

DeLonghi is an amazing brand that makes some fantastic coffee makers, and the CitiZ Nespresso machine is one of their amazing products.

It is a compact, elegant and user-friendly machine with 19 bars of pressure and is design to provide fast brewing and some great tasting coffee.

The machine heats up in 25 seconds, and it also has a convenient energy saving mode that will switch it off after 9 minutes of idling.

Other features like the automatic flow stop and the folding cup tray that accommodates taller cups and glasses help to make this a more user-friendly machine.

There is no milk frother on this machine which can be a huge drawback for some coffee lovers, but there are many cheap ones out there. And the relatively loud operation is just typical of most Nespresso coffee machines.

7. DeLonghi EN520SL – For Barista-Quality Brews

• Water Tank: 30 ounces/0.9 liter
• Pump Pressure: 19 bars
• Used Capsules: 10
• Heat Up Time: 25 seconds

With a top-quality and feature-rich Nespresso machine like Lattissima Plus, you can make some barista-quality brews from the comfort of your home.

So whether you are looking for the best Nespresso machine for lattes, cappuccinos or even just regular espressos, this machine will be perfect for you.

It is a 19-bar pressure model with a single touch and easy to clean hot milk system and an adjustable drip tray that will accommodate larger cups or coffee drinks.

There is also zero wait time between cups with this coffee machine thanks to the thermoblock heating system that maintains optimal brew temperature after every cup.

The automatic cappuccino system on this machine is also fantastic as it will ensure that you always get dense and long-lasting foam.

This Nespresso machine is relatively heavier, but this will not be an issue as it is still compact and highly portable.

8. DeLonghi EN80B – Compact, Lightweight, and Simple to Use

• Water Tank: 24 oz/0.7 L
• Pump Pressure: 19 bars
• Used Capsules:10
• Heat Up Time: 25 seconds

DeLonghi’s Nespresso Inissia is a compact and lightweight espresso machine that is designed to take up little counter space and enough for portability.

This simple to use machine features a one-touch operation, and it will heat up in just 25 seconds and brew up to 9 cups before you have to refill the 24-ounce water reservoir.

With this espresso machine, you also get an adjustable cup size and with two programmable buttons to ensure that you always make custom brews that suit your tastes.

The folding drip tray design ensures that this Nespresso machine can accommodate larger cup size and recipes like lattes and cappuccinos.

Also, there is a smart energy saving mode that will switch the machine off after 9 minutes if idling and this is one of the most affordable models in our list.

24 ounces is relatively smaller water capacity when compared to other models in our list, but it should still be perfect for a household of one or a few people.

9. DeLonghi EN750MB – The Best for Milk Brews

• Water Tank: 44 ounces/1.3 liters
• Pump Pressure: 19 bars
• Used Capsules: 15
• Heat Up Time: 25 seconds

For the many coffee aficionados that prefer their brews with milk, the Lattissima Pro will be a great buy. Its fantastic cappuccino system will produce rich, dense and long-lasting foam that will be perfect for lattes, cappuccinos and many other brews.

This Nespresso machine also has an integrated carafe that will dispense the milk in adjustable levels to ensure that you get your preferred taste.

With the patented espresso extraction system and 19 bars of pressure, this machine is designed to ensure you always get the best flavors and temperature for every cup.

The 25-second heat up time ensures you will never have to wait long before you start brewing. Durability is also guaranteed with this machine by the sleek and sturdy stainless steel die-cast body.

While this coffee machine is pricier than most others on our list, it is still quite well-priced when compared to other models in the market.

10. Breville BNE800BSSUSC – Top Pick for an Artistic Coffee Aficionado

• Water Tank: 50 ounces/1.5 liters
• Pump Pressure: 19 bars
• Used Capsules: 8-12
• Heat Up Time: 3 seconds

The Creatista Plus by Breville is a top-quality Nespresso machine designed to make it easy to make some impressive and authentic latte art at home. And it also has an advanced milk texturing technology that makes it easy to texture milk to the desired temperature and style.

Besides the amazing latte art, this espresso maker also has one of the fastest heat up time as it will be ready to use in just 3 seconds. Fill-ups will not be very frequent when using this machine thanks to the larger capacity 50-ounce water reservoir.

Operating this machine is also made simple by the high-resolution display and intuitive control. Other things like the fast automatic cleaning, high-end and refined finish and stainless steel milk jug help to make this one of the best Nespresso machines.

Despite this being the priciest model on our list, its high-capacity, super fast heat up, intuitive controls and robust construction make it worth the extra cost.

Nespresso vs. Keurig

Although there are still many other brands and models in the market, when it comes to buying a good single serve coffee machine you will often have to choose between Nespresso and Keurig.

Although both have diehard followers and are known to produce great tasting beverages fast, they differ in some aspects which you should use to choose between the two.

1. Nespresso

Nespresso is a Swiss-based brand that makes primarily pod-based and single-serve espresso machines but many of their models are made in partnership with top companies like Phillips, DeLonghi, and Breville.

Unlike Keurig which makes most of their machines in China using relatively thinner plastics, most Nespresso machines are Swiss-made and they feature heavy-gauge plastic construction with metal accents.

Nespresso is available in two lines of products which are OriginaLine and VertuoLine. While some of their models will include a built-in frother for cappuccinos, lattes and other beverages, others will not have one, and so you need to use their hand-pump frother.

Most of their capsules are designed to be recyclable, which is a great feature for the environment-conscious users. They are generally easier to clean than Keurigs.

However, Nespressos are relatively pricier when compared to Keurig, and they also have fewer model and pod options and a smaller water reservoir capacity.

2.  Keurig

Keurig is the industry leader in the USA when it comes to single-serve coffee machines, and their more than 50 models in the market are not only more than what Nespresso has to offer but also way much more than most other brands.

The company is famous for having a variety of k-cups in the market which allows users to enjoy more flavors than they would with other brands like Nespresso.

Most Keurig machines are also relatively more affordable, and besides having more pod options in the market, they are cheaper which means that the machines are cheaper to own.

Generally, Keurig offers models with relatively larger water reservoirs and most will also have a wider brew size range as some can brew 4 to 30 ounces.

While most of their machines are quite durable, they are often not as sturdy and long-lasting as what you get from Nespresso. Also, their pod assembly that includes entry and exit needles is more prone to clogging which can make cleaning more tedious.

Buying Advice: While Nespresso seems to have a smaller market share in the USA, it is a relatively more superior and versatile brand than Keurig. So the bottom line is that Nespresso is the way to go when looking for top quality and versatility while Keurig is the best when you want something more affordable that offers more model and flavor options.

How to Buy the Best Nespresso Machines

With the best Nespresso coffee machine, you can always be sure of quick brewing and some tasty coffee. But, picking one from the many models out there can be hectic. However, it should not be as you will only need to watch out for the following.

1. OriginaLine vs. VertuoLine

The first and probably most important decision that you will need to make is whether to go for the OriginaLine or VertuoLine of Nespresso machines. Both work well and produce some fantastic brews but will be ideal for different kinds of coffee lovers.

OriginaLine: Being the original line of Nespressos, this is what many people have been using for years. These machines use standard size Nespresso capsules to make espressos, ristrettos, and lungo.

They will brew coffee by piercing the capsule and then forcing hot water through it under high pressure which allows the brewed coffee to trickle down to the cup.

VertuoLine: A newer line of Nespresso machines aimed to address the problem of cheap and low-quality capsules faced by the OriginaLine machine users.

This line of espresso machines is produced specifically for the Northern America market where larger servings are more preferred. Unlike the OriginaLine that is only good for espressos, these machines will make both espresso and coffee as they have two capsule sizes.

These machines and their pods make use of barcodes to ensure the machine will know precisely how to brew each pod. And there are no cheap third party capsules equivalent to the VertuoLine Capsules.

Read More: Nespresso VertuoLine vs. OriginaLine

2. Coffee Capsule Compatibility

For any Nespresso machine to serve you well, it has to be compatible with your preferred capsule. It is important to note that while these machines will use similar capsules, not all coffee capsules will be compatible with every Nespresso machine.

Before settling on any model, you should make sure that you know all the capsules that it can use to avoid disappointments.

Nespresso machines from different brands like Breville and DeLonghi will also work with different capsules, and so the brand you pick matters greatly.

This will even be more important if you are buying from VertuoLine machines which use barcode brewing as the machine needs to understand what is written on the capsule to brew it.

3. Size and Design

Space is always limited in most modern homes, and so the size of the Nespresso machine matters a lot as it has to be ideal for the particular space you have.

Luckily, most of these machines are designed to be small and compact to ensure they take up little space. But, even as you look for something compact, you still need to make sure that it has all the key features and good water reservoir capacity.

The best Nespresso machine for you is one that will look amazing in your kitchen counter. Looks matter a lot, and so different aspects of the machine’s design such as the shape, finish and color should be aesthetically appealing and complement your kitchen décor.

4. Cup Size

While cup size also matters when choosing a Nespresso machine, it is mostly about personal preferences. Some people will prefer 10 oz cups while others will be okay with an 8 oz cup.

The amount of coffee that you take should guide you in choosing the right cup size for you. But, the good news is that most of these machines brew super fast, and so even if yours has a small cup size, you can easily and quickly brew multiple cups to suit your needs. 

5. Ease of Use and Cleaning

If the Nespresso machine that you end up with is hard to operate, it will not serve you well. When it comes to the ease of use there are many things to take into account.

Key among them is the control panel or user interface, and here you need to make sure that it is straightforward and with some easy to locate and understand buttons. Also, the controls should be intuitive enough so that you will not always have to take out the manual anytime you want to make coffee.

An easy to clean machine is also more convenient and will provide trouble free ownership. Something with a descaler makes cleaning easy as it will remove mineral buildup from the hot water tank which can also help to extend its life.

Tips and Tricks for Using Nespresso Machines

Your Nespresso machine might be highly convenient and will produce some top quality and great-tasting brews, but to get the most from it, you need to keep the following tips in mind.

Tip 1: Regular Cleaning

Regular cleaning is an obvious tip but still probably the most important one as it is the best way to keep your machine in good working conditions.

As you continue to use the Nespresso machine regularly, oils and other residues from the coffee will build up in the brewing chamber, and if you do not clean them regularly, they will affect the taste.

Also, the buildup can prevent capsules from fitting properly in the chamber and lead to bacteria, yeast or mold buildup.

For effective cleaning, make sure that you remove the used capsules and run water through the machine after every use and use cleaning capsules to clean the chamber every few months.

Tip 2: Descale Regularly

Just like regular cleaning, regular descaling is a must if you want to keep your Nespresso machine in the best shape.

Descaling is important as it will help remove mineral build up on different parts of the machine such as the pump and pipes. Sparing just 20 minutes every month to descale your machine can extend its life significantly.

Most Nespresso machines will have a descaling mode, and so you only need to refer to your manual to know the exact steps to follow.

Tip 3: Warm Up and Prime Before Use

Warming up and priming your Nespresso Machine looks very basic and simple, but many people often overlook or even forget to do it.

So before you pop in a new capsule to start making coffee, you should first brew water through it but make sure there is no old capsule still in the machine. Do this with the lid down and by running it at the Lungo setting.

This helps not only to flush out any old coffee residue but also heats up the contact points on the capsules, makes pod piercing easier and ensures a smoother pour.

Tip 4: Only User Filtered Water

Besides ensuring that you only use genuine and high-quality pods on your Nespresso machine, you also need to make sure that the other important ingredient which is water is also high-quality.

The best way to do this is by always using filtered water. Because buying bottled water can be expensive, you should invest in a water filter jug or any other efficient water filtration system. Filtering the water will remove bad odors and tastes and sediments.

Tip 5: Program and Re-calibrate

Although Nespresso machines will come with pre-programmed or default setting for coffee to water ratio, you do not have to live with it. To make sure that the coffee you get suits your specific preferences, you should re-calibrate the machine.

Getting the right coffee to water ratio should be easy with most Nespresso machines. Although you will probably need to experiment a few times to get the perfect volume, you only need to follow the following easy steps to take it.

• Place your preferred coffee cup size beneath the spout
• Insert a capsule into the machine
• Press and hold the brew button for your preferred brew
• Let go of the brew button once the cup has the right amount of coffee
• When you press the brew button henceforth it will pour the perfect amount of brew

Conclusion

With a good Nespresso machine, you can always be sure of getting hot, barista-quality brews at the push of a button.

These are by far some of the most convenient coffee machines, and they will be a perfect pick for the daily coffee takers as they are also very consistent.

The good news is that unlike in the past, they are now available in different models from top coffee maker brands like DeLonghi and Breville which means you will have plenty of options to choose from.

Finding the best Nespresso machine should now not take a lot of work or time because this piece highlights everything you need to know including review of 10 of the best models in the market.