The Best Nespresso Machines, From Tiny Espresso Makers to Latte Art Stars

Our top picks

1. 1Best overallNespresso Vertuo Pop+Espresso to mug sizes, 30 s heat-up and a 1.1 L tank.See on brand site
2. 2Best for big mugs and carafesNespresso Vertuo NextA slim Vertuo that brews the 535 ml carafe size.See on brand site
3. 3Best Original machineNespresso Essenza MiniTiny 8.3 cm footprint and access to many compatible capsules.See on brand site
4. 4Best for one-touch milk drinksNespresso Lattissima OneIntegrated single-serve milk jug with three one-touch recipes.See on brand site
5. 5Best for latte art (Vertuo)Nespresso Vertuo CreatistaAutomatic steam wand with three temperatures and textures, plus a 2.0 L tank.See on brand site
6. 6Best for latte art (Original)Nespresso Creatista Pro3-second ThermoJet heat-up and an automatic steam wand.See on brand site

The best Nespresso machine for most people is the Vertuo Pop+: it brews espresso and mug-size coffee from barcoded capsules, heats in about 30 seconds and has a roomy 1.1 L tank. If you drink mostly espresso and want the widest pod choice, pick an Original machine like the Essenza Mini. For café-style milk at home, the Lattissima One and the two Creatista models are the joyful upgrades.

How we chose

We did not test these machines hands-on. We used Nespresso's own system guide and machine comparison ^{1, 2}, plus official product pages from Nespresso and Breville ^{3, 4, 5, 6}, to compare cup sizes, tanks, heat-up times, milk systems and footprint. We also looked at how Nespresso's own quiz sorts people into the two systems ⁷. Capsule coffee is a big deal worldwide: in Italy, the home of espresso, capsule machines were in 50.6% of households at the end of 2024 ⁸. Price bands: $$ is $100 to $299, $$$ is $300 to $799 and $$$$ is $800 to $1,999.

Machine MatchmakerAnswer 6 quick questions and get the machine type and models that fit your drinks, budget and patience, with a 3-year cost-per-cup comparison.→

Nespresso Vertuo vs Original: choose your system first

Every Nespresso machine belongs to one of two systems, and the capsules do not cross over. This is the most important choice you will make.

Choose Vertuo if you drink mugs of coffee, share the machine with someone who does, or want the simplest one-button routine. Choose Original if you mainly drink espresso, love milk drinks from an integrated system, or want to shop around for capsules.

The best Nespresso machines

Best overall: Nespresso Vertuo Pop+

The Pop+ is the friendliest door into Nespresso. It reads each capsule's barcode and sets the brew, has a 1.1 L water tank and heats in about 30 seconds, according to Nespresso ³. That tank is a real step up from the original Vertuo Pop's 0.6 L, so you refill less often.

It is compact, the kind of machine that makes a small kitchen feel cheerful. There is no milk frother in the box, and it only accepts Vertuo capsules. Nespresso's international page lists sizes up to an XL cold brew size; the US model may differ, so check the box in your market.

Best for big mugs and carafes: Nespresso Vertuo Next

If you brew for two, the Vertuo Next can fill a 535 ml carafe; the Vertuo Creatista also supports that size ². It is slim at about 14.2 cm (5.6 in) wide, with a 1.1 L tank and about 30 seconds of heat-up ². Nespresso also lists Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for machine updates through its app on the US model ⁴.

The milk frother is sold separately or in a bundle. For a sunny weekend breakfast with a shared carafe, it is lovely.

Best Original machine: Nespresso Essenza Mini

The Essenza Mini is the espresso lover's pocket friend. At 8.3 cm (3.3 in) wide, it fits almost anywhere ². It brews two sizes, a 40 ml espresso and a 110 ml lungo, from a 0.6 L tank with about 30 seconds of heat-up ².

Its best feature is the system itself: Original capsules come from Nespresso and many other coffee brands, so you can explore. Skip it if you want mug-size coffee.

Best for one-touch milk drinks: Nespresso Lattissima One

The Lattissima One pairs the Original system with an integrated single-serve milk jug and three one-touch milk recipes ². It heats in about 25 seconds and holds 1.0 L of water ². Pour in milk for one drink, press, and enjoy a creamy cup with almost no cleanup.

The jug holds milk for one drink at a time, so you refill it for every cup. For a household that makes one or two milk coffees a day, that is a fair trade.

Best for latte art (Vertuo): Nespresso Vertuo Creatista

Made by Breville, the Vertuo Creatista adds a real automatic steam wand to the Vertuo system. Breville lists hands-free milk texturing with three temperatures and three textures, a large 2.0 L tank and the full Vertuo cup range, from ristretto to carafe ^{5, 2}. That means silky microfoam you can pour into hearts and tulips.

It is the priciest Vertuo here, in the $$$ price band, and at about 7 kg it is heavier than other Vertuo models. If you love lattes, it can replace a lot of café visits.

Best for latte art (Original): Nespresso Creatista Pro

The Creatista Pro is the Original-system sibling, also built by Breville. Breville lists a ThermoJet heating system with a 3-second heat-up and an automatic steam wand with adjustable milk temperature and texture ⁶. It sits in the $$$$ price band.

It was shown out of stock on Breville's US site when we checked, so look for availability before planning around it. For latte art with access to the wide world of Original pods, it is the one.

What about the VertuoPlus?

The VertuoPlus is an older Vertuo model with a 1.2 L movable tank and a slower 40-second heat-up, and it lacks the Alto and carafe sizes ². If you find it at a great price it still makes good mug coffee, but newer models are the better buy at similar prices.

Do you need a milk frother?

Most Nespresso machines brew coffee only. If you like cappuccinos, a frother makes the routine complete. Nespresso's Aeroccino 4 offers four modes (hot milk, two hot foam textures and cold foam) with a dishwasher-safe jug, according to its manual ⁹.

It froths up to 120 ml of milk at a time, enough for one or two drinks. For more frother options, see our best milk frother guide.

Nespresso machine buying guide

Your drink decides the system

Write down the three drinks you make most often. Mostly espresso and cappuccino? Original. Mostly mugs or a mix? Vertuo. That one step solves most of the decision.

Milk: frother or integrated?

A separate frother is cheaper and works with any machine. Integrated systems (Lattissima, Creatista) are more convenient, but you will clean milk parts more often.

Tank size and footprint

Small tanks mean frequent refills. Check the width if your counter is tight: the Essenza Mini is 8.3 cm wide, while the Vertuo Creatista is about 24.5 cm ².

Caffeine per cup

A single espresso shot contains about 63 mg of caffeine based on USDA data of 212 mg per 100 g ¹⁰. Larger Vertuo sizes contain more coffee and usually more caffeine, so a mug from a capsule is a different drink from a 40 ml espresso.

A note on espresso and cholesterol

Espresso contains a little cafestol, a coffee oil that can raise cholesterol: lab measurements found about 1 mg per cup, compared with 5 to 7 mg in boiled coffee and negligible amounts in drip-filtered coffee ¹¹. Capsule coffee was not measured in that study.

Care keeps the coffee sweet

Empty the used-capsule container daily, rinse the drip tray, and refill the tank with fresh water rather than topping up old water. Descale when the machine asks, or on the schedule in your manual. If you have a milk system, rinse it right after each drink, because dried milk is the fastest way to a sad-tasting latte. Five minutes a week keeps every cup tasting like the first.

Who should skip a Nespresso machine

• You want the lowest cost per cup. Whole beans and a drip brewer cost less over time; see our best drip coffee maker guide.
• You want to learn the barista craft. A semi-automatic machine teaches you more; start with our best espresso machine for beginners.
• You are torn between pods. Our Nespresso vs Keurig comparison helps, and our best single serve coffee maker guide looks beyond Nespresso.

Not sure yet? Try the free tool

Machine MatchmakerAnswer 6 quick questions and get the machine type and models that fit your drinks, budget and patience, with a 3-year cost-per-cup comparison.→

Price bands: $ under $100 · $$ $100–299 · $$$ $300–799 · $$$$ $800–1,999 · $$$$$ $2,000+. Prices change, so check the retailer.

Frequently asked questions

Which Nespresso machine is best?

For most people the Vertuo Pop+ is the best Nespresso machine: it brews espresso and mug-size coffee, heats in about 30 seconds and holds 1.1 L of water [3]. Espresso purists who want more capsule choice should pick an Original machine like the Essenza Mini, and milk lovers will enjoy the Lattissima One.

What is the difference between Nespresso Vertuo and Original?

Vertuo machines read a barcode on each capsule and brew sizes from a 25 ml ristretto up to a 230 ml mug, plus a 535 ml carafe on the Vertuo Next [1]. Original machines brew 25 to 110 ml drinks, with the size chosen by you [1]. Original also has many compatible third-party capsules.

Can you make a latte with a Nespresso machine?

Yes. Add a separate frother such as the Aeroccino 4 to any machine, or choose a model with built-in milk. The Lattissima One makes one-touch milk drinks, while the Vertuo Creatista and Creatista Pro have automatic steam wands that make microfoam for latte art [5][6].

Can I use third-party capsules in Nespresso machines?

In Original machines, yes: many coffee brands sell compatible capsules. Vertuo machines read a barcode on each capsule to set the brew [1], so they work with Vertuo capsules only. If capsule choice matters to you, the Original system gives you more options.

Is Nespresso real espresso?

Nespresso Original makes short, concentrated 25 to 40 ml shots with crema that most people enjoy as espresso. It does not replace a traditional espresso machine with a portafilter and a separate grinder, which gives you more control over beans, dose and flavor. For pure convenience, though, a Nespresso is hard to beat.

Sources

We link to the original studies and official pages so you can check every claim.

1. Nespresso. Choose your coffee system (Original vs Vertuo). Nespresso Singapore.
2. Nespresso. Machine comparison. Nespresso Singapore.
3. Nespresso. Vertuo Pop+. Nespresso product page.
4. Nespresso. Vertuo Next coffee machine. Nespresso product page.
5. Breville. Nespresso Vertuo Creatista (BVE850). Breville product page.
6. Breville. Nespresso Creatista Pro (BNE900). Breville product page.
7. Nespresso. Original vs Vertuo quiz. Nespresso Malaysia.
8. Il Sole 24 Ore. Pods and capsules show no sign of slowing down. Il Sole 24 Ore (English edition).
9. Nespresso. Aeroccino 4 user manual. Nespresso.
10. USDA Agricultural Research Service. Beverages, coffee, brewed, espresso, restaurant-prepared (FDC ID 171891). USDA FoodData Central.
11. Gross G, Jaccaud E, Huggett AC (1997). Analysis of the content of the diterpenes cafestol and kahweol in coffee brews. Food Chem Toxicol.