Best Nespresso machine 2024: Espresso, americano, cappuccino and more at the touch of a button
Whether you’re partial to espresso or a creamy flat white, you’ll find your perfect coffee partner with these Nespresso machines
Over the years, we’ve reviewed more coffee machines than you can poke an espresso cup at, and here you’ll find our pick of the best Nespresso machines for every type of coffee drinker. Regardless of budget or preference, there’s something for everyone on this list, and after tasting countless coffees and putting the very latest machines head to head, these are the ones that tick all the right boxes for getting that quick, flavourful Nespresso fix.
The appeal of a Nespresso machine couldn’t be simpler: you can create professional-looking espressos and long coffee drinks at home without mess, fuss or even the remotest bit of barista skill. Simply pop a pod in and you’re ready to go. If you don’t have the time, money or inclination to master a professional coffee machine, or simply want a coffee-shop style cuppa in just a few seconds, they’re a great shout.
It’s not the cheapest way to drink coffee, mind you, but buy in bulk and Nespresso coffee capsules often come in at under 50p per cup. That’s a lot more reasonable than spending the best part of a fiver at a well-known coffee joint, and with some of the best Nespresso machines starting from as little as £50 when on offer, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get started.
Best Nespresso machine: At a glance
- Best budget Nespresso machine: Nespresso Vertuo Pop
- Best Nespresso machine for milk-based drinks: Nespresso Gran Lattissima
- Best Nespresso machine for long coffees: Nespresso Vertuo Next
How to choose the best Nespresso machine for you
What types of drinks can I make?
Most Nespresso machines produce three sizes of plain black coffee: ristretto (around 25ml), espresso (around 40ml) or lungo (around 110ml). For each of these, there are plenty of dedicated Nespresso capsule options. These include anything from single origins and classic blends, to barista creations, which are typically sweeter, limited edition drinks.
If you prefer a longer drink, some Nespresso machines come with a steam wand for heating a jug of milk, and others have a specialist milk carafe that produces silky hot milk and foam at the touch of a button. Some require you to manually add the hot milk to the coffee, but other pricier models do so automatically, allowing you to prepare flat whites, cappuccinos, cafe lattes and similar milk drinks at the touch of a button.
READ NEXT: Our favourite Nespresso capsules
What type of machine should I buy?
The smaller, cheaper machines are restricted to espresso and lungo drinks. Then there are medium to large machines which offer the above coffee options but also come equipped with milk heating options. Finally, there are machines that cater to both classic small drinks, as well as larger, milk-based coffee drinks. These usually have detachable milk contraptions for frothy coffees and one-touch options for milk-based drinks.
If you prefer basic black coffees such as ristretto and espresso shots, or lungo coffees, then a smaller, basic machine will likely satisfy your needs. It is possible to buy standalone milk frothers further down the line if you decide you want the option to make flat whites, cappuccinos and the like. However, larger, pricier machines will provide more drinks options, and may include steam wands and milk carafes for far more professional-looking results.
How we test Nespresso machines
We test Nespresso machines the way we test all coffee pod machines – by making and drinking lots of capsule coffee. It’s not all as simple as that, though. We run repeat testing using the same Nespresso capsules to ensure the machine is delivering consistent results over a long period. This also extends to weighing each shot as it comes out, to see if it’s pouring a consistent espresso or lungo, something pod machines can struggle with. As well as Nespresso’s own branded capsules, we also try out a variety of third-party pods to see which ones make the best coffee. If the Nespresso machine has a milk frother or steamer, we’ll also run repeat tests on this using 200ml of both dairy and plant milk. We’re looking for a good, consistent milk froth and milk at the ideal temperature.
READ NEXT: Nespresso vs Dolce Gusto
Design and functionality are also important when choosing the ideal Nespresso machine. We’re not just looking at how aesthetically pleasing it is in the kitchen, we also consider things such as size and capacity – will it easily fit on a countertop and is the water tank big enough to suit your needs? Cup height is also measured. Smaller machines might only allow you to fit espresso-sized cups or small mugs underneath, while larger ones will have capacity for longer drinks. As many Nespresso machines function in the same way, what makes a “good” one will often come down to your own needs. That’s why we assess every feature and element of every machine on our roundup.
How we test Nespresso machines
We test Nespresso machines the way we test all coffee pod machines – by making and drinking lots of capsule coffee. It’s not all as simple as that, though. We run repeat testing using the same Nespresso capsules to ensure the machine is delivering consistent results over a long period. This also extends to weighing each shot as it comes out, to see if it’s pouring a consistent espresso or lungo, something pod machines can struggle with. As well as Nespresso’s own branded capsules, we also try out a variety of third-party pods to see which ones make the best coffee. If the Nespresso machine has a milk frother or steamer, we’ll also run repeat tests on this using 200ml of both dairy and plant milk. We’re looking for a good, consistent milk froth and milk at the ideal temperature.
READ NEXT: Nespresso vs Tassimo
Design and functionality are also important when choosing the ideal Nespresso machine. We’re not just looking at how aesthetically pleasing it is in the kitchen, we also consider things such as size and capacity – will it easily fit on a countertop and is the water tank big enough to suit your needs? Cup height is also measured. Smaller machines might only allow you to fit espresso-sized cups or small mugs underneath, while larger ones will have capacity for longer drinks. As many Nespresso machines function in the same way, what makes a “good” one will often come down to your own needs. That’s why we assess every feature and element of every machine on our roundup.
The best Nespresso machines you can buy
1. Nespresso Vertuo Next: Best for long coffees
Price: £149 | Buy now from AO
If you’re a long coffee drinker who prefers the occasional espresso shot, the Vertuo Next might be more up your street. Nespresso Vertuo machines (in all their forms) use specific Vertuo capsules that aren’t compatible with other Nespresso machines. These capsules are designed to produce longer drinks as they contain more coffee.
The Vertuo Next is quite bulky but the design is significantly better than that of its predecessor, the Vertuo Plus. It couldn’t be easier to use: to keep things as simple as humanly possible, there’s only one button on the machine itself (the smartphone app contains the rest). Despite the capsules varying in size, the machine automatically detects the size of coffee via the barcodes on each capsule, pulling through the right amount of water. You can also personalise the amount of water that comes through the machine via the settings.
If you love a longer black coffee, the Vertuo Plus is a top choice – the basic machines will require you to add hot water from a kettle to get a similar-sized drink, so this is the easier, hassle-free option.
Read our full Nespresso Vertuo Next review for more details
Key specs – Weight: 4kg; Size (WDH): 14 x 38 x 32cm; Heat up time: 25 secs; Coffee sizes: Espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, alto; Maximum cup size: 130mm; Water capacity: 1.1l; Used capsule capacity: 10 (large)
2. Nespresso Vertuo Pop: Best budget Nespresso machine
Price: £49 | Buy now from John Lewis
The latest addition to Nespresso’s Vertuo collection, the Pop, will feel familiar to anyone who has used a Vertuo machine before, as it works with the range’s larger capsules to brew up four variable coffee sizes – espresso (40ml), double espresso (80ml), lungo (120ml) and mug (230ml). It also still operates off a simple, single-button control scheme. Helping the Pop stand out from the crowd is its cute, compact design, reasonable price and snazzy range of colours, with options such as spicy red, aqua mint and mango yellow adding a pleasant – pardon the pun – pop of colour to your kitchen.
Of course, shrinking down the design does come with some compromises. The water tank is a good deal smaller than the Vertuo Next at 600ml, the capsule bin can fit just eight used pods and the tallest mug you’ll manage to fit under the brew head will be 8cm, or 12cm if you remove the chunky drip tray. However, if you’re happy to overlook these small quibbles, then the Pop is a tough machine to beat in terms of simplicity, value and style.
Read more full Nespresso Vertuo Pop review for more details
Key specs – Weight: 3.5kg; Size (WDH): 13.6 x 42.6 x 25cm; Heat up time: 30 secs; Coffee sizes: Espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, mug; Maximum cup size: 80mm, 120mm (without drip tray); Water capacity: 600ml; Used capsule capacity: 8
3. Nespresso CitiZ: Best small Nespresso machine
Price: £120/£175 | Buy now from Very
If you’ve ever stayed in a city hotel in Europe, you might recognise the CitiZ machine, as it’s often the coffee machine of choice in rooms. The slimline design is ideal for small spaces and it comes in a range of colours.
It only does the two standard drinks sizes – espresso and lungo – but we were impressed with CitiZ’s performance. Drinks came out at a consistent temperature and there wasn’t a great deal of variation in the amount pulled through each time. In comparison to the Essenza Mini, the Citiz is far more consistent.
One thing to watch out for is the price. Like many of Nespresso’s machines, there are two versions of the CitiZ. The older version, manufactured by Krups, is cheaper. The newer version manufactured by Magimix is £175. There is a slight style and height difference between the two, but aside from this, they have the same specs.
Key specs – Weight: 3.3kg; Size (WDH): 13.0×27.8×37.2cm; Heat up time: 25 secs; Coffee sizes: Espresso, Lungo; Maximum cup size: 120mm; Water capacity: 1l; Used capsule capacity: 11
4. Nespresso Gran Lattissima: Best machine for milk-based drinks
Price: £399 | Buy now from Nespresso
The Gran Lattissima is quite possibly our favourite machine on this list. It’s a fairly big machine, but it makes superb milk-based coffees at the touch of a button and the build quality is superb.
Alongside the three classic drink sizes, the Gran Lattissima can prepare a number of milk-based coffees at the touch of a button. This means you can recreate your favourite coffee shop drinks at home for a fraction of the cost and without the long queues.
The milk carafe (referred to as the rapid cappuccino system) is the key to one-touch milk-based coffees and pulls milk from the jug through a spout and directly into your cup.
Every coffee pulled matched up to the quality of the other pricier machines on this list and while the milk froth might not be quite up to the standards of your barista, it does a good enough job of producing professional-style coffee in less than two minutes.
Our only real issue with the Gran Lattissima is that the milk carafe is fiddly to clean. If you don’t have a dishwasher, it needs to be soaked in hot, soapy water and this could be off putting if you don’t have a lot of time on your hands.
Key specs – Weight: 5.2kg; Size (WDH): 20.3×36.7×27.6cm; Heat up time: 25 secs; Coffee sizes: Ristetto, espresso, lungo, cappuccino, latte macchiato, flat white, cafe latte; Maximum cup size: 120mm; Water capacity: 1l; Used capsule capacity: 14
