Krups Inissia review

The Inissia is the new entry-level Nespresso machine that’s designed to tempt you into a life of one-touch espresso without breaking the bank. With a price of only £89 the Inissia falls into that “impulse buy” category, which will result in many consumers finding themselves at the checkout without even thinking too hard about the purchase.

While the Inissia represents the first rung on the Nespresso machine ladder, there’s much to like about it. In fact this compact capsule marvel produces coffee that’s far superior to many larger and more expensive countertop machines.

Build quality

The Inissia is a tiny machine – 230 x 120 x 321mm (HxWxD). In fact, the Inissia is so tiny that Nespresso even sells a carry bag for it, so you can take great coffee with you everywhere. Even those who can’t see themselves carrying a coffee machine over their shoulder will appreciate just how little counter space the Inissia takes up.

The Inissia also comes in a rainbow of colours. We were sent the red version for review, but if you want something more sedate, there are black or white options, and if you’re an extrovert the orange looks great.

There’s a great choice of colours available

Unlike the slightly larger, and older, Pixie Nespresso machine, the Inissia has an all-plastic construction. Don’t think that makes it look cheap, because it doesn’t – the Inissia didn’t look out of place sharing counter space with a KitchenAid mixer and a Sage juicer.

That plastic construction also makes the Inissia quite light (2.4kg), which will appeal to those who want to make use of the carrying bag.

Controls

The Inissia has a sum total of two buttons: one delivers a single shot of espresso, while the other produces a longer lungo cup of coffee. There’s no power switch to speak of; instead you press one of the buttons for a second to bring the machine to life, then press both when you want to put it back to sleep.

Both buttons flash while the machine is warming up, and once the water is the right temperature, the buttons will glow solid green.

There’s a huge clamping handle that surrounds the body of the machine. Lift this handle up and the capsule caddy opens. Drop the capsule in and clamp the handle down and you’re ready to go. Then simply decide whether you want a short or long shot.

We were surprised at just how loud the Inissia is when it’s extracting the brown stuff. Given that the Pixie is also very noisy in operation, it would appear that the smaller the Nespresso machine, the louder it is in operation. Despite it’s potential portability this is not a coffee machine you’d want to use on your desk at work. Well not unless you don’t mind annoying everyone else in the office.

The coffee hits the cup at a very acceptable 61C, making it just about perfect for sipping. There’s no cup warmer, so you really want to try to warm your cups manually before extraction to ensure that the temperature doesn’t drop too much on contact with the cup.

Coffee quality

The espresso cup stand keeps your shot cup at the ideal level for extraction. If you want to use a larger cup, you can fold the stand up against the machine, allowing you to place your cup or mug on the counter while your coffee is delivered.

As with most Nespresso machines, the Inissia produces espresso with a rich, full crema that hints at the taste awaiting you. You won’t be disappointed in that taste, either.

The Inissia delivers a great shot of espresso, with a smooth texture and not a hint of bitterness. Considering its size and price, we expected there to be compromises when it came to the quality of coffee delivered, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Of course there’s no milk option for the Inissia, so it’s really ideal for someone who likes their espresso shots, or takes their longer coffees black. You could invest in the excellent Nespresso Aeroccino 3 milk frother, but then you’re probably better off buying a U&Milk machine in the first place.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a capsule-based espresso machine on a tight budget, the Inissia is something of a no brainer. But even if you take price out of the equation, the Inissia is a superb espresso machine that delivers rich, smooth and flavoursome coffee.

If the Latissima Pro is the best Nespresso countertop machine you can buy, the Inissia isn’t far behind it, despite being at the opposite end of the price spectrum.

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