For those who've used or are using Nespresso's Vertuo machines, do you recommend it? I have the original Nespresso, and I'm tempted to try the Vertuo, but there are some people who say that the original has better taste.
Nespresso, the pioneer of single-serve coffee, has recently come up with a new coffee machine lineup - Vertuo. The Vertuo machines are easier to operate and give more authentic tastes at the touch of a button. There are some pros and cons to the machine, so if you’re debating whether you should get a Nespresso machine or upgrade from an original Nespresso, read on.
The Vertuo comes in 3 varieties – Vertuo, Vertuo Evoluo, and Vertuo Plus (the latest). Each variety offers a wide array of colors; however, some colors are exclusive to certain machines.
The main difference between the Vertuo/Vertuo Evoluo and Vertuo Plus is the capsule automation. For the Vertuo/Vertuo Evoluo, the lever is semi-automatic, meaning you’ll have to unlock the lever, insert the capsule and lock the lever back in. The Vertuo Plus, on the other hand, opens and closes automatically with a gentle lift. I think Nespresso is trying to phase out older varieties because the Vertuo Plus was the same price as the other two at the time of my purchase. It really comes down to your personal preference for the locking mechanism, and I went with the Vertuo Plus.
There are 2 versions of the Vertuo Plus machines. For $20 extra, the more upgraded version features chromed accents and an extra-large water tank and capsule container. However, it only comes in 3 colors (Piano Black, Silver, and Titan) whereas the regular Vertuo Plus offers all 6 colors, including Grey, Cherry Red, and White.
The first thing I noticed was the simplicity of the machine. I own the Original Nespresso machine (CitiZ), and it has multiple buttons. It has buttons for power, Espresso, and Lungo for cup sizes. I know there are more buttons for more advanced machines with latte functions like the Lattissima. The Vertuo Plus only has 1 button that commands power, brew, and various other maintenance tasks (like descaling and self-clean).
The simplicity is enabled by the unique barcode reading technology. Instead of manually choosing the brewing time and amount of water with the Espresso and Lungo buttons, all you have to do is insert the Vertuo capsule and press a button. Each capsule has a unique barcode printed around the lip of the aluminum rim. The machine recognizes the barcode and brews coffee per barcode instructions. Each barcode contains information on the cup size, brewing temperature, rotational speed, flow rate, and time the water contacts with the coffee. This way, you get the perfect amount of crema and taste every single time. The machine does not operate unless you insert a capsule, so you can’t top it off with more water. With the original machine, I used to add more water by manually pressing the Lungo button without a capsule. I can’t do that with the Vertuo anymore, so it can be a downside for some.
The Vertuo is especially ideal for people who drink a large volume of coffee. Each capsule is bigger in volume (hence caffeine). The Vertuo capsules come in 5 different cup sizes: Espresso (1.35oz), Double Espresso (2.70oz), Gran Lungo (5.07oz), Coffee (7.77oz), and Alto (14oz). Except for the Espresso, all the other cup sizes are a significant increase in volume. If you’re used to drinking multiple Original capsules at a time, give these considerations. Although each capsule is more expensive (around $1 per capsule), you need fewer capsules than the Original. To accommodate the volume increase, the water reservoir has gotten bigger than other Original machines. The removable drip tray has 5 adjustable heights to suit your different cup sizes.
Another big improvement is the way the machine brews coffee. Using the new Centrifusion technology, the machine spins the capsule at up to 7,000 rpms. Giving ultra-rich crema and taste. I actually really enjoy the Vertuo coffee taste. The latte was so smooth and sweet. I didn’t use aerated milk, but every sip was so smooth. And the fact that I get consistent coffee is a huge plus. When I was using a semi-automatic espresso machine, I used to waste a lot of coffee because I messed up the grind level. Depending on the beans, it was easy to over or under-extract coffee. With the Vertuo, I do not have to worry about the burnt taste.
Unlike the original machine, the Vertuo makes cleaning even easier. You still need to empty the capsule container once it gets full; however, you do not need to deal with dripping water from the capsules. After the Vertuo brews coffee, it spins the capsule at a high speed to remove excess water so the capsule container stays powder dry. In fact, the new capsule container is not even connected to the drip tray. I love this feature so much. With the CitiZ, I had to travel across the kitchen with my hand under the capsule container because of annoying drips from old capsules. No more messy drips!
I strongly recommend giving Nespresso machines a try if you’re looking for a convenient and consistent way to get coffee every morning. The individual capsules are more expensive than traditional beans; however, the convenience factor far outweighs the price difference. They are certainly cheaper and better tasting than Starbucks.
And if you’re on the verge of upgrading from the Original machine, consider your lifestyle. If you’re a huge coffee drinker who consumes many capsules, then the Vertuo is a great choice as it offers larger cup sizes. The coffee extraction technology is just so cool, not to mention that it results in consistent taste and luscious crema.
In terms of taste, I think it comes down to your personal preference. I actually like smoother-tasting coffee, so I prefer the Vertuo capsules. And the rich crema is a cherry on top. However, if you prefer Ristrettos or Espressos, you may not necessarily enjoy the larger, more diluted taste. Lastly, compared to the Original machines, the Vertuo is noticeably quieter.
For those who've used or are using Nespresso's Vertuo machines, do you recommend it? I have the original Nespresso, and I'm tempted to try the Vertuo, but there are some people who say that the original has better taste.
Nespresso, the pioneer of single-serve coffee, has recently come up with a new coffee machine lineup - Vertuo. The Vertuo machines are easier to operate and give more authentic tastes at the touch of a button. There are some pros and cons to the machine, so if you’re debating whether you should get a Nespresso machine or upgrade from an original Nespresso, read on.
The Vertuo comes in 3 varieties – Vertuo, Vertuo Evoluo, and Vertuo Plus (the latest). Each variety offers a wide array of colors; however, some colors are exclusive to certain machines.
The main difference between the Vertuo/Vertuo Evoluo and Vertuo Plus is the capsule automation. For the Vertuo/Vertuo Evoluo, the lever is semi-automatic, meaning you’ll have to unlock the lever, insert the capsule and lock the lever back in. The Vertuo Plus, on the other hand, opens and closes automatically with a gentle lift. I think Nespresso is trying to phase out older varieties because the Vertuo Plus was the same price as the other two at the time of my purchase. It really comes down to your personal preference for the locking mechanism, and I went with the Vertuo Plus.
There are 2 versions of the Vertuo Plus machines. For $20 extra, the more upgraded version features chromed accents and an extra-large water tank and capsule container. However, it only comes in 3 colors (Piano Black, Silver, and Titan) whereas the regular Vertuo Plus offers all 6 colors, including Grey, Cherry Red, and White.
The first thing I noticed was the simplicity of the machine. I own the Original Nespresso machine (CitiZ), and it has multiple buttons. It has buttons for power, Espresso, and Lungo for cup sizes. I know there are more buttons for more advanced machines with latte functions like the Lattissima. The Vertuo Plus only has 1 button that commands power, brew, and various other maintenance tasks (like descaling and self-clean).
The simplicity is enabled by the unique barcode reading technology. Instead of manually choosing the brewing time and amount of water with the Espresso and Lungo buttons, all you have to do is insert the Vertuo capsule and press a button. Each capsule has a unique barcode printed around the lip of the aluminum rim. The machine recognizes the barcode and brews coffee per barcode instructions. Each barcode contains information on the cup size, brewing temperature, rotational speed, flow rate, and time the water contacts with the coffee. This way, you get the perfect amount of crema and taste every single time. The machine does not operate unless you insert a capsule, so you can’t top it off with more water. With the original machine, I used to add more water by manually pressing the Lungo button without a capsule. I can’t do that with the Vertuo anymore, so it can be a downside for some.
The Vertuo is especially ideal for people who drink a large volume of coffee. Each capsule is bigger in volume (hence caffeine). The Vertuo capsules come in 5 different cup sizes: Espresso (1.35oz), Double Espresso (2.70oz), Gran Lungo (5.07oz), Coffee (7.77oz), and Alto (14oz). Except for the Espresso, all the other cup sizes are a significant increase in volume. If you’re used to drinking multiple Original capsules at a time, give these considerations. Although each capsule is more expensive (around $1 per capsule), you need fewer capsules than the Original. To accommodate the volume increase, the water reservoir has gotten bigger than other Original machines. The removable drip tray has 5 adjustable heights to suit your different cup sizes.
Another big improvement is the way the machine brews coffee. Using the new Centrifusion technology, the machine spins the capsule at up to 7,000 rpms. Giving ultra-rich crema and taste. I actually really enjoy the Vertuo coffee taste. The latte was so smooth and sweet. I didn’t use aerated milk, but every sip was so smooth. And the fact that I get consistent coffee is a huge plus. When I was using a semi-automatic espresso machine, I used to waste a lot of coffee because I messed up the grind level. Depending on the beans, it was easy to over or under-extract coffee. With the Vertuo, I do not have to worry about the burnt taste.
Unlike the original machine, the Vertuo makes cleaning even easier. You still need to empty the capsule container once it gets full; however, you do not need to deal with dripping water from the capsules. After the Vertuo brews coffee, it spins the capsule at a high speed to remove excess water so the capsule container stays powder dry. In fact, the new capsule container is not even connected to the drip tray. I love this feature so much. With the CitiZ, I had to travel across the kitchen with my hand under the capsule container because of annoying drips from old capsules. No more messy drips!
I strongly recommend giving Nespresso machines a try if you’re looking for a convenient and consistent way to get coffee every morning. The individual capsules are more expensive than traditional beans; however, the convenience factor far outweighs the price difference. They are certainly cheaper and better tasting than Starbucks.
And if you’re on the verge of upgrading from the Original machine, consider your lifestyle. If you’re a huge coffee drinker who consumes many capsules, then the Vertuo is a great choice as it offers larger cup sizes. The coffee extraction technology is just so cool, not to mention that it results in consistent taste and luscious crema.
In terms of taste, I think it comes down to your personal preference. I actually like smoother-tasting coffee, so I prefer the Vertuo capsules. And the rich crema is a cherry on top. However, if you prefer Ristrettos or Espressos, you may not necessarily enjoy the larger, more diluted taste. Lastly, compared to the Original machines, the Vertuo is noticeably quieter.