Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee and Espresso Machine Full Review

The De’Longhi Nespresso VertuoPlus is a fully featured coffee and espresso machine that offers exceptional performance and a high level of automation. The machine is designed to be automatically programmed to each drinker’s individual needs, while users have the ability to adjust settings through the touchscreen interface, making operation simple and intuitive. Like all Nespresso machines, the VertuoPlus features a patented and proprietary removable capsule system for making your favorite drinks, including lattes and cappuccinos.

Main Thing – Fast Review

The Nespresso Vertuo Plus is the perfect coffee machine for everyone who wants to brew their coffee in a luxurious yet comfortable way. Nespresso’s flagship capsule technology, which is priced at $199, is found in devices from various brands, which may weigh in on the final price.

Magimix, De’Longhi, and Breville all have their trademarks on these devices, but whichever brand you consider, the experience will be the same. We check how the Magimix model fares among the best Nespresso machines (opens in a new tab) and whether it has something that will allow it to be included in the gallery of fame of the best coffee machines (opens in a new tab).

Complete Review of the Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee Maker

Price and availability

As mentioned above, the price of the Nespresso Vertuo Plus is $199, which is slightly higher than the price of a typical home capsule machine. Usually, however, prices are between $159 and $179, and in the past, the price of this system has dropped to $99. It is a machine that has hit the surge in demand especially hard during the pandemic, meaning we haven’t seen a price below $100 in a long time.

If you’re considering a purchase, it’s worth noting that the cost of running the Nespresso Vertuo Plus is slightly higher than that of a standard pod brewer. The device will only work with official Nespresso Vertuo capsules, which are slightly more expensive than Original Line capsules and much more expensive than Keurig K-Cups capsules. By comparison, a single Vertuo Plus pod costs about $1, and a K-Cup is 40 cents.

Features

Nespresso Vertuo Plus has many features that set it apart from the competition, but one of the greatest in its brewing by the spin method. At the start of the brewing process, the machine pierces a series of holes around the edge of the round pod and then rapidly rotates it. In this way, Vertuo Plus not only achieves a balance in the distribution of water but also produces a rich crema that gives it a smooth texture.

In addition to the brewing technique, Vertuo Plus also makes every effort to ensure that the temperature and speed of brewing are appropriate for the drink of your choice. Each Vertuo pod has its own barcode, read by the machine at the start of the brewing process. This means that you can only use Nespresso capsules, but you are also guaranteed that the best machine settings will be used.

There is no built-in milk frother which can be a bit disappointing given the higher price. It is worth mentioning that Vertuo Plus is somewhat limited in this respect.

Design

If you lack space on the countertop, the small size and the flexible positioning of the water tank in the Nespresso Vertuo Plus espresso machine are particularly convincing. The system combines minimalist aesthetics (you will find only one button on the entire device) with a simple design, thanks to which there are no unnecessary elements.

One of the most satisfying aspects of this design in my testing was the cover. A quick press on the edge of the top panel of the device causes the lid to automatically lift to reveal a hole for capsules. This is a minor design feature, but it testifies to just how neat an everyday experience it is.

This neat performance is evident throughout the machine – from the splash-free pouring to smaller details like the spinning green light on the main button to match the centrifugal force of the brewing system.

The design of the device also seems to be more thoughtful than in the case of other brewers. The 40oz water tank is attached to the rear right corner of the unit but can be maneuvered to suit your space. Considering that the water tank is usually the biggest space gobbler in larger devices, we appreciated this flexibility.

Performance

I’ve always been wary of capsule coffee makers as I’ve only dealt with cheaper models. Nespresso Vertuo Plus changed all that with an undeniably tasty cup brewed with elegance – every time. This is one of the smoothest coffees I have ever brewed in my own kitchen, with a rich flavor and silky texture that I have never seen before in a home brewer.

This smoothness is due to the unique spinning brewing technique. Although it takes a bit longer than in the case of standard espresso machines, it produces much better coffee during this time. In addition, the entire process from start to finish only takes about two minutes.

This espresso machine favors those who prefer black coffee, as the larger Alto sizes certainly won’t leave much room for milk, and the aforementioned lack of a built-in steamer means you will have to buy special drinks separately. However, if you prefer pure coffee, Vertuo Plus is good at preserving individual flavor notes, even if they are not as pronounced as with high-end coffee machines.

Ease of use

The elegant design of the Nespresso Vertuo Plus coffee machine is also reflected in its day-to-day use. Simply put, Vertuo Plus is very easy to use, runs smoothly over several weeks of testing, and doesn’t require too many settings.

Thanks to its incredibly simple one-button setup, you can operate this device in a dark kitchen at 4 am without too much sleep – which I tested last month. Just add the capsule, close the lid, add the cup and press the button; The device will take care of the brewing temperature and settings itself, which means not only the easy operation but also consistency between subsequent brews.

Initial setup only requires a system wipe and takes approximately 15 minutes.

It is worth noting that you need to be careful that nothing prevents the lid from closing. During the test, a troublesome plant placed nearby cost us a few pods when its leaves got under the cover. The machine still pierced the capsule but couldn’t brew coffee – and when the lid was reopened, the automatic waste disposal system dropped it back into the used pod container.

Verdict

The Nespresso Vertuo Plus is the best device from the brand to date, and while there are concerns that expensive capsules cannot be used, it’s the price you pay for a convenient brewing system packed with luxurious features. If you care about the ease of use of a capsule machine but do not want to compromise on the quality of the coffee, there are no other options other than the Nespresso offer.

The only stumbling block for the Nespresso Vertuo Plus is the pods. Although the coffee machine often comes with a starter pack that will allow you to get started, these premium capsules will start multiplying. Not only does Vertuo Plus have a higher MSRP than Keurig’s competition, but the coffee is also more expensive, which is even more frustrating when you consider that we are stuck with the brand’s capsules. Keurig’s K-Cup brand is open to more coffee roasters, which sake you get a lot more variety and, most gravely, a wider price range.

As we already mentioned, we also lost a few precious capsules to an automatic lid system, where everything that gets in the way prevents the device from overgrowing.

Although Nespresso capsules are recyclable, they cannot be processed at home. You need to return the capsules to a Nespresso boutique or selected retail outlets, which may undermine the convenience of the brand.

Keurig espresso machines are much cheaper, but their operation can be missed, and brewing with a single button, like with Ninja Specialty (opens in a new tab), requires more effort than with pods. In addition, the Nespresso Vertuo Plus machine is sold regularly, so if you can get it for a good price ($100-150), we recommend checking it out.