Nespresso machines have become a staple for coffee lovers seeking convenience without sacrificing quality. With a range of models catering to different preferences—espresso purists, latte enthusiasts, or those craving versatility—the brand continues to innovate. This guide highlights the seven best Nespresso machines of 2025, based on expert testing and reviews, to help you find the perfect fit for your kitchen. We’ve also included a buying guide and FAQ to address common questions.
Best Overall: Nespresso VertuoPlus
The Nespresso VertuoPlus perfectly balances features, price, and design, making it the best Nespresso machine for most people. It’s also one of the most affordable Nespresso machines out there, so it’s a good entry for consumers who are interested in trying out this type of appliance. Despite the budget-friendly price point, this coffee maker is highly functional. Because it’s part of the VertuoLine, it can make both coffee and espresso by reading the barcode on each capsule to brew the right strength and volume every time. Choose from four drink capsules: espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, and mug. Then let the machine do the work—there’s nothing to think about, thanks to that automatic detection of capsule type. In tests, every cup of coffee came out hot and well-rounded with a luxurious, thick crema. We also liked that there’s one top-facing button that controls everything: power, rinsing, and brewing. Adding to the convenience, the unit is relatively compact, the position of the water tank can be adjusted to accommodate any counter space, and the lid opens and closes with one touch of the lever.
Pros:
- Simple and intuitive, requiring just one button to brew.
- Adjustable water tank fits various counter spaces.
- Brews both espresso and drip-style coffee with consistent crema.
Cons:
- Only compatible with Nespresso Vertuo pods, limiting pod variety.
- Larger footprint compared to some compact models.
Best for Espresso Purists: Nespresso Essenza Mini
The Nespresso Essenza Mini is our pick for the best Nespresso machine because it’s small and mighty, and it makes mellow, well-balanced espressos. It lives up to Nespresso’s overarching appeal of ease, speed, and consistency, and it can brew an espresso within a minute of powering on. The Essenza Mini brews balanced, consistent espressos that are a little more mellow than those from other Nespresso machines we tested. It’s an uncomplicated machine with a small footprint and a chic design. The slim, tidy frame takes up less space than a hot-water kettle. A removable drip tray provides space for larger mugs. Nespresso pods are expensive compared with the components for other home-brewing methods, but their results can be pretty tasty—and they’re increasingly available in major grocery stores.
Pros:
- Compact design ideal for small kitchens.
- Quick brewing time, ready in under a minute.
- Produces mellow, balanced espresso shots.
Cons:
- Limited to espresso and lungo sizes.
- No milk frother included, requiring a separate purchase for milk-based drinks.
Best for Milky Coffees: Nespresso Lattissima One
The Nespresso Lattissima One by De’Longhi is what you’d get if you crossed an automatic bean-to-cup with a Nespresso Vertuo machine. You get all the usual black coffee options, and the clip-on milk carafe means it also serves moreish cappuccinos, latte macchiatos, and hot milk on demand. It’s possible to make gorgeously long milk-based drinks with the Vertuo Lattissima—so much so that you’ll need to unclip the small drip tray completely. We love the minimalist good looks of this slick machine, which has a built-in, automatic milk frother that does the work for you. It was ready to go in just 18 seconds in testing, and it brewed an espresso and a lungo in 22 and 39 seconds, respectively. Both finished with a silky crema cap and paired nicely with dairy or oat milk. The frother is fully automatic; it even dispenses the milk into the coffee for you, making it incredibly easy to use. It made pleasantly creamy and airy foam, though it was significantly louder than other frothers tested.
Pros:
- Automatic milk frother simplifies cappuccinos and lattes.
- Fast heat-up and brewing times.
- Sleek, minimalist design.
Cons:
- Milk frother requires tedious cleaning after each use.
- Louder operation compared to other models.
Best Premium Option: Nespresso Creatista Pro
For a top-of-the-line Nespresso machine, look no further than the Creatista Pro. It offers high levels of personalization with plenty of control over your final cup. The customizable presets let you tinker with extraction, milk texture, and temperature to create your perfect caffeine hit. And you don’t have to wait long either with a speedy 11-second preheat time. Testers found it a joy to use thanks to the responsive touch-screen display, while milky coffee lovers will appreciate that it can multitask, so you don’t need to wait until your coffee has extracted to start heating the milk. The machine uses Original Nespresso capsules, making it easy to find an intensity and aroma to suit your tastes. Drink options include ristretto, espresso, lungo, flat white, cappuccino, latte, and macchiato. The integrated steam wand achieved a fine, velvety foam for those who love their latte art.
Pros:
- Highly customizable settings for coffee and milk.
- Fast preheat and simultaneous coffee and milk preparation.
- Premium stainless steel design.
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other Nespresso models.
- Inserting capsules can feel stiff, requiring extra effort.
Best Budget Pick: Nespresso Vertuo Next
This simple, budget-priced Nespresso machine works well and offers multiple brew sizes. The process of adding a pod and locking the lid is confusing, but if you’re on a budget—or if you don’t need the bells and whistles of a milk frother—look no further than the Nespresso Vertuo Next. This small espresso machine brews a surprising six different batch sizes and comes in a dozen fun colorways. It’s a little slower to brew than its pricier counterparts, at 48 seconds for an espresso in our test, but the Vertuo Next delivers smooth coffee with crema and many more brew-size choices. It uses Vertuo pods, which have small barcodes on the rim to tell the machine how much water to use and how long to brew each option.
Pros:
- Affordable with versatile brew sizes.
- Compact and available in vibrant colors.
- Reliable crema production.
Cons:
- Slower brewing time compared to premium models.
- Pod insertion and lid-locking mechanism can be tricky.
Best for Small Kitchens: Nespresso Vertuo Pop
Our experts loved testing the Pop for so many reasons, but the first is the colorways. This has the brightest and most diverse offering of all Nespresso’s models. You can choose from aqua mint, mango yellow, spicy red, and Pacific blue. If you don’t want these bright (but not gaudy) colors in your kitchen, there are tasteful monochrome and metallic offerings, too. Of course, the Vertuo Pop is small, so it can almost guarantee itself a spot in the most compact of kitchens. It’s also quick to set up, and even quicker to brew coffee. There are hardly any buttons to press, so it’s hard to make anything that isn’t the perfect cup of coffee. Simple, speedy, and small: that’s another three qualities to add to the list of reasons the Pop earns a top spot in our coffee maker buying guides. When our expert tester arrived at the all-important taste test, she was ‘very, very impressed.’
Pros:
- Ultra-compact, ideal for tiny spaces.
- Vibrant color options enhance kitchen aesthetics.
- Fast setup and brewing process.
Cons:
- Limited to Vertuo pods, restricting variety.
- No built-in milk frother.
Best for Versatility: Nespresso Gran Lattissima
Nespresso’s Gran Lattissima is part of the Original Espresso line and can make up to nine different drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. A clear and bright LED display makes it very easy to select between three espresso sizes or espresso and milk drinks. One of the reasons we love this machine is its quick heat-up and brewing time. Only having to insert a pod and press a button is already fast and convenient, but after a heat-up time of about 25 seconds, a single shot took about 25 seconds to brew during our testing, while a Lungo shot took 40 seconds. A full latte took about a minute and 20 seconds to make, 40 seconds of which was the milk steaming. Although Nespresso machines don’t technically make “espresso,” you can’t beat only needing to set aside around 2 minutes of your morning for a fresh and foamy latte. We only had to refill the water reservoir once during testing, but the machine did prompt us to clean the milk frother after every one to two uses.
Pros:
- Wide range of drink options, including milk-based beverages.
- Intuitive LED display for easy selection.
- Rapid heat-up and brewing for quick results.
Cons:
- Milk frother cleaning required frequently.
- Occasional leaking if frother isn’t positioned correctly.
Buying Guide: Choosing the Right Nespresso Machine
Original vs. Vertuo: Understanding the Lines
Nespresso coffee machines are divided into two categories: Original and Vertuo. The Original line only makes espresso-based drinks, but their variety expands with the complexity and price of the machine. The Vertuo line can make a wider range of drink sizes, including espressos, double espressos (2.7 ounces), lungos, and regular cups of drip-style coffee in both eight-ounce and 12-ounce sizes. Where you’d like to buy capsules also makes a difference. The Original line is compatible with Nespresso-brand capsules, plus other lines like Williams Sonoma and illy. The Vertuo series machines are only compatible with Nespresso-brand capsules. All capsules are recyclable through Nespresso.
Key Features to Consider
- Size and Footprint: Compact models like the Essenza Mini or Vertuo Pop are ideal for small kitchens, while larger machines like the VertuoPlus offer more capacity.
- Drink Variety: Vertuo machines provide more size options (1.35 to 18 ounces), while Original machines focus on espresso-style drinks (0.85 to 5 ounces).
- Milk Frother: Built-in frothers, as in the Lattissima or Creatista, simplify milk-based drinks. Others require a separate Aeroccino frother.
- Ease of Use: Look for intuitive controls, like single-button operation or barcode-scanning technology in Vertuo models.
- Budget: Prices range from $100 for basic models to over $600 for premium options with advanced customization.
Sustainability and Maintenance
If you like pod machines but are concerned about the environmental impact of using disposable capsules, it’s worth noting that Nespresso operates a recycling service. Nespresso pods are recyclable, but this isn’t possible through normal bin collections, so you’ll need to be organized to make sure they don’t go to landfill. Nespresso has a scheme where you can order a free bag for recycling your pods online or pick one up in store. Cleaning your Nespresso machine will differ slightly depending on the model, but the most important areas are the milk system and descaling the water system. Depending on the water hardness where you live, you’ll need to descale every six to 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the main difference between Original and Vertuo Nespresso machines?
A: Original machines focus on espresso-style drinks (0.85 to 5 ounces) using 19 bars of pressure and are compatible with third-party pods. Vertuo machines brew both espresso and drip-style coffee (1.35 to 18 ounces) using centrifugal force and barcode-scanned Vertuo pods, which are exclusive to Nespresso.
Q: Are Nespresso pods expensive compared to other brewing methods?
A: Yes, Nespresso pods are pricier, with Original capsules starting at about 80¢ each and Vertuo pods costing more. In contrast, brewing with specialty coffee beans can cost around 50¢ per shot, or less with commercial beans. However, Nespresso’s convenience and consistency often justify the cost for many users.
Q: Can I make milk-based drinks with any Nespresso machine?
A: Not all models include a milk frother. Machines like the Lattissima and Creatista have built-in frothers for cappuccinos and lattes. Others, like the Essenza Mini or Vertuo Pop, require a separate Nespresso Aeroccino frother or a bundle purchase.
Q: How often do I need to clean or descale a Nespresso machine?
A: Cleaning depends on usage and model. Machines with milk frothers, like the Gran Lattissima, need frother cleaning after every one to two uses. Descaling is recommended every six to 12 months, based on water hardness, using Nespresso’s descaling kits.
Q: Are Nespresso machines eco-friendly?
A: Nespresso pods are aluminum and recyclable through the brand’s free recycling program, which provides prepaid bags for drop-off or collection. However, pods require individual packaging, which has a higher environmental impact than brewing with fresh beans. Nespresso is working to reduce this impact, but it’s a consideration for eco-conscious buyers.
Conclusion
Whether you’re after a compact espresso maker or a versatile machine for lattes and large coffees, Nespresso’s 2025 lineup has something for everyone. The VertuoPlus stands out for its balance of affordability and functionality, while the Creatista Pro caters to those seeking barista-level customization. Consider your drink preferences, kitchen space, and budget to choose the ideal model, and don’t forget to factor in pod costs and recycling options for a sustainable coffee routine.