Espresso is ubiquitous in coffee shops and likely serves as the foundation of some of your favorite caffeinated drinks. But for those wishing to pull shots at home, the art of espresso can be tricky to master. Enter the Nespresso machine.
Although Nespresso machines can’t replicate the syrupy body or range of complexity achieved at your favorite cafe, they can mimic the intensity of a good espresso shot with very little time and effort. We tested machines compatible with Nespresso pods and recommend the compact Nespresso Essenza Mini because it’s quick, convenient, and foolproof to use. It’ll look pretty cute in your kitchen, too.
Our pick
The Essenza Mini brews balanced, consistent espressos that are more mellow than those from other Nespresso machines we tested. It’s an uncomplicated machine with a small footprint and a chic design.
Though the Nespresso Essenza Mini can only brew espresso, it carries out its sole function with aplomb, producing a well-balanced espresso that we would drink again and again. It’s efficient for its size, brews quickly, is straightforward to use, and requires little cleanup. True to its name, the Essenza Mini is a small machine, about half the size of a toaster, and is easy to fit on a crowded countertop or in a cabinet. It’s available in two sleek styles (either tapered or rectangular) to suit a range of tastes. The Essenza Mini is part of the Original line and can only make three espresso drinks of varying concentration: highly concentrated ristrettos (0.85 ounces), espressos (1.35 ounces), and diluted lungos (3.7 ounces).
Also great
In addition to a smooth espresso, the Nespresso VertuoPlus can also make an 8-ounce cup of coffee that’s superior to anything we’ve tried from a Keurig machine.
The Nespresso VertuoPlus makes a good espresso, but its appeal really lies in its ability to also brew 8-ounce coffees, so it serves a wider range of coffee preferences. It’s a taller machine than our pick, but its countertop footprint is still small. With an automatic lid and single-button operation, it’s nearly effortless to use. It can brew espressos, double espressos, 5-ounce gran lungos, and 8-ounce coffees.
Though the coffee it makes can’t compare to home-brewing methods like pour-over, French press, or drip, it’s still a big step above Keurig brews. But unlike machines in the Original line, this one is limited to using Nespresso’s proprietary capsules, which are expensive and not sold in grocery stores (Starbucks also makes Vertuo pods, which are available in some grocery stores, but they’re not as good).
