This article will guide you to select a good Nespresso coffee machine. Then we recommend and review the best Nespresso coffee machines for you to consider. With the best Nespresso coffee machine, you can make delicious coffee instantly.
The Nespresso machine has become a household name over the years. That is not without reason: with these devices you can quickly and simply make a nice cup of coffee – quality and comfort in one. If you’re planning to buy the best Nespresso machine, there are some features to keep in mind. Read on to know how to select a good Nespresso coffee machine for yourself.
Nespresso machine buying guide: How to make the best buy
Due to the popularity of Nespresso machines, there is more than enough to choose from. Read the buying guide below to make an informed choice.
Advantages and disadvantages of a Nespresso coffee machine
A Nespresso machine is wonderfully easy-to-use: anyone can use it. There’s no arguing with taste, but most people agree that there’s nothing wrong with a cup of coffee from a Nespresso machine. In addition, there is a wide choice of flavors and the cups are widely available.
The real gourmet usually prefers coffee beans. Then you end up with a fully automatic or semi-automatic coffee machine. With a fully automatic coffee machine you still have a high degree of convenience, while with a semi-automatic coffee machine you have to do the necessary yourself. Some knowledge is therefore required.
Your budget may also play a role. A Nespresso machine is better for the wallet than a fully automatic or semi-automatic coffee machine. With a semi-automatic coffee machine, you also need a good coffee grinder.
There is a big drawback: the use of cups is a lot more expensive than the use of coffee beans.
Number of programs
You have the choice of espresso or lungo with every Nespresso machine. Some models also offer a third option: a ristretto. This is a small, strong cup of coffee. You can think of it as an espresso with less water.
Water tank content and container capacity
Avid coffee drinkers benefit from a large water reservoir, so that you don’t have to refill it every time. The larger water reservoirs start at 1 liter. A smaller water reservoir does make for a more compact size of the machine and (usually) a lower price tag.
The ideal size of the water tank also depends on the type of coffee you drink. Some types of coffee require more water than others:
- Espresso: 40 ml water
- Lungo: 110ml water
- Ristretto: 25ml water
In addition, it is nice if the container for the cups has a high capacity, so that you do not have to empty it constantly. A capacity of at least 10 cups is desirable – although it also depends on the space at your disposal and how much coffee you drink.
Milk frother
Most Nespresso machines do not have a built-in milk frother. In the models that do, there are three different forms of milk preparation:
- A milk container is the easiest way to prepare milk. You fill the reservoir with milk and click it into the machine. Cleaning these is fairly time consuming.
- You hang a tube in a milk jug. This then sucks up the milk to make foam. The machine then cleans the inside of the tube.
- With a steam pipe you manually froth the milk from a milk jug. You can influence the taste and texture of your milk foam yourself, but it does take some practice. Cleaning a steam wand is easy.
Sometimes a separate milk frother is included. If there is nothing available at all, you can of course also purchase it yourself! A milk frother is generally not crazy expensive and does surprisingly well.
Cleaning the Nespresso machine
In principle, a Nespresso coffee machine must be descaled monthly. If you use pure water, once a quarter is sufficient. There are models that warn you when descaling is necessary.
Some devices even offer automatic descaling, which is of course a huge advantage. Unfortunately, they are not prominent in the offer.
Recommend the 5 best Nespresso machines
1. Magimix Nespresso Inissia M105 Black
Milk frother type: No milk frother
Number of programs: 2
Number of cups at a time: 1
Water tank volume: 0.7 liter capacity
Auto power off: Yes
Automatic descaling system: No
Water tank volume: 0.7 liter capacity
Canister cup capacity: 9 pieces
2. Krups Nespresso Essenza Mini XN1108 Black
Milk frother type: No milk frother
Number of programs: 2
Number of cups at a time: 1
Water reservoir capacity: 0.6 liters capacity
Auto power off: Yes
Automatic descaling system: No
Water reservoir capacity: 0.6 liters capacity
Canister cup capacity: 6 pieces
3. Krups Nespresso Pixie XN304T Titanium
Milk frother type: No milk frother
Number of programs: 2
Number of cups at a time: 1
Water tank volume: 0.7 liter capacity
Auto power off: Yes
Automatic descaling system: No
Water tank volume: 0.7 liter capacity
Canister cup capacity: 9 pieces
4. Magimix Nespresso Essenza Mini Black
Milk frother type: No milk frother
Number of programs: 2
Number of cups at a time: 1
Water reservoir capacity: 0.6 liters capacity
Auto power off: Yes
Automatic descaling system: No
Water reservoir capacity: 0.6 liters capacity
Canister cup capacity: 6 piece(s)
5. Magimix Nespresso CitiZ & Milk M196 White
Milk frother type: Loose milk frother
Number of programs: 2
Number of cups at a time: 1
Water reservoir capacity: 1 liter capacity
Auto power off: Yes
Automatic descaling system: No
Water reservoir capacity: 1 liter capacity
Canister cup capacity: 10 pieces
Frequently asked questions about Nespresso machines
Which cups fit in a Nespresso coffee machine?
There are cups from Nespresso itself as well as from other brands. The Nespresso cups are excellent, but they come with a higher price tag. There are quite a few cheaper alternatives on the market. Be careful with this: cheaper cups can be bad for your machine. In any case, always opt for cups made of aluminum instead of plastic.
What’s in Nespresso cups?
The airtightly packed Nespresso cups contain an average of 5.7 grams of pre-ground coffee.
How do you descale a Nespresso machine?
Descaling a Nespresso machine works in most cases as follows. You first empty the water reservoir and the collection and drip tray. Then fill the water reservoir with descaling agent and half a liter of water.
Place a container under the coffee spout and press the two buttons at the same time. When they start flashing, press the Lungo button. The descaling will then start! Rinse the water tank well with water afterwards. After this, you press a button to clean the machine.
Which Nespresso machine should I buy?
That’s entirely up to you and your budget; everyone is unique. What I do have for you is a handy table with what I believe are the most important specifications of the best Nespresso machine. That way you make the best choice!
Recommend the best Nespresso coffee machine:
- Magimix Nespresso Inissia M105 Black
- Krups Nespresso Essenza Mini XN1108 Black
- Krups Nespresso Pixie XN304T Titanium
- Magimix Nespresso Essenza Mini Black
- Magimix Nespresso CitiZ & Milk M196 White
With a good Nespresso machine, you can make delicious coffee at the touch of a button. ☕ Do you already have a favorite model in mind and is it in our top five? For example, do you go for one with a milk frothing method, and if so, which one?
Or have you already lost your heart to the best filter coffee machine, a coffee pad machine or a good built-in coffee machine? Let me know !