The Gran Lattissima takes Nespresso's signature one-touch brewing to the next level by offering an impressive nine drink options. Users can select a shot of espresso in three different sizes or several milk-based drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, latte macchiatos, and flat whites. After testing the machine firsthand, we found it was super versatile and easy to tell what drink you're choosing because of the labeled buttons and LED display. Coffee-wise, it works much like the other machines on this list: pop the capsule in the top, select your preferred drink and get your coffee almost instantly. Milk steaming is done separately, but it is automatic, and the temperature sensor underneath the jug means that it gives a wonderfully consistent silky froth. It purges (cleans) itself fairly soon after the cycle finishes, so it’s best to remove the milk just as soon as the steaming stops. One minor niggle: the single boiler means that you can’t steam milk at the same time as brewing a coffee. It only does the two standard drinks sizes – espresso and lungo – but we were impressed with CitiZ’s performance. Drinks came out at a consistent temperature and there wasn’t a great deal of variation in the amount pulled through each time. In comparison to the Essenza Mini, the Citiz is far more consistent.

The Nespresso Gran Lattissima espresso machine is extremely easy to use, thanks to its 9 one-touch tactile buttons each representing a different drink. For our money, OriginalLine machines are better than VertuoLine machines because their pump produces more authentic espresso, the coffee tends to be hotter, and there's no barcode scanning system meaning you can find less-expensive third-party capsules.The water heats up in three seconds, which is unheard of compared to most espresso machines, so you’ll be sipping in no time. Not only is this smart enough to turn you into a kitchen barista, but it also lets you know when it’s time to clean and descale the machine with its self-cleaning function. This is one of the most expensive Nespresso makers, though, so you could explore non-pod-based espresso machines in a similar, if not cheaper, price range. The Wacaco Minipresso NS is a unique brewing device for the coffee drinker on the go. All you need is hot water, Nespresso capsules, and a little bit of elbow grease. It works via a semi-automatic piston that injects small amounts of ​water into the grounds with each press, until it reaches the correct extraction pressure. While this doesn’t have the convenience of pushing a button and letting the machine do all the work, we had no issue operating the pump after several attempts.

Here’s how to make a drink: insert the pod and choose the type of coffee you want. If you’ve chosen a milk drink, fill the milk container to the max level and attach it to the machine. Rotate the spout so it’s at the center of the cup, and turn the milk froth knob to the froth setting. Finally, press the button for the coffee you want, and the machine will do the work for you.While this coffee machine is expensive, it's a worthwhile investment for those who enjoy milky coffees. It has intuitive controls, a useful automatic shut-off function (after nine minutes) and it was speedy, so you won't be waiting long for your morning coffee. Key specifications Key specs – Weight: 3.5kg; Size (WDH): 13.6 x 42.6 x 25cm; Heat up time: 30 secs; Coffee sizes: Espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, mug; Maximum cup size: 80mm, 120mm (without drip tray); Water capacity: 600ml; Used capsule capacity: 8 The machine froths the milk automatically. You don’t even have to pour the milk or move the cup to a milk dispenser. All you have to do is switch the milk frothing to the froth position to make foamed milk recipes.

This covers the main drinks that you’d find in your local coffee shop. You get three espresso drinks, four milk-based beverages, and hot foam and hot milk. Taste: After tasting several drinks from each machine, we rated the flavor on a 1 to 5 scale. Taste is certainly subjective, so we used at least two types of capsules for each device. We evaluated the differences in aroma, body, crema, and temperature as well. All of these details were factored into our final rating. That way we could provide the most accurate depiction of what the espresso tasted like and how it differed from machine to machine. The amount of mineral buildup is affected by the kind of water you use. Hard water contains a high amount of dissolved minerals, namely calcium and magnesium, so it leads to faster mineral buildup. Soft or filtered water, on the other hand, is easier on your machine and cuts down on the frequency with which you need to descale. Nespresso’s user manuals generally contain a free water hardness testing strip. What features each machine had: Some Nespresso machines have advanced features like milk frothing, self-cleaning, and the ability to brew different types of drinks. Other models only brew espresso shots and have no additional features. In our testing trials, we used all of the features that a machine offered before making our final assessment. Deciding which category you prefer is a great place to start to narrow down the options. The company manufactures a greater variety of Original machines, so this category has a wider range of prices, sizes, and features.

Aeroccino milk frother

Creatista machines with integrated frothing wands for a more manual frothing experience, as if you were a true barista The starting price for a Nespresso machine is a little higher than that of most other coffee makers, including Keurigs. Nespresso capsules are also more expensive than other coffee pods and are certainly more expensive per serving than whole beans or ground coffee. Do you like the idea of making your own latte art and sublimely frothy coffee at home? Nespresso’s Creatista Uno by Sage lets you do just that with its automatic milk texturing and stainless steel milk jug. Alongside coffee options for ristretto, espresso and lungo, you’ll also find the steam button, as well as buttons to adjust the temperature and froth level of your milk. All the cleaning takes a lot of time, even running the automatic rinse of the milk frother. That’s a downside for me, especially because the milk frother can clog up and stop working easily, which would ruin its main selling point. Coffee Drinks: Quality and Options