- best buy
- Speed of making an espresso
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Nespresso machines are a popular option for time-poor and caffeine-starved coffee fans. There are more than 20 different models to choose from, with prices ranging from £50 to nearly £500.
Each machine uses the same basic capsule system (apart from the Nespresso Vertuo), but they all offer something different in terms of features, style and capacity, so you'll need to consider your budget, the type of coffee you like to drink, and what features you can't live without to help narrow down your options.
Keep scrolling to find out how the range compares. Or, to make life easier, we've rounded up the top Nespresso machines just below.
Not sure if a Nespresso machine is for you? See our guide to the Best coffee machines for 2024 to read more about other machine types.
These are some of the best-rated Nespresso machines from our rigorous coffee machine tests, which includes a coffee taste test by our experts.
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Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
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Want to read more reviews like this? See all our coffee machine reviews.
Do you want to make a quick choice? Here's how to do it:
To see all the Nespresso machines we've tested, head straight to our Nespresso reviews.
Depending on the way you like to prepare and drink your coffee, there are a few features that are worth looking out for:
Want frothy milk, but don't have a machine with this feature? - see our Best Milk Frothers
Here's an overview of some of the coffee machines included in the official Nespresso range. You can click on the model name to see our full test review.
Prices updated: March 2024. Prices may change.
In 2017, Nespresso launched an entirely new capsule system, Vertuo. This system uses centrifugal force – spinning the capsules at high speed – to extract your brew. It's designed to make a wider range of coffees, particularly longer drinks, for those who aren't pure espresso fans.
There are three pod sizes to choose from, and a widening range of different machines available, starting from roughly £99 up to around £219. You can't use original Nespresso capsules in these machines; only Vertuo pods will fit.
Read about the pros and cons of these machines in Nespresso Original vs Nespresso Vertuo - which one should you buy?
We asked Nespresso owners to tell us how happy they are with their machine and if they had any problems with it. We've taken this data, and test data from our years of lab tests, and analysed the numbers to bring you our verdict on how good Nespresso machines are at making coffee, and how long they're likely to last when you get them home.
In the table below you can find out:
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Number tested | 13 |
Average test score | |
Range of test scores | |
Number of Best Buys | |
Number of Don't Buys | |
Brand reliability rating | |
Value for money rating | |
Customer score |
We compare popular coffee pod coffee machine brands in Best pod coffee machines for 2024.
There are options to suit every taste and budget in the Nespresso range. More expensive Nespresso machines tend to come with extra features such as a larger capacity, more drink size options, memory programming of your favourite coffee, and milk frothing. Some are also finished in premium materials such as die-cast aluminium for a luxury look.
Here's an overview of the range by price point:
These models stick to the basics, offering one or two drink size options (usually espresso or lungo) and no milk frothing. They're likely to be quite compact with a relatively small capsule bin and water tank. If you just want a quick espresso, they should be more than enough.
If you pay a bit more, you'll get an automatic milk frother for making cappuccinos, lattes and more, and more in the way of capacity and choice. Extras may include more drink options, the ability to store your preferences, or even Bluetooth capability so you can control the machine from your phone or tablet.
Top-end Nespresso models make a real style statement in your kitchen and offer more control over your coffee.
You don't need to spend a fortune to get a decent Nespresso machine, but some extract flavour from the capsules better than others. We've found some good value models that make it into our Best Buy list, but others were less impressive.
What you might miss if you opt for a cheaper model are the fancy extras – such as milk-frothing accessories and personalisation or smart control. However, one bonus of the cheaper models is they are usually very compact, and will easily squeeze onto the most crowded of kitchen worktops.
Go to our Nespresso machine reviews to filter the latest models by price and find the one for you.
As with all capsule coffee machines, it's worth considering the ongoing cost of buying Nespresso pods, which are more expensive per cup than using ground coffee and differ if you opt for a Vertuo or Original machine.
But what does your coffee habit actually cost you? Based on drinking two espressos per day over five years, plus the upfront cost of the cheapest relevant Best Buy coffee machines, this is how much your coffee habit costs.
Ground coffee machines are the cheapest at £647, followed by the bean-to-cup machines at £867. Coffee capsules are next at £1,153 and the most expensive is buying a takeaway coffee.
There is a healthy market in third-party compatible pods for Nespresso Original pod machines, and they often work out cheaper than Nespresso's own pods. Compatible pods don't work with all machines, but most of the basic range should be fine.
Nespresso introduced its subscription service back in 2017, probably as a fightback against the increased popularity of compatible capsules. The idea is that you sign up to monthly capsule payments, and in return you get up to £150 off a specific Nespresso machine. Currently there are two plans available: one for those with a machine already, and one for those without.
There are six annual coffee subscription plans to choose from, and they start at £25 a month and rise to £50 a month, depending on how many coffees you think you'll get through a day.
Nespresso machines are designed to be simple to use:
But each machine works slightly differently, and some can be fiddly and take getting used to, so acquaint yourself with the instructions before you get started.
Nespresso provides online downloadable versions of its user manuals for each model. It's worth reading through the manual so you can make the best use of features that might not appear immediately obvious, such as changing the length of the coffee to your preferred drink size, and to ensure you understand how to maintain your machine – this can pay off in the long run.
Our Nespresso machine reviews let you know how easy each machine is to use and how clear the instructions are. So if you’re still in the deciding phase, you can use our reviews to compare machines on this basis.
Nespresso recommends that you descale your machine approximately every three months, and that you use the official Nespresso descaling kit.
In general, it is a simple process and involves the following steps:
The exact process might be slightly different. For example, if you have a filter on your machine, check the machine instructions or consult Nespresso’s machine assistance page to select your exact model and get step-by-step instructions.
It's well worth doing this regularly. Our research into common coffee machine problems reveals limescale issues are one of the more common failings you're likely to face.
For more advice, see our guide on how to clean your coffee machine.
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