best espresso machine under 500 Nespresso Machine Reviews
Brigitt Earley is a Good Housekeeping Institute expert who has tested and evaluated a variety of kitchen appliances. She also writes about other household items and gadgets.
The top Nespresso machines are sleek and durable, quick to heat up, easy to use and clean and provide a variety of beverage options. They should work with the original Nespresso capsules, and include a specially capsule container that is used.
1. The Vertuo Creatista
The Vertuo Creatista is a brand new model in Nespresso's line-up and fills a significant niche. It's also the very first and only Vertuo machine with an integrated milk frother.
The machine features an elegant stainless steel design with a brushed finish and sits in the middle of the Vertuo range. It also has two litres of water tank as well as an adjustable drip tray that allows you to use your own carafe or travel mug. It uses Nespresso's Centrifusion technology to brew the capsules, and it can create a wide range of drinks. This includes espresso, lungo and alto and also cappuccino latte and macchiato.
It is compatible with the original Nespresso capsules as well as their Vertuo Line counterparts. The machine is able to detect the barcode on the lip of the pod and know the Best Budget Espresso Machine settings to use for the optimum results. This makes it the most intelligent machine in the line-up.
As with other Nespresso machines, the Creatista has a quick heat-up time due to its thermoblock system. The only drawback is that it takes a little longer to prepare an espresso shot than other models in the line-up.
The built-in milk frother is the main attraction for most people. The wand looks just like the manual steam wands you'll see on other espresso machines, but it is fully automatic and has control settings for temperature and texture. This feature is ideal for those who want adding milk to their coffee. It makes the Creatista more appealing to buyers. In the past, Nespresso milk-based coffee was only available in the Aeroccino and Lattissima models.
2. The CitiZ
This sleek, compact machine from best nespresso coffee machine makes a lovely addition to any kitchen. It's easy best bean to cup coffee machine clean and consumes less energy than other pod machines we've used, but still makes a great cup.
In our latest testing of the CitiZ, we found that the CitiZ performed well in single-serve and larger brewing mode. It also comes with a variety of cool features, such as the ability to connect via WiFi or Bluetooth (for tracking capsules and maintenance alerts) as well as a water tank that can hold up to 32 ounces and a sleek and modern design.
The machine's fast heat-up feature will bring water to the perfect temperature in only 25 seconds. The energy-saving feature automatically stops the machine after nine minutes. You'll need a separate attachment to add milk to your coffee if you want to do so.
One of our top features of the CitiZ is the labeled, easy-to-use buttons. You can choose from a range of single-serve drinks, including espresso shots in three sizes, as well as various milk-based options like cappuccinos, lattes, and flat whites.
The CitiZ might be a bit more expensive than the Essenza Mini or other compact OriginalLine models. However, it comes with some extra features that some customers might find worth the cost. For instance, it's the first Nespresso model to make use of 40% recycled plastic. It also offers the option to connect to a smartphone application for maintenance alerts and brewing instructions.
The CitiZ's water reservoir, drip tray and capsule container are all removable for quick cleaning. It also has an inbuilt descaling feature. But the frequency at which you should run it will depend on your home's water hardness. We recommend softened or filtered water to reduce mineral buildup.
3. The Essenza Mini
The Mini is a small Nespresso machine that fits into the tiniest kitchens. It's a great choice for singles or Nespresso beginners who don't wish to spend much money and don't want to invest in paying extra for features that won't improve your coffee in any way (like Bluetooth technology or a best latte machine art wand). However, just because it's small doesn't mean the Mini isn't capable of doing its job well: it can brew espressos, ristrettos and lungos with ease. It's also the easiest and cheapest Nespresso to clean, maintain and operate.
The Nespresso Essenza Plus is a slightly larger version of the Mini. It's a more compact machine with the same coffee-brewing technology and minimalist design. It also comes with the Nespresso capsule container and jug, as well as an adjustable water tank. It is also more expensive, but it could be worth it if plan to make a lot of Americanos or if your goal is to brew large quantities of espresso or ristretto.
The Lattissima machines are the most recent addition to the Essenza range. They provide one-touch convenience and a wide range of beverage options. The Lattissima Pro, the Gran Lattissima, and the Lattissima One all have front-attached milk reservoirs as well as an ice-making wand that can make lattes and cappuccinos. They're priced higher than the Essenza Mini, but they're worth it if you want the ability to brew full-sized milky drinks at any time without lifting the pod.
4. The Vertuo Plus
The VertuoLine machine is a great choice if you're looking to brew large-sized cups of coffee or espresso-style shots. It's compatible with Nespresso original pods, however you can also use cheaper third-party pods. It comes with two programmable buttons to choose between alto and regular sizes. Additionally, it comes with a quiet centrifusion process that pulls water through 20 punctures in the capsule's domed top, which Nespresso says helps produce the highest level of crema in each beverage.
This model is an excellent choice for those looking for an efficient, reliable espresso machine and best coffee machine with grinder at the push of a button. It does not have too many bells and whistles. It was a great performer in our Single-Serve Coffee Makers test, particularly in terms of first-cup speed and repeat speed.
It's one of the more affordable options among Nespresso machines and has a relatively compact footprint. It has a smaller tank and a smaller capacity for capsules used than other models.
If you're interested in making milk-based drinks, such as lattes or cappuccinos, you should consider spending an extra bit on a model with an integrated milk frother. Both the Lattissima and Creatista can make it without much effort and the Nespresso Inissia was designed to make your life easier with an integrated milk container that can hold up to 12 capsules.
The most important thing to remember is that all Nespresso machines need to be descaled a few times a year. The company says it's easy to do, and there are alerts on the machine that indicate when it's time to descale. The brand also sells descaling kits to allow a hands-off approach.
5. The Creatista Pro
If you're a Nespresso lover who is a fan of milk-based coffee The Creatista Pro is a good alternative. It's also easy to use and has the same beverage options as its counterpart, the Creatista Plus. The milk frother is auto and self-cleaning, but it can also be used to manually adjust the texture and temperature, if you want. The result is a smooth, frothy milk perfect for lattes and cappuccinos.
The Original Line machine uses Nespresso Vertuo pods, and it can brew espresso, including one shot in three sizes, or milk-based drinks like cappuccinos, latte macchiatos, and flat whites. It's incredibly simple to use with large, clear LED display and labelled buttons for the different drinks. It also comes with a barista-style steam wand to make milk and the jug, which are less messy to clean than the standard integrated frothers found that are found on every Nespresso machines.
The Creatista Pro is a bit more expensive than the other models listed here, but it's a top machine that's easy to use and looks beautiful on your counter. It also comes with a free tamper and reusable capsules, which can save you money over the long term.
If you're looking for a less expensive version, consider the Nespresso CitiZ&Milk. It's not as loaded with bells and whistles as the Creatista however it does provide a more versatile range of beverages that include three different sizes of espresso, as well as cappuccinos and lattes. It also has a more intuitive interface, featuring a single button to turn the machine on and cleaning. It's also compact and small and has a moveable water tank that allows you to easily adapt it to your kitchen's layout.