Nespresso VertuoPlus Review: What the reviews say about the VertuoPlus
With more and more coffee consumers jumping ship from something like a coffee maker to a Nespresso machine with frother capabilities, it has become quite clear that the market is after a convenient, strong and café quality cup of coffee. While the Nespresso machine continues to evolve, there is one model that has withstood the test of time and offers arguably the best cup of coffee amongst the rest. Check out our Nespresso VertuoPlus review and learn why we think buying this appliance should be a no-brainer.
VertuoPlus Overview
If you love coffee, you're going to love the Nespresso VertuoPlus, a pod-style smart coffee machine. With five different coffee size options, it extracts coffee based on the coffee capsules and the barcode. In line with the convenience pod machines offer, it prepares your morning brew in as little as ten seconds.
Beyond its speed, ease of use, elegance, and sleek design, you'll enjoy the best coffee with this coffee and espresso machine. Whether you are passionate about coffee or just the kind of person that always seems to be late, there are two key considerations you should make when choosing a coffee machine; how long it takes to make a cup of coffee and the quality it produces.
In this regard, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is the ideal home coffee maker for you. It offers multiple Nespresso capsule options, it's easy to use, and you'll have your coffee in next to no time. In summary, this is what you should expect from a Nespresso machine:
- A smart and intuitive coffee maker
- The best tasting pod coffee
- Offers coffee options beyond Espresso and lungo
- Easy cleanup after preparing your morning brew
Undoubtedly, the Nespresso VerturoPlus is a top-grade Espresso machine. But don't just take our word for it. Go through this Nespresso VerturoPlus review to get a clear picture of what to expect from this coffee machine and whether it’s good for you.
Understanding Nespresso VertuoPlus
Before rushing to find out the features you’ll get with Nespresso VertuoPlus, it’s best to understand the technology behind it and what makes it unique. As with other Nespresso machines, the Nespresso VertuoPlus uses coffee pods to make coffee. However, unlike its counterparts, it’s not limited to smaller shots of coffee like gran lungo, Espresso, and ristretto.
Nespresso VertuoPlus coffee machines use Centrifusion™ technology for the brewing process. Beyond this, it will scan the barcode of Nespresso capsules. By doing so, it can produce a unique brew with varying Nespresso capsules, and you can be sure of getting the perfect cup of coffee with opulent crema each time.
An important thing to note is that with the Nespresso VertuoPlus, you'll only be able to use Vertuo capsules. This is because the Vertuo system is designed only to read barcodes from its new line of capsules.
Nespresso VertuoPlus Review
As you weigh up whether or not to buy the Nespresso VertuoPlus, use the following ratings on a score of 5 as a guide:
- Design: 4.7 ⭐
- Build quality: 4.5 ⭐
- Performance: 4.8 ⭐
- Ease of use: 5 ⭐
- Features: 4.7 ⭐
- Value for money: 4.8 ⭐
Design and Specifications
Generally, coffee machines have simple and straightforward designs to make them user-friendly. Though the Nespresso VertuoPlus is not an exception to the rule, it also has a sleek and elegant design without compromising quality or crema. With dimensions of 16.2×12.8×6.6 inches without the water tank, it is slightly taller than other coffee machines. Nonetheless, it only takes up a little countertop space.
It has a 1.8-liter water reservoir made of transparent plastic with a lid and an indicator for low water levels. The water reservoir has a design that allows it to take up little space and give you easy access from the back as it can swivel on a plinth for you to position it sideways.
Unlike other coffee and espresso makers that come with small used-capsule containers, the Nespresso VertuoPlus has enough space for 15 small or ten large espresso pods.
You can get the Nespresso VertuoPlus in silver, titanium, or piano black. On top of the Nespresso machine, you’ll find the ON/OFF button. To communicate different messages, this button may glow green, orange, or red. For you to feed in your favorite Nespresso capsules, there's a silver bar at the top of the coffee outlet.
The coffee outlet is very reliable and has adjustable cup support and a drip tray. Depending on the coffee you want to brew, you can adjust it to different heights. These include:
- Espresso – 1.35oz
- Double Espresso- 2.07oz
- Gran Lungo- 5oz
- Coffee- 7.7oz
- Alto- 14oz
Being a smart espresso machine, the Nespresso VertuoPlus will analyze the barcodes on the Nespresso capsules for instructions on how to extract the coffee. However, you can shorten the brewing process by pressing the button again midway or lengthen the process by pressing it again for another brew.
To brew your coffee, the Nespresso VertuoPlus relies on a 120v power supply with a power rating of 1350W. Such power is necessary for the 19bar pressure pump to ground coffee capsules.
Brewing Process
When choosing a coffee machine, key considerations are often things such as features and capacity. However, also of crucial importance is the brewing process. This can make or break your day if you are in a rush.
With its intuitive Vertuo system, the brewing process with a Nespresso VertuoPlus is straightforward. As long as you have a Vertuo capsule and one minute to spare, you’ll have your cup of coffee.
To begin brewing your Espresso, turn on the machine and wait for the Green light after 25 seconds to indicate it has heated up. Ensure that the water tank has sufficient water for your brew, and then add the Nespresso capsules.
Tap on the silver bar on the front, and a motorized lid will open automatically. Place the capsule in a downward-facing position on the dome. Tap on the silver bar again to close the lid and press the button on top of the pod machine.
You’ll notice the color of the ON/OFF button change as the Nespresso machine analyzes the barcodes. From there, all you need to do is place the cup and drip tray in position and wait for the ON/OFF button to turn green again, indicating that your coffee is ready. If you want alto, replace the cup support with a 14oz travel mug.
Though each capsule is designed to produce different amounts of coffee ranging from 0.3oz to 17oz, you can adjust as you see fit. Once you insert the capsule and close the lid, press and hold the ON/OFF button until the desired quantity of water is dispensed.
If this will be your preferred quantity level going forward, you do not have to hold down the button each time you want to make coffee. This is where it's intuitive capabilities come in handy. Each time you insert that variety of capsules, it will use your preferred volume of water rather than the preset one. When it comes to coffee makers, it does not get any smarter than that.
In many cases, you’ll want a steaming-hot cup of coffee. However, there are days you may want to drink a cold cup. The process of preparing a cold coffee drink is just as easy and fast. Add ice and cold water into the water tank and then the cold brew capsule. Without any additional instructions, follow the same process, and the machine will intuitively prepare you a cold cup of coffee.
Features and Functionality
One of the primary challenges of using commercial-grade coffee machines is that they come with tons of functionalities. Before you are able to brew the perfect cup of coffee consistently, it may take a long time as you need to master all of them.
On the other hand, you will not have such challenges with a Nespresso VertuoPlus coffee machine. There are only a few easy features that you need to learn. As such, you can begin brewing coffee that suits your taste from the word go. More importantly, it offers greater functionality than its more expensive counterparts.
Centrifusion Extraction Technology
As a coffee lover, you know all too well that it's not just about getting a mixture of ground coffee with water but getting the perfect blend. Several factors, including the Nespresso capsules you use, extraction method, and duration of extraction, play a key role.
It is for this reason that the Nespresso VertuoPlus relies on the proprietary Centrifusion extraction technology. Using this technology, the coffee machine is able to spin the Vertuo capsules at 7,000 rotations per minute. At such rotations, it’s able to produce a brew with the perfect balance of water and coffee.
User Friendly
If all you need is a quick cup of coffee before leaving the house in the morning, some coffee makers can be very frustrating. This is due to the complexities involved in brewing coffee. It is for this reason that the Nespresso machines are the ideal option for you.
Beyond being user-friendly, they are highly intuitive, features that significantly simplify the brewing process. Once you plug in the coffee maker, you'll be in a position to begin making your favorite blend, as all it takes is the press of two buttons. The first button is to open the capsule container, and the second button is for initiating the brewing process.
Fast Heat-Up Time
One of the essential features of Pod machines is the rapid heat up. By taking between 15 and 25 seconds to heat up, the Nespresso VertuoPlus takes this to the next level. This means your daily dose of caffeine to get your day started will be in your hands in less than a minute.
Coffee Quality
In all fairness, it does not matter how many features a coffee machine has or how fast you get your coffee if it's not good. As such, the most important feature to consider when assessing the Nespresso VertuoPlus is the quality of the capsules.
With this, there's no need to worry. Each of the coffee Nespresso capsules has been formulated by coffee experts to ensure they meet the highest quality standards. Nespresso also takes significant measures such as sealing capsules hermetically to ensure they are fresh when you get them. Furthermore, the Nespresso VertuoPlus uses proprietary Centrifusion technology to offer maximum flavor and aroma extraction.
The result of their meticulous capsule formulation process, preservation measures, and top-notch brewing technology is a tasty and aromatic cup of coffee. If this isn’t enough for you, you also have a wide range of capsules, including decaf, to satisfy all your caffeine needs.
Blend-Specific Brewing
Coffee blends are as many and as diverse as the number of coffee lovers. Therefore, the last thing you need as a coffee lover is a machine that only offers one or two specific blends. Having the luxury to brew, more importantly, unique blends of coffee can significantly improve your coffee experience.
Well, you guessed right. This is precisely what you’ll get from Nespresso VertuoPlus coffee machines; the ability to brew coffee as per your taste and preference. Rather than simply brewing the capsules using pre-set settings, it analyzes their unique barcodes to determine the specific brew.
With each barcode, it will receive special brewing instructions for the perfect cup of coffee. Even still, you can still shorten or lengthen the brewing process as you see fit.
Multiple Capsule Options
If there’s one thing you will have trouble with when using the Nespresso VertuoPlus is the variety on offer. This is not because your options are few, but you'll have plenty of options to choose from. With this new range of Nespresso capsules, there are 16 and 10 ground coffee and espresso capsules. All you have to do is prepare your taste buds for a coffee tasting session as you look for your perfect brew.
Used-Capsule Container
The constant need to empty used-container holders is arguably the most common complaint among Pod machine holders. Once you switch to the Nespresso VertuoPlus, this will be a problem of the past. Its used-container holder can accommodate up to ten used pods, allowing you to go several days without emptying it.
In addition, it is a lot easier to dispose of the used pod as you can access the capsule container by lifting the water tank from the machine.
Accessories and Add-ons
Since the Nespresso VertuoPlus has a design that promotes ease of use, it does not come with a host of accessories in the box. However, you'll also get 12 Nespresso Vertuo capsules as a complimentary welcome gift in addition to the machine and the manual. With each of these capsules, you'll enjoy a unique taste and aroma.
Pros and Cons
Before you get to our verdict in this Nespresso VertuoPlus review, it’s best to go into the pros and cons we identified:
Pros
- Highly user-friendly
- It has a strong build and sleek designs
- Delivers perfectly blended and aromatic coffee
- Prepares coffee in less than a minute
- It offers many coffee options
- Suitable for office use as it’s relatively silent
- You can prepare several cups of coffee simultaneously
- The water tank has a large capacity
- Coffee comes with a thick crema
Cons
- The coffee machine is relatively expensive
- It only works with its line of capsules
- Does not have a milk function
- The price of Nespresso capsules is higher than the original ones
Verdict
When rating a coffee maker, many things come into play, key among them being user preference. Though the Nespresso VertuoPlus coffee machine has some limitations, its key features and benefits greatly outweigh them. The variety you get, ease of use, perfect blend, and delicious aromatic coffee with crema make it a simple choice for any coffee lover.
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