Best Budget: Nespresso Essenza Mini Espresso Machine
Compact and affordable, the Essenza Mini is the ideal Nespresso maker for coffee lovers trying to save space in the kitchen or money in their wallet. It doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as other Nespresso models, but that’s expected given its low price. There are only two drink options to choose fromespresso and lungo sizesand no frothing wand attached. That said, our product testers found the espresso to be strong and well worth the purchase, even if the Essenza Mini doesn’t produce flavors as complex and nuanced as pricier machines. They added that the coffee is extremely consistent.
The review team also said that the item heats up in under 25 seconds and requires minimal cleanup. One detail that separates the Essenza Mini from the typical bulky espresso maker is its small size. It’s just over 3 inches wide, which is roughly the size of a coffee mug. This is accomplished, in part, because the 23.2-ounce water tank is directly behind the machine instead of on the side. To save energy, the Essenza Mini turns off nine minutes after you stop brewing.
The Spruce / Cheyenne Elwell
Category: Original | MilkFrother: Separate | Water Tank: 20.3 ounces| Capsule Container Capacity: 6 capsules | Dimensions: 3.3 in x 12 in x 8.03 inches | Warranty: 1 year
Does Your Nespresso Need Descaled
If you havent cleaned your Nespresso machine in a while, then the lukewarm coffee could be a result of limescale buildup affecting the temperature of the coffee.
Thats right, if it was long time since you descaled your machine, this could also affect the brewing temperature.
For tips on this process, check out our guide on how to descale your Nespresso machine.
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The Best Coffee Pod Machines
A note on pod machines and the environment: If you like pod machines but are concerned about the environmental impact of using disposable capsules, it’s worth noting that Nespresso operates a recycling service. There is also now a great range of eco caps, biodegradable and compostable options. We also have a coffee gadget review that gives some alternative coffee-making options that don’t involve pods or machines.
Nespresso Troubleshoot When The Machine Isnt Piercing The Capsule
Heres what Nespresso says you should do when the machine isnt piercing the capsule:
- Fill the water tank and turn the machine on
- Run water without inserting a capsule by pressing the Lungo button
- Check if the capsule container is full
- Check for foreign bodies in the capsule chamber
Note: Capsule piercing depends on the pressure generated by the machine. If theres scale build-up, your machine cant generate enough pressure, so you should descale.
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Hamilton Beach 49980a 2
The Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-Way Brewer Coffee Maker can make one cup of coffee at a time or a full 12-cup carafe. Its fully programmable, so you can start your brew while you sleep and wake up to a hot, fresh cup of coffee.
The brew strength selector button allows you to customize the strength of your coffee. Theres a warming plate to keep your beverage warm, as well as an auto shut-off to keep your coffee from burning.
The water reservoirs small opening makes getting water into it difficult. We also had to double-check the time when we set the timer at night because the clock was gradually losing time.
You may need to double-check it when you program it to ensure that it begins brewing when you want it to.
Can You Get Hot Water From A Nespresso Vertuo Machine
Unlike the OriginalLine machines, Nespresso Vertuo models work on a unique centrifugation technology. This means the machine scans barcodes on pods or capsules before determining the amount of water that will be needed.
While this helps immensely in brewing the perfectly proportioned coffee, it also means that without putting in capsules and pods the machine wont dispense any water. However, dont sigh in defeat so soon! There are a few ways to get past this obstacle.
The procedure to get hot water differs for VertuoLine machines. Here are a few ways you can get hot water from Nespresso VertuoLine machines.
Also Check: Brita Water Filter For Espresso Machine
Can Coffee Machines Dispense Hot Water
Yes! The market has a huge competition for coffee makers, there are plenty of designs that serve hot dispensers with coffee makers.
A coffee maker with a hot water dispenser increases usability and functionality. The water dispenser could be used for tea, oatmeal, or anything else. A dedicated mechanism is installed in the best coffee makers with a hot water dispenser.
This system is designed to pour approximately a cup of hot water in a single-serve style.
Of course, if the filter basket is left empty, any coffee maker can function as a hot water dispenser. However, in many cases, that may not be the best solution. The dedicated dispenser system is more useful in terms of functionality and usage.
If youre unfamiliar with the parts of a coffee machine, have a look at my article here.
Mr Coffee Versatile Brew 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
The Mr. Coffee Versatile Brew 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker has a delay brew button that allows you to prepare the pot and delay brewing until you are ready. Theres also a brew strength selector to customize how strong or weak you want your coffee to be.
If youre brewing a pot and want to grab a cup before its finished, theGrab-A-Cup auto-pause will stop the brew while you pour your cup and resume when the carafe is replaced. A light on the machines face indicates whether it is still turned on.
Because the reservoir is small, it does not hold enough to brew a full pot and still has some leftovers for other hot beverages.
The paper coffee filters are not durable. They tend to collapse, allowing grounds to enter the carafe. The hot water dispenser functions properly, but the lever is difficult to operate.
Also Check: How Much Caffeine In Mocha Frappuccino Starbucks
Also Great: Instant Pod
*At the time of publishing, the price was $100.
The company that brought you the Instant Pot has a new, nearly rhyming foray into coffee. The Instant Pod aptly brews both Nespresso capsules and K-Cups, making it a versatile machine for households with fans of both Nespresso and Keurig, as well as a handy way to outfit an Airbnb kitchen. The Instant Pod isnt particularly fancy and takes up a good hunk of space on a counter, but its usually cheaper than both of our Nespresso picks.
As far as we could tell in our tests, the Instant Pod produced the same caliber of espresso as the Essenza Minia hot, reliable cup with smooth cremaand the same watery coffee as you might expect from a Keurig. The Instant Pod uses capsules from Nespressos Original line, which means you can use third-party capsules for both the Nespresso and Keurig slots. The machine is also more user-friendly to beginners, with a grid of one-touch buttons on the top of the machine specific to each brew size. For us, it was hard at first to tell that the buttons were touchscreen buttons, which led us to press them hard several times to no effect. But if you press the button lightly, it begins blinking to indicate the machine is warming up, and then the Instant Pod brews your coffee.
Our Top Choice Is The Nespresso Gran Lattissima Coffee And Espresso Machine
Derek Rose is the Coffee and Tea Expert for The Spruce Eats. He received an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University and a BA in Communications from Marist College.
For inquiries, you can reach him at derekspruceeats@gmail.com.
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the bestproductslearn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
The Spruce Eats / Nick Kova
After rigorous testing by expert food writers, our top choice is the Nespresso Gran Lattissima Coffee and Espresso Machine, with its fast brewing time, versatile drink options, and ease of use. If you’re looking for a budget pick, the Nespresso Essenza Mini Espresso Machine is ideal not only for its compactness and affordability but the strong expresso flavor it produces.
Pod-based espresso was first dreamt up in the mid-’70s by Swiss engineer Éric Favre, employed by Nestlé at the time. He tinkered with prototypes and sought to perfect the process. But it would be another 10 years until Nespressos first launch in 1986. Now, the name is synonymous with coffee capsules.
For quick, tasty coffee, here are the best Nespresso machines you can find today.
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How Can You Extract Hot Water From Nespresso Originalline Models
If you have any of the OriginalLine Nespresso machines then getting hot water will be a piece of cake! Simply follow the super simple and easy steps below. Moreover, these steps will remain the same for all OriginalLine models: CitiZ, Essenza, Inissia, Lattissima, Pixie, and Creatista.
- Open the machine lever and eject any capsule from it
- Close the machine without replacing the pod or capsule. There should be no pod inside it
- Place the cup under the spout and select the Lungo button
- 3.7 ounces of hot water will pour into your cup
If your machine is not descaled then the water may have a brown tint, coffee residuals, and coffee flavor to it. Make sure you have descaled the machine to get clean hot water. What you can do for a quick fix is to brew hot water a number of times without a capsule to make sure its clean. Plus, running the machine a couple of times will also make sure you get super hot water.
What About Reusable Pods
We also tested Sealpods, reusable steel capsules that offer the greenest way to use a Nespresso machine. We chose Sealpods over several other reusable Nespresso-compatible capsules, such as WayCap and BRBHOM, because Sealpods had the highest ratings on Amazon at the time of our research and were readily available in the US. To use a Sealpod, first fill the open steel capsule with grounds and tamp it down tightly. Then, cover the filled capsule with a one-use sticker and, sealing it tight, pop the capsule into the machine to brew an espresso like normal. Its not a terribly difficult process, and we got the hang of it in just a few tries.
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Why You Should Trust Us
For guidance on what a real espresso should taste like, we consulted Sprudge associate editor Liz Clayton, who has worked on our guides to coffee makers and coffee grinders. We also interviewed several colleagues at Wirecutter who swore by their Nespressos to learn what they loved about their machines. We visited two New York City Nespresso Boutiques to examine and handle each machine in real life, as well as to attend a tasting of drinks made from several different Nespresso models. Writer Sabrina Imbler is an avid coffee drinker and also wrote our guide to the best French press.
How Long Will Coffee Makers With Hot Water Dispensers Last
As with any other coffee maker, you can expect this iteration to last anywhere from five to 10 years. This will depend on how you care for your machine, how frequently you use it, and of course, human error. For best results with any coffee maker, you need to engage in routine maintenance. This includes regularly cleaning the carafe and surfaces between brew cycles.
But you should also be sure to descale your coffee maker periodically. Water naturally has minerals in it which can be deposited not just in the carafe but throughout your coffee makers water lines or heating element. Left untreated, this can develop into limescale which can damage your machines internal components. Coffee makers that struggle with limescale damage might not heat the water to the right temperature, leading to coffee that tastes either too weak or too bitter.
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Compatible With 95% Espresso
As Nespresso MachineThe italian coffee maker can be compatible with Nespresso Original, Bestpresso coffee for Nespresso Original, Don Francisco’s Espresso, LAVAZZA Espresso, Cafe Bustelo Espresso, Rosso caffe for Nespresso Original, Grana Café Espresso, Peet’s Espresso, L’OR Espresso, Italian Expresso, Origen Espresso, Gimoka Nespresso, Gourmesso Espresso, Starbucks by Nespresso Original and etc. |
As Dolce Gusto MachineThe mini espresso machine can be compatible with Dolce Gusto Americano Intenso, Starbucks by Nescafe Dolce Gusto, and Nescafe Dolce Gusto Coffee Pods etc. |
As Ground Espresso MachineWith 19 bar high pressure and good warmth, the single serve espresso machine can extract pure cream for a cup of good coffee. |
As ESE Pods MachineThe Pod espresso machine can be compatible with Illy E.S.E. Pods, Lavazza Gran Espresso Single serve pods, and Caffe Borbone ESE Pods etc.Its stainless-steel basket is reusable so that you neednât change the filter frequently. |
How To Turn Up The Temperature On A Nespresso Machine
No, you cannot change the temperature of the water heating on a Nespresso machine.
Personally, I feel like this is an oversight since people like me enjoy our coffee at hotter temperatures than a Nespresso machine can give us.
But alas, here we are, unable to adjust the temperature on our Nespresso.
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How To Make Hot Water With Nespresso
You will need to pour some water into the Nespresso machine in order for it to be able to produce hot water. After that, the water will be heated so that it is ready to be utilized in the process of making the coffee. On the other hand, there should not be any more water than is strictly necessary for the production of the coffee capsules. After you have poured in the appropriate quantity of water, you will need to click the button labeled Hot Water on the machine. After that, the procedure of bringing the water up to the desired temperature by heating it will get underway. As soon as it reaches that temperature, it will be prepared to be put to use in the process of making your coffee capsules.
Whats The Difference Between Original And Vertuo
When scrolling through a list of Nespresso machines, you will see them sorted into one of two categories: Original or Vertuo. The difference is that Original machines make espresso and espresso-based drinks, while Vertuo machines brew drip-style coffee along with the brands signature espresso.
The VertuoLine was introduced exclusively in North America in 2014. It expanded to other parts of the world following its popularity. Each category uses its own specific type of capsule, which is not compatible with the other line.
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What Is A Coffee Maker With A Hot Water Dispenser
A coffee maker with a water dispenser is simply a coffee machine with a separate spout dedicated to pouring hot water. This can be ideal for people who need to maximize space and dont want their kitchen or office break room cluttered with a tea kettle and a coffee maker. In most cases, these appliances are relatively compact.
Like other coffee makers, you can find models that dispense hot water and support multi-cup brewing and programmability. One of the biggest benefits of having a coffee maker with a water dispenser is that you dont experience cross-contamination. A common complaint with using a dedicated coffee maker to make hot water is that the water still contains residual coffee, making everything you brew or cook with that water also taste like coffee.
Can Originalline Nespresso Machines Make Hot Water
If youve got one of the OriginalLine Nespresso machines, then youll love how easy peasy it is to just make hot water with the machine.
So, yes, the OriginalLine Nespresso machines can make hot water.
Heres how to do it:
Is the water coming out brown instead of clear?
Thats because you have neglected cleaning it and their is coffee residue build up on the machine.
Repeat the steps above several more times, until the water runs clear.
Recommended Reading: Where To Buy Nespresso Vertuoline Pods
How To Make Your Nespresso Coffee Hotter
Im one of those people who wants my coffee practically scalding hot, so I get the need for an even hotter coffee from your Nespresso machine.
So, if you find the coffee from your Nespresso is not hot enough, there are a few things to consider:
- Preheat the cup with hot water. A cold coffee cup cools the coffee quickly.
- Do you use milk in the coffee? Keep in mind that cold milk cools the coffee as well, please warm the milk before if you have an aeroccino or milk foam function on your Nespresso machine both heat and foam the milk with a simple push of a button.
- Using spoon in your coffee can also help to cool down quickly.
Of course, I know that those options arent ideal, but whatever it takes to get a hot cup of coffee, right?