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Nespresso Vertuo Line vs Original
A look at the similarities and differences between Nespresso Original and Vertuo coffee machines.
Published December 14, 2021
Chandra Melo
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
If you enjoy a good espresso or a decent cup of coffee, then Nespresso is probably a brand that you have heard of. Since 1986, Nespresso is a leading manufacturer of coffee machines and pods that allow people to create café-style coffee beverages from the comfort of their own home at a fraction of the cost that you would expect to pay when visiting a coffee shop. The two most popular models include the Original line, which is also the first, and the Vertuo line, which was introduced in 2017. If you’re considering investing in a Nespresso machine for your home, the Nespresso Vertuo vs Original are likely to be your two top choices. Understanding the differences between the Vertuo vs Original will help you decide on which is the best option for your home and your coffee-drinking needs and preferences.
While the two machine types and the pods that are used in them have a lot of similarities, they also have several differences. Because of this, picking a side in the debate as to whether the Vertuo or the Original is the best choice can be difficult, and choosing which one is right for you can sometimes get tricky.
About the Nespresso Vertuo Line
Vertuo is the latest machine type in the Nespresso product family. The Nespresso Vertuo machines were first introduced in 2017 and have been a popular choice of pod coffee machine ever since.
The biggest advantage of the Vertuo line is that these coffee makers can do more than make just a simple cup of espresso, although if espresso is what you want them for, you won’t be disappointed. You can use Nespresso Vertuoline pods to make a larger range of coffee types and what’s even better is that all you need to do is place the capsule in the machine, press start, and the machine does all the hard work for you. Every capsule comes with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the different variables including the brewing time length and water temperature to make sure that your cup of coffee is perfect every time. Since the Vertuo machines brew without pressure, one main difference between these and the Original line is that they are much quieter.
On the other hand, there are some downsides to consider. One major one is that as newer machines and capsules, you can usually expect to pay more when buying and using your Nespresso Vertuo machine. There is also a smaller range of machines to choose from compared to the Original line and not as many capsules on offer either. The Vertuo line of makers does not have any third-party capsules, meaning that you’ll need to buy yours directly from Nespresso which can make it more difficult to get the exact coffee that you want.
About the Nespresso Original Line
As the name suggests, these are the original line of machines made by Nespresso. They have been around since all the way back in 1986 and have been a popular choice ever since among people who want to make their favorite coffee drinks from the comfort of their own home.
There are several reasons why Nespresso’s Original line of coffee machines have been able to remain so popular over the decades. One of the main reasons is the huge selection of coffee capsules that you can choose from when using the Original line. If you want a wider range of capsules to choose from, the Original line has many third-party capsules, meaning that there is no limit to the flavors and blends you can get from a range of different brands. The Original line machines also have built-in accessories for frothing milk, which offers great value at a cheaper price compared to the Vertuo line. Finally, you can find more different Original line machines to choose from compared to Vertuo line machines.
However, on the downside, one of the biggest problems with these machines is that they do only make espresso. While this might not be a problem if you are an espresso drinker or have accessories that you can use to make steamed milk for lattes and cappuccinos, this might not be useful if you want to make different coffee types.
What are the Main Differences?
Now that you have an idea of how the two types of machines are similar and how they differ, let’s take a look at their differences in a little bit more depth to help you figure out which one is going to be the best choice for you.
Extraction Method
When making espresso or any other type of coffee, some kind of extraction method will always be use. It’s this method that brews the coffee, and typically involves moving hot water over coffee grounds either with or without pressure. The Original line and the Vertuo line both use different extraction methods, resulting in getting your perfect coffee.
With the Original line, the extraction method used is very similar to a professional espresso machine. They use heated, pressurized water to create the espresso that you want, with a powerful pump that pushes the water through the grounds in the capsule. Since they can reach up to nineteen bars of pressure, this can get quite noisy, but you can be assured of great espresso as a result.
On the other hand, the Vertuo line uses a different and more unique method to extract all the goodies from the coffee grounds in the capsule. While you can use the Vertuo machine to make espresso, the machine also makes other types of coffee including larger cups, so it uses an extraction method that involves spinning the capsule inside the maker while forcing the water into it. As a result of this, the system does not have the same pressure, but is still able to create a decent cup of espresso with a nice amount of crema on the top, and the same time as being able to produce non-espresso coffee drinks. Because of this, it’s also a much quieter process compared to the Original line machines.
Drink Types and Sizes
Most people get into habits when it comes to how they drink their coffee. If you are like most coffee drinkers, you probably stick to what you know you enjoy and works well for you. However, some coffee drinkers are a little bit more adventurous and do enjoy a bit more variety when it comes to their drinks. Whichever type sounds more like you, it’s important to make sure that your coffee maker works well for you.
If you are a fan of espresso and tend to only drink espresso or espresso-based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes, the Original line of Nespresso coffee makers is probably going to be the perfect option for you. You can use these machines to make three different espresso sizes including the standard 1.4oz espresso shot, 3.7oz lungo and 3.7oz ristretto. On the other hand, if you prefer a little bit more variety when it comes to the coffees that you drink and want to be able to make espresso along with other coffee beverages at home, the Vertuo line might be more ideal. These machines can brew five different coffee cup sizes including espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, standard cup of coffee, and an extra-large alto cup.
Milk Frothing
If you want to make café-standard coffee at home, then a coffee machine that comes with a milk frother is probably going to be something that you’re on the lookout for. Machines with a milk frother aerate the milk, developing a heavy and thick foam to enjoy on the top of your coffee. Air is added to the milk throughout this process, which lightens it while expanding its volume. When you add the frothed milk to your coffee or espresso, you can enjoy many coffee shop favorites such as cappuccinos, lattes, mochas, and macchiatos in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Several Original line Nespresso coffee makers do come with a built-in milk frother. While these models tend to be more expensive compared to the ones that do not, it does mean that you can make a much wider variety of coffee drinks with your Nespresso machine. Otherwise, without a milk frother, the espresso machine can only be used to make espresso shots, or you can add hot water to the shot to make an Americano. When you get a machine with a milk frother, you can make lots of espresso-based drinks that include steamed milk including lattes and cappuccinos.
On the other hand, no Vertuo line coffee makers include a built-in milk frother. However, if you want to use your Vertuo machine to make espresso-based drinks with milk, you can buy a separate milk frother from Nespresso called the Aeroccino.
If you’re choosing a pod coffee machine for your home, Nespresso is one of the most popular and trustworthy brands to go for. The Original and Vertuo lines are the most popular and understanding how the two work and how they are different will help you pick which one is the best for you.
About the author
Chandra Melo
Marketing as job, barista as passion. An authentic coffee lover, looking for the next fantastic cup of coffee that I will fall in love with. Coffee, for me, is more than a beverage. It's about community and connection - how can all the world consume the same fruit? And differently? How can we have so many different tastes? I also don't know. And because of this, I feel in love each day more for this world. Happy to share and make a change in the coffee community.
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