I've tested dozens of coffee makers over the years, but before I started the unlikely career of reviewing kitchen appliances, I had a straightforward Nespresso machine at home that kept me caffeinated without any effort. And while I've come a long way since my pod coffee days, I still think you can't beat these machines for streamlined, user-friendly designs, and you can get a pretty tasty brew when you buy the right pods for your model.
But for those who are new to the world of Nespresso, you might be wondering what the difference is between Nespresso Vertuo and Nespresso Original, and which is right for you. There are some big differences to consider, despite how similar these machines look, so I decided to compare one of each side-by-side to see which would come out on top.
For my comparisons, I took the current number one best Nespresso machine in our guide, the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima, and compared it to the Nespresso CitiZ, which is a mid-price Original machine that looks pretty similar. I compared on looks, taste, functions, price, and versatility, and while the Original would be the machine I personally would opt for, the Vertuo wins overall for its versatile design, modern features and value-for-money.
Nespresso Vertuo vs Original: Machine options
Before I get testing the Nespresso Original vs Nespresso Vertuo lines, let me set the scene. Nespresso introduced the concept of portioned coffee to the world back in the '80s, and has been a regular presence in homes since the late '90s. Its Original line of pods replicate the process of a traditional espresso machine, but with the use of a pod. the Nespresso Original uses 19 bars of pressure to force hot water through espresso grounds and extract a hot cup of coffee.
The Original lines are geared toward espresso — they'll extract a Ristretto, Single or Double shot, all of which is extracted from the same 5 grams of coffee inside each pod.
The Vertuo lines can do Espresso, but also make Double Espresso, Gran Lungo, Coffee (which is a 7.77 oz measure) and XL Coffee (a 12 oz measure).
First released in 2014,, the Vertuo line makes coffee in a totally unique way. Instead of inserting water through the back of the pod and extracting it through the mesh top, you place the pod round side down into the holder, where it will puncture the capsule, inject hot water and then spin the pod at 7,000 PRM as it extracts out of the sides of the capsule. In the strictest sense, it's not espresso. Nespresso calls this its Centrifusion technology, and what makes it quite smart is that it recognizes the code on the capsule you choose and adjusts the amount of water, speed of extraction, and temperature to brew at the optimum conditions for each pod.
As far as machines go, it's hard to pick a winner because both lines have something for everyone. We've reviewed most of them at Tom's Guide, too. If you want a cheap and practical machine, you could opt for the CitiZ (the one featured in this article), or, from the Vertuo line, the Vertuo Pop. On the higher end side of things, you can get a stainless steel, smart milk-equipped Nespresso Creatista Plus or opt for the Vertuo iteration, the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista.
Many machines are available in both Original and Vertuo lines, such as the Nespresso Lattissima and the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima, which is virtually the same machine but with the addition of Vertuo tech.
I'd be surprised if Nespresso had any plans to release any new Original line machines. All recent releases have featured Vertuo tech, as it's geared to a U.S. market where the preference leans toward larger coffee. So if you want the added support that can come with software updates and replacement parts, it might be best to opt for a Vertuo.
Winner: Nespresso Vertuo
Nespresso Vertuo vs Original: Pod options
Nespresso doesn't have exclusivity over Original line capsules, so you can find alternative-brand pods from leading roasters such as Lavazza, as well as smaller-scale local roasters. It also means there's a greater variety in the cost of these pods, as they're not all created by one brand.
Direct from Nespresso, you'll pay $0.80 per pod in a 10-pod sleeve, but other brands will inevitably offer cheaper or more expensive iterations. What's key is you get the choice of coffee, but all pods will come at the same size.
Vertuo pods are patented and you can only buy them from Nespresso, so once you buy a Vertuo you're locked into the whole Nespresso ecosystem, which keeps them happy. In return, they make a huge range of flavors, including fun seasonal blends such as Maple Pecan and Almond Croissant.
The price per pod ranges from $0.98 to $1.35 when you but a 10-pod sleeve. So you get a greater variety of drink sizes, which will matter to a lot of people, but they're significantly more expensive, and you can only buy Nespresso brand pods.
Winner: Nespresso Original
Nespresso Vertuo vs Original: Price
Returning to my earlier analogy, you would expect that an old line of phones would go down in price as a new line gets phased in, but the same cannot be said for Nespresso machines. If you ask me, I'd say Nespresso wants you to opt for its new line so they've got a return pod customer on their hands. Smooth move, Nespresso.
Because of this, while the Nespresso Original line may cost you less in the long run thanks to the lower priced pods, the upfront cost is very comparable to the Vertuo line at full price, and they rarely go on sale. By contrast, I often see some really great Vertuo machines on sale for less than $100 — even less than $50 if you're shopping in the Black Friday sales. Good luck finding an Original line machine for that price.
Winner: Nespresso Vertuo
Nespresso Vertuo vs Original: Espresso
When comparing the Nespresso Vertuo and Nespresso Original machines, I made an espresso in both.
No contest, Original lines make a more authentic espresso. By extracting coffee at high temperatures and pressure from a pre-portioned pod, they manage to achieve a glossy finish and authentic crema. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of flavor I achieved with the CitiZ, one of the cheaper Original line machines. As with most Nespresso-brand blends, it leans very dark roasted, which will remind you of the sort of coffee you'll get in Starbucks and the like.
The Vertuo brews at lower temperatures as standard, and extraction was faster on account of how quickly the machine heated up, leaving the CitiZ looking a little sluggish. There's a thick layer of something that looks like crema on top of the coffee — much thicker than the Original line espresso — but it's more of a crema-style foam. It's a clever optical illusion of sorts, because even though it's not technically true, a lot people associate thick crema with a good coffee. Flavor-wise, it's fruitier on account of its lower brewing temperature, but it's also very bitter.
Winner: Nespresso Original
Nespresso Vertuo vs Original: Longer coffee
Any Original machine will brew either a small or large coffee, which in the CitiZ is a 1.35 oz espresso or a 3.7 oz double espresso. The best point of comparison for this was a Gran Lungo — I used Nespresso's Fortado capsule — which brews 5.07 oz. So straight off the bat, we're not comparing like for like here.
Unlike the Original line, Vertuo machines are pre-programmed to brew the specific length of coffee that's best suited to the dose inside each pod, so the Vertuo has more grounds to work with than the Original, which is extracting a longer dose from the same pod you'd use to make a single shot. Despite that, I still preferred the double shot. Pour in a bit of milk, and that's a good size coffee for me.
Flavor-wise, the Vertuo was stronger, but was topped with a cloud of foam that almost immediately starts to look matte and a bit lackluster. The foam fades fast, and I think it looks a bit nasty once you've left it for a few minutes, whereas the Original maintains the glossy quality I'd expect if I made a double shot in an espresso machine.
Winner: Nespresso Original
This is where the Original line taps out, but the Vertuo has much more up its sleeve. I've made some huge drinks in this thing. You can even buy carafe-sized capsules if you want to serve a crowd, and because the pods are sized according to how long they're extracted for, you won't end up with the watery brew you'd get from just pressing the double shot button for a few cycles on the Original line. At that point, you may as well just top it up with hot water and call it an Americano.
No question, if you want a really huge cup of coffee, get the Vertuo. The Original line excels for making iced coffees or other milk-based drinks.
Winner: Nespresso Vertuo
Verdict
As someone who likes espresso-based drinks and can be a bit snobby about the flavor of my coffee, I'd spend the extra money to get an Original line machine. For most people though, the Vertuo line is a better option.
The coffee tastes pretty good, virtually indistinguishable once you've added milk and any syrups, and there are countless pod options, so Nespresso won't make you feel hemmed in by only offering you one brand to choose from. You can also brew drinks of all sizes, from ristretto to XL coffee, and if price is important to you, you'll almost always be able to pick up a deal on one of these machines that could justify the difference in the price of pods over the long run.
Winner: Nespresso Vertuo
