Nespresso is iconic, and their VertuoPlus is a case in point. It’s sleek and stylish, will make delicious coffee at just the touch of a button, and comes with an array of smart features too.
I’ve made my way through testing a range of the best Nespresso machines on offer. The other day, I was talking with our other coffee experts and one of them mentioned the VertuoPlus as one of the most overlooked, but also one of the best single-serve coffee makers of all time. I too had overlooked the VertuoPlus, because it only offers 3 oz more capacity than the Vertuo Next and it's much bigger.
After calling in and putting the VertuoPlus though its paces, I found that the VertuoPlus is unfairly overlooked. I've been using the VertuoPlus to get my caffeine fix for over a week now. I haven't stopped using it since testing and I can confirm that it's amongst the elite of Nespresso's offering.
Specifications
Unboxing
Nespresso does an excellent job of the finer details, which includes their packaging. It’s all completely recyclable, nicely printed, and the box opens both from the top and side. This means you can see your machine from a countertop perspective, both for admiration and for lifting it out. This type of box eliminates the scenario in which you end up wrestling with your new coffee maker, desperately trying to free it from its packaging.
This looks like every Nespresso does on the countertop. It’s sleek, with curved edges (although you can choose between a range of colors), but it's also pretty tall. It sits at more than a foot tall, which should still fit under standard cabinets, but may not if you have low spaces, or if you want to place this on a bookshelf as part of a coffee nook.
Who would it suit?
Given that the VertuoPlus is an enlarged version of Nespresso's classic design, it's best suited to big, busy homes. It can speed through a whole host of coffees in a matter of minutes. The huge water reservoir doesn’t need refilling often and, when it does, the useful handle makes the whole process extremely easy. For beginners, this is easy to use. All you have to do is press a button (no cliches here, this is quite literally all you have to do) and the NespressoPlus can brew your coffee.
The VertuoPlus is compatible with all 30 of the Vertuo capsules, so you can opt for everything from espresso to cold brew (another reason why this suits families). Whilst that range is impressive, it means that you’re reliant on Nespresso and their capsule selection. If you like to grind your own coffee or have your eye on some unique K-cups, you’ll want to give this one a miss.
It’s also, as you might expect, overkill for small homes and couples. It's also on the expensive end of the single-serve market. If you’re on a budget, Nespresso can offer better, smaller options.
What is it like to use?
I’ve tested plenty of Nespressos, so I’m familiar with how they work. They’re incredibly simple, so I don’t think it would take much effort to get a good grasp of the VertuoPlus anyway. Aside from inserting the capsule and pressing a button, the machine will do everything else for you.
I started by putting the machine on rinse. This used nearly 24 fl oz of water and took five minutes, so make sure you do it before your coffee cravings hit. It’s good for getting all the factory dust out of your machine (and coffee), but you’ll need a big container.
Test 1: espresso
The first test I put any single-serve coffee maker through is a simple espresso. Nespresso send a capsule starter pack, and there are more Vertuo pods available at Nespresso. I’ll admit that these can be confusing to outsiders, but once you have Nespresso’s translation for what each capsule can do, it’s fairly easy to navigate.
I started with the capriccio, which is their 'rich and distinctive' espresso capsule. The VertuoPlus warmed up in 15 seconds and, if it’s possible, my espresso was ready even quicker. It took just 13 seconds to brew and came out at 176°F, with a beautiful, hazelnut crema on top. It tasted delicious, with some delicate notes of acidity. The crema even had that ashy flavor.
I then tested a double espresso capsule (chiaro) to see how different it was. This brewed in 17 seconds and was 2.7 fl oz. The flavors were still spot-on: deep, rich, and earthy. There was again, a lovely thick crema, but I should say that this is a 'false' layer. The Veruto pods work with centrifrugal force, spinning coffee out of the pod. The 'crema' isn't a true crema, but aerated coffee froth. It looks great and my coffee still tasted delicious, but worth noting that the thick crema shouldn’t be taken as any kind of quality indicator.
Test 2: americano
I enjoyed the alto capsule for making my Americano. The VertuoPLus needed just 40 seconds, which is close to record time, before it completed brewing 14 fl oz of yet more delicious coffee. This was hard to drink immediately because it was just so hot. I recorded it at nearly 198°F. Once it had cooled (and I had lost the crema) I enjoyed my coffee. It was delicately earthy, but nicely balanced with some good, intensely rich flavors. It could certainly stand up to a cup of freshly brewed filter coffee, possibly even an espresso machine’s Americano.
I also tested a slightly smaller Americano, using their Vivida capsules. These were 7.8 fl oz and came out well extracted. I was worried that the flavors would become weak and flat when they were needed for a really big coffee, but they weren’t. The machine maintained a nice, biscuity cup of coffee. Again, I should caveat this by saying that it was good for a single-serve machine. Compared to a fresh bean-to-cup machine, the flavors were definitely flatter and more two dimensional, but that’s an unfair comparison to make.
Test 3: cappuccino
The Vertuo Plus can’t officially make cappuccinos and lattes unless you buy Nespresso’s Aeroccino (available at Walmart) separately. You can buy it in a Nespresso bundle, also from Walmart, but only if you want to make lattes and cappuccinos.
Luckily, I still have the Aeroccino 4 from our best milk frother tests, so could use it as if I had bought the VertuoPlus bundle. I brewed an espresso and then frothed some milk. The shot which the Nespresso brewed was balanced really nicely by the hot, latte milk. It made a really smooth latte. Of course, this requires another appliance and some more time, but it’s proof that the Nespresso can stand up to other coffee makers which boast steam wands.
Cleaning, storage, and maintenance
Nespresso makes the cleaning as easy as the coffee making. The water tank has a neat handle and wide mouth, so it’s easy to lift off and reach every corner when cleaning and filling it up. The VertuoPlus also comes with two pod bins that I couldn’t even fill on my tests, again, a testament to how well suited this is to families. I calculated that you could make ten coffees before you would need to empty the pod bins, which is more than enough.
As for storage, this is a pretty big coffee maker, so I wouldn’t recommend that you try to do anything except leave it on display. It’s sleek and stylish, so makes the perfect focal point for your coffee nook. Just make sure to measure any wall cabinets to make sure it can sit under them.
How does it rate online?
You won’t be surprised to hear that the VertuoNext is popular amongst reviewers and owners. It’s certainly not one of Nespresso’s most talked about models and the team and I couldn’t quite work out why. We could find nothing but good things to shout about.
Reviewers were unanimous in praising this for its quick, relatively high quality coffee. They all said that it was easy to use and they liked having it on display. People also enjoyed the adjustable drip tray, which means that your espressos won't end up splashed on the sides of your VertuoPlus. It also means that you can fit even tall travel cups underneath too. I saw lots of people commenting on the 40 ounce water tank: how infrequently it needs filling and how easy it is to clean.
There's next-to-no criticism of this online, aside from the fact that it's only compatible with Nespresso's Vertuo pods. It does mean that you're locked-in to buying from the brand. However, they're some of best the single-serve I've tasted, even if they're a little overpriced.
How does it compare?
If you don’t need the immense capacity of the VertuoPlus, you should definitely consider the Vertuo Next. This sits at the top of our buying guide, because it’s quick, relatively compact, and stylish. If you're looking to save $50 and you want a few more ounces capacity in your water reservoir, you should choose the VertuoPlus. If not, the Next is slicker and smaller.
If you think your family could make use of a milk texturing function, I would recommend taking a look at the Vertuo Lattissima. This is boxier, and not available in the same range of colors as the VertuoPlus. However, it boasts significant capacity and, of course, an integrated milk texturing system.
Where the Lattissima wins big is on milk texturing. I had to have a separate Aeroccino to make cappuccinos and lattes in the VertuoPlus, but the Lattissima comes with a neat carafe. You can store it in the refrigerator door when it’s not in use and then click it into place and the machine does the rest. You don’t even need to pour the milk into your cup, the spout will do it for you.
Overall, the Vertuo Next is the best option if you don't need capacity. The Plus is better for bigger homes and the Lattissima is better for milky coffees.
Should you buy it?
I was impressed with the VertuoPlus. They’ve balanced family-capacity with a neat and sleek design that I would be happy to make room for on my countertop. It’s overkill if you’re just one person making one coffee, but a true lifesaver for families.
How we test
At Homes & Gardens our testing process is rigorous across all coffee makers. We have a standard series of coffees which we ask every automatic and single-serve machine to make: espresso, Americano, and cappuccino. Espresso shows us how well the machine extracts the fundamental flavors of your coffee, an Americano shows us how well it can balance and dilute the espresso: there’s real skill in keeping coffee hot, but not burning it. Cappuccinos can be tricky to test because not every machine has milk frothing functions. If they do though, we look for smooth, silky milk (on both dairy and non-dairy options), which adds sweetness to the normally more punchy and acidic espressos.
When testing Nespressos, we are at the mercy of their capsules, because their machines are exclusively compatible with their proprietary pods. We choose the same ones for each Nespresso test, so that we can compare between models and do our best to extrapolate this across to other single-serve machines.
Outside of the coffee flavors and capsules, we also make notes on how easy a coffee maker is to clean, store, and maintain, because these are the factors which will affect your everyday life and how often you reach for a machine. The more intuitive, the better. If you're interested in finding out more, you can visit our dedicated page for how we test coffee makers.
