Nespresso VS Espresso Machine: Which Is Better?
As the popularity of Nespresso skyrockets, it is not surprising to compare Nespresso VS Espresso Machine.
Coffee aficionados will definitely double down on the fact that the espresso machine is superior to Nespresso. That said, Nespresso still found its place in the mass market. In fact, Nespresso sales have seen a growth increase of 2% in the first 3 months of 2022 alone!
It is safe to say both the Nespresso and Espresso Machine have their respective target market and they are here to stay.
As an owner of the Nespresso and also an espresso machine, I am going to deep dive into the differences between Nespresso and Espresso Machines.
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At a glance: Nespresso VS Espresso Machine: Which Is Better?
Nespresso VS Espresso Machine: A Comparison
To help you make a choice between Nespresso and Espresso machine, I am going to compare them from 7 different view points.
1. Taste
From my fundamentals of coffee series, we know that the taste of coffee is highly subjective to the type of coffee beans.
With this in mind, espresso from espresso machines is known for its bold and intense flavor profile. Furthermore, with the right extraction method, you can taste the delicate flavors of the natural acids present in the coffee beans.
On the contrary, a coffee shot from a Nespresso is comparatively milder and less intense. In other words, the Nespresso coffee shot tastes more watery than a standard espresso.
This difference in taste is mainly due to the brew ratio.
For espresso, the typical brew ratio is 1:2. This translates to 1 gram of coffee ground yields 2 grams of coffee liquid. And so, to extract a standard single-shot espresso, we require 9 grams of coffee grounds to yield 18 grams of coffee espresso.
Conversely, a single Nespresso pod carries about 6 grams of coffee grounds. However, a coffee shot using a Nespresso machine yields 40 ml of coffee liquid (~40 grams). This translates to a brew ratio of 1:6.5.
Since there is more water and fewer coffee grounds for Nespresso brewing, the overall taste will be comparatively less intense and less pronounced.
Verdict: Espresso machine wins here. Coffee from an espresso machine is better than Nespresso’s coffee any day.
Author’s Note: While the espresso machine makes better coffee, it highly relies on the barista’s skills. On the contrary, Nespresso is able to provide consistently above-average tasting coffee.
2. Price
It is no surprise that Espresso machines are expensive and are most definitely pricier than Nespresso machines.
Here’s a simple price comparison of some of the common Nespresso brands and Espresso machines.
| Nespresso Models | Price |
| Espresso Vertuo Plus | $127 |
| Nespresso Essenza Mini | $179 |
| Nespresso Citiz | $279 |
| Espresso Machine Models | Price |
| Delonghi Laspecialista | $1393 |
| Breville Dual Boiler | $1599 |
| Rocket Appartmento | $1850 |
Judging from the prices of some of these equipment, an average espresso machine is easily 5 times the price of a Nespresso. But of course, while the Espresso machine is comparatively more expensive, it is actually worth its price.
This is because the Espresso machine produces more superior-tasting coffee that can never be achieved by Nespresso. This alone is enough to convince coffee aficionados to pick the Espresso machine over Nespresso.
~ Life is too short for bad coffee ~
That said, not everyone is highly particular about the delicate taste of coffee. For this reason, Nespresso becomes a fairly attractive option due to its affordability.
Verdict: Nespresso wins the price category no doubt.
3. Ease Of Use
Without a doubt, the Nespresso machine is easier to use than an Espresso Machine.
To get a cup of coffee with a Nespresso machine, all you need to do is pop in your favorite Nespresso capsule and push a single button. The machine will do all the other heavy-duty work for you.
On the other hand, getting a cup of coffee using an Espresso Machine requires a little more work.
Steps To Making Coffee With An Espresso Machine
i) Grinding coffee with a coffee grinder.
ii) Coffee puck preparation (surface leveling and tamping)
iii) Warm up the coffee machine and purge.
iv) Place the portafilter in place and proceed to brew your espresso coffee.
v) Dispose the coffee grounds externally.
Along with the extra steps to prepare your coffee, the espresso machine also has a steeper learning curve. This is because there are many areas in which the preparation of espresso can go wrong.
Some of them include coffee grind size, coffee distribution technique, and tamping pressure.
Verdict: Nespresso takes the crown for ease of use in comparison to the Espresso Machine.
4. Convenience
Convenience is Nespresso’s ultimate selling point.
Here’s why.
With a single coffee pod and a single push of a button, you can get coffee on the go. There is no need for coffee grinding or puck preparation. Ultimately, your coffee will be ready in less than 5 minutes.
Espresso machines conversely do not offer such convenience unless it is a full-automatic espresso machine.
For context, we will assume the use of a manual espresso machine which produces superior coffee in comparison to full-automatic espresso machines.
With a manual espresso machine, you will need to wait for the espresso machine to warm up.
All in all, it will take a minimum of 10 minutes from the phase of the espresso machine warming up to the end of the coffee preparation. I believe most of us do not have 15 minutes to spare in the morning.
Verdict: In terms of convenience, Nespresso fairs way ahead of the Espresso Machine.
5. Equipment Size
If you have seen both the Nespresso and Espresso Machine, you will most definitely notice the massive difference in size.
In general, most Nespresso machines are smaller in comparison to Espresso machines.
So if you are looking for something that is compact and is able to fit snuggly in the corner of your home, the Nespresso is the obvious choice.
To help illustrate this part, I’ve put together a table to compare some of the more common Nespresso machines and Espresso Machines.
| Nespresso Models | Dimensions |
| Espresso Vertuo Plus | 16.9 x 5.6 x 12.8 in |
| Nespresso Essenza Mini | 4.3 x 12.8 x 8 in |
| Nespresso Citiz | 5.1 x 14.6 10.9 in |
| Espresso Machine Models | Dimensions |
| Delonghi Laspecialista | 12.4 by 14.5 by 17.5 inches. |
| Breville Dual Boiler | 14.6 x 14.1 x 14.7 |
| Rocket Appartmento | 27 cm x 40 x 45 cm |
Not to mention, you will need to get a separate coffee grinder for your Espresso machine. Having both of these bulky pieces of equipment will definitely take up some space at your kitchen countertop or coffee bar.
Verdict: The Nespresso Machine has a smaller area footprint than any Espresso Machines out there.
6. Flexibility and Customizability
With the espresso machine, you get unlimited flexibility and customizability. From basic espresso to all kinds of espresso-based beverages like Cortado, Latte or a simple Americano, the espresso machine has no problem delivering.
This is because the espresso machine is able to brew espresso which the the core component of all coffee drinks.
On top of that, decent espresso machines usually comes with a steam wand which allows you to steam and texture milk. This feature alone opens up to a lot different kinds of milk-based espresso drinks you can craft.
On the contrary, the Nespresso has limited flexibility and customizability as it solely relies on the Nespresso pods the brand has to offer.
That said, higher-end models of the Nespresso also have a steam wand attached to it. However, the milk’s texture is incomparable to texturing milk with a steam wand.
Yes, you might argue that there is a huge variety of coffee capsules that Nespresso has to offer but the coffee from Nespresso just cannot hit the intensity of an espresso.
For example, making a Latte with a Nespresso lacks depth and creaminess in comparison to a Latte crafted with an Espresso Machine.
Although, the Nespresso is not the best choice if you intend to craft various kinds of coffee beverages, rest be assured that Nespresso offers consistent tasting coffee.
Verdict: The Espresso Machine wins when it comes to flexibility and customizability.
7. Cleaning and Maintenance
Owning an espresso machine also comes with more cleaning and maintenance work. To give you an idea of the cleaning and maintenance you need to do for an espresso machine, here’s a list of things you need to do:
- Flushing and back-flushing the group head after every use.
- Rinsing the espresso machine’s portafilter and drip tray after use.
- Disposing of the coffee grounds after espresso extraction.
- Cleaning the espresso machine group head with cleaning tablets once a month.
- Descaling the espresso machine every 6 months
Nespresso on the other hand requires minimal cleaning and maintenance effort.
Cleaning and maintenance of Nespresso machines are as simple as flushing the machine chamber with water and rinsing the water chamber.
Verdict: It is much easier to clean and maintain the Nespresso compared to the Espresso Machine.
Nespresso Overview
What Is Nespresso?
Nespresso is a subsidiary of the Nestle group that focuses on the Nespresso coffee machine and coffee capsules.
The core idea for Nespresso stems from the thought of allowing everyone to enjoy a good cup of coffee at home. Before that, people relied on baristas and massive espresso machines in the early 1900s for decent coffees.
With the emergence of Nespresso, the accessibility to decent coffees moved from cafes to homes and offices. Albeit not the best, it is acceptable and good enough for the mass market.
How Does A Nespresso Work?
The Nespresso working concept is very much similar to an espresso machine. However, most of the process of brewing a cup of coffee is simplified and automated.
All you need is a coffee capsule.
The coffee capsules house the coffee grounds and are flushed with nitrogen gas before sealing to retain the coffee’s freshness.
Just by inserting a coffee pod of your choice into the pod chamber, the machine will prepare your coffee with a tap of a button.
Here’s how it works.
Brewing With A Nespresso Machine
i) Upon inserting the coffee capsule into the chamber, pull down the lever to close the chamber. During this process, a spiked plate will puncture holes on the coffee capsule.
ii) The Nespresso machine’s pump will channel high-pressure water through a heating element.
iii) This hot and high-pressure water is then forced through the bed of coffee in the coffee capsule, which initiates the extraction process.
iv) In doing so, it extracts a golden brown liquid which you can enjoy.
Espresso Machine Overview
What Is An Espresso Machine?
As the name suggests, an Espresso Machine is a device used to brew espressos. The theory of espresso brewing involves forcing high-pressure water through a bed of coffee grounds.
Ideally, great espressos require a brewing pressure ranging from 7 bar to 9 bar.
How Does An Espresso Machine Work?
The working concept of an espresso machine involves a pump, a boiler and the espresso machine’s group head.
The pump functions to deliver high-pressure water into the boiler. At the boiler, it heats up water and also produces steam at the same time.
Espresso brewing will utilize hot water while the steam will be channeled to the steam wand for milk frothing purposes.
As you might have noticed, it all sounds very similar to the Nespresso machine. The main difference is the espresso machine group head.
Unlike Nespresso, the espresso machine does not use a coffee capsule. Instead, you have to prepare the bed of coffee manually.
Here’s how you do it:
Brewing With An Espresso Machine
i) Pick your favorite coffee and weigh out approximately 18 grams of whole coffee beans.
ii) Set your coffee grinder setting to “fine” and proceed to grind your coffee beans into a portafilter.
iii) Even out the surface of the coffee puck with your hands or leveling tools.
iv) Tamp the coffee grounds with a coffee tamper to tightly pack the bed of coffee.
v) Fit the portafilter into the group head.
vi) Start the brewing process and aim to extract 36 grams of espresso by the end of 25 seconds to 30 seconds. Also, be sure that your extraction pressure is within 8 to 9 bars throughout the process.
vii) Discard the coffee grounds and flush the espresso machine’s group head.
viii) Enjoy your espresso.
How To Choose Between Nespresso And Espresso Machine?
Choosing between Nespresso and Espresso Machine is fairly simple once you narrow down your preference and intent.
We will use the 7 differences between the Espresso Machine and Nespresso to aid this process.
Reasons To Choose A Nespresso Machine
- Average coffee is enough to power you through the day
- Tighter budget for coffee
- Appreciates the convenience Nespresso offers and the ease of use.
- You have limited space on your countertop or kitchen
- Fascinated by the array of coffee capsules Nespresso offers
- Love the minimal effort required for cleaning and maintenance
- No time to bother with technical issues such as espresso channeling.
Reasons To Choose An Espresso Machine
- Appreciates the taste of good coffee.
- Higher budget to spend on coffee gear and coffee beans
- Have time to learn and dabble around with espresso brewing
- Grit and tenacity to learn the ways of espresso brewing
- Sufficient space to place your coffee machine and coffee grinder
- Interest in espresso brewing and the world of coffee’s rabbit hole
- Do not mind the cleanup and maintenance of your espresso machine.
FAQ On Nespresso VS Espresso Machine
Is Nespresso As Good As Real Espresso?
Honestly, Nespresso is not as good as real espresso. The flavor profile of Nespresso’s coffee is a little less intense and flavorful. Conversely, a well-prepared espresso is a flavor bomb. Real espressos have delicate yet complex layers of flavors which is attributed to the natural acids found in the coffee beans.
Are Nespresso Pods Just Espresso?
No, Nespresso pods are not espresso. A proper espresso follows a brew ratio of 1 gram of coffee to 2 grams of coffee liquid. However, Nespresso uses more water when brewing the coffee shot. Hence, a Nespresso is a different kind of short coffee that resembles espresso but isn’t actually espresso.
Is Espresso Stronger Than Nespresso?
No, Nespresso coffee is not as strong and concentrated as true espresso. True espresso is comparatively more intense and bold in terms of flavor. This is mainly due to the brew ratio. The Nespresso has a higher volume of water to coffee grounds ratio. This makes Nespresso coffee more diluted than espresso.
Who Is Nespresso Target Audience?
Nespresso’s target audience is the working class. In today’s day and age, we barely have enough time for ourselves, let alone time to make good coffee. The convenience of Nespresso allows most of the working class to have access to decent coffee on demand.
Closing Notes
That concludes the comparison of Nespresso VS Espresso Machine. Both have their respective pros and cons.
In a nutshell, Nespresso shines when it comes to convenience and ease of use. The espresso machine, on the contrary, allows flexibility and makes better-tasting coffee but comes with a steep learning curve.
It all boils down to personal preference and how the Nespresso or Espresso Machine fits into your lifestyle.
I hope this little comparison has given you some insight to make a choice between a Nespresso and Espresso Machine.
If you find this piece of article informational, please do share it with your fellow friends. baristas and home brewers!
Happy brewing!
