Nespresso Vertuo Review

The Nespresso Vertuo by Breville is more expensive than other single-cup coffee makers we reviewed; however, it brews both coffee and espresso.

A Nespresso Vertuo by Breville espresso machine

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

The Nespresso Vertuo is a two-in-one coffee maker and espresso machine. It is more expensive than most single-serve coffee makers but may be worth the extra money if you want to make both beverages.

Pros

  • +

    The machine heats up in about 15 seconds.

Cons

  • -

    You can only use Nespresso Vertuo capsules.

Why you can trust Top Ten Reviews Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The Nespresso Vertuo by Breville is more expensive than other single-cup coffee makers we reviewed; however, it brews both coffee and espresso. This coffee maker can prepare hot drinks to fill five cup sizes, including espresso (1.35 ounce), double espresso (2.7 ounce), gran lungo (5 ounce), coffee (7.7 ounce) and alto (14 ounce). The machine includes a cup support stand you can fit in three positions, depending on how tall your cup is.

Unlike some single-cup coffee makers, this machine doesn’t work with premeasured K-cups or reusable filters – you can only use Nespresso’s Vertuo-brand capsules. The Vertuo doesn’t even accept Nespresso Classic capsules. The company makes capsules with 16 coffees and 10 espressos, each with different flavors and intensities. Its capsules are made of recyclable aluminum, which is a nice touch.

The Nespresso Vertuo’s 40-ounce reservoir is removable, so it’s easy to clean and refill. Once you select and insert a Nespresso Vertuo capsule, you push the “on” button, and the coffee maker heats up in approximately 15 seconds – a light flickers during the process and then stands steady once it’s ready to brew. You don’t need to change any settings because the machine reads a barcode on the capsule.

This machine uses a brewing technique unlike those used by other single-cup coffee makers. Namely, it has a trademarked centrifusion technique that spins coffee-filled capsules at 7,000 rotations per minute so the coffee grounds and hot water thoroughly mix during the process.

You can push the button early if you want the machine to stop brewing. Also, the coffee maker turns off automatically after nine minutes, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally leaving it on after you walk away. If you can live without the espresso but want a versatile single-cup coffee maker, you might check out the Bunn My Cafe MCU as an alternative.

Angie Parkinson

A contracted writer for TTR, Angie has been reviewing vacuum cleaners, countertop appliances and other home goods for more than eight years. Her spare time often goes to planning improvements for her quirky 103-year-old home or hiking in the gorgeous Utah mountains. In her past role, she was a newspaper journalist and she has a bachelor's degree in Technical Writing.