Nespresso Vertuo Review

My morning cup of coffee has been my favorite part of my morning routine since I was six years old. Granted, those early cups were actually just milk with a drop of coffee that my dad would make me so I felt grown up. But those early coffee dates solidified my love of starting the day with the perfect cup.

When 2020 started to, well, 2020, and we were all spending time at home, I started to miss getting to mix up my morning coffee ritual. Because we were working from home, and in those early days, local coffee shops were closed or had limited hours, I missed stopping to grab a latte on my way to work.

So, after a birthday in quarantine and weeks of a pandemic that wouldn’t quit, I decided to treat myself to a Nespresso. Over a year later, and I can confidently say it’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.

I wanted a Nespresso machine for years but never pulled the plug on buying one. I’ve never owned a single serve coffee maker before, and honestly kind of thought I’d always be a traditional drip pot girl. I’m so glad I finally made the switch.

Choosing a Model

If you’ve browsed Nespresso you know that there are a few different models you can buy. After watching and reading up, I decided on the Nespresso Vertuo Plus. 

I loved that it was able to brew both coffee and espresso, because as much as I love a latte or a flat white, I knew I wouldn’t be up for making them every morning.

It was also the perfect size for my smaller coffee bar set up. You can move the water tower around so that it sits behind or on either side of the machine. I got mine in a matte black, which just looks so sleek and stunning. 

Using the machine is also super easy, just turn it on, pop in a pod and let the machine do the work. I love how the cartridges automcally drop into a holder when you go to make your next cup. Once that holder is full, just put your used pods into one of Nespresso’s recycling bags and send them off to be recycled.

Accessories

The machine is really all you need to be good to go but there were a few other things I grabbed to complete the setup. First, I grabbed two of these containers to hold my coffee and espresso pods. Each of them can fit about 30 pods (three sleeves) at a time. I love the shape of them and they look great on the coffee bar. 

I also got these clear, walled coffee mugs. In natural Amber form, I dropped one and have to grab some replacements but for the less clumsy, these are a great find! The insulation keeps my coffee hot but the cup stays cool to the touch. They also look great, which shouldn’t matter, but absolutely matters.

And, last but certainly not least, for the days when I’m more in the mood for an espresso drink, I got a milk frother. You can opt to get a frother with your machine from Nespresso, but because I noticed they’re constantly releasing new milk froathers, I decided to grab one separately that could do everything I needed from the jump. I love this one because it makes a perfect foam whether I’m using dairy or non-dairy milks. The regular settings also warms the milk and, if you’re making an iced drink, you can also make cold foam.

My Favorite Pods

I’d only tried a few Nespresso pods when I got mine so I was so excited to see which of their coffees I’d like the most. If you’re new to them, definitely get a sample pack when you order your machine and take advantage of the free samples (you get free samples every time you order from Nespresso’s website).

I probably place an order every 3 months or so and usually get about $40 worth of pods so I get free shipping.

There aren’t a ton of company’s that have partnered with Nespresso so your best bet is to order directly from them. Starbucks recently launched pods for the vertuo line and I love the blond roast pods.

My go to coffee pods are Bianca Forte, Melozio, Stormio, and Giornio. The Nespresso pods are all pretty smooth, some are bolder than others. I also keep a few decaf pods on hand, which is great for when you want the taste of coffee without the perk up, or when your pregnant friends come over and want a cup. Make sure to read the notes so you have an idea about the flavor make up. 

And, like the website mentions, all of the flavors of the coffees are designed to shine with cream or milk. 

So, should you get it?

The Nespresso is honestly perfect for me and I use it every single day. I think if a whole pot of coffee is a little much for you because you either never finish or hate reheated coffee, this is a great single serve option.

If you’re looking to make both coffee and espresso drinks, hands down this is the machine for you.

If you’ve been on the fence about getting one, I hope this post helps you make the right choice!

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