Here’s what we thought of the Nespresso VertuoPlus

The Nespresso VertuoPlus is part of Nespresso’s Vertuo line of single-serve coffee makers. It is positioned in the market as a high-end alternative to Keurig, with a higher initial investment and capsules that can cost up to twice as much as Keurig K-Cups. In addition to costing more, Vertuo capsules come in fewer flavors compared to K-Cups, and they are rarely carried in stores; they typically need to be ordered online. 

However, the BestReviews Testing Lab found that the VertuoPlus delivered the best-tasting single-serve coffee by far. For anyone who drinks coffee for the flavor and not just the caffeine, it would be hard to find a better addition to your kitchen.

What is the Nespresso VertuoPlus?

The coffee capsules include tiny black lines containing brewing instructions for the VertuoPlus.

Product Specifications: Dimensions: 8.7” W x 12.7” D x 12.8” H | Brewing Size Options: 4 (determined by capsules) | Pod Compatibility: Vertuo capsules only | Water Reservoir Capacity: 40 oz | Brew Time: Varies (0:50 to 1:50)

The Nespresso VertuoPlus was the unquestioned king of coffee in our tests, producing consistently delicious coffee no matter what capsules we used (we tried six). It’s also one of the fastest brewing single-serve machines, able to deliver a shot of espresso in 50 seconds, a double shot in 1:10, a 5-ounce serving in 1:45 and an 8-ounce cup in 1:35 to 1:50. Its temperatures could be a little higher. The single shot didn’t produce enough liquid to register properly, but the double espresso reached 151 degrees while the 5- and 8-ounce servings reached 160. The 40-ounce reservoir is a reasonable size for these serving sizes, but if you’d prefer to refill it less frequently, there is a Deluxe VertuoPlus with a 60-ounce tank.

The VertuoPlus is similar enough to most single-serve coffee makers that you can use it without problems if you already have experience with such machines. And if you don’t, this review tells you everything you need to know to get started.

Pros 

• Flavor: The VertuoPlus delighted us with rich, flavorful espresso that was good enough to rival what you would get at a coffee shop, which is an impressive feat for a single-serve coffee maker.  
• Speed: You don’t need to wait long for your caffeine fix; it took just 70 seconds to produce a beautiful double shot of espresso when we tested it. 
• Easy to clean: Compared to other single-serve coffee makers we tested, this was the easiest to clean; it only needed a quick wipe down after a few drinks, and it was simple to remove the drip tray, rinse it and put it back on. 
• Barcodes: Each Vertuo capsule has a barcode on the rim that tells the machine what settings to use. This includes the temperature and amount of water. This feature means you’ll never press the wrong button, because the only button available to press is the one to start the brewing.
• Capsule container: Used capsules fall back into a small bin that can hold about 10 for disposal later. You can recycle the pods, but toss out the used grounds first.

Cons 

• Capsule availability: If you’re used to the wide variety, easy accessibility and low cost of K-Cups, the limited availability and higher cost of Vertuo capsules could be hard to get used to.
• Drip tray: There is a small drip tray that you can slot into position about halfway between the counter and the dispenser. This is where you place your cup, and it can collect any coffee that might spill over the sides. However, we thought it attached too loosely and worried it might fall (though it never did).

Design

The VertuoPlus has several unique design features, though we liked some more than others.

• Movable water reservoir: Most coffee machines have a fixed water reservoir. On the VertuoPlus, you can move the reservoir to sit behind the machine or to one side of it.
• Automatic lid: The top of the Vertuo, where you add capsules, opens and closes automatically with the click of a lever. We’re not a fan of this feature, because that mechanism is going to give out eventually, and then you’ll have a machine you can’t open.
• Color: The VertuoPlus comes in several colors to suit any home, including black, silver, gray, navy blue and, our favorite, an eye-catching red.

Who is it for?

The VertuoPlus is for coffee lovers. We thought its quality was surprisingly good compared to other single-serve coffee makers we tested, like Keurig. That quality comes at a price, though. The machine costs more than the average Keurig, and the Vertuo capsules can cost as much as twice what Keurig pods cost.

How we tested

Nespresso calls this crema, but it would be more accurate to call it coffee foam.

Our tests focused on four aspects.

• Brewing quality: This subjective test evaluated the flavor, aroma and strength of six capsule types.
• Brewing time: We recorded the total time it took to brew the four serving size options available for testing.
• Brewing temperature: We recorded the temperature of each serving immediately after the brewing finished.
• Versatility: We considered and compared the quality of multiple capsule flavors and the ease of switching between them.

In addition, the ease of use and ease of cleaning and maintenance were tested as a general comparison against other machines we’ve tested and have used personally.

Price and where to buy

The Nespresso VertuoPlus retails for $169. It can be purchased on Amazon, Nespresso and Walmart.

How to use the Nespresso VertuoPlus

Being able to shift the position of the water reservoir is a nice feature for anyone with limited counter space.

The barcodes on Nespresso Vertuo capsules tell the machine what to do for each serving brewed, which made using the Nespresso VertuoPlus the easiest single-serve coffee machine we’ve ever tested. Here are the steps.

1. Fill the water reservoir with enough water for the serving.
2. Insert a fresh capsule in the holder. Opening the capsule holder causes any used capsule to drop into the collection bin. Close the holder.
3. Press the button to start brewing (it’s the only button on the machine).

How does it compare to other coffee machines we tested?

We compared the Nespresso VertuoPlus to four Keurigs we had available for testing (the K-Mini, K-Iced, K-Classic and K-Compact). As single-serve pod coffee makers, the VertuoPlus and the Keurigs are, for all intents and purposes, identical. 

The difference is chiefly in the types of pods used. Keurig uses K-Cups, little plastic pods that hold ground coffee. The Keurig machines determine the brew settings. The Nespresso VertuoPlus uses Vertuo capsules with barcodes that determine the brew.

The other key difference is that Keurig coffee makers brew by injecting water into the pod, steeping briefly, then dispensing. Vertuo machines use that same process plus an extra step: the capsules spin at 7,000 revolutions per minute to force more contact between the water and the coffee grounds and produce a faux crema. 

We didn’t think the crema added anything to the quality of the coffee, but we admit that it makes the presentation prettier. Overall, we found the Nespresso VertuoPlus made better-tasting coffee than the Keurigs we tested, and it was also easier to clean and maintain. 

Should you get one?

The testing team was thoroughly impressed by the brew quality and flavor the Nespresso VertuoPlus provides.

If you drink coffee because you love the taste, you should definitely consider getting the VertuoPlus. There simply wasn’t any better-tasting coffee from all the machines we tested. If you drink coffee more for the caffeine, you might prefer a Keurig because of the lower cost and more widely available pods.