Nespresso CitiZ Review: Easy to Use But Should You Buy It?
Summary
Pros
Cons
Nespresso CitiZ Summary
The Nespresso CitiZ is a great little machine. It’s quick to brew, makes an amazing coffee, and can easily fit on your counter. It's also intuitive to use and very easy to clean. However, it's costly compared to the very similar Essenza Mini and Pixie Nespresso machines. In addition, the CitiZ & Milk version's milk frother cannot be relocated.
Want an espresso in a hurry? The Nespresso CitiZ with its One-touch buttons and fast heat up time will brew a very descent espresso for you in no time (OK, it will take time but not a lot).
It has a larger than average water tank for its size, to save you from constantly refilling, and its sleek, retro aesthetic would look good in any kitchen without taking up a lot of space.
Read our Nespresso CitiZ review to find out what we think about the CitiZ, its key features, if it’s good value for money, and importantly, whether it makes great coffee...or not!
Let's get started!
Specifications
- Line: Nespresso’s OriginalLine
- Display: None
- Materials: Aluminum and plastic
- Colors: Limousine black, silver, white, and cherry red
- Dimensions - CitiZ (WxDxH): 5.1 x 14.0 x 10.9 inches (13.0 x 37.2 x 27.8 cm)
- Dimensions - CitiZ & Milk (WxDxH): 8.6 x 14.0 x 10.9 inches (21.8 x 37.2 x 27.8 cm)
- Weight - CitiZ: 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg)
- Weight - CitiZ & Milk: 8.9 lbs (4.0 kg)
- Water Tank: 34 oz (1 L) removable
- Spent Capsule Capacity: 6-11 capsules
- Power Rating: 1710 Watts
Key Features
- Brew Pressure: 19 bar
- Heat-up time: 25 seconds
- Brewing Sizes: Espresso (1.35 oz) and Lungo (3.7 oz)
- Customizable Brew Sizes? Yes
- Pre-programmed drinks: 2 (espresso, lungo)
- Milk System: The CitiZ & Milk includes a built-in Aeroccino3 frother for $50 more.
- Milk Settings: N/A
- Milk Jug: N/A
- Hot Water Dispenser? No
- Auto-off: 9 minutes (can be extended up to 30 min)
- Cleaning: Descaling mode but no prompts
- Suitable for Latte Art? No
- Warranty: 1 year
Nespresso CitiZ Review
Design and Build Quality
This espresso maker has a sleek, retro design that is iconic with the Nespresso brand.
It has a large choice of colors compared to other models including limousine black, silver, white, and cherry red.
If you want to keep this slim design Nespresso on your counter and want it to blend in (or stand out) then the color choice might be a major factor for you.
The compact size of this coffee maker (while larger than similar models) means it can sit out on your counter. The water container is at the back like other Nespresso machines meaning you will probably have to move it to refill with water, although the tank is removable to make this easier.
There are also two versions of this Nespresso machine. These are the CitiZ and the CitiZ & Milk. The latter comes with a built-in Aeroccino3 frother for an additional $50 (at the time of writing). However, this makes the CitiZ & Milk wider, 8.6 inches (21.8 cm) wide compared to the CitiZ which is 5.1 inches (13.0 cm) wide.
We don't think the CitiZ & Milk is a good design decision because the frother is static and cannot be placed behind or to the left of the coffee maker. This means the CitiZ & Milk is suddenly not as compact as it appears to be.
It won a Red Dot Design Award, which if you don’t know, is a German International award for good looking products. This sounds prestigious, and while it is, the Nespresso CitiZ looks like the identical twin to the Nespresso Pixie only with a different haircut. In fact, the Pixie, with its premium use of materials like aluminum, is the winner in our eyes.
The Nespresso CitiZ has a larger water container than most rival models. It can hold around 10 oz more than others, with a capacity of 34 oz (1 L). This saves you from having to constantly refill it, making it quicker to make your coffee. Although if you prefer fresh water for every cup, then the size of the water container won’t be a big issue.
The folding cup tray is a neat touch since it'll help keep your espresso warmer.
The removable cup tray makes it convenient to use a taller cup for making different coffees or you could even use your travel cup.
Features and Ease of Use
This coffee machine has two brewing options, espresso and a lungo size coffee. For an additional $50, the CitiZ comes with a built-in Aeroccino 3 milk frother to make milk-based coffees. However, this is the same as buying a separate frother, as you will need to pour the milk manually.
This Nespresso coffee maker takes around 25 seconds to heat up which makes it super quick to brew your espresso in the morning. The one touch buttons also make it quick to use and it means there isn’t a learning curve for this machine as it’s self-explanatory.
Like most machines from Nespresso, it's very easy and intuitive to use.
The machine will automatically shut off after nine minutes, although this can be extended to up to 30 minutes. This helps to reduce your energy consumption by 40%. The shut-off function is also a good safety feature in case you forget to switch it off as you run out the door.
The two buttons on the machine can be reprogrammed for custom water volumes which make it even quicker to brew your perfect cup of coffee.
The buttons are also backlit on the machine to make them easier to see but I wouldn’t recommend brewing a cup of coffee in the middle of the night just to try this out (plus, you wouldn’t get to sleep again with the caffeine).
Coffee Drink Quality
Nespresso’s Original Line coffee makers all have a 19-bar pump to ensure a good coffee quality. To make a proper espresso you need 9 bars, so 19 is more than enough.
They work by using pressurized water to flow through the ground coffee at an optimized temperature and flow. A high-pressure pump means a richer coffee with more crema. It also means the quicker it is to brew.
While the newer Vertuo coffee makers use centrifusion, a lot of people prefer the older pump pressure because it makes something closer to authentic espresso.
Although the coffee quality from this machine itself will not be that of coffee shops, the resulting espresso does have a thick layer of crema.
You may find the espresso quality a little weaker and a bit generic, compared to a café. It’s difficult to beat freshly ground espresso beans brewed in a portafilter espresso machine.
You could potentially improve the coffee quality by filling a 3rd party re-usable capsule with freshly and finely ground coffee beans.
If you purchase the CitiZ & Milk or even buy the Aeroccino3 milk frother separately, it does provide a lovely thick foam that lets you make the perfect cappuccinos and lattes at home, without needing to spend thousands of dollars on a fancy espresso machine.
You can use this frother for hot milk, or to obtain cold milk froth if you want an icy coffee drink.
Cleaning and Maintenance
There are no automatic cleaning functions on this machine, so you’re doing it by hand. It does have a removable drip tray, water tank, and capsule container to make cleaning it easier, but this is a manual process that needs to be done regularly.
However, there is a descaling function, but you will need to track time as there aren't any prompts or descaling lights advising you when to descale your CitiZ.
To descale it, you must empty the drip tray and capsule container, fill the water tank, and use descaling liquid. You must place a container under the spout and then press the espresso and lungo button for 3 seconds until they blink. Then press the lungo button and the water tank will empty. You need to repeat this, then rinse your machine and press the espresso and lungo button again for 3 seconds to stop the descaling mode.
You should clean the milk system (if you have this) after each use to ensure no milk froth remains and it doesn’t get gross and functions properly. It is easy enough to do this simply by washing it.
Value for Money
The Nespresso CitiZ features are similar to other Nespresso models such as the Pixie and Essenza Mini. While it does have a bigger water container and looks good, there isn’t a whole lot of difference between it and other models.
This doesn’t really matter, apart from the fact that it is priced considerably higher than these other models. The Nespresso Pixie is a little cheaper and has an empty water container detection function, although the water container is 10 oz smaller. It also features premium materials like aluminum.
The Essenza Mini is very similar to the Nespresso CitiZ with both featuring two size options, 25-second heat up, and automatic auto-off after nine minutes. The only real difference is that the mini is indeed smaller but it’s significantly cheaper than the CitiZ.
Nespresso CitiZ should have kept the milk frother bundle if you want to make lattes and other milk-based coffees. Instead, you'll have to settle with the CitiZ & Milk version, which dictates the milk frother must be on the right.
The CitiZ uses OriginalLine Nespresso capsules which are around $0.80 per capsule which is a big difference from spending around $3 to $5 on a coffee at your local coffee bar. OriginalLine capsules are also cheaper than VertuoLine ones.
Upon purchase, at the time of writing, you will receive free coffee sample capsules. This will help you determine what you like and don't like.
For one coffee a day using your CitiZ instead of getting a takeaway coffee, you could save up to $400 a year. I’d much rather have that in my pocket than give it to Starbucks.
Our Verdict
Nespresso CitiZ Review
- Design & Build Quality - 80
- Features & Ease of Use - 80
- Coffee Drink Quality - 80
- Cleaning & Maintenance - 95
- Value for Money - 80
Overall
Nespresso CitiZ Summary
The Nespresso CitiZ is a great little machine. It’s quick to brew, makes an amazing coffee, and can easily fit on your counter. It's also intuitive to use and very easy to clean. However, it's costly compared to the very similar Essenza Mini and Pixie Nespresso machines. In addition, the CitiZ & Milk version's milk frother cannot be relocated.
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
What capsules does the Nespresso CitiZ take?
The Nespresso CitiZ is part of Nespresso’s OriginalLine machines, so it takes the Original Line capsules. These capsules are less expensive than the VertuoLine pods but still have a wide range of flavors. The CitiZ is also compatible with re-usable third-party capsules.
What is the difference between CitiZ and Essenza Mini?
The Essenza Mini is very similar to the CitiZ but it is smaller and cheaper. The water tank in particular is 10 ounces smaller but apart from that they have similar features.
The CitiZ may be a bit louder than the Essenza Mini but they are all quiet models, so this shouldn’t be particularly noticeable.
How do I use my Nespresso machine?
The CitiZ machine is similar to other Nespresso models. You switch it on, fill the water tank, and place the capsule inside.
The CitiZ has easy insertion for your pods with automatic piercing. Once you place the capsule in, you have to push the lever down before pushing a button.
What size of capsules does the CitiZ take?
The CitiZ makes two brew sizes. An espresso is 1.35 oz and a lungo is 3.7 oz.
Who makes the CitiZ?
The CitiZ is made by Breville and De'Longhi. Note that Magimix and Krups are Nespresso's UK Partners.
