Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Review (2023) - Quick and Efficient
The Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe is a compact and modern looking Nespresso machine from the VertuoLine.
It is convenient, fast, easy to use, and clean - and its water tank arm allows you to change the position of its large 57.5 oz water tank.
So this machine should fit on any kitchen counter without too much rearrangement.
This VertuoLine machine also offers good value for your money.
It looks like the perfect pod coffee machine, doesn't it? Well, there are a few considerations such as whether you really want to rely on Vertuo Nespresso capsules.
Read this Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe review to find out more!
Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Summary
- Design & Build Quality
- Features & Ease of Use
- Coffee Drink Quality
- Cleaning & Maintenance
- Value for Money
Overall
Bottom Line
The Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe is a modern and sleek machine with a large 57.5 oz water tank which can be placed on either sides of the machine or behind it. It's very easy to use, and it reliably makes decent espresso and coffee drinks. It's also a breeze to clean and maintain. Unfortunately, it's not compatible with the coffee carafe capsule. Like all VertuoLine Nespresso machines, you can only use the more expensive VertuoLine pods (no third-party or re-usable pods).
Pros
- Compact and sleek design
- Large water tank capacity
- Can place water tank on the sides or rear
- Scans and recognizes capsules to adapt brewing settings specific to each capsule
- Can prepare espresso and coffee (dictated by capsule size)
- Good value machine
Cons
- Centrifusion technology results in a weaker espresso compared to OriginalLine machines
- Cannot use 3rd party capsules - requires the more expensive VertuoLine capsules
- Cannot use coffee carafe capsules
- Milk frother sold separately or as a bundle
Specifications
- Line: VertuoLine
- Display: None
- Materials: Plastic
- Colors: Matte Black, Black, Silver, and Titan
- Dimensions (WxDxH): 5.6-9.1 x 13.2-16.7 x 12.8 (width and depth dimensions vary depending on location of water tank)
- Weight: 10.1 pounds
- Water Tank: 57.5 oz removable
- Spent Capsule Capacity: 10 large capsules
- Power Rating: 1300 Watts
Key Features
- Brew Pressure: N/A - Centrifusion Technology
- Heat-up time: Just over 20 seconds
- Brewing Sizes: Depending on capsule size: Espresso (1.35 oz), Double Espresso (2.7 oz), Gran Lungo (5.07 oz), Mug (7.8 oz), Alto (14 oz)
- Customizable Brew Sizes? Yes
- Pre-programmed drinks: None
- Milk System: None
- Milk Settings: N/A
- Milk Jug: None
- Hot Water Dispenser? No
- Auto-off: 9 minutes
- Cleaning: Water tank level and descaling alerts. Has cleaning, descaling, and water removal programs.
- Suitable for Latte Art? No
- Warranty: 1 year
Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Review
Design and Build Quality
The Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe is a modern and sleek Nespresso machine that is mostly made of plastic - which we don't mind at this price range (there are automatic espresso machines made of plastic that cost 10x more).
Being the Deluxe version of the Nespresso VertuoPlus, there are a few differences in its aesthetics. One is the chrome finishing for the lever, and around the cupholder and its single button.
This brings us to one of its most prominent characteristics: its single button which sits on top of the dome of the machine.
You may have also noticed slight differences within the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe machines. The reason is that in North America, Breville and De'Longhi have partnered with Nespresso to manufacture these machines. It seems they have been given some liberty in terms of the aesthetics of these machines.
The design by Breville features a more rounded top, whereas the design by De'Longhi has a flat top panel with a small dome, on top of which the single button lies.
Besides this small difference, both the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe manufactured by Breville and De'Longhi are identical in terms of operations and coffee-making.
A neat design element is the adjustable water tank arm, which allows you to place the water tank on both sides of the machine, or behind it.
The tank itself is removable and quite large at 57.5 oz. This is the major difference between the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe and the Nespresso VertuoPlus, which has a water tank capacity of 37.1 oz.
The cupholder is also adjustable to 4 positions, or it can be removed. This should allow for appropriate clearance between any coffee and espresso cup sizes and the coffee dispenser.
Features and Ease of Use
The Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe is a simple machine with few features, but one that is extremely easy to use - it does not bombard the user with lots of unnecessary features (which also bloat the price).
It has one button only, which is used to power the machine, brew coffee, adjust the brew size, start the cleaning programs, and more.
The LED lights surrounding the button have different patterns and colors, to indicate the status of the machine, or whether it needs troubleshooting.
Since there isn't a screen, remembering what all these patterns mean can be difficult. It is good that Nespresso has a handy table in their Operating Manual to tell the user what these blinking lights mean.
Although this is a simple machine, it does come with a few handy features worth mentioning.
It has a fairly quick heat-up time of just over 20 seconds - so by the time you find your cup and coffee pod of choice, your machine should be ready to brew some quality coffee.
It also automatically ejects spent capsules - which is more of a gimmick than anything. How strenuous can it be to lift a piece of plastic?
This single serve coffee machine accepts all of the VertuoLine capsules, except for the coffee carafe one (which can be used with the Vertuo Next Nespresso Machines).
You can also customize your brew size by holding the button until the desired amount of coffee has been dispensed. The machine will remember the new brew size for future uses.
This single serve espresso machine also comes with an auto-off feature, set at 9 minutes by default.
In short, one of the VertuoPlus Deluxe's strengths lie on its simple, minimalistic design to allow the user to conveniently and quickly make coffee or espresso drinks.
Coffee Drink Quality
The Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe, like any other Nespresso Vertuo machine, uses Nespresso's Centrifusion brewing system.
Basically, the capsules are spun at very high speeds while hot water is injected from the center. As the capsule rotates, the coffee and water mix, and then the resulting coffee drink is expelled via small orifices on the side of the capsule.
In addition, all VertuoLine machines, including the VertuoPlus deluxe, incorporate capsule scanning technology to adjust settings such as coffee temperature to adapt each brew to each capsule.
This is a double-edged sword, however. It is good in the sense that you will get consistently good coffee, with settings fine-tuned to each capsule, but the scanning technology means you are stuck using premium Nespresso Vertuo capsules.
Third party-capsules or re-fillable ones are not compatible. So this limits your choice of coffee grounds and hurts the wallet (more on that later).
If you are one to only drink espresso, you should note that Vertuo machines dispense something that is close, but not quite espresso. Don't expect something from a third wave coffee shop. The crema is too airy and the espresso does not have that thick mouthfeel we all love.
The Nespresso Essenza Mini or the Nespresso Pixie are other Nespresso machines from the OriginalLine of Nespresso machines that are better suited to making espresso (but not to making regular coffee).
However, if you are not a purist (or a pompous coffee connoisseur), and like to drink coffee and espresso, then this machine dispenses a decent cup of coffee with minimal effort on your part.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Cleaning and maintaining this machine is very very easy.
There are very few components to clean on a regular basis. These include the water reservoir, the drip tray, and the used capsule container. Cleaning them should only take a few minutes from your life.
Given the large water tank, you will need to empty it and rinse it less often than other Nespresso VertuoLine machines.
Despite its apparent simple layout, the Nespresso Vertuoplus Deluxe will tell you through its set of LED lights when the tank needs to be re-filled, whether there is a capsule that has not been ejected, and when it needs to be descaled.
Descaling is initiated by pressing the lever and button together for 3 seconds. It takes about 20 minutes to go through this process.
Cleaning is initiated by pressing the button 3 times within 2 seconds. It takes about 5 minutes to complete the cleaning cycle.
If there is something wrong with your machine or it needs some troubleshooting, you may see orange or red blinking lights. The instruction manual provides some guidance. However, troubleshooting your Nespresso can be a hit and miss so we have prepared a brief Nespresso Vertuo troubleshooting guide.
In short, having a clean and well-maintained machine is very important from a hygienic and reliable standpoint. The design of the VertuoPlus Deluxe allows you to do so effortlessly.
Value for Money
The Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe offers good value for money thanks to its reasonable starting price of $190.
It is about $30 more expensive when compared to the Nespresso VertuoPlus. For this additional cost, you get a water tank that is about 20 oz larger. You also get more premium colors and some chrome - but the design differences between the two models are not earth shattering.
If you have a large household (or drink coffee excessively), then getting the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe makes sense. If you live alone, or your household consumes only 2-3 cups of coffee per day, the additional cost for a larger tank is not worth it.
It might also be worth checking out the Nespresso Evoluo which has a large water tank and spent capsule capacity. It's a discontinued model so you may be able to find good deals.
So the Nespresso VertuoLine Deluxe provides good value for households that consume a lot of coffee, despite being stuck with expensive Nespresso Vertuo coffee pods, each costing about $1.20.
Assuming you drink coffee once per day, owning and operating this machine will cost about $630 for the first year.
This cost is quite low, compared to purchasing a $3 cup of coffee each day, costing about $1,100.
If you like milky drinks, you will need to get the bundle with the Aero3 Milk Frother for an additional $50.
If you want to save even more money (at the expense of the large range of brew sizes the VertuoLine offers), check then our top OriginalLine Nespresso Machines. The Nespresso Pixie or the Essenza Mini are great choices.
Or in the long run, you could save more money by getting a more traditional espresso machine. Read top picks for espresso machines below $1000 post for some guidance!
Final Verdict
Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Summary
- Design & Build Quality
- Features & Ease of Use
- Coffee Drink Quality
- Cleaning & Maintenance
- Value for Money
Overall
Bottom Line
The Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe is a modern and sleek machine with a large 57.5 oz water tank which can be placed on either sides of the machine or behind it. It's very easy to use, and it reliably makes decent espresso and coffee drinks. It's also a breeze to clean and maintain. Unfortunately, it's not compatible with the coffee carafe capsule. Like all VertuoLine Nespresso machines, you can only use the more expensive VertuoLine pods (no third-party or re-usable pods).
Pros
- Compact and sleek design
- Large water tank capacity
- Can place water tank on the sides or rear
- Scans and recognizes capsules to adapt brewing settings specific to each capsule
- Can prepare espresso and coffee (dictated by capsule size)
- Good value machine
Cons
- Centrifusion technology results in a weaker espresso compared to OriginalLine machines
- Cannot use 3rd party capsules - requires the more expensive VertuoLine capsules
- Cannot use coffee carafe capsules
- Milk frother sold separately or as a bundle
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Nespresso VertuoPlus and VertuoPlus Deluxe?
The key differences between the Nespresso VertuoPlus and VertuoPlus Deluxe are:
- The Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe has a 57.5 oz water tank whereas the Nespresso VertuoPlus has a 37.1 oz water tank.
- The Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe has chrome additions around the single button, lever, and cup holder. The Nespresso VertuoPlus does not have chrome finishes.
What is the difference between the Nespresso Vertuo and VertuoPlus Deluxe?
The key differences between the Nespresso Vertuo and VertuoPlus Deluxe are:
- The Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe can potentially save counter space thanks to its swivel water tank - it can be positioned on the sides or back. The water tank of the Nespresso Vertuo is static.
- The Nespresso Vertuo is rated at 1350W whereas the VertuoPLus Deluxe is rated at 1300W. This translates to slightly faster heating times for the Nespresso Vertuo.
- The Nespresso Vertuo has a larger spent capsule container capacity than the VertuoPlus Deluxe.
What is the difference between the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe and the Vertuo Next?
The key differences between the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe and the Nespresso Vertuo Next are:
- The Nespresso Vertuo Next is slightly smaller than the VertuoPlus Deluxe. However, the Vertuo Plus Deluxe has an adjustable water tank arm, which allows you to place the tank to the left, right, or behind the machine.
- The Nespresso Vertuo Next is compatible with the "coffee carafe" pod (18 oz), whereas the VertuoPlus Deluxe is not.
- The Nespresso Vertuo Next is more environmentally friendly as it's made with 54% of recycled plastic, and shuts off after 2 minutes. The VertuoPlus Deluxe shuts off after 9 minutes.
- The Nespresso Vertuo Next offers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, whereas the VertuoPlus Deluxe does not.
- The VertuoPlus Deluxe has a larger water tank and spent capsule capacity than the Vertuo Next.
What can the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe make?
Depending on the capsule size, the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe can brew Espresso (1.35 oz), Double Espresso (2.7 oz), Gran Lungo (5.07 oz), Mug (7.8 oz), and Alto (14 oz). Milky drinks require a milk frother which is not included.
Is the VertuoPlus Deluxe better than the Vertuo Next?
The Vertuo Next is the better machine. It is compatible with the coffee carafe capsule, is made of recycled plastic, and has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. Unless you are desperately tight in kitchen counter space, the adjustable water tank of the VertuoPlus Deluxe does not outweigh the above advantages of the Vertuo Next.
Can you use other pods in Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe?
No, you cannot. Only Vertuo Nespresso capsules are compatible with the Nespresso VertuoPlus. Third-party or refillable coffee pods are only compatible with OriginalLine Nespresso machines.
What Does the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Come With?
At the time of writing, you will get upon purchase the machine (duh!), a box of free coffee capsules, a welcome kit, and the user manual.
Can I Make Specialty Coffee Drinks with the VertuoPlus Deluxe?
No, you cannot as a milk frother is not included. If you are looking for a Nespresso machine with an integrated milk frother, take a look at the Creatista Plus or the Gran Lattissima.
