Nespresso VertuoPlus Review (2023) - Read Now Before You Buy
The Nespresso VertuoPlus is a no-fuss machine that allows you to easily, conveniently, and quickly prepare coffee and espresso drinks. This machine should fit almost anywhere thanks to its compact and thoughtful design - and its water tank arm which allows you to place the tank on the sides or at the back of your machine.
This Vertuo machine also offers good value for your money.
So is this machine for you? It depends, it all comes down to your needs - and whether you want to rely on Vertuo Nespresso capsules.
Read this Nespresso VertuoPlus review to find out more!
Nespresso VertuoPlus Summary
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Design & Build Quality
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Features & Ease of Use
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Coffee Drink Quality
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Cleaning & Maintenance
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Value for Money
Overall
Bottom Line
The Nespresso VertuoPlus offers an attractive and compact design with a water tank that can be placed on the sides or rear of this machine. This coffee maker should fit on any kitchen counter! It is very easy to use, clean and maintain. It can also prepare brews from 0.7 oz to 17 oz. 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
- Can place the 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: Grey, White, and Cherry Red
- Dimensions (WxDxH): 5.6-8.7 x 12.7-16.2 x 12.8 inches (width and depth dimensions vary depending on the location of the water tank)
- Weight: 10.1 pounds
- Water Tank: 37.1 oz removable
- Spent Capsule Capacity: 10 large capsules
- Power Rating: 1300 Watts
Key Features
- Brew Pressure: N/A - Centrifusion Technology
- Heat-up time: 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 Review
Design and Build Quality
The Nespresso VertuoPlus features a modern and compact design measuring just 5.6 inches in width.
In North America, the VertuoPlus is manufactured by Breville and De'Longhi. There are some superficial design differences that do not impact the features or coffee preparation of this coffee machine. For further info, read our Nespresso Breville vs DeLonghi article.
The design by Breville features a domed shape on top, whereas the De'Longhi one is flatter on top with a smaller dome on top of which the single button of this machine lies.
Both versions of the Nespresso VertuoPlus come with an adjustable water tank arm, which allows you to place the water reservoir on the left or right side or at the back of this Nespresso machine.
This is a very thoughtful design feature, especially if you struggle for space on your kitchen counters.
It also makes removing and re-filling the 37.1 oz water tank more convenient.
As we've alluded to, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is operated with just one button and a set of LED lights surrounding this button. These lights flash at different intervals and colors to indicate the status or potential issues with the machine.
Another thoughtful piece of design is the adjustable cup support - it can be adjusted to 4 positions or even removed. So most cup sizes should fit will under the coffee dispenser of this Nespresso machine.
Features and Ease of Use
The Nespresso Vertuo Plus has been designed with simplicity in mind.
In general, we do not necessarily penalize a coffee machine for lacking features. The number of features should reflect the price of the machine. On the contrary, there are too many coffee machines out there with useless features to bloat the price while decreasing their ease of use and reliability.
Yes, the Nespresso VertuoPlus lacks features. But it achieves the right balance between features, ease of use, and price.
Features include the rapid heat-up time of 20 seconds - by the time you find the capsule you want and insert it, the Nespresso VertuoPlus should be ready to go.
You can also customize the brew size for each capsule size. The brew volume ranges from 0.3 ounces all the way to 17 ounces.
To program the brew size, all you have to do is push and hold the button until the desired volume of coffee has been dispensed. The machine will remember this setting for future brewing.
Another handy feature for us forgetful people is the automatic shut-off feature, which is set at 9 minutes.
Overall, the Nespresso VertuoPlus comes only with the necessary features to easily and conveniently prepare any size of delicious coffee.
Coffee Drink Quality
The Nespresso VertuoPlus is part of the VertuoLine of Nespresso machines (as unmistakenly implied by its name...)
But we are mentioning this because using VertuoLine coffee pods has large implications for your coffee drink.
The VertuoLine machines, including this one, use Nespresso's Centrifusion technology. This brewing process basically consists of spinning the Nespresso pods very quickly while injecting hot water at the center of the pod. While the pod rotates, coffee is brewed and expelled from small orifices along the sides of the capsules.
So no pumps and pressures are used here - so you will get something that is close to espresso but not quite the same.
If you are a purist and espresso lover who likes the convenience of coffee pod machines, we recommend that you look into getting one of the Nespresso OriginalLine machines. The Nespresso Essenza Mini or the Nespresso Pixie are simple no-fuss pod machines more adept at making espresso.
However, if you prefer to drink regular coffee, then the Nespresso VertuoPlus excels at quickly and consistently making a delicious cup of joe without messes.
Another point regarding VertuoLine coffee pods: they have a barcode that the VertuoPlus uses to read the type of capsule you have inserted, and fine-tune its brewing settings. This is a great feature for consistency.
It does have a disadvantage though. This pod machine (and all VertuoLine machines) are not compatible with third-party capsules or refillable ones. This limits the types of coffee you can use with this machine.
Cleaning & Maintenance
VertuoLine Nespresso machines excel at making your life easier, and this includes cleaning and maintenance.
The Nespresso VertuoPlus is no exception - it will ask very little from you in terms of time.
Typical daily cleaning and maintenance include emptying and rinsing the water tank, drip tray, and capsule container.
You can also start a cleaning cycle by pressing the button 3 times within 2 seconds. It takes about 5 minutes to complete.
The Nespresso Vertuo Plus will also tell you when it needs to be descaled by means of its LED lights. To descale the machine, all you need to do is fill the water reservoir with 1 unit of the Nespresso descaling liquid to 17 oz of water. Then press the lever and button for 3 seconds.
As we've mentioned, the Nespresso VertuoPlus uses various LED light blinking patterns and colors to tell you about its status and to help you troubleshoot it. Thankfully the User Manual comes with a handy table to help you decipher these codes.
Most issues can be easily solved by following the manual, but if you run into trouble make sure to check our Nespresso blinking light troubleshooting post.
Overall, thanks to its design, you can keep your Nespresso Vertuo Plus clean and well-maintained with minimal effort on your part.
Value for Money
The Nespresso VertuoPlus offers good value for money thanks to its reasonable starting price of $160.
That is even if you are forced to buy VertuoLine Nespresso capsules from Nespresso, at a cost of about $1.20 per capsule.
Assuming you drink coffee once per day, owning and operating this machine will cost about $600 for the first year.
In contrast, purchasing a $3 cup of coffee every day will cost about $1,100. So you could definitely save a significant amount of money within the first year of owning this machine.
If you like milky drinks, you will need to get the bundle with the Aero3 Milk Frother for an additional $50.
Something we should note is the high cost of Vertuo capsules. That could be a deciding factor, especially if you are thinking of keeping this machine for a few years.
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.
Or if you're thinking of venturing into the world of more traditional espresso machines, read our best espresso machines below $1000 post.
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Final Verdict
Nespresso VertuoPlus Summary
-
Design & Build Quality
-
Features & Ease of Use
-
Coffee Drink Quality
-
Cleaning & Maintenance
-
Value for Money
Overall
Bottom Line
The Nespresso VertuoPlus offers an attractive and compact design with a water tank that can be placed on the sides or rear of this machine. This coffee maker should fit on any kitchen counter! It is very easy to use, clean and maintain. It can also prepare brews from 0.7 oz to 17 oz. 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
- Can place the 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 Vertuo and VertuoPlus?
The key differences between the Nespresso Vertuo and VertuoPlus are:
- The Nespresso VertuoPlus 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 is rated at 1300W. This translates to slightly faster heating up times for the Nespresso Vertuo.
- The Nespresso Vertuo has a larger spent capsule container capacity than the VertuoPlus.
What is the difference between the Nespresso VertuoPlus and the Vertuo Next?
The key differences between the Nespresso VertuoPlus and the Nespresso Vertuo Next are:
- The Nespresso Vertuo Next is slightly smaller than the VertuoPlus. However, the Vertuo Plus 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 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 shuts off after 9 minutes.
- The Nespresso Vertuo Next offers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, whereas the VertuoPlus does not.
- The VertuoPlus has a slightly larger water tank and spent capsule capacity than the Vertuo Next.
What can the Nespresso VertuoPlus make?
The Nespresso VertuoPlus can make, depending on the capsule size: Espresso (1.35 oz), Double Espresso (2.7 oz), Gran Lungo (5.07 oz), Mug (7.8 oz), and Alto (14 oz).
Is the VertuoPlus 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 does not outweigh the above advantages of the Vertuo Next.
Can you use other pods in Nespresso VertuoPlus?
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.
