Decent coffee is more than a morning pick-me-up with a longstanding history of cultural influence. Many people are bringing that cultural influence into their homes with machines like Nespresso, giving them the ability to craft tasty coffee shop cappuccinos and flavorful lattes from the comfort of their kitchen.
With the quality and convenience of single-serve coffee machines, there’s no question why more than 40 percent of American households have some type of single-serve coffee brewing system at home.
When it comes to choosing the right one for you, though, how to decide? Nespresso has taken the lead globally as one of the best luxury coffee makers and espresso brewing machines. They’re a hefty investment, but are they worth the hype?
Let’s take a look at the cost versus value of these high-quality machines.
Reasons You Should Buy a Nespresso Machine
Nespresso machines come with a hefty price tag, but there are several reasons these specialty espresso and coffee brewers are worth it.
Convenience
If you’ve ever tried to make espresso or watched your favorite barista take the time to pour your favorite drink perfectly, you know how long it takes to make the perfect latte, cappuccino, or espresso shot.
Brewing the perfect espresso involves grinding, tamping, and pulling, and it takes experience to get it right.
With Nespresso, time and experience are not a problem.
Nespresso machines will brew your favorite espresso-style drinks in under a minute, and you don’t have to do much work to make them. There’s no need to worry if you used enough coffee grounds. Simply pop in a capsule, and the machine will do the work for you.
The result? A thick, creamy espresso topped with crema — in less than one minute.
Nespresso machines are available with a built-in milk frother for latte lovers to make lattes and cappuccinos the way they like them quickly.
Taste
Since you’re not tampering with the ground espresso yourself, every cup you brew will taste the same. There’s no guesswork, and each capsule holds the exact amount that’s perfect for a single serving brew.
There’s something for every taste bud, too. You can find a dark, medium, and light brew from all of the best coffee bean regions in the world on Nespresso’s website or wherever you’d buy your Nespresso capsules.
Variety
Even though you have to use Nespresso-brand capsules in a Nespresso machine, the company does a fantastic job of offering various coffee types to fit every taste bud.
Nespresso divides its coffee offerings into two: Virtuoso and original. The Virtuoso coffees work with the espresso machines of the same name that create full-size coffees, lattes, and more. The original machines make espresso-sized drinks for the more traditional coffee enthusiast.
There are various packs of capsules so you can taste test your way around the world or figure out your favorite pour-over coffee. Buy an assortment of darks, lights, or Nespresso’s favorites for iced coffees.
When you find the ones you like, you can buy capsules in sleeves of 10 or single packs for just over one dollar each.
Long-Lasting Capsules
In addition to the wide variety of capsules available, they take a very long time to go stale. Each pod comes packed with nitrogen, which helps stave off oxidation, the primary factor in making coffee stale.
While you should always keep an eye on the expiration date, there’s peace of mind knowing you can invest in a bulk box of capsules and not worry about them going bad.
Reasons You Shouldn’t Buy a Nespresso Machine
Every product has to have a downside to it, and Nespresso is no exception. These are the reasons you might not want to buy a Nespresso machine.
Cost
Nespresso machines represent a much more expensive upfront investment than a standard at-home espresso machine. The basic model starts at $150 to $200. If you want something with more features, expect to pay a lot more.
In addition to the upfront cost, you’ll constantly be paying to buy new coffee pods. At just over one dollar per pod, each cup of coffee you make could run up to two dollars (if you add milk or other flavorings to it). While that’s more than half the price of buying a cup of coffee at your local shop for your daily coffee habit, that’s still a monthly coffee cost to be aware of.
There are third-party capsules compatible with Nespresso that are much cheaper. You can also buy reusable capsules, but then you’ll need to go through the grinding and measuring process (but you can grind your espresso beans for free if you want!).
Espresso-Only
Investing in a Nespresso machine means you’ll only be drinking espresso-style coffee for a long time to come. The machines only make ristretto, espresso, and lungo. If you buy an original machine, you’ll only be drinking small cups of espresso.
While you can invest in a Virtuoso machine that makes lattes and cappuccinos, you won’t be able to make a standard cup of joe with cream and sugar. Some days, that simple cup of normal coffee is all you need.
A Keurig may be better suited for your home if you prefer regular coffee over specialty brews like espresso and lattes.
Negative Environmental Impact
Unless you opt for the reusable Nespresso pod, you’ll be throwing out an aluminum capsule every time you make a cup of great-tasting coffee. The trash can add up in the landfill, further increasing your carbon footprint.
However, if you’re dedicated to helping the environment, Nespresso lets you send your used pods back to them for recycling.
Conclusion
If you’re a coffee nerd (chances are good if you’re reading this article), then we think investing in a Nespresso machine is 100% worth it. You can’t beat the high-quality espresso you can brew in under a minute while sitting on the couch in your pajamas.
If you’re worried about factors like environmental impact, you can buy reusable pods and go for the traditional espresso bean grinding and measuring. You can also send used pods back to Nespresso for recycling.
If you have no desire to learn the ins and outs of brewing smooth, tasty espresso but still want a delicious morning brew or evening cap, a Nespresso machine is suitable for you.
Happy Caffeinating!
