DeLonghi Nespresso Vertuo Plus review

Why choose DeLonghi Nespresso Vertuo Plus coffee and espresso machine?

I was preparing this DeLonghi Nespresso Vertuo Plus review, after having thoroughly enjoyed Breville Nespresso Vertuo. Although similar, those two machines may appeal to two very different consumers. What they do have in common is the innovation, ease and convenience.

There are some meaningful ways in which Nespresso Vertuo Plus is different from Nespresso Vertuo. The main differences are as follows:

• Nespresso Vertuo Plus is designed and manufactured by DeLonghi. We have already tested and reviewed other DeLonghi Nespresso machine: Lattissima and Lattissima Plus. While nice coffee makers, we were not overly impressed with what these DeLonghi machines could do. Therefore, we approached DeLonghi Nespresso Vertuo Plus with some suspicion.
• As you can see above in this Nespresso Vertuo Plus review, Vertuo Plus has a very different appearance. The machine looks much simpler.
• Nespresso Vertuo Plus comes with a movable water tank and a smaller container for the used capsules.
• Nespresso Vertuo Plus takes a bit longer to heat up water (20 seconds vs 15 seconds for Vertuo).

Who is Nespresso Vertuo Plus perfect for?

This is the most difficult part of the Nespresso Vertuo Plus review. In trying to understand the difference between Nespresso Vertuo Plus and Nespresso Vertuo, I also wanted to see who should choose Vertuo Plus over Vertuo.

In my opinion, Nespresso Vertuo Plus is a simpler and more basic coffee maker that uses some of the Nespresso technology.

DeLonghi Nespresso Vertuo Plus can be an excellent choice for the following:

✓ Users of single serve coffee makers who wish to upgrade their machine

✓ Some color versions of the machine sell in the $$ price range

Who is Nespresso Vertuo Plus NOT perfect for?

I would love to remain honest in this Nespresso Vertuo Plus review. I think that there are a couple of examples where where Nespresso Vertuo might not be a perfect choice:

✗ Consumers who are interested in a great price-to-value ration: although the machine is good, there are better machines for the same or lower price

✗ The machine appears to be short lived: some consumers report that the machine is not as durable as some other Nespresso machines

✗ Coffee capsules have limited availability: some can be ordered only from the Nespresso shops at the moment

✗ Standard Nespresso coffee pods are not compatible with this machine

✗ Users who prefer flexibility and ownership in the coffee brewing process

✗ Does NOT use ground coffee

✗ Machine contains plastic, and capsules are aluminium

Nespresso Vertuo Plus Review and Evaluation 🕵️

→ Appearance

I was excited to test a Nespresso Vertuo Plus coffee machine. Though I wanted to buy a bundle with aeroccino (a milk frother) for this Nespresso Vertuo Plus review, the price was absolutely egregious! It was about $100 more expensive a separate purchase of Vertuo Plus machine and aeroccino.

However, the good news is that the coffee maker came with a welcome kit, which contained several different single serve capsules. Nespresso Vertuo Plus was made mainly of plastic.

The Nespresso Vertuo Plus looks good on the kitchen counter. It has a modern design with smooth lines and rounded shape. The DeLonghi Nespresso Vertuo Plus coffee machine can come in 4 different colors:

• matte black: $$ price point (at the time of publishing, the most affordable color version),
• ink black: $$$$ price point (at the time of publishing, the product was not available,
• graphite grey: $$ price point, and
• red (at the time of publishing, this was the least affordable color version).

The Nespresso online store sells this machine in 4 different color designs: White, Red, Grey and Blue (as limited edition).

The pouring outlet sits in the front side of the machine. The container for used capsules is located at the back of the machine, while the removable water tank has an appealing, cylindrical shape and is placed on a mobile stand that can be moved from the back, to the side of the machine.

Located on the top of the machine, the control panel was super easy and straightforward. It featured two controls:

• 1 button to turn on/off brewing, and
• 1 dial to lock or unlock the capsule holder

The on/off button was the only button Nespresso Vertuo Plus has, and it is this button that I press when I want to turn the machine on or off, when I want to start brewing, as well as when I want to start the self-cleaning process or the descaling cycle.

→ Features and technical specs

Voltage: Nespresso Vertuo Plus is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only.

Basket size: Nespresso Vertuo Plus uses VertuoLine capsules that come in 3 different sizes and can make 5 different coffee cup sizes. The machine reads the barcode on the rim of the capsule using laser technology, and automatically knows which cup size to brew.

Beverage size: An in-built laser technology detects the type of a capsule and brews an appropriate size, accordingly. The VertuoLine capsules can make 5 different coffee and espresso cup sizes:

• espresso (1.35oz/40ml)
• double espresso (2.7oz/80ml),
• gran lungo (5oz/150ml),
• mug (7.77oz/230ml), and
• alto (14oz/414ml).

However, these sizes can be modified and reprogrammed to fit the user’s desired cup size. To reprogram a certain cup size, I just need to put a capsule in the machine, press the on/off button and keep pressing until the desired coffee quantity has been poured in my cup.

Weight: Nespresso Vertuo Plus weights about 10 lbs, which makes it quite easy to lift and to handle. However, since all the controls and both the water and the capsule containers are located either on top or on the sides of the machine, it is highly unlikely that the Nespresso Vertuo Plus will need to move a lot.

Unit size: The machine is rather compact and fits really well on my countertop. It has a width of 9in, a depth of 14in, and a height of 13in. Nespresso Vertuo Plus is larger than Nespresso Vertuo.

Milk frother: The machine I got for this Nespresso Vertuo Plus review did NOT come with a milk frother known as the aeroccino. Though there was an option to buy a bundle of a Vertuo Plus and aeroccino, the bundle was about $100 more expensive than purchasing aeroccino and Vertuo Plus SEPARATELY. Though aeroccino is nothing like Breville BES870XL milk frother, it still did a nice job to create milk froth for lovely cappuccinos and lattes.

Pressure / pressure gauge: Nespresso Vertuo Plus has a pressure pump with a capacity of 19 bar, which helps the machine create coffee that is both rich and creamy.

Water reservoir: Nespresso Vertuo Plus has a removable water tank with a capacity of 40 oz. In case I wanted to clean or fill the reservoir with water, I was able to easily detach it by pulling upwards. The water reservoir has a cylindrical shape and lies on a mobile platform that allowed me to change its position from the back of the machine, to the side of the machine.

Additional perks: I was so excited for this Nespresso Vertuo Plus review. The machine comes with some really great and unparalleled features.

✓ Nespresso Vertuo Plus automatically detects your desired coffee blend and adjusts brewing accordingly. the machine uses laser technology and barcode reading system to recognize the cup size and the coffee blend of each capsule. The Nespresso Vertuo Plus is a laser class 1 product.

✓ Ability to extract coffee fully by blending water and coffee through a patented centrifusion technology. Nespresso Vertuo Plus coffee and espresso machine uses Centrifusion, a patented extraction technology developed by Nespresso, which means that during the brewing cycle capsules spin inside the machine with 7000 rotations per minute, which ensures that water and coffee are completely blended, and which also produces the perfect crema on top of my coffee.

✓ Though a cup size is detected automatically, I was still able to adjust water and coffee volume to my liking. Despite pre-set water and coffee volumes, I was able to program according to my own preference. All I have to do is insert a capsule inside the machine, press the on/off button and keep pressing until the desired amount of coffee has been poured in my cup. From this moment on, every time I introduce this type of capsule in the machine, I will get the same amount of coffee.

✓ Great features for ecologically mindful users. – Automatic power off after 9 minute. The machine turns itself off after not being used for 9 minutes in a row, in order to save energy.

✓ The container can store up to 10 large empty capsules. Though this machine is slightly larger than Nespresso Veruto, it can actually store FEWER used capsules.

✓ Coffee capsule recycling program. Nespresso sends its customers UPS bags that can be filled with the used capsules and dropped for free at any UPS centre in order to be sent back to Nespresso for recycling.

→ Performance

Brewing time: The water heating time is rather short (20 seconds) and the brewing time itself takes under one minute. This time is just a little longer than what Breville’s Nespresso Vertuo takes.

Flavor: I brewed multiple cups of coffee for this Nespresso Vertuo Plus review. My coffee was quite rich and strong. Thanks to the aeroccino, I was able to get some nice crema on top!

Temperature: In my tests, Nespresso Vertuo Plus yielded temperatures below 195 degrees. I registered temperatures of around 160 degrees F (vs 195 – 205 F degrees). My recommendation is to heat the cup before inserting coffee into it.

Noise levels: There were no remarkable noises coming from the machine. It performed similarly to others. There was a small winding noise, but this was nothing unusual.

Cleaning: Cleaning of Nespresso Vertuo is rather simple. The machine dumps the used capsules in the capsule container after each use. All I have to do is to lift the cover of the capsule chamber. I recommend taking the capsules out of the capsule chamber each time after the brewing is over.

The machine surfaces should be cleaned regularly with a damp cloth, while the capsule container and the drip tray should be washer regularly with water (they should never be put in the dishwasher).

The machine has an automatic self-cleaning feature that can be started by pressing the on/off button 3 times over a 2 seconds period. The orange light will blink throughout the cleaning cycle, which can take up to 5 minutes. The cleaning cycle can be stopped at any time by pressing the on/off button once.

During this cleaning cycle, the machine runs clean water through its inner system and then throws it out through the pouring outlet. I have to make sure that I have placed a recipient under the pouring outlet during this process, so that the dumped water could be collected.

The machine is also equipped with a descaling alert. The light will become green and light simultaneously. The machine can only be used a few more times after the alert comes on and before the descaling becomes mandatory. To descale the Nespresso Vertuo, I just need to follow the steps described in the user’s manual. It is recommended to use only descaling solution and to never use vinegar for descaling this machine.

Customer-reported technical issues

This Nespresso Verto Plus review comes only after a couple of weeks of testing this product. I have personally not encountered any challenges or problems with the unit. Overall, it seems that Nespresso Vertuo Plus is a highly rated and loved product.

There are a couple of user complaints about this product:

• Nespresso Vertuo Plus may not be as durable/strong as some other Nespresso machines
• Coffee was not hot enough
• Customer support not very helpful
• Limited availability of Nespresso capsules compatible with this coffee maker
• Nespresso capsules can be rather expensive

→ Health and safety

I was rather very disappointed about DeLonghi Nespresso Vertuo Plus. I was not able to find any official statements regarding chemicals, materials and plastics used in this machine. I went through instructions, manuals, user guides, and Amazon’s product page.

That being said, I do not know whether this machine is BPA-free. I am not sure whether this machine uses other types of plastic, such as BHPF (fluorene-9-bisphenol), TPP (triphenyl phosphate), and bisphenol S (BPS).

What I do know is that DeLonghi Nespresso Vertuo Plus contains a lot of plastic. Therefore, I will be reaching out to DeLonghi to inquire about the materials used in this coffee maker.

Further, what I do know is that this machine utilizes aluminium pods. Thus, I strongly recommend that anyone who thinks about purchasing a machine that uses coffee pods should first do a thorough research on the health and environmental concerns that have been associated with the use of coffee pod brewers over the years.

→ Price to value: is Nespresso Vertuo worth the money?

Nespresso Vertuo Plus sells anywhere between high-$$ to mid-$$$$ price point. The price depends on the color design. To be perfectly honest, I do not understand why a red version can cost more than a gray version. Both use the same amount of colored plastic in the manufacturing process.

I like that Nespresso Vertuo Plus comes with convenience, ease and speed in coffee brewing process. There’s a lot of technology to speed up and improve coffee brewing. As a result, coffee that comes out of this machine is rather tasty.

However, Nespresso Vertuo Plus does not offer the strongest value-to-price ratio. With fewer features and less robust functionality I was surprised this machine was called a Plus in its title.

As I mentioned earlier, I wanted to buy a bundle with aeroccino (a milk frother) for this Nespresso Vertuo Plus review. However, the price was absolutely unreasonable! It was about $100 more expensive than Vertuo Plus machine and aeroccino purchased separately.

Should I buy Breville Nespresso Vertuo Plus? Owly’s verdict! 🔨

As I attempted to show in this Nespresso Vertuo Plus review, the coffee machine is rather attractive and well-designed. It brews really good coffee from capsules.

However, there are not many differences between Nespresso Vertuo Plus and a regular Nespresso Vertuo. In fact, when comparing side by side, Nespresso Vertuo Plus comes with poorer features and less satisfying performance, for instance:

• holds only 10 used capsules vs 12,
• takes 20 seconds to heat up water vs 15,
• is larger and bulkier size wise, and
• coffee is not hot enough.

Additionally, if a milk frother is added, this machine can come out to be more expensive than a regular, better-equipped Nespresso Vertuo by Breville.

Therefore, I do not understand why Nespresso Vertuo Plus coffee machine deserves to hold a Plus in its title. Nevertheless, I still think that some coffee lovers may really enjoy this machine for its functionality and convenience.

Will you get Nespresso Vertuo Plus? What was your experience with Nespresso Vertuo Plus? Do you love coffee brewed from capsules? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, under this Nespresso Vertuo Plus review!