Nespresso Vertuo Pop coffee maker review – small but mighty

The Nespresso Vertuo Pop is not as tall and elaborate as some of the brand's more expert coffee makers, but the compact, colorful design, which consistently serves delicious coffee every time, means that this coffee maker gets a lot of admiration. So, should you buy one?

Knowing the best Nespresso coffee maker for you might seem like an overwhelming task to explore, however, in reality, these coffee makers have all been designed for different homes. The bright and bold Vertuo Pop is intended for those with smaller homes with compact countertops, so if you're looking for a sleek, space-saving machine, then you're in for a treat.

Our experts put this to the test across a range of cup sizes and pod flavors to find out whether it's one of the best single-serve coffee makers out there. Here are the results of our extensive tests.

Specifications

Who would it suit?

Overall, this is a sleek-looking machine, minimalist in design and nicely proportioned. I was sent the Liquorice Black version to test, but I wouldn’t have minded any of the more vibrant color options available, the Pacific Blue is especially lovely.

Measuring a slender 5.3 inches wide, you won’t need to sacrifice a lot of space on your countertops to accommodate this small-scale machine. Although it’s only 9.8 inches high, the shortest of Nespresso’s three Vertuo models, it’s worth noting that you’ll need a 14-inch clearance to pop new pods inside. The water reservoir is also right at the back, so you may need to pull it forward to fill it if you have a shelf or wall cabinet above.

Oh, and the pod bin is at the side, so you’ll need to be able to access that, too. Luckily, it’s a very lightweight machine and no effort at all to pull forward, as long as you have the space on your counters to do so. You could also store it in a cupboard quite easily if you don’t drink coffee on a daily basis, but like to be able to produce decent coffee when friends come over.

Unboxing and setting up

There’s really nothing to the setup process, besides plugging the machine in. The power cable is not very long but is surprisingly stiff and unyielding, so you’ll need to position this coffee machine near a socket.

You can download the Nespresso app and pair the Vertuo Pop with your phone or device but there’s really no obligation to do this – you will still be able to enjoy the exact same tasty coffee without linking to an app. Downloading the app doesn’t allow you to control the machine from your phone, it’s more about maintenance tutorials and ordering pods, but you can do that just as easily online. You can also check current water levels using the app, although I generally found using my eyes to check the water was perfectly sufficient. The app was a tad glitchy, freezing every so often and I soon turned notifications off.

I was delighted to discover the Vertuo Pop comes with a taster menu box of 12 Vertuo pods, which meant I could try out lots of different flavors before committing to buying a box of 10 capsules.

What's it like to use?

User ease is incredibly intuitive and couldn’t be simpler. I didn’t need to look at any instructions, even my 81-year-old mother-in-law who doesn’t have a mobile phone or computer sussed it without any guidance. She was babysitting, her desperation for caffeine was probably a good incentive.

For those interested in instructions, to make a coffee just unlock the lid by pushing the small lever in the top to the right, put a pod in the pod-shaped hole, and lock it again by closing the lid and pushing the lever back to the left. Press the one and only button, making sure you have a mug in position, and the coffee will arrive in about the same time it takes to get milk out of the fridge.

The water tank is at the back, which made it slightly awkward to reach as we have a shelf above, but at least it was out of sight. It pops off easily if you want to take it to the tap, or you can fill it in situ using a jug. Be warned that the water tank is not very big, which means you’ll have to refill it multiple times if you are entertaining. The benefit of a smaller tank is you’re much less likely to end up with stagnant water if you don’t often drink coffee.

Once the pod bin is full of empty capsules, it is easy to empty by simply pulling the bin out from one side. It has a solid tray on the bottom, so you won’t trail water on the way to the waste bin.

For environmentally friendly disposal, Nespresso offers a free recycling service for old capsules, just order a recycling bag when you buy new capsules direct from Nespresso and request a collection. Rather disappointingly the collection service is operated separately to delivery, which feels kind of counterintuitive from a carbon footprint stance. There is an option to drop empty capsules off at your nearest Nespresso Boutique (and pick up another bag while you’re there).

What are the coffee flavors like?

When it comes to the actual coffee experience, I have to say I was very, very impressed. I have happily owned a Nespresso machine for several years, but it is one of the first generation machines, which takes the small ‘original’ capsules. The coffee is tasty enough and, as the only coffee drinker in the house, it suits me not to have to buy large bags of coffee beans or grounds that potentially go stale before I get through them. I’ve also had a French press in the past but the mess. It’s just too much bother for one person.

Anyway, the point is, while I wasn’t unhappy with my Original machine or its pods, the Vertuo capsules knocked them out of the park. The flavor is deeper, the crema thicker and the aroma fills my kitchen in a way I have never experienced before. Nespresso says this is achieved by its trademarked Centrifusion Technology, which judging by the mad whirring sound emitted from the machine, means the pods are spun around very quickly to ensure every drop of flavor is extracted from each capsule.

It is massively superior to any coffee I have achieved from my Nespresso Original capsule machine and I happily slurped my way through all the Vertuo capsules supplied. The special edition Infiniment Gourmand Saveur Noisette by Hermé was a clear favorite but I even enjoyed the more obscure choices like Vanilla Custard Pie and Toccano, which is described as Berry & Winey. If you need serious waking up, the double espresso capsules definitely do the job, but beware, you’ll only need one in 24 hours.

Rather cleverly, the Vertuo Pop doesn’t have any buttons to adjust the size of drink required, instead it uses Automatic Blend Recognition, which essentially uses barcode scanning to find out the right amount of water according to the type of pod you put in. Make sure you don’t put an espresso cup underneath if you have used a Gran Lungo pod.

Speaking of cups, the Vertuo Pop delivers up to 8 oz of coffee, but I was a bit disappointed by the fact you have to remove the drip tray to get normal-sized mugs under the spout. It lifts off easily enough but then you are left with coffee drips on your countertops once you’ve taken the drink away unless you are a ninja and can get the drip tray back on before it drips. I tried and failed. You could buy an especially short-wide mug (no doubt Nespresso sells just the thing), but otherwise, the drip tray is really only suitable for espresso-size cups.

The machine will power off automatically after two minutes of inactivity, to save electricity, which is a useful feature given the current fuel crisis.

Cleaning, storage, and maintenance

As the coffee grounds are so neatly contained in the capsules, most pod machines don’t require much cleaning at all and the Vertuo Pop is no exception. If you are using it regularly, you will only need to empty the pod receptacle bin, give that a rinse, and rinse the drip tray every so often – use hot water and mild, odorless detergent.

If you are not a regular coffee drinker and the machine has been left unused for a while, it’s wise to flush water through the pipes before you use it again. Just fill the tank with fresh water, open and close the lock (no pod), and press the button three times within two seconds.

Descaling is a slightly more complex but still easy process, requiring a Nespresso descaling agent in the water tank, and more pressing of the button and locking and unlocking in sequence. The 12-step process is covered in the instruction booklet and on the App or you can watch a video on the Nespresso site.

How does it compare?

Nespresso makes some of the best single-serve coffee makers on the market, but they make a lot of different models. We have a dedicated guide to the best Nespresso machines, which places the Vertuo Pop as the best compact model on the market. It also has a good range of bright color options, making it a brilliant style option.

If you're not space-conscious and you're after the best of the best, you'll want to take a look at the Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee maker, which shares many of the features of the Vertuo Pop. You can use the same coffee capsules in it, and use the same app, and it's just as easy to use. The main advantage of the Vertuo Next is it can accommodate one extra cup size, a carafe, which is perfect for those who don’t leave home without a travel mug filled to the brim. And, blissfully, it is taller than the Vertuo Pop, so you can sit standard-size mugs on the drip tray. This height advantage will cost you but you may be able to bag a bargain if you keep an eye on sales.

Should you buy it?

Retailing at around $130, the Vertuo Pop is the most affordable option in Nespresso’s Vertuo range and there’s no doubt it delivers coffee that’s far superior to many I have bought at so-called ‘boutique baristas’. For that reason, we think it’s definitely worth the money. However, bear in mind that the coffee capsules are not cheap. Prices range from 98¢ to $1.65 per capsule, but you can save money by signing up to Nespresso’s subscription service.