When I was younger I had a stint working as a barista at Starbucks and so – as well as being a huge coffee fan – having one of the best coffee machines at home has always been important to me. I've always been a fan of Nespresso's devices and, having tried three different models now, I think I've found the best one. In the past I've used (and liked) Nespresso's Pixie and Vertuo Pop machines, but I've recently been trying out the Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee machine , and it has fast become my favourite.
Even better, if you're tempted to buy one too after reading my review, I've found that it's currently better than half price on Amazon, slashed by a whopping 59% from £169.99 to £69 . READ MORE: Best bean-to-cup machine out of Beko, Breville and Aeropress rated by our experts Pros Makes really good coffee, and a big range of coffees Looks sleek on your kitchen worktop Easy to clean Comes in a number of different colours Cons Only uses Nespresso Vertuo pods, which are more expensive than others Quite noisy when brewing Takes up more space than other models I've always liked the Nespresso Pixie machines for their compact size and the fact that lots of brands now make coffee pods to fit in them, but as Nespresso seems to be pushing these back in favour of the newer Vertuo machines , I though it was time to try them out.
Apart from the noticeable size difference of the pods, Vertuo machines differ by the fact that the machine 'reads' exactly which pod has been inserted and brews up a coffee to the exact right volume and to, supposedly, a barista-style quality. Vertuo machines can also be linked to an app on your smartphone, and there's a much greater choice of coffee available, including new iced varieties. Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee machine, £69 from Amazon (was £169.
99) If you're coffee connoisseur, you'll love the brews that the Vertuo makes ; they are, in my opinion, far superior to the original machine. It's also handy to just have one button to press instead of selecting your size, and the machine slides the used pod back into the empties bucket in a very slick and satisfying way. I had previously tried the smaller Vertuo Pop and I initially didn't see why the bigger device could be better, but little things like the adjustable cup tray and bigger compartment for used pods did actually make a difference.
The biggest downside to the Vertuo machines is that you can only use Vertuo pods, which are currently only available through Nespresso. These are more expensive, and non-compostable – although I've bought this nifty little £12.99 device so I can recycle them at home.
In summary, if you like a good coffee and are on the look-out for a new home machine, the Vertuo Next gets my vote – especially when it has such a big discount. As an alternative, Lavazza machine are also a popular choice, and the Lavazza A Modo Mio Deséa is currently half price , down from £249 to £124.50.
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