Nespresso Essenza Mini vs Vertuo: Small vs Big Nespresso Machine – Does Size Matter?

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Since their designs don’t overlap, the Nespresso Essenza Mini vs Vertuo discussion has been an interesting battle for me to determine the winner. But the Breville Nespresso Vertuo is the superior model after numerous brewing sessions.

The Breville Nespresso Vertuo is ideal for families and couples because of its huge water tank and hefty construction. The flavor of the espresso has been strong, well-rounded, and nutty. But what strikes me is the rich crema. As a result, this product offers good value for the money in my impression.

The Delonghi Nespresso Essenza Mini is an efficient and portable variant. I recommend the product to anybody seeking a nice espresso flavor. But, don’t share the machine with others because the water tank is very small.

Nespresso Essenza Mini vs Vertuo: Comparison Chart

Image
THE WINNER (#1)
Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Maker by Breville, Chrome
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Nespresso Essenza Mini Coffee and Espresso Machine by De'Longhi, 1150 watts, 110ml, Black
Model
Breville Nespresso Vertuo
DeLonghi Nespresso Essenza Mini
Dimensions (wxdxh)
9 x 12.2 x 12.3 Inches
4.3 x 12.8 x 8.1 inches
Water Tank Capacity
40 oz
20.3 oz
Material
Plastic and metal
Plastic
Weight/ Power/ voltage
11 Pounds/ 1350W/ 120V
2.3 Pounds/ 1150W/ 120V
Color
Black
Black
Heating System
Thermoblock
Thermoblock
Automatic Power Off
Adjustable coffee volume
Capsule recognition technology
Descale alert
Average Heat-up Time
15s
25s
Capsule container
12 capsules
6 capsules
Coffee recipes
Espresso & Mug
Espresso, long
Pump pressure
CENTRIFUSION™ technology
19 bars
Interface
Dial plate
Buttons
What I Like
Price
$136.30
$153.00
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Maker by Breville, Chrome
Model
Breville Nespresso Vertuo
Dimensions (wxdxh)
9 x 12.2 x 12.3 Inches
Water Tank Capacity
40 oz
Material
Plastic and metal
Weight/ Power/ voltage
11 Pounds/ 1350W/ 120V
Color
Black
Heating System
Thermoblock
Automatic Power Off
Adjustable coffee volume
Capsule recognition technology
Descale alert
Average Heat-up Time
15s
Capsule container
12 capsules
Coffee recipes
Espresso & Mug
Pump pressure
CENTRIFUSION™ technology
Interface
Dial plate
What I Like
Price
$136.30
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Image
Nespresso Essenza Mini Coffee and Espresso Machine by De'Longhi, 1150 watts, 110ml, Black
Model
DeLonghi Nespresso Essenza Mini
Dimensions (wxdxh)
4.3 x 12.8 x 8.1 inches
Water Tank Capacity
20.3 oz
Material
Plastic
Weight/ Power/ voltage
2.3 Pounds/ 1150W/ 120V
Color
Black
Heating System
Thermoblock
Automatic Power Off
Adjustable coffee volume
Capsule recognition technology
Descale alert
Average Heat-up Time
25s
Capsule container
6 capsules
Coffee recipes
Espresso, long
Pump pressure
19 bars
Interface
Buttons
What I Like
Price
$153.00
More Info

Last update on 2024-12-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Nespresso Essenza Mini vs Vertuo: Differences

Vertuo wins 3-0 against Essenza Mini thanks to its more ergonomic design that will easily serve up to 2 users. You can expect delicious espresso with this device, alongside a convenient alert system for descaling and a generous drip tray.

Brewing technique 

Winner: Breville Nespresso Vertuo

Breville Nespresso Vertuo can extract every flavor note thanks to Centrifusion technology. As a result, the espresso’s quality is powerful and smooth, in my opinion.

De’Longhi Nespresso Essenza Mini extracts rich and varied coffee flavor with ease thanks to its 19 bars pump pressure. As a result, the espresso’s quality is subtle, strong, and well-balanced.

However, Breville Nespresso Vertuo performs better in terms of texture. The Centrifusion, in my opinion, exerts greater pressure on the puck, and the revolving action aids in the formation of thicker crema. As a result, I achieve flavorful espressos with a pleasant texture with Vertuo’s brewing technique.

Breville Nespresso Vertuo delivers rich coffee crema
Breville Nespresso Vertuo delivers rich coffee crema

Another aspect I like about Vertuo is that it can read the barcode of coffee capsules and brew according to the recipe integrated with the barcode.

Water tank capacity

Winner: Breville Nespresso Vertuo

The water tank of the Vertuo is 40 ounces, significantly larger than the tank on the Essenza Mini. As a result, Vertuo is an excellent choice if you’re searching for a capsule machine serving up to 3–4 large drinks daily.

As for Essenza Mini, there is no doubt that it is designed for single users only. Or if the situation obligates, 2 users should be the maximum number the machine can serve daily without requiring too many refills.

Of course, brewing a high volume of coffee daily with such a small machine isn’t recommendable as it wears the device off fast. So unless you intend to switch to another machine after 3 years, I don’t recommend brewing more than 5 cups per day with Essenza Mini.

In addition, Vertuo has a side water tank, which is easier to remove than the back water tank of Essenza Mini. Keeps this in mind if you are a user who highly treasures ergonomy.

Cleaning

Winner: Breville Nespresso Vertuo

Being Nespresso machines with simplistic designs, Vertuo and Essenza Mini can be cleaned easily with cleaning capsules filled with specialized liquid soap. Another point that assists the cleaning process is that they have a descale alert that tells users when it is absolutely necessary to descale the devices. That way, you won’t have to keep up with the descale schedule.

Delonghi Essenza Mini can be cleaned with a capsule
Delonghi Essenza Mini can be cleaned with a capsule

There is a catch here, though. Nespresso Vertuo comes with a drip tray to catch overflows. On the contrary, Essenza Mini is a core machine that doesn’t have a drip tray. So users need to purchase one separately or put the device on top of a tray or container to avoid coffee spilling over their kitchen stand.

Nespresso Essenza Mini vs Vertuo: Similarities

What about the similarities between the pair? I think the efficient operation and the eco mode are 2 aspects that users will find most interesting. Check them out!

One-touch operation

Simplicity is what Nespresso machines chase after, so one-touch operation is what we can expect from these devices. Nespresso Essenza Mini and Vertuo only have 2 and 4 drink options for users to select on their interface. The brewing process shouldn’t take more than 4 minutes and a touch of a button.

Eco Mode

I want to focus on the eco mode that is available on both models. After 9 minutes of inactivity, the shutdown feature becomes active. However, the green mode only reduces energy use for 3 minutes. Both the De’Longhi Nespresso Essenza Mini and Breville Nespresso Vertuo are effective and economical with energy.

Quick Rundown of Breville Nespresso Vertuo

Sale
Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Machine by De'Longhi, 1597 milliliters, Silver
  • SINGLE SERVE COFFEE & ESPRESSO MACHINE: Single serve coffee or espresso at the touch of a button. Innovative programs and features such as 25 sec heat up & energy saving automatic shut off.
  • COFFEE FOR EVERY OCCASION: Brew better coffee at home with Nespresso's coffee espresso machine! Drink your coffee bold, mild hot, or iced.
  • VERSATILE COFFEE MAKER: Brew 4 different cup sizes at the touch of a button (5oz & 8oz coffee, single & double espresso). Pour over ice to create your favorite blend of iced coffee and lattes.
  • INCLUDES: One Vertuo Nespresso coffee machine with an extra-large 54 ounce water tank, a 17 count used pods container.
  • COMPLIMENTARY GIFT: Each machine includes a complimentary starter set of Nespresso capsules (capsule assortment may vary from picture).

Last update on 2024-12-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Solid and durable construction
  • Quick and efficient brewing results
  • Large water capacity to reduce refilling frequency
  • Technique for quickly collecting capsules that saves time
  • Quick extraction of the shot and heat-up times
Cons
  • Low coffee temperature (rarely)

Quick Rundown of Delonghi Nespresso Essenza Mini

Sale
Nespresso Essenza Mini Coffee and Espresso Machine by De'Longhi, 1150 watts, 110ml, Black
  • Compact machine offers 2 programmable cup sizes; Espresso Lungo
  • 19 bar high-pressure pump for barista-style flavor and aroma
  • Fast heat-up system reaches ideal temperature in just 25 seconds
  • Automatic shut-off feature 9 minutes after last use
  • Machine is compatible with Nespresso Original espresso capsules.

Last update on 2024-12-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • After 3 minutes, switches to eco mode; after 9 minutes, turns off
  • Minuscule footprint
  • Good value and high caliber
  • Harmonious and complex espresso flavor
  • Fast brewing and whisper-quiet operation
  • Easy to use and stylish design quick heat-up time
Cons
  • The entire device is constructed of plastic

Product Videos

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Rating 5/5 - (2 votes)