The Nespresso Vertuo Pop is the latest addition to the brand's range of capsule coffee machines. Its main USP, which is perhaps the most obvious, is that it comes in six beautiful colors, allowing you to select a model that matches your kitchen decor or makes a statement.
Nespresso is known around the world for producing some of the best coffee and the best coffee makers. Its coffee machines fall into one of two established categories, Vertuo and Original, with the larger domed Vertuo capsules compared to the smaller, more refined Original capsules.
The Pop is a Vertuo machine and therefore accepts Vertuo capsules. It currently comes with 50 free capsules that are automatically added at checkout. I received a box of 12 for the purposes of this review, and I can say that I enjoyed every single one of them.
There were four espressos (40ml), four double espressos (80ml) and four cup pods (230ml), all of different flavors. The Pop can also brew a large lungo (150ml), offering up to four cup sizes. Plus, brewing coffee is as easy as pressing a button; the machine will automatically recognize the mix.
The Pop comes with a removable cup holder to accommodate the larger cup size, though I found I didn't use as many (if any) during testing, since I didn't have regular cups in my house. This did not affect the quality of the coffee or the pour. I also found that the 600ml/20 fl oz capacity reservoir was only enough to make two cup-sized pods; for more you will need to fill the water tank. But since you can only make one coffee at a time, that shouldn't be a problem.
In my opinion, the Vertuo Pop is the best Nespresso machine for single-person households or when counter space is limited. Every coffee I made was delicious with thick cream on top. Keep reading to know more.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop review: Price and availability
- List price: €99
- Widely available at resellers
- The larger Vertuo Pop+ is available in the US.
The Nespresso Vertuo Pop can be purchased directly from Nespresso (Opens in a new tab) or from retailers such as Amazon (Opens in a new tab), Argos (Opens in a new tab), Currys (Opens in a new tab ) and John Lewis (opens in a new tab) for a list price of €99. It's often discounted, so look for deals. It's not available in the US, but coffee lovers can purchase the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+, which looks similar but is larger, has a larger 25,4 fl oz / 750 ml water tank, and can brew a 12 oz XL coffee in addition to the four sizes offered. by Vertuo Pop.
The machine is the latest addition to the Vertuo range. It's the most affordable, with the Nespresso Vertuo Plus being the next best option for those on a €179 budget.
Compared to Nespresso Original machines, the Vertuo Pop doesn't come with an integrated milk frother or separate Aeroccino, so those who like their milk frothed and warmed in their cappuccino can benefit from spending around an extra €90 of Amazon ( opens in a new tab ) for one.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop review: Specs
- Number of cup sizes: 4
- Heating time: 30 seconds
- Water Tank Capacity: 600 ml / 20 fl oz
- Connectivity: Yes
- Dimensions: 136 x 426 x 250mm / 5,3 x 16,7 x 9,8inch
- Weight: 3,5kg / 7,7lbs
Nespresso Vertuo Pop review: Design
- Compact and minimalist
- mobile cup holder
- Available in six colors
The Nespresso Vertuo Pop is a compact capsule coffee maker. It measures 136 x 426 x 250mm / 5,3 x 16,7 x 9,8 inches, so it doesn't take up much counter space. Plus, it weighs just 3,5kg / 7,7lbs, so it can be easily moved around if you need to stow it out of sight.
One small drawback to its compact form is that the removable 600 ml / 20 fl oz water reservoir only holds enough water to brew two cup-sized coffees. It's fine for single-person households, or maybe even couples who have a coffee a day; but for families, this particular coffee machine will not live up to the demand.
The Vertuo Pop can prepare four different cup sizes: espresso (40ml), double espresso (80ml), gran lungo (150ml) and mug (230ml). For the largest size, the cup holder can be removed, although I didn't use it as I only have regular size cups.
The one-touch button for operation is on the top of the machine. Below is a lever that can be turned to unlock the top of the machine to insert a capsule. With the capsule in place, the lid can be closed and locked in position.
This coffee machine is available in six attractive colours, allowing you to choose a model that fits in your kitchen or is an eye-catcher. Choose from Licorice Black, Pacific Blue, Aquatic Mint, Spicy Red, Mango Yellow, and Coconut White. Although the machine isn't completely wrapped up in a colorful hue due to its black lower half, it certainly turns heads. The model I tried was Aqua Mint, and since all my other appliances are black, it certainly added a nice splash of color to my kitchen.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop review: Performance
- Quick to set up
- Easy to use
- Compatible with the Nespresso app
Nespresso Vertuo Pop is super easy to set up and use right out of the box. It comes with a comprehensive instruction booklet, and while the pages might give the impression that you have to "pair" the coffee machine with the Nespresso app before using it, the reality is that you don't have to use the app - it's just to get additional support, if you feel you need it.
I set up the machine before downloading the app. Rinse the water tank, then you will need to "place a container". It's a bit vague, but reading the instructions, it turns out that you'll need to find a container the same size as the water tank or larger, and move the cup holder. After pressing the button three times in 2 seconds, you will understand why. The machine will start rinsing and will use all the water in the tank to do so; Unless you're prepared with a container the same size as the water tank, or have a few empty cups on hand, you could end up with a puddle of water on your counter.
Once this is done, you are ready to use the machine. Simply turn it on, insert the capsule and press the button to start serving your coffee.
Our review unit arrived with an assortment of 12 coffee pods, and at the time of writing you can receive a box of 50 coffee pods for free, giving you something to start with. Keep in mind that there aren't many decaf coffee options, so if you're not a huge caffeine lover, you may need to get free alternative capsules. There are plenty of Vertuo pod options on Amazon(Opens in a new tab), for example.
The machine will automatically detect the size of the pod added to the machine, and I found that it poured the perfect amount of coffee into my chosen container every time.
Offering simple one-touch preparation, I simply pressed a button and the Vertuo Pop did the rest. It takes no more than 30 seconds to make a cup of coffee, and even less time to make a smaller coffee. Once the coffee was poured it did not drip from the spout and produced a perfect crema on top.
The capsules will automatically dispense into an integrated drawer, which can hold up to 12 capsules, once the coffee is poured. These capsules cannot be recycled through household recycling, which is quite annoying. I found that the best way to recycle Nespresso capsules was to request a Podback bag when ordering and then take it to the nearest CollectPlus store. Alternatively, if you regularly order capsules, you can agree a time and date for collection of your used capsules, which is the next best thing.
The Vertuo Pop can only brew one coffee at a time. If we wanted to make two cups of coffee, for example, I just needed to make sure I had enough water in the water reservoir and a capsule and cup on hand. Please note that this machine is very noisy when making coffee; I measured it between 62 and 71 dB, the highest level being equivalent to a washing machine.
As mentioned above, there is an app that comes with the Vertuo Pop. It's not essential for operating the machine, but it does provide maintenance instructions for your machine and you can get real-time advice on how to use your coffee machine.
Download the Nespresso app and then connect it with your machine via Bluetooth. Then, connected to your home Wi-Fi, you can receive notifications and access help and support, if you need it.
Regarding maintenance, the advice is to descale the machine every three months or 300 capsules (whichever comes first). You will find tips on how to do it in the Nespresso app or follow the steps in the instruction manual. It is also recommended to clean the machine every six to 12 months, which involves simply running clean water and an odorless detergent through the machine for one cycle.