One button, 25 seconds, coffee, and zero thinking
Nespresso VertuoPlus
Reviewed by
Eran Yorkovsky · Founder, PickGrade
Coffee with the effort dialed to zero. Drop in a Vertuo pod and it scans the barcode, picks the size, brews in 25 seconds, and ejects the pod for you. You're tied to Nespresso's pods so per-cup cost climbs and the crema's just foam, but for convenience it delivers.
Coffee for people who don't want a hobby, just a cup. The VertuoPlus reads a barcode on each Nespresso pod and sets the brew size and strength itself, so making an espresso or a 14-ounce mug is genuinely one button and about 25 seconds, with the used pod dropping into a bin automatically. You're locked into Nespresso's pods, which costs more per cup, and the foamy crema isn't real espresso crema, but for effortless weekday coffee in a small kitchen, it's tough to beat.
$159
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Last reviewed Jun 5, 2026
What we like
- ✓Very easy to use and clean
- ✓Fast single-serve coffee with minimal effort
- ✓Good fit for small kitchens and busy mornings
Trade-offs
- −Locked to Nespresso Vertuo pods - higher per-cup cost, no third-party capsules
- −Crema is a foamy spin by-product, not true espresso crema
- −Mostly plastic build; some owners report leaking from the back over time
- −Spent-pod bin sits behind the water tank; no app (unlike Vertuo Next)
Best for
Coffee drinkers who value quick capsules, consistent results, and minimal cleanup more than bean choice or per-cup cost.
Avoid if
You want the lowest long-term cost, full control over beans and grind, or traditional espresso technique.
The three lenses
How we grade →- 8.0/10
Value & Longevity · Eran Yorkovsky
Score breakdown
- ease9.5/10
- fit8.6/10
- quality8.2/10
- value8.0/10
Specs
- tech
- Centrifusion barcode-read pods (auto brew)
- type
- Pod / capsule (Nespresso Vertuo)
- build
- Mostly plastic
- price
- ~$159
- heat up
- ~20-25 seconds
- operation
- One-touch; auto pod ejection; auto-off 9 min
- reservoir
- 40 oz; swivels for placement
- brew sizes
- Espresso 1.35oz to Alto 14oz (5 sizes)
How we know
High confidenceLast checkedThe Nespresso VertuoPlus is the pick for people who want good cafe-style coffee with essentially zero effort. It uses Nespresso's Vertuo pods, each printed with a barcode the machine scans to auto-set the water volume and brew — so it 'knows' whether you loaded an espresso or a 14oz mug and adjusts itself. Real operation is close to one button: insert pod, close lid, press. It heats in roughly 20-25 seconds, spins the capsule (Centrifusion) for an even extraction with a thick layer of crema, and ejects the used pod automatically into an internal bin. The swiveling water tank and adjustable cord let it fit awkward counters, and cleanup is minimal. The trade-offs are inherent to the format: you're locked to Nespresso Vertuo pods, so per-cup cost is higher and you can't use third-party capsules; the 'crema' is a foamy by-product of the spinning, not true pressure-pulled espresso crema; the build is mostly plastic and some owners report leaking from the back over time; and the spent-pod bin sits behind the water tank, so you remove the tank to empty it. There's also no app, unlike the Vertuo Next. For convenience-first households, though, it's hard to beat at around $159.
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