my guide to nespresso

I may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. As always, my opinions and sentiments are my own and I express them freely, regardless of sponsorship because I partner with brands I love.

Why did I decide to get a Nespresso machine? I was spending way too much money at Starbucks on drinks that are obviously not the healthiest. When I was registering for our wedding, was a good time to ask for something like a Nespresso machine. Even if nobody gets it for you, many places give you discounts on unfulfilled gifts.

I had NO idea where to start in terms of machines, so I needed to do some research.

Before we dive in, here’s a list of all the coffee things I like in one spot – making it easy to shop.

Choosing a Nespresso Machine

There are a few things to consider if you’re thinking about getting a Nespresso machine:

• Do you want to make espresso AND coffee, or just espresso?
  • The one that makes espresso AND coffee is the VertuoLine
  • Espresso only is OriginalLine
• Do you want it to make fancy drinks or just simple espresso shots?
  • You’ll need to purchase a machine with an aeroccino or built in milk spout
• What’s your budget?
• How much maintenance are you willing to do on the machine?
  • Do you need reminders to clean it or are you one who sets the cleaning dates on your calendar?

My considerations when deciding which machine to get were:

• That I already have a working Keurig machine, which will go into storage unless we have company that prefers coffee over espresso
• I wanted something that would tell me how and when to maintain it
• Would have a good variety of capsules that were easily available and weren’t overly expensive
• Could make my “fancy” drinks — I prefer drinks with froth and/or milk to single or doppio espresso shots
• I basically had an “unlimited” budget for the right machine, as the break even and payoff points would not take long, due to my regular Starbucks consumption

My Nespresso Machine

The machine that fit the bill for my needs was the Nespresso Lattissima Pro. As a newbie, I opened the box and found it easy to set up. It had great instructions for first use and preparation, but I ran into an issue as I started to rinse the machine — the machine sounded like it was working but water wasn’t coming out. Praise Google for having all of the answers and getting me back on track quickly!

 

It appears that my particular machine is no longer made, but this machine is very similar.

 

If you’re looking for a machine that can make coffee AND espresso, here is a good option for you to consider.

 

 

Favorite Nespresso Pods, Accessories and Recipes

In the time that I’ve had my machine, I’ve gotten some great accessories and capsules that have really made my transition fun and easy.

Accessories

Capsule Holders

If you’re going to have the little capsules for your machine, you need to have a way to keep them organized! This tempered glass Nespresso capsule holder was a birthday gift from my friend, Jen and is around $25. This one holds the OriginalLine pods, but if you have VertuoLine pods, here’s a similar option for you.

 

Mugs

What is fun coffee without fun vessels to drink from? Here are some options depending on the mood you’re in:

• espresso mugs
• glass coffee mugs
• textured minimalist mugs
• iced glass can cups with glass straws
• glass mugs with handle, spoon, and lid

 

Capsules

Selecting the right Nespresso capsules is very subjective to your taste preference. Luckily, the capsules come in a variety of intensities and flavors/notes. Here is a visual of all of the always-available options for the OriginalLine.

 

Nespresso also comes out with limited edition capsules, which I have really enjoyed trying. A person I spoke with at the Nespresso boutique said that it generally takes them three years to craft a limited edition batch, so if a limited edition variety catches your eye, get it immediately! One thing to note is that the Original and Vertuo do not always have the same limited edition flavors. I have been sad over time because Vertuo had flavors that sounded delicious but weren’t offered in Original.

 

Recipes

I’m pretty boring when it comes to making drinks – creature of habit, I guess! This Nespresso resource will give you some great recipes also – would recommend visiting it if you are looking for some more elaborate stuff. I’ll continue to add my favorite concoctions as I make them in this section.

Americanos

• I make an Americano almost every day because it’s easy and helps me keep my calories down
  • I have always loved white chocolate mocha sauce from Starbucks, but they don’t sell it, so I settled for a bottle of Ghiradelli sauce from Amazon and always have one on hand at home – I put about a teaspoon of this in the bottom of my cup or mug before beginning
  • I let the machine warm up and insert a capsule – I then press the espresso shot button and let it do its thing. Repeat this 1-2 more times, depending on how much espresso you’re looking for
  • Give it all a stir to incorporate the sauce
  • Move your cup under the water spout (if you normally use the milk canister on the same machine that I have, you will insert the water spout into the same area) and press the hot water button (bottom middle button – closest to you in the middle) to generate it
  • Stir again and add half and half or milk if you like
• For an iced version of the Americano, you can do the same thing, but…
  • Instead of hot water, add cold water from your refrigerator, etc. and then top with ice

Mochas

• To make an iced mocha or white mocha, follow the steps from the Americano, but when you get to the water steps, stop and follow this instead:
  • Add 3/4 to 1 cup of milk of your choice to your cup or mug
  • Top with 7-10 ice cubes to cool it down
  • Top with whipped cream if you desire
• To make a hot mocha or white mocha, follow the steps from the Americano but when you get to the water steps, stop and follow this instead:
  • Add milk or milk substitute to your frother / aeroccino (3/4 to 1 cup) and let it do its thing
    • If you have an aeroccino, pour into your cup when it is finished
  • Top with whipped cream

Lattes

• To make a hot latte, follow the steps from the hot mocha, but instead of adding mocha or white mocha sauce, leave it out or add a syrup that is not a sauce and leave the whip off
• To make an iced latte, do the same thing that you do for a hot latte, except…
  • You do not warm your milk
  • Top with 7-10 ice cubes to cool it down

Do you have questions about Nespresso machines, recipes, accessories, capsules, or the like? Advice? Put it in the comments! I’d love to hear from you!