How to use a Nespresso machine to make espresso drinks at home

June 2024 · 6 minute read
2023-09-13T17:32:56Z JUMP TO Section Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
  • Set up
  • Top Nespresso machines
  • Brew settings
  • Nespresso pods
  • How to use Nespresso machines
  • Insider's takeaway

    • Making espresso at home is a work of art, but usually requires training and the best espresso machines that use steam and a massive amount of pressure to produce the ideal shot. If you don't have the space or budget to invest in a true espresso maker, the best Nespresso machine might be an ideal alternative.

    "A Nespresso machine works the same way an espresso machine does, using pressure, but on a much smaller and potentially less-consistent scale," says Owen Burke, former senior reporter and espresso expert at Insider Reviews. "It is incredibly easy for someone to use, and while it doesn't produce espresso by definition, it's as close as you're going to get for as little effort as possible." 

    According to Burke, the "espresso" that comes out of a Nespresso machine doesn't have enough TDS, or total dissolved solids, to qualify as a true espresso. That being said, it does create a fantastic base for espresso-style drinks like lattes and cappuccinos and is a reasonable substitute for those longing for a demitasse of this rich and intense decoction.

    Setting up a Nespresso machine

    Before its first use, it's important to rinse and clean the water tank, filling it with fresh drinking water. Switch the Nespresso on and let the machine warm up for about 25 seconds — its lights will blink green as it's warming up then turn solid green when it's ready. 

    Place a cup under the spout and once the light is steady, run the machine without a capsule using the Lungo setting — the one that uses the most amount of water, symbolized by the tallest cup — in order to clean the machine. Repeat three times, throwing out the expelled water.

    Our top picks for Nespresso machines

    Target; Nespresso; Insider

    We researched and reviewed the best Nespresso machines. Check out our picks:

    What do the settings mean?

    Some Nespresso machines can only brew two sizes — Espresso and Lungo. wastaal/Getty Images

    Depending on the model, you'll see anywhere from two to five or more buttons indicating drink sizes. The Original line Nespressos, like the Pixie, Essenza mini, and the Citiz, only make espresso and will have two to three buttons. The Vertuo line includes all three espresso settings, plus additional options for regular coffee, symbolized by a tall coffee mug. And the Latissima line, which has a self-contained milk frother, offers additional one-touch settings such as latte, macchiato, cappuccino, and flat white, each with distinctive symbols that show their respective ratios of milk to espresso. Here are the basics:

    Ristretto (Italian for "restricted") uses the least amount of water and is the most concentrated. It produces a 25-milliliter or .84-ounce shot and is symbolized by a small espresso cup. 

    The Espresso setting will give you a 40-milliliter or 1.35-ounce pour and is depicted as a medium-sized espresso cup.

    Lungo pours are 110 milliliters or 3.72 ounces and have a large portion of water added, making them most similar to an Americano. It is symbolized by the largest espresso cup of the three.

    What pods should I use?

    Be sure to buy pods compatible with your machine. Vlad Fishman/Getty Images

    Nespresso makes its own brand of aluminum pods meant to be used with their machines, available directly through their website or through several major department stores and retailers. The range of coffees spans single-origin to flavored blends, with seasonal and special edition releases throughout the year. What's important is that Original line machines only take Original pods, and Vertuo models are only compatible with Vertuo pods. 

    Burke says that there are also several other alternatives that make Nespresso Original-compatible pods, as well as reusable versions that can be refilled at home, like Seal Pods. Note that Keurig K-Cups, Vittoria Espressotoria, K-Fee, and soft pods will not work in a Nespresso machine.   

    How to use a Nespresso machine

    Oscar Wong/Getty Images

  • Turn on the machine and insert the Nespresso pod. Leave the cover open as the machine heats up and lights blink green. Place a cup under the coffee spout.
  • Choose a beverage size. For a traditional espresso pour, select the Espresso button. For a more concentrated shot, pick the smaller Ristretto setting, and for a more diluted shot, opt for Lungo.
  • Once the light is a steady green, close the cover. It will automatically start brewing, sending the desired sized pour into the cup below the spout.
  • Wait until you hear the capsule ejecting. Some coffee may continue to flow out of the spout until the spent capsule drops, so keep a cup or the drip tray there until the machine has stopped completely. Some models, like the Pixie, require manual ejection of the capsule. Simply open the pod chamber again and it will fall to the waste bin.
  • Dispose or recycle the used capsule. The aluminum capsules can be saved for recycling or thrown away.

    • Insider's takeaway

    Nespresso machines are an extremely user-friendly way to replicate the coffeehouse experience at home. While they don't make a true espresso, it's as close to a true espresso as you'll get without having to invest in a full espresso system. With one of the best Nespresso machines, you can enjoy lattes, cappuccinos, Americanos, and more right in the comfort of your own home in just a few easy steps. 

    spanAs the granddaughter of immigrant restaurant owners, Bernadette developed an interest in gastronomy at a young age, cooking everything from her family's Filipino and Chinese recipes to French classics. She also spent seven years in the wine industry helping clients purchase fine and rare wines to add to their collections./span spanAfter 18 years of living in San Francisco, Bernadette headed south to Los Angeles, where she continues to write about food and culture, while sometimes working as a food stylist/photographer, product tester, and marketing consultant for the wine industry. Her work has appeared on Food52, The Spruce Eats, MyFitnessPal, Made Local, and Far & Wide./span Bernadette Machard de Gramont As the granddaughter of immigrant restaurant owners, Bernadette developed an interest in gastronomy at a young age, cooking everything from her family's Filipino and Chinese recipes to French classics. She also spent seven years in the wine industry helping clients purchase fine and rare wines to add to their collections. After 18 years of living in San Francisco, Bernadette headed south to Los Angeles, where she continues to write about food and culture, while sometimes working as a food stylist/photographer, product tester, and marketing consultant for the wine industry. Her work has appeared on Food52, The Spruce Eats, MyFitnessPal, Made Local, and Far & Wide. Read more Read less

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