Both Breville Nespresso Vertuo and VertuoPlus are pod-based coffee makers that offer great espresso tastes. However, in the competition of Breville Nespresso Vertuo vs VertuoPlus, I would give my vote to the VertuoPlus model due to its better utility and automaticity.
The VertuoPlus prioritizes user-friendly design and efficient operations. It boasts some automatic features, namely the motorized brew head, and automatic capsule ejection, making your coffee-making experience truly hassle-free. I also prefer its water tank design.
On the other hand, the Vertuo is still a good machine for making your home espresso drinks. Its higher power ensures swift heating, boasting an impressive 15-second heat-up time.
Breville Nespresso Vertuo vs Vertuoplus: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2023-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Breville Nespresso Vertuo vs Vertuoplus: Differences
Breville Nespresso Vertuoplus wins 2-1 against the Nespresso Vertuo. Keep reading to get more details.
Power
The Winner: Breville Nespresso Vertuo
The Vertuo is more powerful than the VertuoPlus. According to the specifications on the website, the Vertuo’s power is 1350 W, while that of the Veruto Plus is just 1300 W. Such a higher power in the Vertuo may contribute to its faster heat-up time (~10-15 seconds) than the VertuoPlus’ (~20-25 seconds).
Moreover, because of this increased power, the Nespresso Vertuo model manages to brew at a higher temperature compared to the VertuoPlus. As someone who enjoys a piping hot cup of coffee, I find that the Nespresso Vertuo becomes the (slightly) more appealing option.
Design & Usabilities
The Winner: Breville Nespresso VertuoPlus
Dimensions, Weight & Color
| Breville Nespresso Vertuo | Breville Nespresso VertuoPlus | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 8.3″ x 11.9″ x 14.6″ | 5.6″ x 16.7″ x 12.8″ |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs | 10.1 lbs |
The Vertuo boasts a slightly more compact design than the VertuoPlus, featuring smaller dimensions that occupy a tad less space. Both of these machines are still impressively compact. When I place them on my studio countertop, I don’t have to worry about them hogging too much space.
Weighing in at just under 11 lbs., these machines boast a lightweight design that makes them a breeze to lift and maneuver. Whether you need to rearrange your countertop setup or transport them to a different spot, their manageable weight ensures effortless handling.
Regarding color options, the Breville Nespresso Vertuo only has three color varieties: Chrome, Black, and Matte Black. Meanwhile, the Breville Nespresso VertuoPlus offers a more extensive array of color choices, featuring options such as Silver, White, Black, Grey, Titan, and Ink Black. This wider spectrum of colors allows you to match your coffee machine with your kitchen’s aesthetic or even express your personal style.
Water tank
In terms of the water tank, both the Breville Nespresso Vertuo and VertuoPlus have the same size, offering a substantial 40-ounce capacity.
The water tank of the Nespresso Vertuo is located on the right side of the machine. It’s super convenient to keep an eye on the water level and easily remove the tank whenever you want.
On the other hand, the VertuoPlus’s water tank is adjustable. This unique design allows you to move the reservoir from side to side, making it incredibly practical for tight counter spaces and facilitating the refilling process. The flexibility of this feature means it can seamlessly fit into any counter design and ensure convenient access.
Another noteworthy aspect of the water tank is that the VertuoPlus offers a transparent tank, allowing you to even more effortlessly check the current water levels.
Utilities
The Winner: Breville Nespresso VertuoPlus
User Interface
The user interface of these machines is remarkably simple. The single on/off button is the sole control that the Nespresso Vertuo and VertuoPlus boast.
This button serves multiple purposes: press it to power the machine on or off, initiate brewing, and even trigger the self-cleaning process or the descaling cycle.
Auto-Off
After nine minutes of inactivity, the machines automatically power off, ensuring energy efficiency and preventing any unnecessary energy consumption in case you forget to manually turn them off. This is a thoughtful addition that aligns with eco-consciousness and convenience.
Automatic
The Breville Nespresso VertuoPlus is an entirely automated machine. It relieves us of any need to get involved, even in the smallest tasks, providing a truly hands-free coffee-making experience.
First off, the machine features a motorized opening and closing of the brew head. I know that many people, when just waking up, never want to struggle with rotating the lid to open or close their coffee pod machine like the Nespresso Vertuo.
Thanks to the motorized brew head, the VertuoPlus only allows a touch. The head automatically opens to reveal the capsule slot, allowing you to insert the capsule, and then it smoothly closes. After all, nobody wants a hand cramp on a chilly morning. So, once again, the VertuoPlus machine takes the win for its convenient design in this aspect.
Taking convenience a step further, once the brewing process is finished, the VertuoPlus also automatically ejects the used capsule into its designated container. The Vertuo also has this feature.
To be honest, these automatic features of VertuoPlus don’t particularly concern me. It’s a nice addition, but not a crucial factor for me. Opening/closing the lid is not a challenging task at all.
Breville Nespresso Vertuo vs VertuoPlus: Similarities
Coffee Preparation
The Nespresso Vertuo and VertuoPlus pod machines offer only four distinct coffee cup sizes: single-shot espresso (1.35 oz/40 ml), double-shot espresso (2.7 oz/80 ml), Gran Lungo (5 oz/150 ml), and full-sized coffee (7.77 oz/230 ml).
Nevertheless, these sizes are customizable and can be reprogrammed to align with your preferred cup size. To readjust a specific cup size, after inserting the capsule into the slot, press and hold the on/off button until the desired amount of coffee has been poured into your cup.
Although they provide us with the customized ability, this doesn’t compensate for the fact that you can only use Nespresso-brand pods on these machines. My demand for a wide variety of cup sizes or drinks is not much, but I understand that some might find this available selection to be somewhat constrained.
Brewing Technique
Centrifusion technology
The Vertuo and VertuoPlus designs don’t utilize a pump for extraction like other machines. Instead, they use a feature called Centrifusion.
At the start of the brewing process, the machine punctures a series of holes (about 20 holes) around the edge of the circular pod, then injects them with water and rapidly spins it at 7,000 RPM.
In doing this, the Vertuo Plus not only achieves balance in its water dispersal but also produces a rich crema that adds to the smoothness of the texture.
Furthermore, these coffee makers use advanced capsule scanning technology that will read the different barcodes on each coffee capsule to program the optimal brewing temperature, rotational speed, flow rate, and precise contact time between water and coffee.
Flavor
To me, the taste of espresso shots from these two machines is quite similar. I find my espresso shots from these machines a little bit strong and bold in flavor, with a creamy and dense crema on top, thanks to the applied Centrifusion technology of Breville for its Vertuo line. However, it doesn’t quite reach the same extraction quality as traditional pump-powered brewers, and the resulting coffee isn’t as hot either.
Moreover, I think that “crema” looks more like “foam” because it is somewhat airier than the crema layer on the espresso extracted from other machines. Maybe it is whipped up during the brewing process. If you do not care much about the crema, this is not a problem, and these machines are still worth trying.
Quick Rundown of Breville Nespresso VertuoPlus
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted.Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
- SINGLE SERVE COFFEE and ESPRESSO MACHINE: Single serve coffee or espresso at the touch of a button. Innovative programs and features such as 25 sec heat up and 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 and 8oz coffee, single and double espresso). Pour over ice to create your favorite blend of iced coffee and lattes.
- AEROCCINO MILK FROTHER INCLUDED: The Nespresso Aeroccino3 provides smooth hot or cold milk froth for your coffee recipes in a few seconds with one touch.
Last update on 2023-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown of Breville Nespresso Vertuo
- Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
Last update on 2023-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References:
- VertuoPlus from Breville https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/nespresso/bnv420.html
- Vertuo from Breville https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/nespresso/bnv220.html
I’m Floyd J. Alcock, an experienced barista with a deep love for coffee. I curate personalized coffee experiences, guiding customers through diverse flavor profiles and suggesting ideal brewing methods. My extensive knowledge of espresso machines enables me to recommend the best equipment to match specific needs and budgets. Sharing my expertise and passion with coffee enthusiasts brings immense satisfaction. I look forward to continuing my journey of coffee discovery with every customer I serve, fostering connections over a shared love for this magical beverage.