Here’s an interesting fact about Nespresso machines: did you know that Nespresso themselves don’t actually make any of them?
Nespresso outsources the manufacturing to a handful of companies. In North America, most Nespresso machines are made by Breville or DeLonghi. So when considering Nespresso Breville vs Delonghi: which one will it be?
Breville Vs DeLonghi Nespresso Machines
To understand the difference between Breville and DeLonghi Nespresso machines, it’s useful to first get some background on Nespresso itself.
Nespresso came out with their unique system in the 1970s. The designer of the Nespresso system noticed how one particular cafe had a lot more customers than others, and the reason behind their superior coffee was that baristas there pumped the espresso machine piston multiple times, allowing more pressure and oxygen to interact with the coffee grounds.
This resulted in a richer, deeper flavor, and a thicker layer of crema on top of the shot.
This was adapted into a capsule-based brewing system, where capsules could keep coffee fresher for longer periods of time, and one-touch operation helped ensure that there was not much of a learning curve to brewing great espresso.
Today, Nespresso is incredibly popular all over the world, and they have over 700 retail locations in some of the most exclusive shopping districts in the world.
The machines you see in Nespresso locations and indeed the ones you can buy online all use Nespresso’s design and technology, but Nespresso themselves does not make them.
Most North American Nespresso machines are made by Breville or DeLonghi. Kitchenaid also makes a machine, but that’s just one model.
In Nespresso stores, you won’t see the Nespresso or DeLonghi label, as those are special models that only retain Nespresso branding, but the machines are still made by either of the two manufacturers.
Online, you’ll find all three types: Nespresso-only branded coffee machines, Nespresso by Breville coffee machines, and DeLonghi Nespresso coffee machines.
So which Nespresso machine is the best?
That’s where things get interesting.
Nespresso models made by Breville and DeLonghi
Some Nespresso machine models are made by both Breville and DeLonghi, and are essentially the same exact coffee maker aside from minor cosmetic differences. Other models are exclusive to either manufacturer.
1. Nespresso VertuoPlus(DeLonghi and Breville)
Above is the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine by De'Longhi with Milk Frother, 4 Cups, Piano Black.
Above is the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine by Breville,8 Ounces, Black.
As you can see, there are very minor differences between the two machines. Both have the same tall, cylindrical,transparent water tank on one side, and the main machine body on the other.
The spout design is very similar, as is the drip tray. The only real difference is cosmetic, and that’s in the shape of the top of the machine.
Breville’s VertuoPlus has a rounded head, and DeLonghi’s VertuoPlus has a flat head.
One more difference is that the Breville has a 60 ounce water tank and the DeLonghi has a 54 ounce tank.
The VertuoPlus can brew 5 sizes of coffee: espresso, double espresso, Gran lungo, coffee, and Alto. VertuoLine machines such as the VertuoPlus are compatible with Nespresso’s newer pods and brewing technology. These were meant for the North American market where the demand was for larger servings of coffee
Learn about the differences between Vertuoline and OriginalLine here.
The OriginalLine machines had smaller pods and thus smaller coffee sizes.
The VertuoPlus has a super fast heat up time of just 25 seconds, and the machine will turn off automatically after 9 minutes of inactivity.
Both Breville and DeLonghi VertuoPlus machines are optionally available with the Aeroccino milk frother if you wish to make specialty coffees like cappuccinos and lattes.
2. Nespresso Citiz(DeLonghi and Breville)
Above is the Nespresso CitiZ Original Espresso Machine by De'Longhi, Black.
Above is the Nespresso Citiz OriginalLine Espresso Machine by Breville, Silver.
Like the VertuoPlus, the Nespresso Citiz also has very minor differences between the DeLonghi and Breville versions.
Both versions have a very similar design. The only noticeable difference is the spout design, which looks like an eagle’s beak in the DeLonghi version.
The Citiz is a really cool little espresso machine. It’s sleek, but still has a generously sized water tank of 34 ounces.
The drip tray is removable for easy cleaning, and the cup holder collapses if you want to accommodate a larger sized cup under the nozzle.
This Nespresso machine is powered by a 19 bar pump and can make espresso and lungo shots. You can also program the Lungo and Espresso buttons to use more or less water.
The Citiz uses OriginalLine capsules.
3. Nespresso Essenza Mini (DeLonghi and Breville)
Above is the DeLonghi Nespresso Essenza Mini.
Above is the Breville Nespresso Essenza Mini.
From the 3 models we’ve seen so far, the Essenza Mini is the one with the most striking design differences. You probably would not know they’re the same machine unless someone told you.
Even then, aside from the cosmetic differences, both Nespresso machines are exactly the same.
The Essenza mini is a small machine as the name suggests. The water tank is a modest 20 ounces, but the brewing mechanism is the same 19 bar system you can find on higher end machines, too.
Like most Nespresso machines, the Essenza mini takes about 25 to 30 seconds to heat up, and there is an auto shut-off after 9 minutes to save power.
You can brew espresso and Lungo shots, and can program the buttons to brew a particular volume of coffee. If you don’t wish to program the buttons, the machine will make the default sizes.
The Essenza Mini uses OriginalLine capsules.
4. Nespresso Latissima (DeLonghi)
The Nespresso Latissima is a machine unique to DeLonghi. It’s different from the other machines we’ve listed so far because of the included milk reservoir and frother.
This means you can brew espresso, lungo, as well as cappuccino and latte all from a single machine. Some of the machines we listed above came with optional Aeroccino milk frothers, which you could use for making cappuccinos and lattes, but you’d have to do a lot of it by hand.
The Latissima is designed to do everything automatically.
Aside from the frother, the Latissima has everything you’d expect from a Nespresso machine: a 19 bar pump, a 34 ounce water tank, 30 seconds to a shot of espresso, 40 seconds to steam milk, and auto-off.
The Latissima comes in three varieties:
Latissima One: This model has all the features I listed above. The image you see is also of the Latissima One.
Latissima Plus: This is an upgraded Latissima with a slightly different design.
Latissima Pro: This is an upgraded Latissima with an aluminum finish and touch controls.
5. Nespresso Creatista (Breville)
Since DeLonghi makes a Nespresso machine with a milk frother built in, there’s no surprise that Breville makes one too.
The Nespresso Creatista is a really stylish and modern-looking Nespresso machine that can steam milk. Unlike the DeLonghi machine which has a milk tank, the Breville machine has a steaming wand, where you can steam the milk by hand.
This involves a bit more of a learning curve, but the added control over your steaming and frothing can result in a more customized drink.
On the brewing side, it’s pretty standard Nespresso: a 19 bar pump can extract ristretto, espresso, and Lungo.
The steamer on the Creatista is pretty unique, as you have 3 milk temperature settings and 3 froth settings that you can adjust for customizing the texture of your coffee,
The Creatista senses temperature automatically, and the wand is self-cleaning.
The Creatista is available in two models:
Creatista Uno: The Uno is the model I have described above and which you can see in the image.
Creatista Pro: The Pro takes everything one step further with a polished chrome finish and 11 milk temperature levels and 8 texture levels.
Conclusion: are all Nespresso machines the same
Pretty much all Nespresso machines are the same as far as the shot of espresso goes.
For example, an OriginalLine Essenza Mini by Breville and an OriginalLine Essenza Mini by DeLonghi will produce the exact same shot if you use the same type of pod.
The same goes for VertuoLine machines.
Really, the biggest difference between machine to the next is mostly aesthetics, water tank size, and the ability to froth milk.
As you can see, DeLonghi and Breville both make very similar espresso machines.
Where the model name is the same, there is virtually no difference between the two brands aside from cosmetic changes. As far as milk frothing models go, Breville has an advantage over DeLonghi as their frothing system is far superior.
Last update on 2024-04-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
