Nespresso Essenza Mini vs Nespresso Vertuo Plus
The Vertuo Plus at $169 costs $10 less than the Essenza Mini, brews five cup sizes, and has a motorized head and 1500ml tank. The Essenza Mini is only the better choice for pure espresso quality from a 19-bar pump in the smallest possible footprint.
Spec face-off
Bars scaled to the higher value. Coloured = wins that spec.
Full specifications
Strengths & weaknesses
Full comparison
The Nespresso Original Essenza Mini at $179 and the Vertuo Plus at $169 are priced nearly identically, making this a comparison of systems and form factors rather than price. The Essenza Mini is the most compact Nespresso machine with a 600ml tank, 19-bar pressure pump, and two brew sizes. The Vertuo Plus has a motorized head, 1500ml tank, five brew sizes, and centrifusion technology.
The Essenza Mini's 19-bar pump produces espresso with traditional pressure extraction. For espresso purists, this matters: Original system pods are formulated for pump-based extraction, and many coffee experts consider the result more authentic. Original pods are also widely available across many brands.
The Vertuo Plus's 1500ml tank means significantly less frequent refilling, and its motorized head provides one-touch pod loading and ejection. For households that drink various cup sizes throughout the day, the Vertuo's five-size range is a meaningful convenience advantage.
If compact size and 19-bar espresso quality are your priorities, the Essenza Mini is the right choice despite its smaller tank. If you want a feature-rich machine with a large tank and size flexibility at a slightly lower price, the Vertuo Plus is the better buy.