Nespresso Vertuo Up Review – Trusted Reviews

Design and features

• Works like an original Nespresso machine
• Very fast heat-up times
• Integrated Wi-Fi

I really like the Nespresso Vertuo range. Its Centrifusion brewing makes coffee that’s completely different to that dispensed by the original range. Using a larger style capsule, the Vertuo range of machines has always had a few size issues though.

With the original Nespresso Vertuo Plus, the motorised lid means you need quite a bit of room above it (an issue that remains with the manually operated Vertuo Next and Vertuo Lattissima). The smaller Vertuo Pop still had a hinged lid, but its smaller dimensions mean it needs less room around it; however, the low spout makes it fiddly to get a regular-sized mug underneath.

The Nespresso Vertuo Up changes that, with a design that’s both practical but more compact than what went before. The design is actually closer to that of an original machine. I’ve got the black version on review, but there are also white, blue and graphite options.

Instead of having to open the entire top of the machine, with it hinging upwards, there’s a simple drop-in slot for the capsules. Just pull the lever up, drop in the pod, shut the lever and you’re good to go.

I actually prefer this design. It’s easier to get the pod in and the lever shut. With the Vertuo Next (and Lattissima), it can be a little fiddly shutting the lid and getting the locking lever all the way across into the correct position.

This new design means that you don’t need much space above the machine, so you can place it under a shelf, no problem.

This design has other advantages. First and foremost, the drip tray and used-capsule bin both pull out from the front. No more having to turn the machine around to get a side or rear bin.

At the back, there’s a 1.4-litre water tank (plenty big enough to make a few mugs of coffee before it needs to be refilled). This is mounted on a rotating base, so you can have the tank at the back for a more streamlined, but longer placing (12 x 49 x 25.5 cm), or you can put the tank to the side, which makes the Vertuo Up wider, but shorter (22 x 39 x 25.5cm).

The cup holder at the front can be placed at different heights, and locks securely into position, as does the drip tray. This means that the Vertuo Up can even be placed slightly overhanging a counter, as I do on my narrow sideboard.

As you might expect from a Vertuo machine, the Vertuo Up is very easy to use. Drop a capsule in, hit the button on the front, and hot coffee pours out, with the barcode on the capsule dictating how the coffee should be made and the volume.

Actually, I should say there are two buttons for coffee. The main one does as above, but there’s also a Coffee Creations button, which dispenses a distilled, more intense version of each coffee, perfect for the flavoured capsules that are designed for recipes, such as with added milk or water.

With this mode, 230ml pods go to 80ml, 150ml goes to 40ml, 80ml to 40ml, and 40ml to 25ml. This mode was available on previous Nespresso machines but required a double-tap of the main button; it’s easier to have a dedicated button.

Impressively, the Vertuo Up has a three-second heat-up time. In fact, by the time I’ve woken the machine up and have dropped a coffee in, it’s ready to go. With the older machines, there’s a much longer heat-up time.

As with recent Nespresso machines, the Vertuo Up is a smart one, connecting to the Nespresso Smart app via Wi-Fi. As well as pinging the app if there’s a problem, such as the machine has run out of water, changing the coffee temperature and default volumes, as well as running the cleaning and descaling cycles.

Coffee quality

• Rich coffee
• Consistent volume
• Wide range of coffees

There’s a wider range of pods available for this machine than the original, with everything from 25ml ristretto and 40ml espresso to 230ml mug-fulls and even capsules that will do an entire carafe. My guide to the best Nespresso Vertuo pods can help you find the right pods.

Coffee is delivered using Nespresso’s Centrifusion brewing system, which spins the capsule to extract, resulting in long, fluffy shots with lots of crema, even when filling a mug. The result is coffee that’s different to that from other machines: richer with a longer crema. Temperatures at all cup sizes came in at around 67°C, which is spot-on.

Flavour varies by coffee capsule and style, but you’ll easily find something you like. As a lover of a mug-full of hot black coffee, there’s no other system that quite makes a cup like this.

Having the Creations button makes it easier to use this feature, and it works really well. When making iced coffee, having a more intense shot of coffee is better, and it makes it easier to add water and ice to complete the drink.

There’s no milk frothing on this machine, but you can add milk to a mug, or you can buy a separate milk frother.

Maintenance

• Capsules are recyclable
• Very little day-to-day maintenance

Looking after the Nespresso Vertuo Up is refreshingly easy. Coffee capsules drop into the bin at the front, where they can be emptied into a recycling bag and then sent back to Nespresso for full recycling (you can do this via the post or at Nespresso stores, all for free).

Otherwise, there’s not much maintenance, just the occasional descaling, which is easy to do using the app.

Should you buy it?