The winner is Vertuo Pop based on the cost-to-value analysis. Has a premium, compact look, is well under budget, and can brew all the Nespresso capsules (5 types) that are currently available. Vertuo Pop is the latest release (2023) from Nespresso and is a much better design compared to Vertuo Next but smaller in size.
Vertuo Plus was one of my earliest Nespresso machines that had the most premium look, with an auto-closing lid and auto-capsule detection mechanism. But released in early 2017, this does not have the same charm in 2023 with other competing Vertuo line espresso machines.
That being said, choosing between the two can be very confusing. Vertuo Pop has two different names, Vertuo Pop+ (In USA) and Vertuo Pop (Rest of the World). Vertuo Plus comes in 2 different names, Vertuo Plus Round (De’longhi) and Vertuo Plus Cylinder (Breville). I spent 12 hours compiling this guide to make it easy for you to buy a good-budget Nespresso espresso maker.
Note that these are just names based on the different “Manufacturers”, with a subtle change in the design and look. The actual brewing unit (the main component that makes the coffee without considering the reservoir) is the same for the respective models.
- Read Also: Vertuo Pop vs. Vertuo Next
Unlike Vertuo Next which was muddled with a lot of leakage issues, Vertuo Pop seems to have addressed the problems even though it has the same firmware as Vertuo Next.
Short on time?
- Vertuo Pop is the recent release from Nespresso (2023), while VertuoPlus is one of the earliest models (2017) from the Vertuo Line
- Vertuo Pop can brew 5 capsule sizes, including the Alto/Carafe XL capsules. VertuoPlus can only brew 4 and has a known complaint, where the XL pods fit the capsule holder but it does not brew because of an older barcode scanning system.
- Vertuo Pop is compact and sleek (600 or 750 ml reservoir) and has a manual lid-closing system. VertuoPlus is premium-looking, larger reservoir (1.2L), and has an automatic lid closing + barcode scanning system.
- Vertuo Pop is slower to brew coffee (measured at 100+ seconds for the standard capsule), while VertuoPlus brews a smooth brew in under 60-75 seconds
- Vertuo Pop has the new “Expert Mode”(makes concentrated coffee) by double pressing the brew button. VertuoPlus does not have this mode. You need to manually control the amount of water in your brew by long-pressing the button
Quick Glance
Release Date – Early 2023
Water Reservoir – 25.4 Oz (750 ml)
Size – 10.4” H x 8.6” W x 14” D
Controls – Concentrated coffee
Brew Sizes – All 5 capsule sizes
Detachable reservoir + carbon filter
Barcode Scanner restriction
Bluetooth Connectivity
Cannot fit Carafe
Release Date – 2017
Water Reservoir – 37 Oz (1.1 L)
Size – 16.8″D x 5.6″W x 12.36″H
Controls – Concentrated coffee
Brew Sizes – 1.3, 2, 5, 8 oz only
Detachable reservoir + carbon filter
Barcode Scanner restriction
Bluetooth Connectivity
Cannot brew Alto/Carafe capsules
Bottom Line
Nespresso Vertuo Pop (Pop+) – Nespresso’s latest (released in 2023) entry-level espresso machine. It has the capability of brewing all capsule sizes and comes in a small & compact size. Amazing for frequent travelers and everyday coffee brewers. If you are on a budget and want to try the Nespresso-like coffee brewing this is a great start.
Nespresso Vertuo Plus – Nespresso’s early Vertuo line model (released in 2017) that wanted to enter the premium espresso market. It has an auto-closing lid, a simple and intuitive design, and can brew 4 types of Vertuo capsules (cannot brew an Alto/Cold coffee capsule). If you are looking for a premium espresso-only maker, then this should be your choice because of the price point compared to other “premium” espresso machines.
Both Vertuo Pop and Vertuo Plus do not have a milk frother capability. Usually, an Aeroccino frother is bundled along with these machines at a discounted price.
Design and Look
When it comes to design, the Nespresso Vertuo pop is sleek and compact. It is short in height with a small water reservoir at the back. VertuoPlus is bigger in width and is taller (Same height as a Vertuo Next). Surprisingly, the water reservoir capacity is only 250ml more than Vertuo Pop but is narrower and taller to match the main brewing unit height.
Both the coffee makers look sleek and do not have the plastic feel that you find in cheap coffee makers.
Color Option
Vertuo Pop – Comes in 6 eye-popping colors (in the US) with the Vertuo pop+ variant and 2 color options in Vertuo pop+ deluxe. The same 6 color options in the Vertuo Pop version are sold in the rest of the world.
Vertuo Plus – Usually available in 3 standard colors (Black, Grey, and White). Red color VertuoPlus is available with the De’longhi version and is found on Amazon sometimes. Non-US VertuoPlus comes only with the 3 standard colors and cannot find any other colors from the different manufacturers.
Tank Capacity

The water reservoir is primarily designed not for extensive water storage (the maximum Vertuo machines brew uses 350ml or roughly 12 oz), but to enable consecutive brewing operations. Both Vertuo Pop and Vertuo Plus can brew all the capsule sizes that are available in the Nespresso store and the tanks support the back-to-back brewing.
I found that the Vertuo pop needed a refill too frequently, possibly every 2 or 3 brews, and is not very suitable for office or small business purposes.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop has a 25.4 oz (750 ml) tank while Vertuo Plus has a 38 Oz (1.2L) reservoir.
Nespresso Vertuo Plus has a superior thermal unit, that takes less than 20 seconds to heat the water, while Vertuo Pop has the same thermal unit as the problematic Vertuo Next and takes upwards of 30-40 seconds to just heat the water.
Vertuo Plus also has a movable water reservoir. You can adjust the tank to be at the back, 45 or 90 degrees on the side. This is helpful for those who have a short countertop. This is a thoughtful design, that caught the attention of a lot of buyers when Vertuo Plus was released in 2017. It is still relevant today because the movable water reservoir makes it easy to put the machine in a corner without worrying about it protruding over the counter.
Nespresso Vertuo Plus brews coffee faster than Vertuo Pop in all capsule sizes. It can brew 6-7 cups of coffee (considering the standard Gran Lungo capsule) back to back.
I liked the Vertuo pop with its small size that fits nicely on the countertop. The small tank is shorter than the machine and can be easily packed to take away if you are a frequent traveler.
Vertuo Plus is not easy to pack, weighs around 4.5Kg and has a bigger tank. If you are looking for a sturdy coffee machine for a small business or even for a home, then Vertuo Plus is your best choice.
WINNER - Vertuo Plus
Compatible Nespresso Capsules
NOTE: The new XL capsules from Nespresso don’t work on Vertuo Plus, even though they fit the capsule holder well. The barcode scanner does not accept the new XL pods as they are designed specifically for Vertuo Pop/Vertuo Next line machines. This is a bummer because you can’t brew most of the cold brew capsules.
Vertuo Pop is the latest model that fits all the capsules that Nespresso has to offer. This means you have access to well over 40 different capsules including the bigger capsules.
Additionally, there is a new mode available in Vertuo Pop called the “Expert Mode”. Export mode or concentration control helps you brew a “strong” coffee by reducing the amount of water in the final brew. To activate this mode, Double-press the coffee brew consecutively in under a second. For more info regarding this check the following section.
Vertuo Plus does not have an “Expert Mode”, but you can still control the amount of water you will need to brew the coffee. To turn on this, place the capsule in the holder and press the brew button once. Press and hold again to control the water to the amount you need by measuring it manually yourself. The machine remembers the amount of water you use when you brew the same size capsule next time.
Capsule sizes | Vertuo Pop | Vertuo Plus | Vertuo Pop (Concentration) | Vertuo Plus (Concentration) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Espresso (1.35 oz) / S | ✅ | ✅ | Gives 0.85 oz | ❌ |
Double Espresso / M | ✅ | ✅ | Gives 1.4 oz | ❌ |
Gran Lungo (5 oz) / M | ✅ | ✅ | Gives 1.4 oz | ❌ |
Coffee (8 oz) / L | ✅ | ✅ | Gives 2.7 oz | ❌ |
Cold brew / XL (12 oz) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
For mug accessories, like the coffee mug, carafe, and Alto glass mug, Vertuo Plus supports all accessories because of the height, while Vertuo Pop cannot fit everything. Note that the capsule itself might fit, and start brewing but the coffee will overflow if you are not careful with the small Vertuo pop.
Accessories | Vertuo pop | Vertuo Plus |
---|---|---|
Alto | ❌ | ❌ |
Carafe | ❌ | ❌ |
Espresso, coffee cup, and Reveal Mug | ✅ | ✅ |
- Unlike some coffee machines that eject the tray from the front, the capsule ejection tray for Vertuo Pop is on the side. This is not very convenient, primarily because you now can’t put the coffee machine in a corner without having to move it to clean the tray constantly.
- On the other hand, Vertuo Plus has an ejection tray on the back (SIGH!), along with the movable water reservoir, this is very difficult to move the machine if the backside is close to the wall, and move the water tank to the side before removing the ejection tray.
- Vertuo Plus being taller has a bigger ejection holder. This means you can collect up to 10 capsules within it, while Vertuo pop has a smaller ejection tray and can hold only up to 5-6 S/M capsules. If you are placing the Vertuo pop in an office, there are going to be complaints about cleaning the tray holder for every brew (sigh! I do it every day)

Third-party capsules
Unlike a Keurig machine where you can use knockoff capsules, Nespresso has a barcode scanning technology to identify the pod size and the concentration it needs to be brewed in. Therefore, you are restricted to only using Nespresso capsules. All Vertuo line machines come with barcode technology, leaving you with roughly 40 odd capsule choices from Nespresso.
Some customers (including me!) think there are pros and cons to this approach. Apart from the business value for Nespresso, which makes you buy aluminum capsules to brew a coffee, it helps with maintaining the machine for a longer period.
Knock-off capsules often have different sealing material causing the needle to break faster.
No option of using the “reusable capsules” that you find on Amazon or Walmart. Both Vertuo Plus and Vertuo Pop have a barcode scanner at the bottom of the capsule holder and it is a pain to make the reusable capsules work.
Some people get reusable capsules like this one from Amazon and need to peel the barcode from a used pod and stick it here to make it work. I tried these techniques and think they make very weak coffee with no creme layer (possibly because the sealant is either weak or doesn’t produce enough pressure). Vertuo Plus and Vertuo Pop are restricted by the capsules that you find only on the Nespresso official store.
Machine Controls
Lid design
The first thing that caught my eye with VertuoPlus was the smooth motorized automatic locking lid. With a touch of the lever(press the lever once), the lid automatically closes and the capsule scanning starts. This roughly takes 25-30 seconds (lights blink during this time) and the coffee is ready to brew.
However, in Vertuo Pop, you need to close the lid and turn the lever manually to lock. The capsule scanning starts only after you press the brew button. I felt the barcode scanner to be faster in Vertuo Pop (under 10 seconds) before the machine started whirring.
VertuoPlus gives a very premium touch to the espresso machine lineups and is not found in any entry to medium-level espresso machines in the market today.
That being said, it introduces an additional point of failure to troubleshoot, which could explain why this motorized lid closing mechanism has been dropped in the recent Nespresso machines.
Controls

Vertuo Pop Vs Vertuo Plus controls
Nespresso Vertuo Pop and Vertuo Plus have similar “settings” but the controls are straightforward with Vertuo Pop. Additionally, note that the Vertuo Pop has a manual lever (goes from right to left) at the top and a brew button at the center. You do most of the controls with this single button that is present in both these machines.
The following are the controls that both machines offer.
Mode | Control Combination (Vertuo Pop) | Vertuo Plus |
---|---|---|
Turn on | Press the brew button once to turn on | Press the brew button once to turn on |
Brewing | After turning on the machine, press the brew button once | Press the lid lever once, wait for the barcode scanner and press the brew button |
Cleaning/Rinsing | Press the brew button 3 times under 2 seconds | Press the brew button 3 times under 2 seconds |
Descaling | After pouring the descaling solution, Lock, then unlock, then hold the brew button for 7 seconds | Lid in close position, Hold the lever + brew button for 3 seconds. Now press the lever once then the brew button to start descaling. |
Concentrated extract | Press the brew button twice under 1 second (Quick succession) | ❌ |
Programmable coffee volume | Place the capsule, and hold the brew button till the desired coffee volume is reached. This setting is saved for the next brew for that specific capsule size | Hold the brew button till the desired coffee volume is reached. The setting is saved for the next brew cycle |
Factor reset | Leave the lever in the unlocked position, Press brew 5 times in under 3 seconds to factory reset | Lid in close position, Hold the lever + brew button for 3 seconds. Press the lever 3 times followed by the brew button once to enter the descaling mode |
As you can see, the brew button is a one-stop for all the modes. This can be super simple and problematic once you need to troubleshoot.
I think the no-nonsense button pressing makes it super easy to brew your favorite coffee quickly.
On the note of the concentrated coffee mode, I could taste the increase in coffee strength on all the capsules. This is a nice mode that Keurig coffee makers don’t have (or if they do, it doesn’t match the Nespresso brews)
You will additionally need the Aeroccino frother to enjoy the bolder tasting (dark roast) coffee, but can just pour skimmed milk over it and they taste just as fine.
Bluetooth connectivity
Vertuo Pop has Bluetooth connectivity options. Note that the Bluetooth connectivity is turned on by default, so you don’t have to put the machine in any “pairing mode”.
This is particularly useful for receiving software updates and troubleshooting, though you can do most of the troubleshooting with just the colored blinking lights. For more information on this, read the Vertuo troubleshooting guide.
Vertuo Plus does not have a Bluetooth connectivity mode. Unlink Vertuo Pop, this means you do not get any “software updates” or “firmware updates” that can potentially fix issues without returning your machine.
That being said, I do not see any use for Bluetooth connectivity, because it is not like Nespresso solved a major problem with Vertuo Next using software updates overnight. If your machine is broken, it is broken and you need to replace it. Bluetooth is not a big selling point for me in both of these machines.
Machine noise and Usability
Vertuo Pop makes 2 noises at the start. One is the machine heating up, then the capsule spins using the Centrifusion technology to produce the creme-layered coffee [3].
For Vertuo Pop, the overall time is roughly 60 seconds (for an S-size capsule) and increases to upwards of 100 seconds for an XL-sized capsule (including the 30-second heating) between every brew.
Vertuo Plus on the other hand heats the water and spins in the same motion. Towards the end, the machine whirring stops spurting the remaining coffee in the nozzle. This reduces the coffee brewing time, where an S-size capsule brews in under 50 seconds (without considering the barcode scanning time), while an L-sized capsule brews in less than 70 seconds.
Vertuo Pop has a weird reduction in speed during the brew, that is, it starts off brewing fast, producing the creme layer and the nozzle starts spurting out the coffee at a reduced speed.
Vertuo Plus on the other hand has a smooth brewing experience because it doesn’t slow down at any point till the coffee is finished spurting out of the nozzle.
This is alright, considering that there is no difference in taste but interesting to note that this is very evident with these 2 machines.
Overall, VertuoPlus is the quieter of the two and brews a smooth coffee every single time. With that said, the overall brewing is very simple, and no-nonsense. Press a button and get your coffee with no extra effort!
Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning a Nespresso is super easy! Just add water to the tank and quickly press the brew button 3 times to start the rinsing/cleaning. If you’re using flavored coffee or cocoa capsules, it’s a good idea to clean them. The nozzle might have some leftover stuff from your last brew.
Both the Nespresso Vertuo Plus and Vertuo Pop come with a removable tank and handy water filter support for a breeze of clean-up.
I clean the tank once every 2 weeks, and the removable tank on the side comes in handy. The needle can be cleaned manually with a cloth. Ensure that there is no capsule in the holder when you are running the cleaning process.
The process of descaling both Vertuo line machines is quite similar. Pour the descaling solution into the tank and press and hold the brew button for 7 seconds.
I would recommend using the descaling solution from Nespresso and not citric or vinegar extract as the descaling solution. [4]
Troubleshooting the Nespresso Vertuo line machine is effortless, they have multi-colored blinking lights indicating when you need to descale or clean the machine. Ensure to follow the troubleshooting guide in case you come across any unknown light combination.
Overall, both Vertuo Pop and Vertuo Plus are intuitive enough to understand, this simple setting makes both land in a tie when it comes to cleaning and maintenance.
Best Overall
Vertuo Pop – If you are a frequent traveler, and need a compact, sleek, budget-friendly coffee maker on hand. Also doubles down as a personal espresso machine for light coffee brewers at home. Excellent for entry-level espresso enthusiasts and is the cheapest Nespresso to date.
Vertuo Plus – If you want a premium espresso maker that can be used in a small business or for personal use. Note that the machine is quite heavy and cannot be easily moved around. It cannot make a large carafe or Alto cold coffee capsules, therefore is limited to only a premium espresso/coffee maker.
In terms of features, Vertuo Pop can brew all the capsules and is cheaper than Vertuo Plus. With that being said, VertuoPlus is a better option for small businesses than Vertuo Pop.
I would recommend buying Vertuo Pop if you are looking for an entry-level espresso maker and are on a tight budget. It gives an entrance into the Nespresso line of coffee brewing (centrifusion technology) and can help you upgrade to VertuoPlus line coffee makers later on.
If your option is only espresso brewing and have some money to spend go for VertuoPlus. It is much sturdier and can make premium-tasting coffee every time.