The winner is Nespresso Vertuo Pop based on the cost-to-value benefit compared to Vertuo Next. The Nespresso Vertuo Pop is the latest release and is identical in features to Vertuo Next. It has the same thermal unit, firmware, controls, and the ability to brew all capsule sizes.
It can get confusing to find that Vertuo Pop has different names and comes from multiple manufacturers while Vertuo Next is found throughout the world. I spent a long time researching the different models before compiling this guide.
Note that there are 2 models of Vertuo Pop, namely Vertuo Pop+ and Vertuo Pop itself. Vertuo Pop+ has the same brewing unit (coffee maker) with a water reservoir (750 ml tank) on the left-hand side and is found only in the USA, while Pop is just the name that is given to the model in the rest of the world (Canada, EU, Australia, etc) and has the water tank (600 ml) behind the brewing unit.
Except for this difference, Vertuo Pop and Vertuo Pop+ are identical in features. We will refer to Vertuo Pop+ as Vertuo Pop in this article to reduce confusion.
Vertuo Next has been muddled with leakage and descaling issues for some time now, but the latest iterations (post-2023) have resolved this problem. But do you want to risk buying the machine? The choice is yours!
Short on time?
- Vertuo Pop (Pop+) comes in two water tank sizes 600ml or 750ml based on where you buy it while Vertuo Next has a larger 1.1L water tank
- Controls (Brewing, Concentrated brewing) are identical in Vertuo Next and Vertuo Pop
- Vertuo Next fits a large Carafe (up to 350 ml jug) under the nozzle while Vertuo Pop is not tall enough to fit the carafe.
- Both Vertuo Next and Vertuo Pop have auto barcode scanning technology and can decide the adequate quantity of coffee to brew
- Manually setting coffee quantity is possible in both Vertuo Next and Vertuo pop
Quick Glance
Water Reservoir – 25.4 Oz (750 ml)
Size – 10.4” H x 8.6” W x 14” D
Controls – Concentrated coffee
Brew Sizes – 2,5, 8, 12 (Auto capsule size)
Detachable reservoir + carbon filter
Capsule scan restricts Non-Nespresso
Bluetooth Connectivity
Cannot fit Carafe
Water Reservoir – 37 Oz (1.1 L)
Size – 16.8″D x 5.6″W x 12.36″H
Controls – Concentrated coffee
Brew Sizes – 2, 5, 8, 12 oz
Detachable reservoir + carbon filter
Barcode Scanner restriction
Bluetooth Connectivity
Carafe, Alto height
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 Next – Vertuo Next has been around for some time. After seeing early iterations have weird leakage and descaling issues, the latest versions (post-2023) have fixed this. It is taller and bigger when compared to Vertuo Pop and is suitable for small businesses and everyday coffee brewers. It fits a large carafe and has identical features to the Vertuo Pop.
Design and Look
When it comes to design, the Nespresso Vertuo pop is sleek and compact. Though a lot of people say it looks exactly like Vertuo Next but in a smaller size, this is not true. The pin head and the water tank at the back of Vertuo Pop are much smaller in dimension making Vertuo Pop cute!
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 Next – Comes in only 4 color options (Shades of gray and red) and the red color option is not available anywhere outside the USA.
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 Next can brew all the capsule sizes that are available in the Nespresso store and the tanks support this.
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 Next has a 37 Oz (1L) reservoir.
Both Vertuo Pop and Vertuo Next variants have similar brewing technology and thermal units supporting back-to-back brewing that takes 30 seconds of heating time between brews.
Nespresso Vertuo Next performs similarly and can brew 4-6 cups of coffee (considering the standard Gran Lungo capsule) back to back. A similar thermal unit means the efficiency is maintained.
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.
Compatible Nespresso Capsules
Both Vertuo Pop and Vertuo Next support the latest vertuoline capsules. This includes the Espresso (S), Double Espresso (M), Gran Lungo (M), Coffee (L) and Cold Brew (XL) capsule variants.
You can also achieve concentrated extraction mode/programmable water volume mode in both machines.
To activate concentration control (Expert Mode) → Double press the coffee brew twice consecutively in under a second(Available only on Vertuo Pop), while you can limit the amount of coffee by long pressing the brew button in Vertuo Next for concentrated extraction.
| Capsule sizes | Vertuo Pop | Vertuo Next | Vertuo Pop (Concentration) | Vertuo Next (Concentration) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso (1.35 oz) / S | ✅ | ✅ | Gives 0.85 oz | Gives 0.85 oz |
| Double Espresso / M | ✅ | ✅ | Gives 1.4 oz | Gives 1.4 oz |
| Gran Lungo (5 oz) / M | ✅ | ✅ | Gives 1.4 oz | Gives 1.4 oz |
| Coffee (8 oz) / L | ✅ | ✅ | Gives 2.7 oz | Gives 2.7 oz |
| Cold brew / XL (12 oz) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
For mug accessories, like the coffee mug, carafe, and Alto glass mug, Vertuo next supports all the mug sizes 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 Next |
|---|---|---|
| Alto | ❌ | ✅ |
| Carafe | ❌ | ✅ |
| Espresso, coffee cup and Reveal Mug | ✅ | ✅ |
- Unlike some coffee machines that eject the tray from the front, the capsule ejection tray for both Vertuo Next and 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.
- Vertuo Next being taller has a slightly 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, where you have to keep buying the aluminum capsules to brew a coffee, they also increase the longevity of the machine itself.
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 Next and Vertuo Pop have a barcode scanner at the bottom 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. Vertuo Next and Vertuo Pop are restricted by the capsules that you find only on the Nespresso official store.
Machine Controls
Controls
Nespresso Vertuo Pop and Vertuo Next have very similar controls. A lockable 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.
The following are the controls that both machines offer
| Mode | Control Combination |
|---|---|
| Turn on | Press the button once |
| Brewing | After turning on the machine, press the brew button once |
| Cleaning/Rinsing | Press the brew button 3 times under 2 seconds |
| Descaling | After pouring the descaling solution, hold the brew button for 7 seconds |
| 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 |
| Factor reset | Leave the lever in the unlocked position, Press brew 5 times in under 3 seconds to factory reset |
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.
There was a higher number of problems with the Vertuo Next machines causing strange blinking lights. However, Nespresso has addressed these problems in the latest iterations of Vertuo Next.
Read Also: Vertuo Next not working | Easy troubleshooting tips
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 Next and Vertuo Pop have 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 next troubleshooting guide. Both Vertuo Pop and Vertuo Next come with similar firmware, therefore the troubleshooting tips apply.
Machine noise and Usability
Vertuo Pop and Vertuo next make 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].
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.
Both machines have this 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. This is so much different from how VertuoPlus line coffee machines work, where the brew is very smooth.
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, there is a very minor difference in terms of machine noise and usability between the two models. 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 a piece of cake! Fill the tank with water and press the brew button 3 times under 2 seconds to start the rinsing/cleaning process. It is advisable to clean the machine if you are using any flavored coffee or hot cocoa capsules. The nozzle might still have some of the previous brew left.
Both Nespresso Vertuo Next and Vertuo Pop have a removable tank and a water filter support that makes it easy to clean.
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 Next and Vertuo Pop 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. Note that Vertuo Next had a known issue with a poor descaling mechanism that caused the machine to blink error lights after 100 or so brews. This is now well known and Nespresso has an update on the firmware level to fix this. That being said, descaling your machine regularly (preferably every 100-200 brews) helps it last longer. [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 Next 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 premium coffee maker on hand. Also doubles down as a personal espresso machine for light coffee brewers
Vertuo Next – If you want an entry-level espresso maker that can be used in a small business or for personal use. Note that the machine is heavy and cannot be easily packed to carry around unlike the Vertuo pop.
In terms of features, Vertuo Pop and Vertuo Next are identical, and considering that Vertuo Pop is cheaper and newer than Vertuo Next, I would recommend buying Vertuo Pop if you are looking for an entry-level espresso maker.
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.
