Capsule systems · review
The Original system, where the patents expired and everyone makes capsules. The machine is unremarkable; the point is that you can buy pods from a supermarket at a third of Nespresso's price.
Where we land on it Buy the system, not the machine — and Original is the system that stays cheap.
There are two Nespresso systems and they are not variations on a theme. Original is the older one, using the small conical capsules, and its key patents have expired — which is why supermarkets, roasters and dozens of independents all sell compatible pods. Vertuo is the newer one, protected and effectively single-source.
The CitiZ is a competent Original machine and that is close to the whole review. Nineteen bars, two programmable volumes, twenty-five seconds to heat, a slim upright body that suits a narrow countertop, and a build that keeps running for years. There is nothing clever about it and nothing wrong with it.
What matters is what it lets you buy. Original-compatible capsules from a decent independent roaster cost roughly a third of Nespresso’s own and are often fresher, because a small roaster fills to order rather than to a distribution schedule. Over three years of daily coffee that difference dwarfs the price of any capsule machine on the market.
The limitations are real if you drink long. Original capsules are sized for espresso and lungo; asking for a mug gives you a thin, over-extracted drink, which is precisely the gap Vertuo was built to fill. And there is no milk here at all unless you add an Aeroccino.
If you drink espresso, this is the sensible capsule machine. If you drink mugs of black coffee, buy the Vertuo and accept the supplier.
| System | Nespresso Original |
|---|---|
| Pressure | 19 bar |
| Cup sizes | 2 programmable |
| Water tank | 1 L (34 oz) |
| Heat-up | ≈ 25 s |
The good ones are close, and some independent roasters selling Original-compatible capsules are better than Nespresso's own, because they fill them fresher. The cheap supermarket own-brands are noticeably thinner. The point is that you have the choice, which Vertuo owners do not.
Running cost and freedom. The Pop is cheaper to buy and permanently more expensive to feed. If you drink espresso rather than mugs, the CitiZ pays back the difference within a few months and keeps paying.
7.6/ 10
Buy the system, not the machine — and Original is the system that stays cheap.
A reference exists on these Amazon stores: France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, United States. Listed is not the same as in stock — availability changes daily.
Details checked on October 30, 2026.
Espresso and lungo drinkers who want capsule convenience without capsule prices.
Specifications: the manufacturer sheet for coffee equipment and the matching Amazon product page. Prices and availability: Keepa. Every figure on this page names its source.
20 bar, 1,350 W, NS Original pods, 22 oz tank, espresso 35 ml and lungo 65 ml, 30-min auto-off
A 20-bar, 1,350-watt pod machine for NS Original capsules, with programmable 35 and 65 milliliter volumes.
Best for: Someone buying Original-line pods who wants the specification sheet filled in and the machine out of the way
≈ $93
Vertuo, 6 cup sizes 5–18 oz, 37 oz side tank, 30-second heat-up, automatic ejection
Six Vertuo cup sizes from five to eighteen ounces, a 37-ounce removable side tank and a thirty-second heat-up.
Best for: A Vertuo buyer who wants the sizes and the range and will not notice half a minute
≈ $109
Vertuo, multiple cup sizes hot or iced, milk frother included, automatic capsule ejection
A Vertuo machine with a milk frother included, automatic capsule ejection and a side water tank.
Best for: A Vertuo household that wants cappuccinos without buying a separate frother
≈ $109
