Capsule systems · review
About four inches wide, twenty-five seconds to heat, and it takes the Original capsules that dozens of brands make. The cheapest sensible way into the system that stays cheap to run.
Where we land on it The cheapest way into the capsule system that does not lock you in.
Capsule machines are usually chosen on the machine and should be chosen on the system, and the Essenza Mini is the clearest illustration of why.
It is the cheapest and smallest Nespresso Original machine, and within the Original range the coffee is essentially identical across models — the same capsule, the same pressure, the same shot. What changes between machines is tank size, footprint and how much of a lever you have to pull. So paying more inside the range buys convenience rather than a better cup.
Meanwhile the choice of Original over Vertuo determines what you spend for the next decade. Original patents expired years ago, which is why supermarkets, independent roasters and dozens of brands sell compatible capsules at roughly a third of Nespresso’s own price. At three cups a day, that difference exceeds the price of this machine within about two months.
The compromises are exactly what eleven centimeters implies. The tank is small enough that you will refill it every couple of days. Two cup sizes, both programmable, and no third. And it is light — closing the lever briskly slides it across the countertop until it has a full tank in it.
| System | Nespresso Original |
|---|---|
| Width | 11 cm (4.3 in) |
| Water tank | 0.6 L (20 oz) |
| Cup sizes | 2, programmable |
| Heat-up | ≈ 25 s |
No. Within the Original system, the machines differ in tank size, footprint and convenience rather than in extraction. An Essenza Mini and a CitiZ make the same shot from the same capsule.
Running cost. Original patents have expired, so supermarkets and independent roasters sell compatible capsules at roughly a third of Nespresso’s price. Vertuo capsules are effectively single-source, so the machine price is the smallest part of what you will spend.
7.7/ 10
The cheapest way into the capsule system that does not lock you in.
A reference exists on these Amazon stores: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, United States. Listed is not the same as in stock — availability changes daily.
Details checked on October 30, 2026.
A small kitchen, a studio apartment, an office desk, or a second machine.
Amazon reports what buyers took in the month before this page was last checked: at least 1,000.
The figure is a floor, rounded by Amazon, and read through Keepa — it says what buyers picked, not what a maker claims.
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
