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L'or Barista vs Nespresso - Here Is the Best Coffee Machine

L’or Barista vs Nespresso – Here Is the Best Coffee Machine

L'or Coffee Machines, L'or Comparisons Feb 14, 2023 No Comments

[Last Updated: Dec 2023]

L’or and Nespresso coffee machines both use Nespresso pods. But the L’or Barista gives you the advantage of using L’or coffee pods, which allow you to make up to 12 ounces of coffee.

Below is a detailed comparison of L’or coffee machine and Nespresso, whether Original or Vertuo.

L’or Is Better Than Nespresso. Here’s Why…

When it comes to making espresso, both Nespresso and L’or Barista System are quite comparable.

L’or and Nespresso Original (Inissia, Essenza, Pixie, Citiz…) use the same espresso pods, either made by Nespresso or L’or.

But if you enjoy large cups of coffee, L’or Barista can make serving sizes of 5 oz, 8 oz, and 12 oz using the XL coffee pods by L’or.

Note: L’or coffee machine is called Barista System in the USA, and referred to as L’or Barista Sublime in the UK – Both are the SAME machine.

L’or Coffee Machine is the Winner!

If this is going to be your first capsule coffee machine, I recommend the L’OR Barista System. If you like Lattes and Cappuccino, I recommend adding an electric milk frother to your purchase (see below for recommendations).

Why L’or Barista Is The Best
– It is compatible with L’or and Nespresso coffee pods. That includes pods from 3rd party brands like Starbucks, Lavazza, Illy, Dunkin’, Gourmesso and many more!
– For coffee servings, you can use L’or XL coffee pods or Peet’s coffee pods.
– It costs as much as Nespresso Original machines and less. The coffee capsule cost is the same for either model.
– Amazing value for price. You get 6 serving sizes, a huge variety of coffee pods for the same initial price of a Nespresso machine.
– Compared to Nespresso Vertuo, L’or Barista pods cost less and are not exclusive like Vertuo pods.

For me, this machine checks all the marks for a comprehensive coffee pod machine that won’t limit you to one brand of coffee pod

L’or Coffee Machine vs Nespresso Original

When comparing L’or Barista to Nespresso Original, the same aspect of the comparison applies to all Original machines like Essenza Mini, Inissia, CitiZ, or Pixie.

L'or vs Nespresso

Coffee Pod Compatibility and Serving Sizes

L’or BaristaNespresso Original
Espresso 1.37 oz, Double espresso 2.7 oz, Lungo 3.75 oz, Coffee (5 oz, 8 oz, 12 oz)Espresso 1.35 oz , Lungo 3.75 oz

L’or coffee machine has a total of 6 serving sizes, while Nespresso has only 2.

When using espresso pods, the L’or Barista unlocks the serving sizes for espresso, double espresso, and lungo using its automatic pod recognition technology.

Nespresso only uses espresso pods, so you simply insert one and select a serving-size button.L’or Pods vs Nespresso Original Pods

Can You Use Nespresso Pods in L’or Barista Coffee Machine?

l'or vs nespresso pods
L’or pod on the left, Nespresso originaline pod on the right. They are the exact same shape and size

Yes! L’or and Nespresso use the same pods to make espresso, double espresso or lungo.

Using Nespresso pods in your L’or Barista machine is easy. Simply insert the pod into the designated slot and the L’or Barista will activate its espresso menu, so serving sizes will be limited to 1.4, 2.7, and 3.7 oz.

L’or XL Coffee Pods

l'or coffee pods

For coffee servings, which only the L’or Barista can do, you can only use Lor’s Coffee pods.

[UPDATE] L’or now offers XL coffee pods made by Peet’s! You’ll find XL coffee capsules with the following blends: Midtown Medium Roast or Peet’s French Roast coffee.

L'or Espresso vs Coffee pod
L’or coffee pod at the back vs espresso pod in the front

Although seemingly, L’or coffee pods look similar to the espresso pods, they are slightly larger because they contain more ground coffee. The diameter of the pods is the same, but the coffee capsule has more height to it than the espresso pod.

When you insert an XL coffee pod into the Barista coffee machine, the same three buttons will not dispense 5 oz, 8 oz or 12 oz.

The XL coffee pod will not fit into the Nespresso Original.

Related Post: Nespresso Caffeine Content

LOR Barista System vs Nespresso

Coffee Pod Variety

One of the best things about using a Nespresso-compatible coffee machine is the variety of pods to choose from. This is the reason users prefer Nespresso or the L’or Barista over a Vertuo coffee machine.

You can use espresso pods from Nespresso, L’or, Starbucks, Lavazza or any brand that sells Nespresso-compatible pods.

As for L’or coffee machine’s XL pod, the selection is still limited but it’s growing.

Brewing Technology and User Experience

Nespresso and L’or coffee machines use pump pressure to brew espresso.

L’or has its own capsule recognition technology, which can tell whether you inserted an espresso capsule or coffee capsule and allows the brew selection buttons to brew the correct size for each capsule. (more details on this below)

Both use a simple and easy user interface. All you have to do is insert a pod and select your serving size.

Making a Latte or a Cappuccino

Neither the L’or Barista nor Nespresso comes with an integrated milk frother. Instead, you’ll use them to make the espresso and you’ll have to use a milk frother to heat and foam the milk.

Both brands sell an electric milk frother either separately or bundled with a machine.

Alternatively, If you want a push-button solution, you might want to consider a Lattissima machine by DeLonghi instead, which is an OriginalLine machine but with an integrated milk frother.

Related Post: L’or Barista vs Keurig

L’or Barista vs Nespresso Vertuo

L'or's Barista coffee maker is much more versatile when it comes to espresso and lungo pods, because it uses Nespresso Original-compatible pods. But for XL coffee (up to 12 oz), you're limited to L'or's own pods. 

Nespresso Vertuo, on the other hand, uses propitiatory capsules for all the coffee and espresso servings. This means you'll be committing to Nespresso's own capsules.
L’or Barista Serving SizesNespresso Vertuo Serving Sizes
3 Espresso servings – 3 Coffee ServingsEspresso, Double Espresso, Gran Lungo, Coffee (Carafe and XL Coffee Exclusive to Vertuo Next)

L’or and Vertuo can do the same espresso serving sizes: Espresso 1.35 oz, Double Espresso 2.7

Then there’s L’or Lungo, which is 3.7 oz serving which Nespresso Vertuo does not do.

When it comes to larger coffee sizes:

Both coffee machines can do 5 oz, 8 oz or 12 oz coffee servings.

But here is where Vertuo becomes a bad choice

Nespresso locks the large coffee pods (12 oz and 18 oz) to new Vertuo machines only like Vertuo Next, Vertuo Pop or Vertuo Creatista and Vertuo Lattissima.

Pod Options For Vertuo and L’or Barista

L'or coffee capsules

To me, when it comes to pod coffee machines, pod compatibility is the make-or-break factor in my decision to purchase a machine. So this is where you have to pay close attention:

Now you know the serving size each machine can make for you, it’s time to understand how you’re going to make those coffee drinks.

l'or vs nespresso coffee pods
l’or vs nespresso OriginalLine capsules – they look identical

L’or uses two types of pods: espresso pods and coffee pods. Both of them look the same, but the coffee pods are larger because they contain more ground coffee.

L'or Barista vs Nespresso - Here Is the Best Coffee Machine

As I mentioned in the previous section, for espresso (serving sizes: 1.4, 2.7, and 3.7 oz), the L’or Barista coffee machine allows you to use ANY type of Nespresso Original compatible pod. These can be L’or’s own brand, Nespresso’s or any OriginalLine pods from Starbucks, Lavazza, Illy, Dunkin’s… you name it!

For coffee servings (5 oz, 8 oz and 12 oz) you’ll need L’or XL coffee pods which, as of now, are available from L’or and Peet’s coffee.

L'or vs Nespresso Vertuo Pods

All Nespresso Vertuo machines use Vertuo pods EXCLUSIVELY. These pods are available from Nespresso only. The only exception is Vertuo Starbucks pods, which are officially licensed by Nespresso and can be purchased from some supermarkets and online vendors.

So using a Nespresso Vertuo machine means you are locked to using Nespresso’s own Vertuo pods, which they own the patent to and no other brand can make Vertuo pods.

Do L’or Pods Fit Nespresso Vertuo?

L'or coffee capsules vs Nespresso Vertuo
L’or coffee pod compared to Nespresso Vertuo’s

L’or Coffee pods are not compatible with Nespresso Vertuo. The pods are completely different in size and design and can’t be used interchanably.

the difference between an OriginalLine capsule vs Vertuo capsule
the difference between an OriginalLine capsule vs Vertuo capsule

Vertuo pods are still locked and exclusive to Nespresso only. No other brand can make pods compatible with Vertuo machines.

Coffee Pod Cost and Availability

Since pods are an ongoing cost with single-serve coffee makers, it’s something you have to consider before buying your machine.

L’or espresso and coffee pods are much more affordable than Nespresso Vertuo pods.

L’or espresso pods are available for as low as $0.60 or so per capsule (that’s L’or’s own pods, you can find cheaper alternatives for pods from other brands). The XL coffee pods are between $0.70 to $0.90 per pod.

L’or pods can be easily purchased online from their website or Amazon. They are also available in grocery stores.

For Nespresso Vertuo, the pods vary in price between $1 to $1.65, which is quite costly when compared to L’or.

Vertuo Pods can be purchased from Nespresso Only, either from their website, a local boutique or an authorized reseller like Amazon.

Please note that prices are always subject to change and those listed prices are true as of time or writing.

How Vertuo Works Compared to L’or Coffee Machine

How each of these machines brew espresso and coffee is quite different, too.

L’or Barista uses a pump pressure of 19 bars to brew espresso. And a slightly lower pressure for coffee brewing. It’s as traditional as it gets to a manual espresso machine.

Nespresso Vertuo uses its patented technology called Centrifusion. It doesn’t use pump pressure, instead, it uses a rapid spinning technology that spins the capsule while forcing water through it. Which results in a thick crema layer on both its espresso and coffee servings. [Refer to this Vertuo Foam post]

Coffee Quality

L’or Barista uses one single type of pod to make three different serving sizes. This means it uses the same amount of coffee grounds (around 10 grams of coffee grounds) for all three sizes. That for sure can affect the quality of the coffee cup at some point.

L’or XL pods make a great 5 oz and 8 oz of coffee. However, the 12 oz serving size is quite a stretch and starts to taste weak.

I would suggest that you brew up to 8 oz using the L’or XL pod. If you want to brew 12 oz of coffee, try using the bolder blends with higher intensity. But if you prefer a mild cup of coffee, you’ll enjoy the 12 oz serving size.

L'or Barista vs Nespresso - Here Is the Best Coffee Machine

Since Nespresso Vertuo uses different pods for each serving size, they have taken into consideration that each serving size will require different coffee ground measurements.

This is the amount of coffee grounds in each Nespresso Vertuo coffee pod:

As you can see, each pod has the correct coffee grounds-to-water ratio, so you can expect each serving size to taste full and robust.

Which Makes the Better Coffee

There are two parts to this question:

  • The number of coffee grounds per pod, and
  • The brewing method

When it comes to coffee per water ratio, Nespresso Vertuo is the winner as they take into consideration that a larger brew size requires more coffee grounds. But here’s something else to consider:

Nespresso’s Centrifusion technology produces a cup of coffee that is more like an Americano in taste. It has a high layer of foam, which is produced due to the spinning mechanism it uses to brew coffee. This isn’t something that many people like in their coffee, so you have to keep that in mind.

L’or coffee, on the other hand, uses lower pressure for longer cups of coffee. In taste, it will also almost taste like an Americano, but it will not have the foamy layer that Nespresso produces.

How L’or and Vertuo Recognize Pods Automatically

L'or vs Nespresso Vertuo buttons

L’or and Nespresso Vertuo both use special technology that automatically recognizes which pod you have inserted. But these tech features work differently

L’or Dual Capsule Recognition Technology

L’or has three main buttons on it: small, medium, and large serving buttons.

How much coffee these buttons dispense will depend on which pod you have inserted…

  • If you have inserted an Espresso pod, which can be from L’or or any Nespresso OriginalLine compatible pod, these buttons will do the following sizes: Small 1.3 oz, Medium 2.7 oz, Large 3.7 oz.
  • If you have inserted L’or XL Pod, which is exclusive to L’or and is only made by them, the machine will recognize that immediately, and those same buttons will do the following serving sizes: Small 5 oz, Medium 8 oz and Large 12 oz.

Nespresso Vertuo Barcode Reader

Nespresso Vetuo uses a whole other technology to recognize which pod you have inserted.

Like I mentioned earlier, Nespresso Vertuo has a pod for each different serving size, and the machines have only a brew button.

Each Nespresso Vertuo pod has a special code around its rim. When you insert a pod and press the brew button, Nespresso Vertuo will read the code and recognize the pod size you are trying to brew automatically.

Which Is the Better Pick

Between L’or and Vertuo, and since both are espresso and coffee brewers, it comes down to this:

  • For espresso brewing, they’re quite comparable. If your main objective is to brew espresso, stick with L’or Barista or even a Nespresso Original espresso machine for great espresso quality and a higher variety of pods for a less expensive cost.
  • And while I believe Vertuo makes better quality large coffee, I would still advise against it (I have given up on mine). The pods are expensive and as long as Nespresso has a monopoly over them, you’ll be limited in your pod use.

The L’OR Barista System is a revolutionary single-serve coffee and espresso maker that offers a perfect in-home cafe experience. The machine uses 19 bars of high pressure to produce a layer of smooth crema on top of each cup. It has Dual-Capsule Recognition Technology which enables it to brew 6 different beverage sizes. This feature is what sets it apart from any other Nespresso-compatible brewer, including Nespresso’s own machines.

This machine is a collaboration between L’OR Coffee and Philips.

Serving Sizes

Here’s what makes L’OR Barista System special, the serving sizes. To start, it makes both espresso and coffee, yes, that’s a full 12 oz cup of coffee!

The machine has three buttons for small, medium and large serving. Here’s how it works:

The Dual Capsule Recognition technology can recognize whether you have inserted an espresso capsule or coffee capsule because coffee capsules are larger.

Then, it will activate the menu for said capsule type:

For Espresso, the serving sizes are:

  • Small: 1.4 oz,
  • Medium: 2.7 oz
  • Large: 3.7 oz

As for coffee, the serving sizes are:

Other features:

  • 40 oz removable water reservoir
  • 25-second heat up time
  • Automatic used pod ejection.
  • The double spout design allows you to serve two cups at the same time.

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