If there’s anything that L’or coffee machine (Barista System) and Nespresso Vertuo have in common, is that both of them can make espresso and coffee servings.
Which is why it gets a bit confusing, when comparing L’or vs Nespresso Vertuo, which makes the better coffee and which should you pick?
In this comparison guide, I will tell you the main differences between L’or coffee machine and Nespresso Vertuo in terms of:
- Pod compatibility and availability
- What coffee sizes can you make
- Which coffee machine makes the better coffee
But if there’s one difference you need to know, right off the bat, it’s that:
- L’or’s Barista system is much more versatile when it comes to espresso and lungo pods, because it uses Nespresso OriginalLine compatible pods. But for XL coffee, 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. Which means, you’ll be committing to Nespresso’s own capsules.
L’or vs Nespresso Vertuo – Top Differences
please note that this comparison is specific to Nespresso Vertuo (like Veruto Next, VertuoPlus, Vertuo Pop…) . You can read my other comparison of L’or vs Nespresso OriginalLine for other Nespresso machines. Also, a related comparison is L’or Barista vs Keurig
L’or vs Nespresso Vertuo Serving Sizes
| L’or Barista Serving Sizes | Nespresso Vertuo Serving Sizes |
| 3 Espresso servings – 3 Coffee Servings | Espresso, Double Espresso, Gran Lungo, Coffee (Carafe and XL Coffee Exclusive to Vertuo Next) |
L’or Barista system can make both espresso and coffee and gives you three sizes for each option. So you get a total of 6 serving sizes.
- When using a L’or espresso pod, the machine will do three serving sizes: 1.4 oz, 2.7 oz and 3.7 oz.
- When a L’or XL coffee capsule is used, you can brew the following serving sizes: 5 oz, 8 oz and 12 oz.
As for Nespresso Vertuo, there are 4 main serving sizes:
- Espresso = 1.35 oz
- Double Espresso = 2.7 oz
- Gran Lungo = 5 oz
- Coffee = 7.7 oz
And then there are the capsules that are exclusive to newer Nespresso Vertuo models like Vertuo Next and Vertuo Pop:
- XL Coffee = 12 oz
- Carafe = 18 oz
So depending on which Nespresso Vertuo model, you’ll get between 4 to 6 serving sizes.
L’or vs Nespresso Vertuo Pod Compatibility
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 really 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 Coffee Machine Pod Compatibility
L’or uses two types of pods: espresso pods and coffee pods. Both of them look the same, but coffee pods are larger because they contain more ground coffee. [more on L’or pod compatibility]
L’or Espresso Pods
For espresso (serving sizes: 1.3, 2.7 and 3.7 oz), L’or Barista coffee machine allows you to use ANY type of Nespresso Original Line compatible pod. These can be L’or’s own pods, Nespresso’s own OriginalLine pods or any OriginalLine pods from Starbucks, Lavazza, Illy, Dunkin’s… you name it! If the box says Nespresso Original compatible, you can use it in your L’or coffee machine.
L’or XL Coffee Pods
For coffee (5 oz, 8 oz and 12 oz), you can only use L’or’s coffee pods, which are EXCLUSIVE to L’or Barista System.
The XL coffee pod can also be used to brew two cups of coffee at the same time, thanks to the machine’s double spouts. So by simply placing two cups under each spout, you’ll split the 8 oz serving, for example, into to 4 oz cups.
So when it comes to espresso, you get to use a huge variety of OriginalLine capsules from any brand you like. But for coffee servings, L’or is still limited to their own exclusive pods.
Please note that to brew a large coffee serving, you HAVE to use XL coffee pod by L’or. You simply won’t have access to the larger 5 to 12 oz serving sizes unless you insert an XL coffee pod.
Nespresso Vertuo Pods Compatibility
All Nespresso Vertuo machines use Vertuo pods EXCLUSIVELY. Vertuo pods are available from Nespresso only. The only exception is Nespresso Vertuo Starbucks pods, which are officially licensed by Nespresso.
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.
L’or vs Nespresso Vertuo 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 capsules 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 espresso from other brands). L’or coffee pods are between $0.70 to $0.90 per pod.
L’or pods can be easily purchased online from their own website or from Amazon. Or in local grocery stores.
For Nespresso Vertuo, the pods vary in price between $1 to $1.65, which are quite costly when compared to L’or. Vertuo Pods can be purchased from Nespresso Only, either from their website, 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.
L’or vs Nespresso Pod Recognition Technology
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.
L’or vs Nespresso Vertuo Brewing Method
How each of these machines brew espresso and coffee is quite different, too.
L’or Barista uses pump pressure of 19 bars, like most espresso machines, 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 their own 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.
L’or Barista vs Nespresso Vertuo Coffee Quality
One of the major selling points of L’or and Nespresso Vertuo is the fact that they can brew a full cup of coffee, which is a great thing to have in a brewer.
The question here is, which system makes the better coffee?
L’or Barista Coffee Quality
L’or Barista uses one single type of pod to make three different serving sizes. Which means, it uses the same amount of coffee grounds (around 10 grams of coffee grounds) for all these three sizes. That for sure can affect the quality of the coffee cup at some point.
L’or’s 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 look and taste watered down.
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 that serving size.
Nespresso Vertuo Coffee Quality
Since Nespresso Vertuo uses different pods for each serving size, they have taken into consideration that each serving size will require different coffee ground measurement.
This is the amount of coffee grounds in each Nespresso Vertuo coffee pod:
- Gran Lungo 5 oz pod has 10 grams of coffee grounds.
- Coffee 7.7 oz pod has 12.5 grams of coffee grounds
- XL Alto 12 oz pod has 17 grams of coffee grounds.
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 amount 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 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, on the other hand, uses lower pressure for longer cups of coffee. It brews a stronger brew first then fills in almost water like to fill the rest of the cup. In taste, it will also almost taste like an Americano, but it will not have the foamy layer that Nespresso produces.
L’or Barista vs Nespresso Vertuo Espresso Quality
Whether you like espresso on its own, or use it for Lattes and Cappuccinos, you can use either L’or Barista or Nespresso Vertuo to make a shot of Espresso.
L’or Barista Espresso Quality
L’or Barista, being a pump espresso machine, is as close as you’d get to a traditional shot of espresso. It works exactly like Nespresso OriginalLine machines do and produces an excellent shot of espresso with a great crema.
Because L’or Barista is a Nespresso OriginalLine compatible machine, you’ll get endless picks for Espresso pods. You are not limited to L’or own espresso or lungo pods.
On average, Espresso and lungo pods from L’or’s or other compatible brands will contain around 5.7 grams of coffee grounds. I’ve personally tried Espresso and Lungo pods from Nespresso OriginalLine, L’or, Lavazza and Illy… all of them have the average 5.7 g of coffee and they all taste great either as a 1.3 oz espresso or a 3 oz Lungo.
You don’t have to worry about using the same capsule capacity for espresso and lungo servings. Because traditionally, espresso is supposed to taste super strong and concentrated and lungo is supposed to be a ‘stretched’ milder version of espresso, which is exactly why the same capsule size is used for both serving sizes.
Nespresso Vertuo Espresso Quality
Nespresso Vertuo has two espresso serving sizes:
- Espresso pod, which does a 1.35 oz shot using 6 or 7 grams of coffee.
- Double Espresso pod which contains 9.5 g to 10 grams of coffee ground and does a 2.7 oz serving.
Again, Nespresso Vertuo wins in terms of coffee grounds per pod and coffee volume. You can expect Nespresso Vertuo to taste stronger.
L’or vs Nespresso Vertuo for a Latte – Which Is Best?
To make a latte, you need to things:
- a shot or two of espresso
- Frothed milk – hot or cold
Both L’or Barista and Nespresso Vertuo will need an external device for milk heating and frothing, such as an Aeroccino milk frother or any frother you might like.
If you’re purchasing a coffee machine just to make lattes, or milk based coffee drinks, then you mostly need to make Espressos, and for that L’or Barista will be a great choice, or any Nespresso OriginalLine machine. That way, you don’t limit yourself to Nespresso’s own Espresso pods like you would with a Nespresso Vertuo.
Nespresso For milk pods are available for both OriginalLine and Vertuo machines. But only OriginalLine pods can be used in L’or Barista. You are not limited to those, of course, but they’re the best to use for lattes.
L’or vs Nespresso Vertuo Design
As of the time of writing, L’or Barista system is the only available coffee machine from L’or. Design wise, it looks quite comparable to Nespresso’s OriginalLine machines. It’s compact in size, it has three serve size buttons and a double spout design.
Nespresso Vertuo has several machines in its line:
Vertuo Next – Vertuo Pop – VertuoPlus or the first gen Vertuo.
Each of these machines use the same Nespresso Vertuo technology to brew coffee, but differ in design. I advice you to gives the follow guides a read if you’re considering a Vertuo:
L’or or Nespresso Vertuo – Which Is Better?
You’ve reached the conclusion of this comparison and you want the definitive answer – which coffee system is best, L’or or Nespresso Vertuo?
No coffee system is %100 and has everything you need, so you have to prioritize:
- Do you want capsule diversity, cost-effective pods and availability? L’or is the system for you.
- Do you want higher quality capsules, even at a higher cost? And don’t mind the exclusivity? Nespresso Vertuo is a great option for you, then.
I am someone who used Nespresso VertuoPlus for a while, before I finally gave up on it and made the switch to a Nespresso OriginalLine machine (read about my experience here). The coffee quality was great, but as Nespresso kept raising their cost per pod, I got sick of the lack of Vertuo pod exclusivity as my spending got higher. This is why it’s the first thing I bring up to anyone considering a Nespresso Vertuo. You really have to make sure you want to commit to their great, but expensive, Vertuo pods.
L’or Barista also has exclusivity on their XL coffee capsule, but the pods are not as expensive as Nespresso Vertuo. And when it comes to Espresso, you’ll have a lot more options than L’or’s own pods. Which I find to be a much better situation: Use ANY espresso OriginalLine pods, use Exclusive XL pods that cost less than $1.
