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Nespresso Essenza Mini Review: Best Compact Nespresso for Your Money

Nespresso Essenza Mini Review: Best Compact Nespresso for Your Money

Nespresso Guides Jul 12, 2023

When I first bought my Nespresso Essenza Mini, I was looking for a compact Nespresso machine to keep in my office and I can easily transport when I needed. So I bought the Essenza Mini without a hesitation, and I’m glad I did.

Nespresso Essenza Mini Review
My personal Nespresso Essenza Mini

If you are looking for a Nespresso OriginalLine machine that is:

  • Compact in size,
  • Can make espresso drinks (latte and cappuccino with the help of a milk frother)
  • Can use coffee pods from other 3rd party companies and not just Nespresso’s own pods

The Nespresso Essenza Mini is worth considering.

In this post, you will find my personal experience of Nespresso Essenza Mini as well as a comparison guide on Essenza Mini and how it compares to other Nespresso OriginalLine machines, like CitiZ, Inissia and Pixie.

Nespresso Essenza Mini Review

Essenza Mini is Nespresso’s entry-level OriginalLine machine. It’s a basic espresso machine that does two servings: Espresso and Lungo. Very simple and uncomplicated.

This model is aimed for someone who wants a compact coffee machine that can do espresso or espresso based drinks like a Latte or a Cappuccino, without the complication of larger espresso machines. But to do milk based drinks, you’ll need to bundle your machine with Nespresso Aeroccino milk frother, or buy any separate frother.

Serving Sizes

Nespresso Essenza Mini Serving Sizes

When it comes to serving sizes, the Nespresso Essenza Mini offers two options: Espresso and Lungo

Espresso Shot Size

The espresso shot size is the standard serving size for espresso, and it does 1.35 oz of espresso (40 ml) by default. You can readjust it to your liking, but you wouldn’t want to stretch it a lot so you don’t lose flavor.

Lungo Size

Lungo size, on the other hand, is a larger serving size that is ideal for those who prefer a milder and less concentrated coffee flavor. The Lungo size for the Nespresso Essenza Mini is 110 ml, which is equivalent to 3.72 ounces.

Design and Build Quality

Nespresso Essenza Mini has a sleek and compact design that makes it a great addition to any kitchen, office or dorm room. It measures just 8 inches tall, 4 inches wide, and 12 inches deep, making it one of the smallest Nespresso OriginalLine machines available.

Nespresso Essenza Mini Review: Best Compact Nespresso for Your Money

The build quality of the Essenza Mini is excellent, but it’s not the highest when it comes to design and elegance. It’s practical, but it’s not made to look upscale or fancy in any way. If high-end design is important to you, you’ll definitely prefer a Nespresso Citiz or Pixie to the Essenza Mini.

Nespresso Essenza Mini Review: Best Compact Nespresso for Your Money

Essenza Mini has a full plastic housing, plastic handle and drip tray. The water tank and drip tray are both removable, making them easy to clean.

The machine has just two buttons: one for espresso and one for lungo. The buttons are backlit and responsive, making it easy to select your desired drink.

Ease of Use

Using Nespresso Essenza Mini is a breeze, making it an ideal choice for those who value simplicity and convenience. Here’s what you need to know about its ease of use:

  • The machine is compact and lightweight, making it easy to move around and store. It won’t take up much space on your countertop either.
  • The water tank is removable and easy to fill, so you won’t have to worry about spilling water all over the place.
  • The machine heats up quickly, so you won’t have to wait long to enjoy your favorite coffee.
  • The two programmable cup sizes (Espresso and Lungo) make it easy to customize your coffee to your liking. Simply keep pressing the button you want to reprogram until it dispenses the amount you want. It will save the new dispensed volume.
  • The machine automatically shuts off after 9 minutes of inactivity, which is a great safety feature.
  • The used coffee capsule container can hold up to 6 used capsules, so you won’t have to empty it frequently.
  • The machine is easy to clean. Simply wipe it down with a damp cloth and you’re good to go.

Nespresso Essenza Mini Compatible Coffee Pods

Nespresso Essenza Mini Review: Best Compact Nespresso for Your Money

First thing you wonder about when buying a capsule based espresso or coffee machine is the compatible pods. You want to make sure that those coffee pods are accessible to you in terms of price and availability.

Nespresso Essenza Mini is compatible with many capsules. Being an OriginalLine espresso machine, can use Nespresso’s own Original coffee pods or pods from third party brands like Starbucks, L’or, Illy, Lavazza and many more.

Nespresso Essenza Mini Review: Best Compact Nespresso for Your Money
Nespresso OriginalLine pods by Lavazza
Nespresso Essenza Mini Review: Best Compact Nespresso for Your Money
L’or Nespresso pod vs a Nespresso OriginalLine pod – they are identical

Price wise, Nespresso’s capsules are the most expensive, which can cost you between $0.80 to $0.95 for espresso capsules. Or up to $1 per pod for limited edition capsules.

But if that pricing gets too expensive for you, you have many other options.

Nespresso Starbucks capsules cost an average of $0.60 per pod. Lavazza Nespresso pods and L’or Nespresso pods can range between $0.40 to $0.60 per pod.

Buying third party coffee capsules is a great, and easily available alternative to cut your pod costs without compromising quality.

How To Make a Latte with Nespresso Essenza Mini

Nespresso Essenza Mini Review: Best Compact Nespresso for Your Money

As I already mentioned, Nespresso Essenza Mini is an Espresso machine. It does not have a built-in solution or push-button selection to make a latte or cappuccino.

But you can certainly make a Latte using Essenza Mini.

All you have to do is brew the espresso shot using the Essenza Mini, and separately prepare your frothy milk using an Aeroccino milk frother.

To make your espresso, which is the base of any Latte, you can use any type of espresso pod you like. But Nespresso pods for milk are highly recommend.

Video comparison of Nespresso Essenza Mini vs Pixie vs Citiz

Nespresso Essenza Mini DeLonghi vs Breville

Nespresso Essenza Mini Review: Best Compact Nespresso for Your Money

Nespresso Essenza Mini is sold by two different manufacturers:

DeLonghi or Breville.

Which will naturally make you wonder, what’s the difference between Essenza Mini DeLonghi vs Breville?

The differences are in design only. Functions are %100 the same.

The DeLonghi Essenza Mini is available in three colors: black, white, and red. On the other hand, the Breville Essenza Mini comes in black, white, and two shades of gray.

The DeLonghi model has a slightly curved design, while the Breville model has a more angular design.

Both models have a compact size, making them perfect for small kitchens or apartments. They are also easy to use and clean. The water tank can hold up to 20.3 ounces, which is enough for several cups of coffee. The used capsule container can hold up to six used capsules.

Nespresso Inissia Compared to Essenza Mini

Nespresso Inissia is the older version of Nespresso Essenza Mini and has since been discontinued. Even though it has been officially discontinued, Nespresso Inissia is still available from many retailers and is still a popular purchase.

ModelDimensions
Inissia12.6 x 4.7 x 9 inches
Essenza Mini8 x 4.3 x 12.8 inches

As you can see, the Essenza Mini is slightly taller than the Inissia but has a smaller footprint overall. This makes it a great option for those who have limited counter space in their kitchen.

In terms of functionality, both machines are very similar. They both use Nespresso’s capsule system and have a 19-bar pressure pump for extracting espresso. They also both have a 0.6-liter water tank capacity and a removable drip tray for easy cleaning.

One main difference between the two machines is the design:

  • Nespresso Inissia has a more rounded and curvy shape (which looks a lot like the Essenza Mini by DeLonghi),
  • while the Essenza Mini has a more modern and sleek look. Especially the Breville version

Overall, both the Inissia and Essenza Mini are great options for those who want a compact and easy-to-use Nespresso machine. However, if you’re looking for a more modern design and a wider variety of color options, the Essenza Mini may be the better choice for you.

Related: Nespresso Inissia vs Essenza Mini

Nespresso Essenza Mini Compared to Pixie

When comparing the Nespresso Essenza Mini and Pixie, it’s important to note that Essenza Mini is an entry-level Nespresso OriginalLine machine, while Nespresso Pixie is a high-end model with better materials, it’s also the only Nespresso machine made in Switzerland.

Here’s a table to compare the dimensions of the two machines:

ModelHeight (inches)Width (inches)Depth (inches)
Essenza Mini84.312.8
Pixie9.34.412.8

The biggest difference between Essenza Mini vs Pixie machines is their design:

  • The Pixie has a sleek, modern look, with a metal exterior that comes in a range of colors. The Essenza Mini, on the other hand, has a more minimalist design, with a plastic exterior that comes in black or white.
  • Nespresso Pixie has a backlit used capsule drawer that also works as a lower water level indicator. Essenza Mini doesn’t have any of these features.

In terms of functionality, both machines offer the same basic features, such as programmable cup sizes and automatic shut-off. However, the Pixie has a larger water tank (24 ounces compared to the Essenza Mini’s 20 ounces) and a faster heat-up time (25 seconds compared to the Essenza Mini’s 30 seconds).

Overall, the Nespresso Essenza Mini and Pixie are both excellent machines, but they’re designed for different types of users. If you’re looking for a compact, entry-level coffee machine, the Essenza Mini is a great choice. If you’re willing to spend a bit more for a high-end model with better materials and faster performance, the Pixie is worth considering.

Nespresso Essenza Mini Compared to Citiz

Nespresso Citiz is the Mid-range Nespresso OriginalLine machine. It’s made of mostly plastic, but has some metal accents that give it a premium feel.

One key difference between Nespresso Essenza Mini vs Citiz the design, which in turn affects the price.

The Essenza Mini is a more affordable option compared to the Citiz, making it a great choice for those who want to enjoy Nespresso coffee without breaking the bank. However, both machines produce the same quality of coffee, so you won’t be sacrificing quality by choosing the Essenza Mini.

Nespresso Citiz is available in two versions:

  • Citiz, which is the standalone espresso machine,
  • and Citiz and Milk, which has a built-in Aeroccino milk frother.

Citiz and Milk is larger in size, as it has a wider base the holds both the coffee machine and the milk frother, but on the bright side, it uses a single electric cord to power both the coffee machine and the Aeroccino milk frother.

To help you compare the two models, here is a table that outlines the key differences in size:

ModelHeightWidthDepth
Essenza Mini8 inches4.3 inches12.8 inches
Citiz10.9 inches5.1 inches14.6 inches

Related: Nespresso Inissia vs Citiz

Nespresso Essenza Mini Compared to Vertuo Pop

Now, this is where the difference is quite major.

The Essenza Mini is a Nespresso OriginalLine machine, while the Vertuo Pop is a Nespresso Vertuo machine. This means that the Essenza Mini is designed to work with Nespresso OriginalLine pods, while the Vertuo Pop uses exclusive Vertuo pods.

Nespresso Essenza Mini Review: Best Compact Nespresso for Your Money

One advantage of the Essenza Mini is that it can use generic pods, which are often less expensive than Nespresso-branded pods.

The Vertuo Pop, on the other hand, uses Nespresso’s patented Centrifusion technology, which spins the pod at high speeds to extract the coffee. This results in a crema layer on top of the coffee, which some people prefer.

Another difference between the two machines is the serving sizes they can make.

Nespresso Essenza Mini is an espresso machine, so it can brew two cup sizes: Espresso (1.35 oz) and Lungo (3.75 oz).

Nespresso Vertuo Pop, on the other hand, is an espresso and coffee machine. It can brew five different cup sizes: Espresso (1.35 oz), Double Espresso (2.7 oz), Gran Lungo (5 oz), Mug (8 oz), and Alto (12 oz), which is why it uses propitiatory Nespresso pods.

In terms of design, the Essenza Mini is compact and minimalist, while the Vertuo Pop has a more modern and colorful look. Both machines have a removable water tank and are easy to clean.

Overall, the choice between Nespresso Essenza Mini vs Vertuo Pop comes down to personal preference and what kind of coffee you like to drink. If you prefer Nespresso OriginalLine pods and want a compact machine that can also use generic pods, the Essenza Mini is a great choice. If you prefer Nespresso’s Vertuo pods and want a machine that can brew different cup sizes, the Vertuo Pop is a better option, provided that you don’t mind buying your coffee capsules from Nespresso only.

Related: Nespresso Vertuo Pop vs Essenza Mini

Nespresso Essenza Mini vs Essenza Plus

Nespresso Essenza Mini Review: Best Compact Nespresso for Your Money

Nespresso Essenza Plus is a model that Nespresso released after the Essenza Mini with few additional features. As of 2023, Essenza Plus is discontinued, but it might still be available from some retailers.

From the photo above, you’ll notice that the machine still has its compact design which made it popular in the first place, but here’s what changed:

  • Nespresso Essenza Plus has 4 servings sizes: Espresso, Lungo and two additional Americano sizes… Americano which serves 0.85 oz of espresso and 4.2 oz of hot water. And Americano XL: 1.35 oz of espresso and 5.4 oz of hot water.
  • Essenza Plus also has a hot water dispenser, that is a separate spout than the coffee’s. So your hot water will not have any residue.

The third additional feature is the Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. This connectivity, in addition to an ‘Order’ button on the machine, will allow you to place an order of capsule over the air with a push of a button.

How does it works?

First, you’ll download the Nespresso app on your machine. This is what you’ll use to connect your machine, and to also preset your order. Then you’ll connect your machine to both your phone and Wifi. If you ask me, I find this to be completely unnecessary and useless.

If you’re going to pick between the Essenza Plus and Essenza Mini, I would pick the Plus for the hot water dispensing feature. The ability to make an Americano with a press of a button (as opposed to boiling hot water on a kettle) makes a difference. But if you’re not an Americano drinker, this might not be a big deal for you.