If you’ve just started using Nespresso Vertuo as your coffee machine, then you have most definitely noticed:
Nespresso Vertuo coffee is foamy
It doesn’t matter what Nespresso Vertuo pod you brew, they all brew with a thick foam on top.
Which leads us to the main question of this post “Why is Nespresso Vertuo so foamy”?
In this post, I will explain:
- How Nespresso Vertuo works and why it produces that much foam.
- What is Nespresso foam and can you reduce is?
Is Nespresso Vertuo Coffee Supposed to Be Foamy?
As you brew your favorite Nespresso Vertuo pod, you can totally see that thick layer of foam building up. Which can make you wonder, is Nespresso Vertuo coffee supposed to be that foamy? Or is there something wrong with your machine?
Nothing is wrong with your machine! Nespresso Vertuo coffee IS supposed to be foamy.
What Is The Foam on Nespresso Coffee?
To understand what the foam on Nespresso coffee is, first you need to understand how Nespresso Vertuo works.
Nespresso Vertuo Brewing Method
Nespresso Vertuo machines have a patented brewing mechanism called Centrifusion technology.
Centrifusion works by rapidly spinning the Vertuo pod, up to 7,000 spins per minute, while forcing water through the coffee grounds to produce the coffee.
Nespresso Coffee Foam
The foam you see on top of Nespresso Vertuo coffee is basically the result of aerating the coffee as the pod spins. It’s similar to a milk frother aerating milk to turn it into froth. But Nespresso coffee foam is not dairy, it’s not sugary… it is pure aerated coffee.
Nespresso always recommends that you fold that foam, or crema, into the coffee to get the full aromas and notes of the coffee. But also, if you let the coffee cup sit for a minute or two, you’ll notice that the foam starts to subside.
Is Nespresso Real Crema?
Crema is the top layer that is produced on an espresso shot (from a manual or semi-automatic espresso machine). It’s a signature part of an espresso shot that is a sign of high quality espresso.
Nespresso refers to the foam on top of its Nespresso Vertuo coffee as ‘crema layer’, but it is real crema?
No, it’s not.
Real crema is produced as a result of high pressure extraction. While Nespresso Vertuo does not use high pressure, but centrifusion, to brew the coffee.
The foam, or crema, on top of Nespresso Vertuo coffee is the result of air and coffee, which is why you’ll find it is kind of bubbly.
So, while Nespresso Vertuo has created a way to mimic real Crema, the foam on its Vertuo coffee is not real crema.
How To Make Nespresso Coffee Less Foamy
The foam on Nespresso Vertuo coffee is there by design. It’s a feature rather than a problem to be solved.
But I understand that some people don’t enjoy that foam as much as others. So how do you make Nespresso Vertuo coffee less foamy?
Unfortunately, you can’t. Not in the brewing process at least.
But there are a few things that you can do to manage it:
- Fold it in. By stirring the foam into the coffee the majority of it will subside.
- Let the coffee sit for two minutes at least. The foam, which is mostly air, will subside on its own.
- Scoop it out. If you really don’t like the taste of the foam, or if the solutions above didn’t work well enough for you, simply scoop it out.
How Do I Make My Nespresso Vertuo Less Strong?
If you find that all Nespresso Vertuo coffee too strong for your taste, there are a few things you can try to make it less strong and more suitable to your liking:
Make the coffee longer by programming the cup size. If you’re brewing 7.7 oz coffee pod, for example, reprogramming that cup size to be longer will add more water to its volume, which will make the coffee taste less strong.
Also, you want to stick to Vertuo pods that are mild instead of strong blends. If you look at the squares on the Nespresso Vertuo pod package, it identifies the intensity level of the pod. The higher the number, the stronger the pod is.
Nespresso Vertuo pods like Melozio, Ethiopia, Alto Ambrato or Solelio are all lightly roasted and mild or smooth tasting.
