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Recently having had the opportunity to do a Nespresso Lattissima Espresso Machine review, it felt like a blessing for our coffee addict & enthusiast reviewer (Umar) to be able to enjoy instant espresso that's consistent.
While it can seem like a gimmick, Nespresso coffee capsules are pretty affordable at under RM3 per unit. So apart from the initial spending on a coffee machine, we think the Nespresso Lattissima is a good buy.
Now, we've come to the Nespresso Essenza Mini. Like its name, this is a mini Espresso machine that you can comfortably own at home. In terms of value, it is almost half the price of the Nespresso Lattissima which has 6-in-1 functions for more drink options.
Depending on your drinking preferences, it can seem tempting to go for the 6-in-1 Lattissima vs the Essenza Mini with only one option which is Espresso (or Lungo if you count it). So, which do you get?
Perhaps after our Nespresso Essenza Mini review here, you will be able to know if this machine suits you.
About Nespresso Essenza Mini
As Nespresso's smallest machine, the Essenza Mini series is something interesting.
First of all, it actually comes in a few bright, funky colours, which isn't surprising. In fact, what startled us was that it has 2 distinctive contemporary shapes and 4 colours.
Design aside; Nespresso spared no nonsense in creating this machine. For a price under RM700, the Essenza machine is designed in a compact size with 2 programmable cup sizes - Espresso and Lungo. It has a bar pressure rated at 19 bars to extract that flavourful signature taste that Nespresso espresso has.
Features:
- Fast heat up 25 seconds
- Coffee size Espresso & Lungo
- OFF mode after 9 min
- Compact and light
Specifications
- Weight: 2.3 kg
- Removable water tank: 0.6 L
- Used capsule container capacity: 6
- Pressure: 19 bar Bars
- Automatic shut off after 9 mn| Programmable
- Dimensions (WxDxH): 11cm x 32.5cm x 20.5cm
Design
As said earlier, Nespresso has created the minimalistic Essenza Mini for tight spaces, and it comes in two shapes within 4 colours. One's more linear and structured whereas the other's quite spherical. Whichever shapes you like, they are both equal in performance, both with combined ease-of-use as well as aesthetics.
In our case, we like our linear Grey variant just fine. For us, it doesn't occupy much space at all and has a width thinner than some phones. Coming with just two programmable coffee sizes - Espresso and Lungo, getting a cup of either is straightforward as the buttons are at the top of the machine.
Not to forget; the valve of the machine seems pretty high at first glance, but we didn't have any problem with coffee splashing out of our espresso cups at all (which are of standard size).
Like many other espresso machines, the Espresso drips out in small amounts first, then gradually increases to fill up the cup. Needless to say, Nespresso has obviously optimised the machine to not cause a mess.
Set-Up & Ease Of Use
If you're a beginner to espresso machines, don't panic; there's literally nothing for you to worry about here. In fact, this is probably the easiest coffee machine for anyone to use. Your experience should go like this:
- Fill up the water reservoir behind the machine. make sure to only fill up until the water-level indicator
- Turn on the machine
- Slot in the capsule of your choice (espresso or lungo)
- Tap the button for the drink of your choice
- DONE!
Once completed, the capsule pods then drop into a container unit which is super easy to empty out.
We have to say; cleaning this machine isn’t the best experience and there are actually a lot of cases of mould coming out of the machine even if cleaned consistently. This is likely to happen if you're living in spaces with very high humidity.
Therefore, if your machine will not be in use, we'd advise rinsing the detachable compartments, and then drying them with a cloth/tissue before storing them somewhere dry.
Consistency & Performance
In our experience, the machine may be simple, but luckily it dispenses drinks just as neat and nicely. With only 2 capsule options to choose from; both variants come out well for us every time we use the machine. Thanks to the 19 bar pressure, the crema was especially beautiful for us.
In terms of the amount of espresso extracted, read on for a useful tip.
Other Features
With such a simple espresso machine, there isn't much room for users to customise.
So when it came to light that some Nespresso users (of other models) face the problem of not getting enough espresso to fill their cup; Nespresso decided to implement a customisable long-press feature. This allows users to press and hold the button for their coffee choice to ensure that the whole capsule pod is properly extracted and that enough water comes out.
Once done on the first try, the machine will save the long-press feature and program itself to give the same shot every time after.
Conclusion
- Our Rating - 8/10
- Pros - Consistent taste; capsule pods are affordable (under RM3); customisable shot extraction time
- Cons - If not carefully dried, mould may occur
- Who is this for? This machine might be basic, but it does its job well. It's compact and consistent!
In short, the machine is great for people new to espresso machines or on a tighter budget who wants to enjoy delicious espresso shots at home. Made with no frills, this is a no-nonsense machine that looks great too if you want a minimalistic machine that doesn’t occupy a bunch of space.
If you have a milk frother at home, this machine is perfect for you to create Latte recipes!
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