The Vertuo line of coffee capsules is Nespresso's latest coffee innovation, and the Nespresso Vertuo was the first compatible machine. Since its launch, however, the range of Vertuo machines has grown to include more compact, wi-fi enabled models and less expensive options.

The Nespresso Vertuo can make four different sizes of coffee and has the distinctive centrifugal extraction system and smart capsule detection technology used in all Vertuo machines. However, it cannot make milky drinks and, at first glance, appears to have less features and technology than the less expensive Vertuo model. So we set out to examine how Vertuo works and whether it is worth the investment.

The Nespresso Vertuo is one of the more expensive models in the Vertuo series. Prices start at $150/£219, but prices in the US vary and go up to around $250 depending on the capacity and color you choose. It is available at Nespresso or Amazon, as well as at several electronics retailers. However, if you want milky coffee, you will need to consider the extra cost of a milk frother.

There are several colors to choose from so you can coordinate Vertuo with your kitchen. The choices are black, red, matte black, and chrome, with gray, known as Titan in the U.S., also available.

Vertuo capsules start at $0.98/48P for a single cup of espresso, which is slightly more expensive than Nespresso Original capsules, which start at about $0.80/39P. Capsules are easily available online and can be ordered directly from Nespresso or at many retailers, including Amazon and Walmart.

One of the first things that surprised me about this Nespresso machine was its size. Its countertop footprint is almost twice that of the Vertuo Next. Also, the 54-ounce (1.2 liter) water container is large, but there seems to be no other reason for its size. Therefore, if kitchen space is limited, this should be taken into account.

Unlike many Nespresso machines, which are usually located on the back, the water container on this machine is on the side, making access very easy. Furthermore, this is especially helpful if you want to place the coffee machine behind the counter or if you want to avoid having to pull the machine toward you to access the water tank.

To balance the machine, the design of the used capsule container is identical to that of the water container and is on the opposite side of the machine. However, it is a clear fluted plastic, so the spent capsules inside are visible and may look unclean to some people.

There is only one button on the top of the Nespresso Vertuo. This is thanks to clever capsule recognition technology that reads the capsule and automatically pours the appropriate amount of water, whether the capsule is for espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, or mug.

The automatic capsule detection is very clever, but thankfully, the machine can be programmed for the amount of water. Once programmed for a specific capsule size, the machine will pour the programmed amount of coffee every time you put in a capsule of that size, unless you reset it.

Push the simple lever at the top to the right to unlock the capsule slot and lift it up so you can add capsules. The capsule slot is then pushed down and the lever is moved to the left to lock it so that it can be extracted. The cup support below the spout can be adjusted to two positions to accommodate cups of different heights. It can also be completely removed, as can the drip tray below it. This allows tall cups up to 17 cm to be placed directly on the counter.

When first switched on, the light on the button flashes to indicate that the Nespresso Vertuo is heating, but it is ready in as fast as 12 seconds. A single espresso is extracted in about 40 seconds and a double espresso in about 60 seconds. These extraction times are longer than many Nespresso machines that use the original capsules. However, they are 10-15 seconds faster than Vertuo Next, one of the newest models.

The average espresso temperature I recorded was about 157 degrees Fahrenheit, which was the same for the double espresso. It was one of the quietest Nespresso machines I reviewed, with the maximum noise meter reading averaging 64 decibels. The loudest part of the extraction cycle was at the end due to the sound of the capsules rotating.

The espresso produced by Vertuo's machine has a rather frothy crema. It is far from the thick, firm crema that one would get from a barista-style espresso machine. Similarly, the flavors of the capsules tend to be less fruity and more rounded, in my opinion. But again, this depends on which capsules you buy. The quality of coffee made with this machine was comparable to the Vertuo Next.

Energy usage was monitored and found that it used 0.007 kWh to extract the espresso and a total of 0.013 kWh when energy used for heating was included. This is slightly higher than the Virtuoso Next, but the numbers are so small that the difference is not significant. To conserve energy, the unit turns off after 9 minutes of inactivity, while newer models like the Vertuo Next only turn on for 2 minutes.

By their very nature, Nespresso's Vertuo machines are very easy to use. The clever capsule detection system, which can be operated at the touch of a button, means that you rarely have to think about brewing your morning cup.

Used capsules are automatically ejected each time the top is opened, and the container can hold up to 13 used capsules. Emptying is easy: simply tilt the machine from the side, open the lid, and place the capsules in the appropriate recycling bag. There is a hole in the bottom of the container and a well below it to drain excess liquid from the capsules. The only caveat is that the well is not removable, so you have to manually mop up any liquid that accumulates there. It is worth noting, however, that even after several cups of coffee, the liquid did not build up in my case.

The used capsule container and water container have an indentation in the lid where you can put your finger and easily tilt it out of the machine. The water container is similarly easy to remove and has a flip-up lid. It is clear plastic, but the grooves can make it difficult to see the water level.

I found that the lever to lock the capsule in place had to be pushed quite hard to the left. Several times, it appeared to be pushed all the way in, but just slightly short of fully locking, and Vertuo was not brewed. However, I soon got the hang of making sure it was fully locked.

The machine has a nice automatic wash cycle that flushes out the internal structure. You can use it as many times as you like. Just press the button three times quickly and fill it up with water. Likewise, there is an automatic descaling function, with a lamp to let you know when it is time to descale. It is easy enough, although you have to follow the procedure described in the instruction manual.

The water container, used capsule container, cup support, and drip grid are all removable and require only occasional hand washing in warm soapy water. The exterior of the machine can be wiped with a damp cloth. Overall, the Nespresso Vertuo is easy to clean.

The Vertuo may be the original Nespresso Vertuo coffee machine, but its successors, such as the Vertuo Next, are no doubt now taking up less space on the counter and offering just as much functionality at a lower price. the Vertuo is a little less expensive than the Vertuo Next. It brews coffee faster and has a slightly larger water container, but that's really the only advantage to buying this larger and more expensive machine.

All Vertuo machines use centrifugal extraction and capsule recognition technology, so the quality of the coffee is similar no matter which you choose. Unless you have a specific reason to buy this model, such as wanting an accessible water container on the side of the machine, my advice is to check out the Vertuo Next, as it is more likely to meet your needs while saving counter space.