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Nespresso Essenza Mini Review
Exploring the pros, cons, and features of the Nespresso Essenza Mini coffee maker.
Published January 26, 2022
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Erik Hedlund
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Nespresso is the leader when it comes to home coffee machines, coffee accessories, and coffee capsules. If you’re one of the 150 million Americans who love their cup of joe every day, you’ll want to find a coffee machine that gives you the best drink possible.
For espresso lovers, brewing the perfect shot can be difficult, particularly when you are dealing with complicated, expensive machines that come with page after page of instructions. Thankfully, the Nespresso Essenza mini is known for its ease of use and flavorful espresso. To find out more, here is a Nespresso Essenza mini review that will sway your decision into buying one.
Overall Design
When talking about the overall design of the Nespresso mini, it’s very compact. This means that regardless of how big your kitchen is, the Nespresso mini machine can fit perfectly among your other appliances. What’s more, the machine only weighs five pounds and offers a range of streamlined controls. Sure, the plastic body may not feel and look high-end, but you have to remember that the Nespresso machine Essenza mini is one of the brand’s least expensive models on the market.
This machine is available in two designs, which are made by De’Longhi and Breville. The former model is more rounded and comes in a range of colors, such as black, green, and bright red. The Breville model, however, is available in white, grey, and black and is a rectangular shape. With both models, you’ll find the water reservoir at the back and it’s fairly small. This means you will need to regularly refill it. If you don’t mind a bit of noise, some people find that the machine can get surprisingly loud.
Settings
When you wake up in the morning and reach for your cup of coffee, you’ll want it in your hands in a matter of minutes. No one wants to be fiddling with an array of buttons to get the perfect drink. With the Essenza mini, this coffee maker is very easy to use. In fact, there are only two buttons to worry about. Simply insert your capsule, push down the lever, and pick the lungo or espresso brew size.
To access more settings, you’ll need to hold down the buttons. From descaling to changing the auto-off timing, you will soon get the hang of things. Once you get to grip with the settings, you can be on your way to creating a cup of tasty, flavorful coffee.
Coffee Quality
Understandably, whatever coffee machine you decide on, you’ll want it to produce high-quality coffee that tastes just as great as it does in your local coffee shop. For those desiring that classic Nespresso crema, this Nespresso Essenza coffee machine has you covered. Even though it’s small in stature, this coffee machine produces fully flavored, rich shots of espresso, which never skimp on the foamy crema.
Also, you can use Nespresso’s original coffee capsules for this model. This means you can experiment with a variety of flavors to get the perfect cup. Whatever espresso you end up with, we can guarantee it will be creamy and elevate your taste buds.
Price
When buying a coffee maker, you need to be aware that the more money you shell out, the better features you’ll get. With the Essenza mini, while it’s one of the most affordable machines on the market, there are factors to take into consideration. For starters, the low price of the machine reflects in its size and simple design. This means if you’re after a coffee machine with a ton of features, this coffee maker may not be right for you.
However, for those who want to blend quality flavor at a reasonable price, this machine may be perfect for you. You don’t want to part with money on a product that doesn’t give you what you want, so it may be wise to look at other Nespresso machines first to compare before deciding.
Cleaning
To keep your coffee maker in good working order, you will need to set aside time to clean it. Understandably, you don’t want to spend a large chunk of your time scrubbing and washing. With the Nespresso Essenza mini coffee machine, the model is relatively easy to clean. There are removable pieces such as the capsule container, drip tray, and water tank that will need to be individually cleaned. This coffee maker’s smooth body is straightforward to wipe clean, which will leave you with a gleaming appliance.
From time to time, you should select the 15-minute descaling mode. This can be done by touching both brew buttons. Nespresso advises that you use their full descaling packet that can be bought through the company’s website. This will allow you to give the machine a thorough clean. However, depending on the water hardness in your area, you will need to descale after 300 to 1,100 shots of espresso.
Warranty
When you buy any coffee maker, problems can occur later down the line. Whether there’s an issue brewing your coffee, or one of the buttons has stopped working, you’ll want to be reassured that you have a warranty in place. If you purchase an Essenza mini coffee machine, Nespresso provides a one-year warranty. This warranty will cover you for repairs or replacements.
If your machine needs to be taken in for repairs, you may have the opportunity to get a loaner machine in the meantime. This will allow you to enjoy your favorite coffee while your model is being fixed. Whatever you do, you must check the warranty terms and conditions before purchasing. Not only will you have peace of mind, but you can also be assured you won’t have to fork out any additional cash.
Additional Features
One of the great benefits of the Essenza mini is that it provides a programmable energy-saving mode. We all want to do our bit for the environment and watch our carbon footprint, so if you’re looking to be more eco-friendly this year, you can use this mode on the device. The energy-saving mode will automatically shut off the machine after 9 minutes. However, this can be extended to 30 if you wish. Also, you will need to eject used capsules manually into the collection tray. The tray can hold between five and six capsules.
Nespresso also has a free pod recycling program. Should you order coffee pods from their website directly, you can add a recycling bag free of charge. Simply fill it up with any used capsules and drop them off at your local UPS. Nespresso will handle the rest. Make sure you know what pods fit the Nespresso Essenza mini first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now you have a better understanding of the Nespresso Essenza mini coffee machine, there are frequently asked questions that consumers have. This should give more clarification on the model and what to expect before purchasing. Read below for some of the most commonly asked questions.
Which Coffee Capsules Can I Use?
The mini Nespresso coffee maker works with Nespresso’s original line of coffee capsules. This means you can purchase a variety of Nespresso Essenza mini pods that come in all sorts of flavors. You can buy coffee pods from retailers like Amazon or set up an automatic delivery from Nespresso direct.
Can I Make Lattes with the Essenza Mini?
The short answer to this is yes and no. While the model is predominately used to make espresso, you can use it to make espresso shots for lattes. However, be warned that there is not a built-in milk steamer or frother, so you’ll need to purchase one of these separately. If you’re on a budget and don’t want to spend a fortune, it’s wise to upgrade to the bundle. This features Nespresso’s stand-alone milk frother.
Pros
In a nutshell, there are several advantages to buying this coffee maker. For one, the Essenza mini is very compact and inexpensive. Also, there is a choice of one or two espresso sizes depending on your preference. The coffee maker produces excellent espresso with desirable crema. Many users of this coffee machine have noted that It’s easy to use and can produce tasty espresso in a matter of minutes.
Cons
While there are lots of pros to the Nespresso Essenza mini, it’s important to be aware of the cons too (otherwise it wouldn’t be a fair review!). This coffee maker doesn’t have many settings, which some consumers may be turned off by. Also, it’s constructed using basic plastic, and there have been some durability issues noted. Remember, you get what you pay for, so if you want more settings and features, it’s wise to look at other models that Nespresso offers. But for those who want to save money, this coffee maker may fit perfectly into your kitchen space.
If you’re a coffee lover and dead set on purchasing a Nespresso coffee machine, knowing which one to buy can be a challenge. After you read all the above and find out what makes the Nespresso Essenza so popular, this should make the decision process easier.
About the author
Erik Hedlund
With Era of We and The Coffee Lab, I hope to share knowledge, increase the value of coffee – and secure the future of coffee.
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