Coffee & Espresso · Head-to-head
Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima (by De'Longhi) vs Nespresso Essenza Mini (by Breville)
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Nespresso Machines: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Vertuo Lattissima is the most complete all-round choice: Vertuo coffee in a range of cup sizes, a built-in milk system for cappuccinos and lattes, and the largest water tank here at 54.1 oz. The Essenza Mini is the runner-up and the smarter pick for espresso purists who want the lowest running cost and smallest footprint.
Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima (by De'Longhi)
Buy itThe most complete Vertuo machine here, with a built-in milk system and a 54.1 oz water tank.
- Integrated milk solution makes cappuccinos, lattes or hot foam at the press of a button, with no separate frother
- 54.1 oz water container, the largest here, so refills are rare
- One-touch brewing with automatic barcode pod recognition across Vertuo cup sizes, plus drink personalization and a mobile app
- Auto-clean for the milk system and a descaling alarm
- Locked to Vertuo pods, which cost more and have almost no third-party alternatives
- Costs well above the other machines here, and at 14.19 lbs and 16 in deep it needs real counter space
- A newer model, so it lacks the long owner track record of older Vertuo machines
Nespresso Essenza Mini (by Breville)
Buy itThe smallest, cheapest way into genuine 19-bar Nespresso espresso, with the widest pod savings.
- One of the smallest espresso machines you can buy, slim enough to fit where nothing else will
- Delivers proper 19-bar Original-line espresso with rich crema, per independent testing
- Takes Original pods, so you can drop to inexpensive third-party and refillable capsules
- Simple two-button operation (espresso and lungo) that heats quickly and is hard to get wrong
- Only makes espresso and lungo, with no large American-style cup or carafe option
- Tiny 0.6 L tank and small used-pod bin mean frequent refilling and emptying
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima (by De'Longhi) Our pick | Nespresso Essenza Mini (by Breville) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Households that want variety, milk drinks, and big cups from a single machine and will pay for it. | Solo espresso and lungo drinkers who want the lowest running cost and the smallest footprint. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
| Coffee system | Vertuo (centrifugal, barcode pods) | Original (true 19-bar espresso) |
| Cup versatility | Vertuo coffee sizes plus cappuccino and latte | Espresso and lungo only |
| Water tank | 54.1 oz | Small (20.3 oz) |
| Reliability (owner reports) | Newer model; limited long-term data | Simple and durable, few failure points |
| Footprint | Large (16 in deep, 14.19 lbs) | Smallest, ultra-slim |
| Pod cost and choice | Vertuo only; few alternatives | Original; many cheap third-party and refillable |
| Ease of use | One-touch coffee and milk drinks | Two-button manual, very easy |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima (by De'Longhi) if
households that want variety, milk drinks, and big cups from a single machine and will pay for it.
Know before buying: locked to Vertuo pods, which cost more and have almost no third-party alternatives.
Pick the Nespresso Essenza Mini (by Breville) if
solo espresso and lungo drinkers who want the lowest running cost and the smallest footprint.
Know before buying: only makes espresso and lungo, with no large American-style cup or carafe option.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima (by De'Longhi) - The most complete Vertuo machine here, with a built-in milk system and a 54.1 oz water tank. Choose the Nespresso Essenza Mini (by Breville) instead if solo espresso and lungo drinkers who want the lowest running cost and the smallest footprint.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Nespresso Machines: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).