What is the Vertuo Plus Deluxe?
The middle of the Vertuo range and, by review count, the one people buy.
Nespresso publishes four cup sizes at the touch of a button, being 5oz and 8oz coffee plus single and double espresso, a 25 second heat-up, energy saving automatic shut-off, brewing hot or over ice, an extra large water reservoir, and the Aeroccino3 milk frother included in the bundle. It weighs 3.8 pounds and measures 5.6 by 16.2 by 12.8 inches.
How Vertuo differs from every other capsule system
The capsule spins rather than being pressed, and it carries a barcode telling the machine what to do.
An Original line machine forces water through the capsule at high pressure, the way an espresso machine forces it through a puck. Vertuo instead spins the capsule at speed and lets centrifugal force throw the water through the grounds, which Nespresso calls Centrifusion.
That is why Vertuo can make an 8oz coffee and Original cannot: you are not limited by how much water a pressurised puck will pass. Each capsule's barcode sets the spin speed, the volume and the temperature, so the machine brews an espresso capsule and a large coffee capsule completely differently without being told.
The cost is absolute lock-in. Vertuo capsules are Nespresso only, no third party makes them, and no reusable version exists. Original line has all three of those. That is the single most important thing to understand before buying into Vertuo, and it applies to every machine in this half of the range.
The Aeroccino bundle, and what it is not
A separate frother that sits beside the machine, not a milk system inside it.
The Aeroccino3 is a one-touch jug for hot or cold froth, and it is genuinely good at it. It is also a second appliance: another thing on the counter, another thing to wash, another plug.
That is the honest difference between this and the Vertuo Lattissima, which has a detachable milk tank built into the machine and pours the drink complete. If milk drinks are daily, the built-in system is what you actually want. If they are occasional, the Aeroccino is the cheaper answer and stores in a cupboard between uses.
Vertuo Plus Deluxe vs Vertuo Next
Two mid-range Vertuos, and the newer one is not automatically the better buy.
The Vertuo Next is the slimmer, more recent machine and takes up much less counter width.
The Plus Deluxe is bulkier, carries far more reviews behind it, and comes with the frother in this bundle. If counter space decides it, the Next. If you want the milk sorted in one purchase, this.
Is the Vertuo Plus Deluxe worth it?
Worth it if you want large coffees rather than espresso, and you accept the capsule lock-in.
The machine is inexpensive by Nespresso standards and the bundle removes a second decision. Vertuo's 8oz coffee is genuinely better than an Original line lungo stretched out or a K-Cup, because the system was designed for that volume.
Against that, you are committing to one supplier for as long as you own it, and Nespresso publishes no wattage, no pump pressure, no warranty term, no tank figure in litres and no capsule bin capacity on this listing. "Extra large reservoir" is a description, not a number.
Who should buy it (and who should not)
Buy it for mugs of coffee with the occasional cappuccino.
It suits somebody who drinks American-sized coffee rather than short espresso, wants milk froth without a wand, and does not mind buying capsules from one place forever.
Do not buy it if cost per cup matters, because there is no third-party or refillable route. And do not buy it if you want the milk built in, which is the Lattissima's job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use third-party capsules in a Vertuo?
No. Vertuo capsules are Nespresso only, and there is no reusable version. Original line machines are the ones with alternatives.
What is the difference between Vertuo and Original?
Vertuo spins the capsule and reads a barcode on it, so it can brew large coffees. Original presses water through under pressure and is built for espresso.
Does the Vertuo Plus Deluxe come with a milk frother?
Yes, this bundle includes the Aeroccino3, which is a separate unit rather than part of the machine.
How long does it take to heat up?
25 seconds, per Nespresso.
What cup sizes does it make?
Four: 5oz and 8oz coffee, single and double espresso.
