If you’re here, you are wondering which Nespresso machine you should buy, but you somehow know that it will be either the VertuoLine or the Pixie. These two share many similarities and many differences, but are both great deals. However, one of them is better than the other because of multiple reasons. To help you understand which the better machine is, we would like to use the space in this article to talk about the features of both the VertuoLine and the Pixie.
Summary
Nespresso VertuoLine
Key Features:
- Works with Nespresso VertuoLine capsules
- Capsules can be loaded from the top of the machine
- Has a capsule compartment
- Makes drinks at the touch of a button
- Brews two capsule sizes
- Centrifusion extraction technology
- Barcode technology
- Comes in a bundle with the Aeroccino Plus milk frother
- 40 oz water tank
- Removable drip tray
- Auto off feature activates if the machine has been inactive for nine minutes
Pros
Delicious and programmable espresso and coffee
Makes great milk-based drinks
The barcode technology helps the VertuoLine brew every capsule the right way
Very easy to use
Cons
Is not compatible with third-party capsules
Nespresso Pixie
Key Features:
- Is a single-serve espresso machine
- Has a 19-bar pressure pump
- Programmable espresso and lungo buttons
- Comes in a bundle with the Aeroccino Plus milk frother
- Works with Nespresso capsules
- There’s a handle for the capsule system
- Has a capsule waste container
- Has a 24-ounce water tank
- Detects when the water tank is empty
- Has a foldable tray
- Automatically turns off if it’s inactive for more than nine minutes
Pros
Programs the coffee volume in the coffee drinks
The crema made by the Pixie is amazing
Heats up fast
Very compact
Cons
Cons
A bit noisy
Our Pick: VertuoLine
The VertuoLine has a larger water reservoir than the Pixie, and it is still compact enough to fit on your kitchen counter. It also heats up faster, and, what is more important it brews the coffee by following specific parameters integrated in the barcode on the rim of the VertuoLine capsules.
About the VertuoLine
The Nespresso VertuoLine, which we’ve also compared to the Inissia, works with the Nespresso VertuoLine capsules and it makes espresso with a lot of crema. It is very easy to load the Nespresso capsules, and to do this, you need to open the top of the machine. After you’ve used a capsule, make sure to reopen the top of the VertuoLine so that the machine can toss it into the capsule compartment.
Being a VertuoLine espresso machine, the VertuoLine works at the touch of a button and it can brew capsules in two sizes. To brew the coffee, the VertuoLine uses the centrifusion extraction technology. This way the machine rapidly spins the capsule that’s inside of it and runs water through it.
Furthermore, to give you the perfect coffee drink, the VertuoLine also uses the barcode technology which helps the machine read the specific barcode on the rim of the capsule and brew it by the right brewing parameters. This means that the machine brews each capsule in a specific way adequate for the coffee in that capsule.
If you are into milk-based coffee drinks, you’ll be pleased to know that the VertuoLine comes in a bundle with the Aeroccino Plus milk frother. This frother makes cold and hot milk foam, which is great news if you’re into hot and cold coffee drinks.
Overall, the VertuoLine is very easy to use and makes delicious coffee drinks. It has a 40-ounce water tank and a removable drip tray which is easy to clean. The machine is also energy efficient and will automatically turn off if you haven’t used it for nine minutes.
About the Pixie
The CitiZ look-a-like, the Pixie, is a single-serve Nespresso espresso machine that is very compact and stylish. This machine has a 19-bar pressure pump which makes sure that you can get a great espresso with a lot of crema. There are two buttons on the machine, one for espresso and the other one for lungo, and both of these buttons are programmable. With the Pixie, you can program the volume of your coffee drink on the fly.
This espresso machine works with Nespresso capsules from the original series, and inserting the capsules in it is something that you can easily do. Once the machine is done with the brewing process, you need to use the handle next to the capsule chamber and help the machine put the capsule in the capsule compartment.
The Pixie comes in a bundle with the Aeroccin Plus milk frother which does a great job at frothing the milk, which is good news if you like milk-based coffee drinks. The espresso machine, furthermore, comes with a 24-ounce water tank which is located on the back of the machine. Once the water tank gets empty, the machine will detect this and notify you about it.
This espresso machine has a foldable tray, which comes in handy when you want to make yourself a larger coffee drink. The try is also removable, which makes cleaning it easier. Furthermore, the Pixie has an auto-off feature that makes the machine turn off after nine minutes of inactivity, saving you some money which you’d otherwise spend on paying higher electricity bills.
Similarities Between the VertuoLine and the Pixie
Certain similarities between the VertuoLine and the Pixie make it hard for many people to choose between these two machines. The design of both the VertuoLine and the Pixie is great and they are both two very compact machines. Of course, making their machines stylish and compact is something that Nespresso has been continually doing throughout the years.
Besides this, these two machines have light indicators that will let you know when the water for brewing the coffee is heating up and when the machine is ready to brew. Furthermore, the machines have removable trays and you can get both of them in a bundle with the Aeroccino Plus milk frother.
Differences Between the VertuoLine and the Pixie
The first difference between the VertuoLine and the Pixie has to do with the size of their water tanks. The VertuoLine has a 40 oz water tank, while the Pixie has a water tank with a capacity of 24 ounces. This means that the VertuoLine will be able to brew more cups of coffee until you need to refill it.
These two espresso machines also have different dimensions and come in different colors. The VertuoLine measures 8.32 x 11.91 x 11.93 inches, while the Pixie measures 4.27 x 12.93 x 9.25 inches and is the more compact of the two machines. Furthermore, the VertuoLine comes in black, matte black, and chrome, and the Pixie in steel, carmine, and electric titan.
Both of the machines have removable drip trays, but only the drip tray on the Pixie is foldable. However, the VertuoLine is taller and it can, therefore, accommodate taller coffee cups.
The machines also have different heating times, with the VertuoLine heating up in 15 to 20 seconds and the Pixie taking 25 seconds to heat up.
Finally, these two espresso machines use different Nespresso capsules—the VertuoLine uses the Nespresso VertuoLine capsules and the Pixie works with capsules from Nespresso’s OriginalLine. Nevertheless, the capsules are easy to find in stores, so don’t let their availability to be the factor that determines which machine you’ll buy.
Nespresso CitiZ: an Alternative Espresso Machine to the VertuoLine and the Pixie
Nespresso CitiZ
Key Features:
- Compatible with Nespresso capsules
- Programmable espresso and lungo buttons
- 19-bar pressure pump
- Integrated Aeroccino frother
- Foldable stainless steel cup support
- Foldable stainless steel drip tray
- 34-ounce water tank
- 25 second heat up
Pros
Makes delicious milk-based and coffee-based coffee drinks
Accommodates cups with different sizes
Simple to use
Very compact
Cons
Water tank can be small for some people
The CitiZ is an espresso machine by Nespresso that is compatible with Nespresso capsules. The machine gives the option to enjoy into two coffee drinks, espresso and lungo, which you can also program on the fly. This is great if you want to customize the volume of your beverage to your preferences.
The CitiZ, furthermore, has a 19-bar pressure pump which optimizes the extraction of your espresso, while also giving you the opportunity to drink coffee drinks with great crema. The integrated Aeroccino frother froth the milk into a perfect, silky foam which is a good addition to every milk-based drink. Furthermore, the foldable cup support and drip tray make sure you can brew your drink into the cup that you want, no matter how tall it is.
This machine has a 34 oz water tank and heats up in 25 seconds. It is very compact, easy to use, and look very nice. Therefore, if you decide to buy it, you will have the pleasure of drinking great espresso and milk-based coffees made by a stylish machine in a simple way.
Which One Should You Go With?
Considering all the features that these machines have to offer, we think that the VertuoLine is the better of the two. However, you can still go with the Pixie if you’re looking for an espresso machine that is more compact and simple. On the other hand, the CitiZ is a great alternative even to the VertuoLine, so you can freely go with this option if that’s what you think is the best.
If you like Nespresso, but these three machines are not quite ‘it’ for you, feel free to explore more of what Nespresso has to offer here.