Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you have to either go to expensive coffee shops to buy overpriced coffee or opt for the abomination that is instant coffee.
Many coffee aficionados consider investing in a pod machine to deal with their busy schedule and still meet their caffeine intake.
Nowadays, there are many pod coffee machine models. And two brands, Nespresso and Keurig, stand out as promising single-serve coffee machines using coffee pods.
In this article, I will show fellow coffee drinkers a detailed comparison of Nespresso vs Keurig brands to best solve their dilemma.
To skip the informative preliminary and jump straight to the main battle, click here.
What Is A Nespresso
If you aren’t already aware, I’ll briefly explain how a Nespresso machine works.
For a bit of background, Nespresso is the subsidiary company of the familiar Nestlé S.A. food and beverage conglomerate corporation from Switzerland.
That explains how the name Nespresso came about, a portmanteau of “Nestlé” and “espresso”, as the brand aims to provide a taste as similar to espresso as possible at home with ease and convenience.
Generally, Nespresso is a single-serve coffee maker that punctures holes on the bottom of the pod to run hot water through under the pressure of 15 to 19 bars. And the extracted escapes through the other end.
So all you have to do is filling the water tank, turning the machine on, insert the capsule, and let Nespresso take care of the rest. Simple, isn’t it?
What Are Nespresso Pods
Nespresso pods, or capsules, whichever you prefer, are aluminum containers that contain one serving of coffee grounds.
Some may confuse these with instant coffee packed in single-serve packets. However, keep in mind that instant coffee doesn’t contain fresh coffee.
Instant coffee has been brewed, dried, and crystallized before arriving at your local stores’ shelves in convenient packets.
Therefore, it often has a manufactured taste and may come with sugars and chemical additives.
So, while instant coffee is probably the quickest alternative, coffee capsules bring a fast result with 100% ground coffee that’s been firmly sealed to preserve freshness and quality.
Nespresso has an extended collection of Nespresso pods to fulfill your coffee needs.
And if you want to grind your own coffee beans, grab yourself a reusable coffee capsule to fill the pod with whatever you desire.
It’s also a more environmentally-friendly alternative than using disposable Nespresso capsules.
Try the Reusable Espresso Capsules compatible with the Nespresso OriginalLine Brewer from the brand CAPMESSO here.
How To Make A Nespresso
Here are 7 quick steps to make a Nespresso to give you a clearer picture of this coffee maker:
Step 1: Fill the water tank.
Step 2: Place a cup onto the drip tray.
Step 3: Turn the Nespresso on and let it preheat.
Step 4: Insert the capsule into the capsule compartment with the lid side down. DON’T remove the lid.
Step 5: Select the brew size and other available settings and let it start brewing.
Step 6: Remove the used capsule and take your coffee.
Step 7: Add milk, sugar, syrup, or whatever you like into your Nespresso and enjoy.
What Is Nespresso Vertuo
Nespresso Vertuo is a new line of Nespresso that offers larger size options, the brand’s attempt to appeal to the market in North America.
The VertuoLine is different from the original machine in terms of technologies, taste, size, and variety, which I will explain in more detail in the later parts.
The VertuoLine capsules cannot be used in the OriginalLine and were intended to serve coffee that’s closer to the typical filtered coffee in the United States.
Fortunately, the system was a success and has managed to expand to other countries around the world including the European and Pacific markets.
What Is A Keurig
Similar to Nespresso, Keurig is also another model of single-serve coffee makers, manufactured by the company Keurig Dr. Pepper from America.
Keurig operates in a somewhat similar fashion to Nespresso. It also has a needle puncture the pod to let water flow in and coffee flow out from the other end.
I’ll elaborate more in the next parts. Working with a Keurig coffee maker is also just as simple as Nespresso.
Fill the water tank, pop the pod in, start the machine and let it do the job.
Hassle-free and extremely beginner-friendly. You don’t have to struggle as much as manually making coffee or trying to get your brew right with professional machines involving a learning curve.
Since the brand comes from America, it has secured a large market share in its homeland.
According to Statista, Keurig ranked third with 12% of the market captured in 2020 with its signature K-Cup pods.
What Are K-Cup Pods
A K-Cup pod, or K-Cup as most people call it, is a plastic cup lined with a paper filter that’s covered with a foil lid and a plastic ring.
And like other coffee pods, it’s filled with a single serving of coffee grounds.
As a fellow environmentally-conscious coffee connoisseur, I advise you to get a reusable K-Cup to do your part in reducing the disposal of single-use plastic, especially with single-serve coffee pods like this.
Try out the My K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filters here.
How To Use A Keurig
Check out the following 7 steps to discover how simple it is to brew coffee and espresso with a Keurig device:
Step 1: Fill the water reservoir.
Step 2: Place a cup onto the drip tray.
Step 3: Turn the machine on and let it preheat.
Step 4: Insert the K-Cup into the coffee chamber with the lid side up. DON’T remove the lid.
Step 5: Select the brew size and other available settings on the model and let it start brewing.
Step 6: Remove the used K-Cup and take your coffee.
Step 7: Add milk, sugar, syrup, ice, or whatever you like into your coffee and enjoy.
Here‘s a recipe for iced coffee with a Keurig to refresh your summer mornings.
Nespresso Vs Keurig: What’s The Difference?
What’s the difference between a Keurig and Nespresso machine? From the instructions, they seem fairly similar, right?
After all, at the end of the day, they’re both pod coffee brewers, alternatives to the meticulous espresso machines and manual machines.
But everything is not what it seems. Let me guide you through just how many details go into a cup of coffee made by each coffee maker.
Coffee Pod – Keurig K-Cup Vs Nespresso Capsule
As I’ve mentioned above, a Nespresso capsule is made of a type of aluminum, whereas a Keurig K-Cup pod is made of plastic with a paper filter and foil lid on top.
Both of these capsules are in the shape of a cup. However, the new Nespresso VertuoLine has a more rounded bottom and is uniquely shaped like a dome.
And while the OriginalLine is only limited to one small size, the VertuoLine comes in 3 different brewing sizes to accommodate bigger serving portions:
- Espresso 1.35 oz (40 ml)
- Double Espresso 2.7 oz (80 ml) or Gran Lungo 5 oz (148 ml)
- Mug 7.8 oz (231 ml) or Alto 14 oz (414 ml)
Another difference of this newer model of Nespresso coffee pods is in the structure.
The Nespresso OriginalLine allows coffee to flow out from the opposite end of the punctured side. The VertuoLine, on the other hand, has coffee escape the pod from the 20 little holes around the edge instead.
This is due to the difference in brewing methods which I will elaborate on in the next part.
Method Of Brewing
In the “How to use a Keurig” section, I pointed out that the Keurig K-cups are inserted into the Keurig with their lid sides up.
This allows the Keurig machines to puncture one hole on either end, top, and bottom. Hot water is forced through the top, the lid side, and coffee flows out from the bottom puncture.
In contrast, when you insert Nespresso pods into Nespresso machines, secure them with the lid side down.
The coffee makers will make 3 punctures on the bottom of the capsules and charge hot water through them at a 15 to 19-bar pressure.
Under such a strong physical force, the coffee will burst the aluminum lid open.
In the VertuoLine, a cup of coffee is brewed using a method called “centrifusion”.
On each capsule, there is a barcode embedded on the rim specifying all of the coffee brewing details, including the cup size, water flow rate and volume, temperature, infusion time, and the rotation speed of the capsule.
The VertuoLine machine will laser scan the information to meet those specifications. So rather than having brew sizes and other settings on the device like Nespresso and Keurig, the VertuoLine only has one single button to start brewing.
The capsule is placed inside the machine with the lid side up, enabling the coffee maker to puncture a hole at the center for water to flow in.
Then “centrifusion”, a portmanteau word from the action of centrifugation and water infusion, is the main technology that’s at work here. The machine spins the capsule around at up to 7,000 RPMs (revolutions per minute).
Coffee then escapes through the 20 mini punctures around the edge, as I’ve briefly explained above.
Overall, though they utilize different technologies to operate, they’re all easy to use and more beginner-friendly than their competitors in the coffee industry, such as espresso machines.
Brewing Time
In this battle of Nespresso vs Keurig, the former wins by a mile.
Nespresso machines are very fast. Some can heat the water at a lightning speed of 3 seconds. But generally, give the coffee machine up to 30 seconds for preheating.
The brewing time takes somewhere around 17 to 30 seconds, similar to an espresso machine pulling a shot. So you can enjoy your coffee in over a minute.
On the other hand, Keurig machines aren’t as fast at preheating as Nespresso machines. You have to wait approximately 3 to 4 minutes after pressing the power button to get the Keurig coffee makers ready.
Coffee extraction using Keurig K-Cups on Keurig machines typically takes around 1 minute. So from start to finish, a Keurig needs 4 to 5 minutes to make a cup of coffee.
So in this Keurig Vs Nespresso encounter, Nespresso has the upper hand.
But of course, Nespresso and Keurig are machines that automatically use pods to brew a cup of Joe, your quick and hands-off alternatives.
So you don’t necessarily have to stand around waiting for your brew to be dispensed despite one being faster than the other.
And, what about the Nespresso VertuoLine?
Preheating takes as fast as it does on an OriginalLine. But, since the newer version offers more brewing sizes, you may have to wait a bit longer for the coffee to flow all out.
Brew Quality And Taste
The brewing method of the Keurig machine gives you brew quality and coffee flavors similar to those of drip coffee machines. So K-Cups can bring you some quick and delicious regular coffee.
Next, due to the high pressure incorporated, the Nespresso OriginalLine ultimately results in cups of coffee that are close imitations of extracted coffee from an espresso machine, including rich crema.
If you’re wondering how coffee and espresso are, check this article.
Lastly, the centrifusion technology on the VertuoLine helps generate more crema in the cup of coffee.
However, if you’re looking for authentic espresso taste and don’t mind the limited capsule size, OriginalLine is closer to the real deal.
Caffeine Content
If you’re concerned about the caffeine content in each brew using these pods, this Nespresso vs Keurig comparison should give you a general picture of what you can expect from these coffee brands.
According to the official website of Keurig, coffee made using K-Cups typically contains between 75 and 150 mg per 8 oz (237 ml) cup of Joe.
And even their decaffeinated K-Cups may still contain some level of caffeine as the Keurig brand follows the international standard of removing at least 97% for decaffeinated drinks.
Generally, the range for decaf coffee K-Cups is between 2 – 4 mg per 8 oz (237 ml) cup.
For Nespresso, according to its website, each espresso and coffee capsule in the OriginalLine contains around 55 to 85 mg, except for the Palermo Kazaar holding over 120 mg.
The VertuoLine is a bit more complicated due to the variation in sizes. Here are some bullet points for references:
- Espresso: approximately 60 to 150 mg.
- Double espressos: less than 200 mg.
- Gran Lungo: around 120 – 200 mg.
- Coffee and Alto: 130 – 200 mg.
- Decaffeinated coffee: less than 12 mg.
All of the above fluctuations in the amount of caffeine are because of ground coffee factors such as the amount, the roast profile, and the blend.
For example, Robusta beans naturally contain more caffeine than premium Arabica, so the blend plays a relatively significant role in the resulting cup of Joe’s sum content.
If you’re interested in learning more about these aromatic beans’ origins, check out my article here.
To sum up, K-Cups generally contain more caffeine than the Nespresso OriginalLine capsules and VertuoLine capsules are subjected to more variations.
The bottom line is, be an informed consumer and coffee lover and check the content on each coffee capsule before purchase for your own sake.
Variety
Started from the bottom, now Keurig’s here with a plethora of beverages and foods.
First of all, Keurig offers hundreds of varieties of different coffee blends, including those from famous coffee brands such as Starbucks, Tully’s Coffee, and so on.
You can now make your favorite coffee shop drinks in the comfort of your home just with a few simple touches of buttons.
And, aside from traditional hot coffee, you can also get iced coffee K-Cups or follow my recipe using normal K-Cups in this article on how to make iced coffee with a Keurig.
But Keurig machines don’t limit you to just coffee. If you buy Keurig models within the Keurig Plus Series or Keurig 2.0 brewers, you can make various beverages ranging from tea, cider, and lemonade to hot chocolate.
Here’s a Keurig Coffee Lovers’ Collection Variety Pack for you to start experimenting with different interesting K-Cups flavors.
Moreover, those Keurig models also enable you to make delightful dishes quickly such as soup and oatmeal.
Just make sure to run a simple cleansing brew after you use the machines to brew something other than coffee. After all, ain’t nobody expects to taste soup in their coffee.
On the other hand, Nespresso mostly offers espresso and espresso-based drinks in their capsule variety collection, ranging from gourmet blends, flavored coffee, to decaffeinated.
Certain models of Nespresso OriginalLine machines, the Creatista and the Lattissima, are also equipped with a built-in milk frother called Aeroccino to make creamy and silky milk texturing at home for your cups of lattes and cappuccinos.
The VertuoLine machines offer capsules in various larger sizes so drinks don’t get diluted as they would with the one-size OriginalLine when more water is used.
However, the new lineup has a much smaller selection. Since OriginalLine has been around for much longer, many third-party sellers also distribute coffee pods that are compatible with Nespresso machines.
VertuoLine capsules are harder to find and limited to only branded options as they are new and uniquely shaped. And another thing is, VertuoLine machines don’t come with a built-in milk frother.
So if those are big pain points to you, consider getting the OriginalLine if you only intend to make espresso and coffee beverages with your pod coffee machines.
Maintenance & Cleaning
In this Keurig vs Nespresso showdown, it’s a draw.
All of these machines are not only easy to use but also easy to clean and maintain. You can follow these general instructions below to keep Nespresso and Keurig in tip-top condition.
Cleaning
- Drip tray: Wash it with soap, water, and a non-abrasive sponge every day if you use it often.
- Water reservoir: Do the same as the drip tray but you can do it once a week instead. Use a cloth to clean the water entry point.
- Internal components: Run a cleansing brew after washing the water reservoir and brewing something out of the ordinary (coffee). For Nespresso machines, clean the capsule container as you would with the drip tray as well.
- Exterior: Wipe down using a damp soapy non-abrasive cloth to keep it shiny.
Descaling
It’s important to run a descaling cycle every 3 to 6 months depending on your usage frequency to get rid of build-ups over time. Use the descaling solution recommended by the brand to get the job done.
Frother not working on your Keurig? Read how to fix it here.
Sustainability
The plastic pods of Keurig beverage company have negatively impacted the environment, especially since the brand launched K-Cups for home use in 2004 after its success in the office market.
Nespresso’s aluminum capsules are less of a concern as they are at least recyclable.
Keurig has put more effort into creating recyclable K-Cups that can be processed and repurposed by manufacturers using recycled plastic.
So in this Nespresso vs Keurig, whichever one you decide to go for, make sure to recycle them to reduce the carbon footprint.
Otherwise, get reusable capsules that are available for both Nespresso and Keurig as environmentally-friendly options.
Cost
Generally, Keurig offers a more affordable price range for its machines, while Nespresso Vertuo brewers are slightly more expensive.
Nespresso OriginalLine ones are more pricey, but you can expect to get what you pay for. They are more durable, hence, can last longer to accompany your assumption.
In addition, Keurig K-Cups are also cheaper and more widely available, including those from third-party distributors, than Nespresso OriginalLine.
The VertuoLine, as previously mentioned, offers the least variety. And the pods are more expensive due to the exclusive brewing technology as well.
Our Final Verdict: Which is better Nespresso or Keurig?
Overall, both Nespresso vs Keurig brewers brands can offer good quality simply and swiftly that’s beginner-friendly and dummy-proof.
So, rather than going to the coffee shop, from these two coffee brands, get:
- A Nespresso if you prioritize durability, espresso-based beverages, and low caffeine content.
- A Keurig if you prioritize affordability, variety, and accessibility.
Here’s our latest review if you’re interested in getting a coffee machine from Keurig for your home.
And here are our recommendations and buyers’ guide for the best Nespresso machines in the market.
Check out this Nespresso vs. Illy coffee machine article to compare other models to Nespresso