With a tiny footprint, compact, lightweight and equipped with an ergonomic handle, the espresso Inissia by Breville Coffee machine is a smart little machine to make your life easier and fit perfectly into any interior design. Simple to use, it offers and impeccable barista-style Coffee every time, thanks to simple, one-touch operation and patented extraction system which delivers up to 19 bar pressure. A fast-heat up time means the water reaches the ideal temperature in just 25 seconds, while a folding drip tray for taller recipe glasses and an energy saving mode that automatically switches the machine off after 9 minutes make your life easier. Each machine includes a welcome set with 16 espresso capsules containing individual aromas. Nespresso Inissia espresso machine by Breville. Refer to the user manual for troubleshooting steps.
Super-Automatic Espresso Machines
Nespresso BEC120RED Inissia Espresso Machine by Breville, 24 ounces, Red
$4.40
| Asin | B01N259MDU |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 7.5"D x 13.5"W x 13"H |
| Weight | 6 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Breville |
J. Sullivan –
The only things I dislike about this unit is the noise the pump generates, and the complicated, picture-based user guide; otherwise, this unit is spectacular in every way.
The unit is compact, moreso in its narrow footprint, than in its depth, but it’s quite small compared to many kitchen appliances.
The removable water container is easy to take over to my refrigerator water dispenser to fill, and it goes back on as easily as it comes off. I need only set the drain plug over the machine’s intake, and tilt the container forward until its two little alignment clips go into their slot.
A removable capsule bin and drip tray assembly slides out of the front of the unit. It holds few pods, but I empty it regularly, so that I may rinse the tray of the coffee that comes out of the used pods before it gets funky.
Loading capsules may seem unclear at first for anyone looking for a defined slot to stick the pods, as when looking down into it they appear as if they would fall through, but it’s a sleek easy-loading system. When pods are dropped in, it is best to drop with the flat end of the cap higher than its opposing end, and the pod will drop, then stop on its own at the point to which it should go where it needs to go when the bar is brought back down.
The Inissia has two buttons, espresso and lungo. Despite the instructions, I have been able to figure out its basic use. Touching either button, while unit is off, causes both buttons to flash off and on while it heats up. Once the lights remain on, it is ready to make espresso. Though it powers off automatically, I know that pressing both buttons for a full second will power the unit off. That is all that is required to enjoy spectacular coffee from the Inissia.
The energy saving option powers down after nine minutes, but it can be changed to thirty minutes if you can figure out the steps from the pictures. My best guess is that, while off, press both buttons for a full second, then hold down espresso for three seconds, such that it illuminates steadily. Then, for nine minutes, press espresso one time, or for a thirty minute shutoff, press espresso two times, followed by holding down lungo for three seconds. I haven’t bothered switching the shutoff time, as there are series of pictures to decipher for this process, as well as for the processes of programming the water volume, whatever that is for, emptying the system, and descaling, for example.
This machine includes a pack of sixteen different coffee pods to sample. It also comes with a menu that shows which color pods represent which flavors. Some of the colors look so much like other similar colors, that even having sampled the coffee, I still question which I just enjoyed, so reordering may not be such a simple task if there is a particular coffee pod you prefer. I enjoyed all of the flavors, and I plan to reorder a variety pack, so I’m still exploring. Just know that this is one of the things to consider when using the Nespresso system.
I love my Inissia, and all of the coffee I’ve made with it. I have been enjoying third-party pods from Aldecoa that seem to work about as well as the genuine pods, though the crema from the genuine pods seems to have a consistency about them that is slightly superior to that produced by third party pods…it could be that particular flavor though. Still, it is nice to have options.
If I had to do it all over again, I absolutely would do it again. I am so happy with its red finish, it just looks wonderful, and expresses the intensity of the pleasure it is ready to brew.
My regular coffee pot has been lonely, because of my Inissia. I hit up the coffeepot on occasion, to shake things up, but the quality of the espresso that this machine can make is tremendous. This is a 5.3 pound, 19 bar of pressure beauty, and I am absolutely pleased with its performance. I was certainly content with its affordable price.
Jonathan Hacker –
If you’re looking at this item, and debating on whether or not to purchase it, it’s fair to assume that you’re looking for something easy and convenient, but not at the expense of quality. I have great news! The all around quality of this machine is superb, and I’ve owned one for quite a while now, and have plenty of experience with it.
To start things off, if you’re new to the whole Nespresso line of machines, you’re of course going to need to read all instructions before doing anything, just to ensure that you’re well prepared and capable of operating the Inissia.
As far as the build quality goes, this thing feels very solid and sturdy, and even though most of it is made of plastic, all of the important parts are made of a very durable feeling metal material that I feel confident will hold up very nicely. It has some weight to it, and just doesn’t feel cheap at all to me. The handle you use to close the brew chamber is very satisfying in terms of being well built and having an all around good feel to it. Absolutely no issues as far as build quality is concerned.
This machine is only made to brew the designated "capsules" which are made by nespresso, and can actually be a bit pricey if you plan on drinking a whole lot of espresso based beverages, but the overall convenience and quality make up for the price in my opinion. Keep in mind I’m a huge coffee fan, and love to have my espressos straight, so I may be a heavier user than some. The nespresso website, as well as amazon, have a large selection of all the available capsules, and the packaging or "sleeves" they come in, tell you all about the origin of the coffee inside the corresponding capsule. Everything is very informative and nice, and makes the whole experience a lot better. There’s a flavor profile along with an intensity meter, to let you know how flavorful and full bodied the particular capsule you’ve purchased is. The selection of capsules is vast, and there’s something for everyone, whether you like a light breakfast type roast, or a rich and full bodied brew. They even have a few "flavored" capsules including vanilla and caramel, and believe it or not they’re very good. Not too sweet, but just right. Finding a good coffee for you is not going to be a problem with Nespresso.
Operating the Inissia is very straightforward and user friendly, once you’ve initially brewed a capsule. You basically just fill the water reservoir in the back with fresh, filtered water, and choose one of two buttons between a "lungo" (long shot) or an espresso shot (short shot). Basically the lungo shot is larger volume, and tastes a little less intense, although they have their own special lungo capsules, designated for the lungo shot. It’s a very good drink, and if you’re not into drinking espresso shots straight, then you may find that a lungo shot is just right for you. As with any other coffee beverage, you can always add hot water or any flavors you want to dilute/alter the taste to your liking. Once you load your capsule and close the handle, you then short press the selection of either lungo or espresso, and the corresponding light will start flashing. This lets you know that the water is heating up. It takes maybe 20 seconds, and then the flashing light will stop. This lets you know it’s ready to brew. You then simply tap the button once more, and the brewing starts. Very simple operation once done for the first time.
As for clean up, this thing really is a breeze. It has it’s own drip tray, and also a compartment used to catch the used capsules, once you raise the handle again after the brewing process has completed. It supposedly holds around 10 spent capsules I believe, and is a very nice feature just for the added convenience. As far as deep cleaning with white vinegar and water, as long as you use clean, filtered water, you’ll probably never really need to do it more than once maybe. I’ve owned mine for several months now, and have yet to deep clean it, and it keeps churning out the same fantastic quality coffee as it did the day I purchased it. A simple wipe down with a wet cloth every now and then is really all you need to do, which is wonderful.
I’m not going to talk too much about the aeroccino milk frother, as I really don’t take milk in my espresso too often, but I have used it several times, and it’s very effective and does exactly as advertised. You basically short press the button in the front, to heat and froth your milk, and long press it to froth it cold. There’s a little plastic piece that allows you to switch from frothed milk, to foam. My milk has been perfect everytime I’ve used it, and it doesn’t take long at all to get it hot.
If you’re looking for an entry level, affordable, high quality espresso machine, look no further than right here. If convenience is something you want, yet don’t want to sacrifice taste, then look no further. I use this thing everyday, and it delivers a perfect shot of espresso everytime for me, and I love trying all the different varieties. I really think you’ll be pleased with the Inissia. Thanks for reading and enjoy the coffee!
lp12303 –
I love good coffee and have a kitchen full of various types of coffee makers, but I ultimately either like a good shot of espresso, or a frothy, flavorful cappuccino or latte. I’m not a fan of Americano style coffee, so I cannot review those result as I don’t drink it that way. Two weeks on and I absolutely love this combo of the Nespresso Inissia with the Aeroccino Plus Milk Frother!
Nespresso Inissia- my 1st experience with a Nespresso. The Inissia is a quality machine which you will see as soon as you open the box. Compact, solid and very slick and simple to operate. It came with a sampler pack of Nespresso coffees, which I had to start ‘rating’ from my 1st coffee so as to not lose track of what I liked. I have ordered another sampler pack (cheated by getting on ebay) so as to try the coffees again as a different brew, realizing that I needed to try them as espressos, lattes or cappuccinos. I now have a shortlist of roasts that suit my taste. The coffees are outstanding and I fully agree with other reviewers that you will have a hard time matching the quality with the few generic replacements available. I had many, many years of excellent coffee from the Flavia Fusion, but the coffee deteriorated when roasting was taken over by Alterra and although still good, I felt the need to find another coffee option. I found it with Nespresso. There are some reviews referencing special and free deals on their website when you purchase a Nespresso: well, it depends on how much you spend in the 1st place as the promo at this time is $100 credit for coffee if you spend $199 or more on the coffee maker. This might allow you to upgrade to another machine as a trade off for coffee, which could be good value for someone contemplating the price difference.You may want to check their website at the time of buying the machine, but the current offer of a sampler for $149 with free shipping, or the offer of a free pod holder with order of 150 pods, didn’t quite work for me.Due to the cost, I’ll order as needed and specifically for the coffees that I like.
The coffee maker comes with a very impressive hard cover folder which is where my only negative feedback comes from. The coffee guide is great, and I started making notes on each coffee pod used as I quickly discovered that they are unrecognizable once used as the name has been fully perforated and there are several similar colors. But my irritation was that the Welcome leaflet refers you to the Smart Start leaflet to start making your first cup of coffee. That basically tells you to make sure you’ve reviewed the user guide (My Machine); the picture blob instructions were borderline useless to convey what it was trying to explain, so I gave up and went online for clarity. If you’ve owned a Nespresso before, then you know what to do, otherwise head for their website (which when I looked, didn’t have instructions/videos specific to the Inissia, but functions are similar if not the same as the Pixie, so you can figure it out from there). All makes sense now!
Aeroccino Plus Milk Frother- this is absolutely brilliant! It heats and froths while you are making your coffee and has 2 interchangeable whisks that you keep stored in the frother itself; one for latte and one for cappuccino. Serves hot or cold. Insert the desired whisk and fill to the maximum line for each version and you have almost instant, hot frothy milk.I start frothing the milk before starting my coffee, and they are usually done about the same time, maybe 40 seconds or so. One cup at a time, but it is so worth it. Easy rinse and ready for the next round! Bliss!!
Yes the coffees are expensive and their website still appears to be the best place to get them, but so far I believe the quality and coffees are well worth it.
24GHz –
I have NEVER written a bad review – every review I have ever posted has been positive… BUT beware of this product.
It is built VERY cheap. The water container secures to the heater with 2 very small plastic clips that will snap right off leaving the water container unable to attach to the main machine. You will need to tape the water container to the machine to keep it connected.
We also had to call tech support 3 times to trouble shoot the operation of this product. It appears to get vapor locked easily and restricts water from getting to the heater and thus no espresso drips out. Tech support told me to not use cold tap water, but use hot water instead to fill the water container (directions show a water bottle for filling – I have never heated a plastic water bottle before).
The IKEA style picture only global directions are also very confusing. If you enjoy cartoon style confusing picture directions you will love these directions. I hate IKEA directions and these look like they were copied right out of the Ikea playbook.
The distance below the spout and above the raised platform is very short and none of our stainless espresso cups would fit, we had to use a short shot glass. A better design would be to have the shelf for the receiving cup to be lower to allow a taller cup to be used. You can see in the image how that shelf is lifted.
Another HUGE confusion occurs when you order capsules. The printed catalog they include only shows 5 of the choices as espresso, but ALL of them are in fact espresso. I have no idea what Nespresso was thinking to specifically name only 5 of their capsule selections as espresso when all 23 of them are espresso under names lacking espresso references – very very confusing. I only ordered the capsules from the espresso selection and later discovered I like Roma the best (which was not listed under espresso in their catalog, but is espresso). Another confusion is they have 23 espresso flavors – this is pure marketing BS. I was unable to tell all the high number intenso apart from other high number options and I could not tell the lower number options apart from other lower number options. I could easily tell the high number apart from the low number capsules, but 9 tasted like 10 and thated like 11, but 3 tasted smooth and I could not tell that apart from 4. They basically have made 23 products when they only need 4. Its like having having 10 shades of red apples and 10 shades of green apples, make it easy like Koerig. Koerig has it figured out, they have much fewer options with detectable differences between them.
The Nespresso capsule rating system confusion continues as I thought the higher number capsules had more caffine, this is not the case, all of them have the same caffine except decaf.
I also use the Koerig Revo 2 espresso machine at work, but bought this Nespresso because it is smaller and easier to store in our RV. I am sending this Nespresso back today for a refund and buying another Koerig Revo 2. The Revo 2 is much easier to operate and is better built.
Again, beware of the cheap tiny plastic clips on the water container, they are ready to snap right off. They also need to add live test groups to attempt to interpret their directions and printed material – it is pretty to look at but not so easy to understand. And they need to make it easier to be a customer by offering products espresso capules with detectable difference and stop adding so many like products to serve only their profits with consumer confusion.
Check out the Revo 2 by Koerig before buying this product. I have used both and the Revo 2 wins hands down.
Providential –
I don’t see what you "compromise" by getting the Inissia. It has all the features, it makes the same product, I think it’s just flat-out the best deal in the line.
Pros
Cheapest in the line. This is easily the best espresso machine you can get at this price, bar none. It is the cheapest of the Nespresso line. You won’t get better espresso from any other machine without paying upwards of thousands of USD for a "real" espresso machine.
Zero sacrifice. Although the picture-only manual is a bit lacking, you can look up instructions online, to find that this machine has essentially all the features of higher end machines. For example, search for the "Breville Inissia manual" for a text-enhanced version of the Inissia manual.
The Inissia has the *exact same* internal elements as other models. You sacrifice nothing by getting the Inissia, except as noted under Cons.
Same Nespresso pods. Nespresso has a large library of good-tasting pods, including random seasonal or limited-edition coffees. There’s a coffee for any taste, including decaf.
Neat collection system. The cup tray folds up to accommodate larger cups- including coffee cups (for example, pour an espresso shot and add milk to make a latte). Used pods automatically eject into an 11-pod holding box, which both drips into the same tray as the normal drip tray, and which easily removes for cleaning or disposing pods.
Recycles. Nespresso pods are made from aluminum, as they have to endure high pressure to make true espresso. If you go to a Nespresso store or to their website, they will give you a free postage-paid bag you can use to recycle your pods. Please make sure you take advantage of this program.
Cons
Doesn’t have pieces of aluminum glued to the sides. The next models up in the classic line, such as the Pixie, more or less only differ by having some of its exterior elements made out of aluminum instead of plastic. The only possible effect is that the handle / cartridge ejector is plastic in the Inissia versus metal in the Pixie, but I foresee no problems with the Inissia handle. There are a very few distinct features, noted below.
Lacks a dedicated "American coffee" setting. This machine is intended to pour espresso shots or lungo ("tall/double shot"). If you want an American-style coffee, either add water to your desired level, or you can eject the pod and continue to press the lungo button to your desired water level.
Only two buttons. Doing anything other than turning the unit on/off and pouring shots is hampered by only having two buttons, which can only flash to indicate status. holding both buttons for 1 second (in the manual as 1" for some reason) will turn the unit on, but 3" is a programming mode, and 5" turns on a nonstop stream of water- which I think is a cleaning mode. So doing anything other than basic use is cumbersome, but thankfully daily use is a breeze. Press either button to wake the unit, press espresso/lungo to queue up a shot, and when it’s done hold both buttons to power down the unit (the default 9 minute timer is way too long for me).
Limited third-party pod support. We can excuse the lack of refillable pods as the 19-bar pressure means regular pods just won’t work in this machine. But Nestle has intentionally worked to make it hard for third parties to develop pods for its systems. There do now exist some good third-party pods, but for the most part, you’re stuck with Nespresso. Which, given their large selection isn’t bad- unless they ever discontinue the line.
Overall
I absolutely love this unit, and given that the unit is exceptionally inexpensive, I barely even mind being tied into the Nespresso pod system. Setting up your account with Nestle is quick and painless, and ordering new pods is a breeze (although you are currently limited to sleeves of 10 pods at a time). Just remember to order a recycling back the first time you go to the website, and the rest is a breeze.
Randy G. –
This machine makes a great cup of espresso using the Nespresso original type pods. It’s simple to use, warms up quickly, and produces a nice head of crema. I especially like the feature that allows you to set the amount of coffee produced. Once set, that button will always dispense the same amount each time it’s pushed, and can be reset at any time. (A YouTube video is much better at showing how to do this than the enclosed instructions.) And after making espresso, there is no clean-up at all. It’s great to be able to enjoy a really good espresso without any fuss or bother.
C. Daniel –
This almost instant espresso maker is an amazing deal. It’s incredibly fast and easy. There’s only 2 buttons, 1 for Espresso and one for the slightly larger Lungo. Either button will power up the machine in 30 seconds, then you simply drop in your coffe pod or “Grand Crus” as Nespresso calls them and push the button again. For people who prefer to sleep in as long as possible in the mornings, like myself, the whole process from start to coffee drinking finish adds maybe 2 minutes to your morning routine… even less if you’re a multi-tasker.
The construction of the machine is top notch. The plastic is very thick and solid and the pod holder/lever feels very strong. There’s nothing that makes a person think that “well, this isn’t going to last very long” like with most pod style coffee makers. Even the water resevior is solid, and has not leaked at all. This model appears to be more of a travel model as its small, simple, and requires only a single electrical plug. I can easily see the Inissia being packed away for my next trip.
As for the coffee quality, it’s very good. I would say as good as anything that gets ordered through a drive through window and certainly better than any gas station. It isn’t quite as good as a reliable coffee house, but they’re trained people using proper equipment. I wouldn’t expect it to out perform a talented Barista, but it will out perform an untalented one. Its worth notification that you need to buy the coffee from the Nespresso website, you can buy it here on Amazon but its around 30% more than Nespresso. If you’re shopping on Amazon, buying all of your coffee online shouldn’t sound too intimidating, but just so you know you can’t buy the Grand Crus in your local grocery store. You basically join the Nespresso coffee club with your first order, which seems as much of a club as Amazon, but they seem to imply that being in the Nespresso coffee club means more. Maybe it does, but as of now my club membership is basically, I buy their coffee, they send me an e-mail saying “Thanks” along with my bill. There’s about 20 different coffee varieties to choose from, and they range from 60 cents to 80 cents per pod. You can get 2 brews to 1 pod, but the second serving is of lesser flavor, especially with the milder brews.
In all, for $99 you get an affordable daily espresso at near identical quality of that coffee house cup, so this easily gets 5 stars. It even ships with 16 free samples, so if these samples save you 16 trips to a coffee house the Inissia becomes instantly affordable, sure its only $12 worth of coffee, but you’re never going to vist a coffee house 16 times and only spend $12. I figure that the Inissia has paid for itself right out of the box, for me personally. I can honestly say the Nespresso Inissia makes waking up in the morning a little more tolerable.
I would also like to add that the review from Let’s Compare Options has some very usefull information in the reviews comments about the user manual and if someone decides to buy the Inissia reading those comments can help with the initial set up of the machine.
Amazon Customer –
If you’ve been looking for an automatic espresso machine with the minimum acceptable 15 bar (this is 19), for under $100 US, though pump driven, the new Inissia is the model you and I have been waiting for. You will soon find, that for the budget, this little gem was worth the wait!
For comparison, the U is about $150 (depending on model, and without frother), the Essenza can be found for under $100 from time to time, and the rest of the line jumps up (eg. Pixie, others with milk frother options) to over $200 and well upwards from there.
The coffee, if bought on Nespresso’s website, ranges from .50 to .70, depending on whether you insist on pure Arabica (and you should!). Amazon and it’s vendors do both better and worse than this, so you HAVE to shop if you want to maintain your budget. Because of the skyrocketing popularity of this line, there are many more fulfillment by Amazon and Prime options now if you hunt for them.
Also, Sams and Costco have started carrying this line, but both of them locally (assuming Amazon charges tax in your area– some fullfillment by do not), are a $40 savings on this Inissia at this writing if you buy on Amazon. Because Inissia does not have the downside of ruining cups with experimentation you find with the Essenza, it is already becoming hard to find.
How can ANYONE deliver 19 bar, in a dependable machine, for under $100? Well, they can’t. This machine costs about $290 to manufacture bare bones. So, yes, this IS razor and blade and you ARE married to buying the little cups from Nespresso. There is NO BETTER WAY to get low cost, high quality espresso, with the convenience of automated brewing as simple as drip, for far less than Starbucks, even with the razor/blade strategy.
That said, I’m a Barista instructor, and if you do take the time to buy green, roast your own, and use a Moka pot, though technically not espresso at 6 bar, you can get better coffee, more controlled by you, for a LOT less per cup. But here comes some honesty my students would kill me for: YES, sometimes I prefer fast coffee, far better than Starbucks, fully automated, easy clean up, and zero work! I still roast my own and use a variety of techniques from Moka to Turkish to get a devlish range of wonderful tastes, but for the effort, this new little Inissia truly fills the bill!
The Barista association has been kind enough to let me try a full range of machines and techniques on their dime for over 7 years, and I’ve worked with espresso makers and systems that range from Mr. Coffee to $35,000 commercial machines. I can’t say much more than the fact that THIS is the model I’ve waited for, even though I was painfully tempted by the Essenza. And also be warned, if you move beyond Nespresso for a modular system, you are NOT getting true espresso, but razor and blade drip.
If you read criticisms on the web that Nespresso has a poor range of offerings between first crack, City ++ and deeply dark, oily espresso, check the date on the review/complaint. I’ve now found that their range is just as broad and deep as any direct green or roasted bean you can get. Nothing is as good as roasting and grinding your own, but even with sophisticated taste buds, this system comes very close, and is certainly WAY better than Starbucks. Besides, even roasters/ Moka folk need a break once in a while, and will unlikely settle for drip when they can even get Americano if you like it less strong, with this system!
The other models in this series are known for durability and ethical customer service from Nespresso, but at this writing no one can tell you that about their newer technologies. I can tell you that poor mechanical performance would kill this at Sams before they even got out of the gate, so I’m betting on durability, but can’t honestly opine on that parameter.
All in all, highly recommended. Please use the comment and question features for any details you need, or email me, or check out the Nespresso dot com website for details between models, or questions you might have on this little gem. As a bonus, if you check their site, you get to see Jimmy Kimmel trying the brand with Penelope Cruz, not a reason to buy, but still FUN! ;=)
eMailer answer: YES, this does accommodate large cups, unlike the Essenza, and yes, you can just push a button without having to time the brew.
2the19thT –
UPDATE (7/12/2016) AFTER USING FOR 4 MONTHS:
I originally rated the Inissia 5 stars but am downgrading it to 3. I still love the taste of the coffee but the machine has many quirks. The quantity of the liquid produced changes each time I make an espresso or lungo. Several times I have reset the machine to factory standard but without fail the quirk returns. I know where on my glass cup the liquid should reach, and most of the time the liquid produced falls short, though sometimes there is too much. I have to stand there and watch the process (albeit less than 30 seconds total time), in the ready to press the button to either stop the flow, or if the machine produces too little liquid I can press the button again to get the correct volume, pressing it once more to stop the flow. I cannot just press the button and walk away. I have also tried manually programming the volume. It will be correct maybe once, but the machine reverts back to it’s quirky way.
Also, the drip tray that the cup sits on when the coffee is being made is awkward for a couple reasons. It can be flipped up, so you can place a larger cup (or mug) if you want a larger serving of espresso/coffee (like if you want to make an Americano, for instance). When flipped up the tray is too thick to allow a regular size cup (or mug) to be correctly positioned under the nozzle. Again, you have to stand there, tilting the mug to be able to catch the liquid being dispensed. Also, this, and the short height of the nozzle, makes it awkward to descale the machine. You are supposed to place a 1 litre (appx. 34 oz.) container under the nozzle to catch the cleaning liquid to run it through a 2nd time. I didn’t have anything that would fit, including quart-size Mason jars. I wish Nespresso sold (cheap) the container they use in their descaling video. I’m guessing that a beaker-type container might work but verify the height of the beaker before purchasing, and that it will have clearance under the nozzle. The Citiz has a different drip tray and I wish I would have tried that machine instead of the Inissia.
I still love the taste of the coffee, and even with its quirks it is still convenient, so I would consider buying a Nespresso again just not the Inissia.
ORIGINAL REVIEW from purchase in March 2016:
I debated between this Inissia, and the much more expensive Delonghi Lattissima Plus Nespresso machine, that comes with a built-in milk frother function. I purchased the Delonghi, elsewhere, but it only took me one day to see that for my purposes the Delonghi was not worth the extra money, especially since I usually drink my coffee black. Like others have written, the Delonghi produced a beverage not hot enough (at least to my liking), even when not using the milk option. I returned the Delonghi, and purchased the Inissia, figuring the few times I might want milk I could microwave it, then use a frothing wand if froth was wanted. I visited a Nespresso boutique store and the Nespresso representative (who owned and loved the Delonghi) said that the Inissia, Pixie, and Citiz all have the same basic mechanical functioning, and that the smarter choice would be the Inissia if I didn’t want the Delonghi. She felt there was no need to pay extra for the Pixie or Citiz when the Inissia would do the same thing for less money.
From the Inissia the coffee comes out plenty hot, and I like my coffee very hot. Be aware, the Inissia spout (as well as the Delonghi) continues to drip/dribble for a minute, or so, after it has produced your beverage. According to other reviews this is common. I just keep a small ramekin on the drip tray, under the spout, though the drip tray is easily removed for cleaning if you don’t want to use anything else to catch the drips. About 15 minutes after the machine turns off a small stream of water will flow out. All total, about 2-4 ounces of water eventually drain into the ramekin I keep on the drip tray.
It makes no difference how good a coffee maker is if the coffee you put in it is inferior. I really don’t like coffee, but drink a mug mainly as a morning ritual, and for a caffeine kickstart. Most of the time I grimace my way through a cup. I have been using Pete’s Major Dickason blend, in a pour-over using a Clever Coffee Dripper, and this is the best coffee I have been able to produce. I have even used freshly roasted, local (or not so local but highly reviewed) beans, and ground them daily. Too much of a hassle, and can’t say I loved the coffee most of the time. I have tried friends’ Keurig made coffee and thought it terrible. I am thrilled with the taste of many of the Nespresso Originale line coffee pods (the Originale line is what is used in the Inissia. Nespresso’s Vertuoline of coffee is used in a different line of machines). On two different occasions I have tried a full-size cup of coffee from one of the Vertuoline machines, that produces both espresso and coffee, and I didn’t like the taste. It could’ve been the variety of coffee, but others have commented on Vertuoline coffee tasting bitter. A sample pack of pods comes with the Inissia. It doesn’t include all the coffees but most of them.
The written instructions are a joke. They are confusing, but luckily, some of the questions I had were answered by You Tube videos.
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I knocked one star for the loudness of the machine, and because the price of the pods which is too near cafe prices in my opinion if you drink them plain and compare with plain coffees/Americanos at the shops. Home use machines should be vast amounts cheaper than coffee shops, by comparison. That’s the point of brewing at home rather than going to the shop, is to save loads of money.
I spend about $200 a month on a major coffee chain. I actually prefer Nespressos taste on some pods, and at least liked ALL the samples I tried. I spent a while trying different coffee machines at home and was always let down. I then realized I should be making espresso for what I like, so I tried a cheap espresso machine and it always came out lukewarm and was difficult for an amateur to master.
Then I bought this masterpiece of a machine. Simple to use and I’m overjoyed with it. It has the right amount of water and grounds automatically, and throws the used pod down to the chamber for easy disposal and cleaning later on. It also tastes better to me. I made a couple plain lattes and they were great. Got to find the right percent of espresso and milk for you. I actually prefer the ‘lungo’ option plain to lattes because the grounds are tasty. I think it’s pretty close to an Americano. It’s thicker and richer and fuller and has a crema, as well, which I much prefer all of those things to the drink I used to love at the cafe. I used to live to get my coffee there and now I have had no cravings for it. In fact I crave Nespressos instead. I think my cravings for Nespresso are stronger than my cravings for the cafe were. I do wish the machine brewed more, as I’m used to 16+oz cups of coffee like it’s a 3-4oz. When I first used it I remember saying aloud "thats it??" And I’m sure a lot of others experienced the same thing on their first use. I knew it wasn’t much, but it still threw me off to see it in the mug. But depending on what you like (and what you try as alternatives in the machine) you can save money with a Nespresso.
PRICE COMPARISON WITH CAFES:
-Lattes at home vs at cafe—If you buy a $5-6 latte at this particular chain, possibly plus tip, you’d be saving big by making your own with the easy and tasty Nespresso pods (about $.70 per pod on the nespresso website. Free shipping on bulk orders over $50).
-Straight from the machine vs cafe coffee—As for Americano or black coffee fans, the price difference isn’t as great. At around $.70 a pod, it’s $2.10 for three shots to make your own 12oz of lungos, vs about $2.45 (without tip) at the cafe chain for around the same size. So if you intend to drink it plain in the hopes it’ll save you money, unless you try a cheaper non-nespresso brand of espresso pods or a reusable/refillable pod or sealing cap, you won’t be saving as much. Or if you only really want 3-4oz of espresso in the morning.
Cheaper options to Nespresso pods—there is also third party brand coffee in Nespresso compatibe pods to try for cheaper here on Amazon, not to mention the reusable plastic or metal pods I intend to check out with mine. Or the resealable lids for reusing old pods as well.
I tried to cover a used pod with foil and reuse it like I saw on a YouTube video before buying the machine, but the bulk of the foil folded over the edges (no matter how small I snipped the foil down to) kept it from spinning in the machine, and the puncturing mechanism couldn’t poke adequate holes in the loose fitting foil. I tried a few times to get it tight and smooth, but it would be a waste of grounds to do that every day until you get it right. Also you have to insert the used Nespresso pod at the same angle as the first time to avoid punching three new holes in the bottom. Over all not a good alternative for saving money that way. Makes more sense to buy the lid replacements on Amazon, but you’d still get limited use out of used pods, as eventually the holes re-poked at the bottom each time would get too big and water down the espresso.
CONCLUSIONS:
Either way it’s worth it in my opinion for the (for me, at least) better quality coffee at an slightly to moderately lesser price point depending on what you’re making with it. Not to mention you don’t have to drive down to the cafe and spend unnecessarily on car gas for a coffee run. And you get that crema which is fun, you don’t even have to froth the milk for lattes if you don’t want to. You can make all the same fancy drinks at the coffee shop for cheaper once you get it right. Making the espresso is the easiest part.
CONSIDERATIONS:
-The machine is VERY loud. Like a blender. It brews quickly, though. It could wake up a light sleeper in another room. Not sure if other Nespresso models are quieter.
-It is literally the easiest coffee or espresso machine I’ve ever used. No wonder pod machines are so popular.
-Also, like I mentioned earlier, it makes 3oz cups in espresso and 4oz cups in lungo, so keep that in mind if you like a large cup. You may need to brew 2 or 3 pods.