Capsule coffee machines have become an essential tool for many users, whether at home or in the office. Therefore, it is important to know what to look for in order to choose the one that best suits your search preferences and your needs. But we know that it can be a difficult task if you are not familiar with the world of coffee. To help you, we analyse two of the leading brands of the moment: Nespresso vs. Lavazza. Do you want to know which one has the best capsule coffee machine on the market?
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Before we start: first considerations
We can’t start the analysis without explaining which are the different series of coffee machines you can choose in each case. Bear in mind that the features and price may vary, so you should take a close look at which range is most suitable for you.
Nespresso: two alternatives
Nespresso also offers two options:
- Vertuo: we could say that this is Nespresso’s “premium” range, not only because of the design but also because of the possibilities it offers. With Vertuo coffee machines it is possible to make more elaborate and complete coffees, to be enjoyed slowly.
- Original: this is the simplest Nespresso range, and also the most economical. It includes the Pixie, Pixie Clips, Essenza Mini, Inissia, Citiz and U machines, all of which are capsule machines.
Lavazza: double choice
In this case, there are two ranges of coffee machines:
- Tiny: as you can deduce from its name, it is a smaller coffee machine, perfect for placing in your office or workspace, and suitable for making a coffee with which to take your daily break.
- Jolie Plus: its design is larger than the Tiny range, although it is less bulky than Nespresso. On the other hand, it has more intelligent and automatic features, such as the option of pre-dosing and programming the coffee or the Thermoblock system.
In order to give you as equal a comparison as possible, we will focus on the Vertuo and Jolie Plus ranges, as they are the most complete of each brand. Here we go!
What do Nespresso and Lavazza have in common?
The first section is dedicated to highlighting the main similarities between the two Italian brands:
Commitment to the environment
Nowadays, respect for the environment is becoming increasingly influential in purchasing decisions. In this case, we would like to highlight the sustainability of both brands, which continue to orient their practices in a more environmentally friendly way.
Nespresso coffee machines are made from 54% recycled plastic. Lavazza, for its part, no longer uses aluminium in its capsules, which makes them much easier to reuse and recycle.
Tray adjustment
As we will see below, both capsule coffee machines allow you to select different cup sizes depending on the amount of coffee you want. Therefore, the height of the tray where the cup is placed can be adjusted in both of them.
Capsules compatible with…
Another of the common characteristics that we would like to point out is the exclusivity of both brands in terms of capsule compatibility. The Jolie Plus coffee machine is only compatible with Lavazza’s A Modo Mio capsules, while Vertuo coffee machines are only compatible with Nespresso’s Vertuo capsules.
Super-fast heating
Capsule coffee machines have an advantage over Italian coffee machines in that they take much less time to brew coffee. In this case, both models share the quick-heat function.
Both machines are ready to use in just 30 seconds, and you can tell in both of them by an indicator light.
Switching off if no activity is detected
Continuing with the similarities, another feature common to both brands is the automatic switch-off of the machine after several minutes of inactivity. In the case of Nespresso, it takes 2 minutes for the machine to go into sleep mode, while Lavazza waits 9 minutes.
Cable length
The two protagonists of our review have a cable with a length of 75 centimetres in the case of Nespresso and 80 centimetres in the case of Lavazza. So you will have no problem placing either of them in your kitchen or office.
What is the difference between Nespresso and Lavazza?
You already know what the two coffee machines we have focused our comparison on have in common. Here’s how they differ:
Selectable cup sizes
Another important difference lies in the range of different cup sizes you can select from each. Nespresso offers up to 5 different sizes (Long, Cup, Gran Lungo, Double Espresso and Espresso). Lavazza, on the other hand, reduces its offer to two sizes, small and large.
Water tank capacity
What meets the eye always catches the eye more quickly. In this case, it is easy to see that the Nespresso coffee machine is more voluminous than the Lavazza, and this is largely due to the maximum volume of its tank.
The Nespresso model has a 1.1 litre water tank, while the Lavazza machine has a 600 ml tank. Not bad, but Nespresso almost doubles the volume.
Capsule storage
Another area where Nespresso wins is the maximum capacity of used capsules it can store.
The Nespresso machine has a drawer for up to 10 used capsules, as opposed to Lavazza’s 5.
Automatic updates
Another advantage of Nespresso’s Vertuo coffee machines is that they can be connected via WiFi or Bluetooth to receive new updates, a feature that Lavazza does not have in its Jolie Plus model.
Choice of colours
If you are one of those who prefer to choose the colour when buying a device, this section is of interest to you. Aesthetically there is a significant difference, and that is the variety of colours and designs available.
Nespresso Vertuo coffee machines can be purchased in a wide range of colours (red, white, grey, black, jade, dark blue), while the Lavazza Jolie Plus is only available in red, black and white.
Price difference
It is clear that Nespresso is ahead of Lavazza in virtually all parameters, which justifies the higher price.
However, the price difference can be greatly reduced if you get a good deal, and you can even buy the Nespresso cheaper than the Lavazza.
Nespresso Vs Lavazza: conclusion and verdict
Having checked the advantages and disadvantages of each brand, it is time to choose which of the two we would go for. And the answer to this question depends on how much you are going to use each one.
We start from the assumption that both are excellent models and that they produce high quality coffee. If you are going to buy a capsule coffee machine with the intention of having it at home to enjoy your coffees, our recommendation would be to opt for Nespresso.
This brand offers more advanced features and the possibilities you can explore when it comes to selecting and brewing different types of coffee are far superior. This is the case of the 5 cup sizes you can choose from, which you can complete by adding the necessary accessories to make cappuccino, mocha or any other type of speciality coffee you prefer.
But what if you want a coffee maker for the office, where you are not looking for a coffee that is so elaborate but rather one that is quick to make and easy to maintain? In that case, we recommend the Lavazza coffee machine. The capsules are cheaper and the machine is simpler to operate, so you won’t waste too much time every time you want to have a coffee at work.
Finally, we have to mention something about the price. It is important to note that Nespresso coffee machines are more expensive than Lavazza coffee machines, but we recommend that you keep a close eye on all the cheap offers that come out. In some cases, you can buy a Nespresso for the same price as a Lavazza, or even slightly less.
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