Nespresso Essenza Mini Pod Coffee Machine

Summary

Let’s start with the verdict. The Nespresso Essenza Mini is an easy recommendation if you want a quick, consistent espresso without complicating your life or giving up half your worktop. It’s the smallest and most basic machine in the Nespresso system, and that’s exactly where its charm lies.

A clear note on the version, before anything else. The machine we tested in Spain was the Krups-made Essenza Mini, and the photos on this page are of that unit. In the UK, the one we link on Amazon.co.uk is the De’Longhi-made Essenza Mini EN85.B in black, sold by Amazon as a welcome pack with 50 Nespresso pods plus a discovery box. It’s the same Nespresso model from a different licensed manufacturer, with the same 19 bar pump, programmable buttons and 9-minute auto-off.

At just 8.4 cm wide (20.4 cm high and 33 cm deep) and 2.3 kg, it fits literally any corner of the kitchen and you can lift it with one hand to clean underneath. Even so, it works at 19 bar of pressure, so the crema comes out dense and even, nothing like what you’d expect from such a compact appliance.

Using it comes down to two buttons, one for a short coffee and one for a long one, and both are programmable if you want to match the amount of water to your usual cup. It also switches itself off after 9 minutes of inactivity, so you won’t leave it on by mistake.

It’s a great fit for homes of one or two people, small offices or as a second machine. If there are lots of coffee drinkers at home, the 0.6 litre tank will fall short and you’ll be refilling it often, and if cappuccinos are your thing, you’ll need a separate milk frother because there isn’t one here.

The other drawback, which we go into below, is the pump noise during brewing, which you can clearly hear in a quiet kitchen. It doesn’t last long, but it’s worth knowing before you buy.

Analysis and verdict

Design – Score: 8.8/10

This is its highest score and the whole point of the machine. At 8.4 cm wide, 20.4 cm high and 33 cm deep, and 2.3 kg on the scales, it’s the smallest machine in our ranking and the lightest of the Nespresso models we tested. It fits any corner of the worktop, slides under a wall cupboard without argument and moves with one hand for cleaning underneath, which you can’t do as comfortably with 4 kg machines.

We liked the finish more than we expected from an entry-level model, with clean lines, soft-touch buttons and a lever that needs a firm push to close (that’s normal, as it’s piercing the sealed pod, so don’t think you’re forcing it). After a month of use there were no scratches and no creaking plastic when pressing. The space under the spout takes cups up to about 12 cm tall with the tray removed (9 cm with it in place), enough for a latte glass without any juggling, although you have to take the tray out; folding it up isn’t an option as on others in the list.

Ease of use – Score: 8.2/10

Its 19 bar of pressure is the same figure quoted for much bigger and pricier Nespresso machines, and in the cup it means an espresso with body and a fine crema that holds until the last sip. In our testing, the stream ran centred and without splashing on both settings, and heat-up from cold took under thirty seconds, with no rattling or vibration along the way. We made fifteen brews in a row and it lost neither pace nor crema consistency.

Operation is down to two buttons, espresso or lungo, both reprogrammable by holding them down until you reach the amount of water you prefer, and the used pod drops out by itself when you open the lever, without you touching it. We also timed the automatic switch-off, which kicked in at exactly 9 minutes of inactivity every time we checked.

Two specific things pull the score down. The first is the pump noise. The hum during brewing could be heard from the next room, and although it’s only a few seconds per coffee and the machine is practically silent at rest, it’s worth knowing if you make coffee while others are asleep. The second is that there are only two sizes, so if you like big mugs of americano, you’ll have to top it up with hot water separately. And if your coffee seems lukewarm, run a water-only cycle before the first cup. It preheats the system and the next cup comes out noticeably hotter.

Capacity – Score: 7.6/10

The 0.6 litre tank is the price of the mini size and the lowest of its three scores. For one or two people it’s good for several coffees without refilling, but as soon as you have guests or there are three coffee drinkers at home, you’ll be heading to the tap almost daily. It’s the logical trade-off of this format compared with the machines in this comparison with tanks of a litre or more.

The used-pod container holds 6 pods, which with two coffees a day means emptying it every three days. It’s the smallest container on the list and the one that demands the most frequent routine. In its favour, the tank comes out and refills in seconds without moving the machine, so the frequency is less annoying than it sounds. One tip we’ve found extends the machine’s life is to use filtered water instead of hard or mineral-rich tap water, because limescale is public enemy number one for such small systems.

Cost per cup and compatible pods

Compared with bean to cup or manual espresso machines, this format wins on speed and cleanliness but ties you to a recurring cost per pod. The good news is that the system takes compatible pods from other brands, which we’ve used without problems and which bring the cost of your daily coffee down considerably, something the Vertuo Up doesn’t allow. Within the Nespresso range itself, the Essenza Mini is the choice for anyone who wants the system at its smallest size and cost, giving up extras such as large tanks or a built-in frother.

Pros

• Minimal footprint (8.4 cm wide and 2.3 kg), ideal for small kitchens, studios or offices where every centimetre of worktop counts.
• 19 bar of pressure that produces a dense crema and a consistent espresso cup after cup, without relying on your skill.
• Ready in under 30 seconds from cold, perfect for rushed mornings.
• Programmable buttons and auto-off after 9 minutes, timed and confirmed every time we checked.
• Takes compatible pods from other brands, which brings the cost per cup down compared with closed systems.

Cons

• The pump is noisy during brewing; it’s only a few seconds, but you can hear it all over the kitchen.
• 0.6 litre tank that needs frequent refills if several of you drink coffee.
• 6-pod used-capsule container, the smallest in the comparison, so with two coffees a day you’ll empty it every three days.

Our test

Test 1: coffee temperature and the trick for the second cup

We’d read complaints that these machines serve lukewarm coffee, so we looked into it closely. In our case the coffee comes out very hot, so hot that you shouldn’t put a finger under the stream or drink it straight away. If it still seems lukewarm to you, we found two tricks that work. Use small cups (in big mugs the coffee cools before you finish it), and run a water-only cycle before the first coffee, because it preheats the system and the next cup comes out noticeably hotter. With milk, heat it well before adding it or it will ruin the temperature of the whole drink.

Test 2: can you get several coffees from one pod?

We were curious whether a pod could be stretched to save money, so we brewed three coffees in a row from the same one. The result was emphatic. The first came out dark and full-bodied, the second was already water with a bit of colour, and the third was simply yellowish water. Each pod gives one proper coffee, full stop. What you can do is make the most of a single brew, because by holding the button down you lengthen the coffee and the pod keeps giving flavour up to roughly 80 millilitres.

Test 3: behaviour in long sessions

To see how it copes with heavy use, we made fifteen brews in a row. The machine lost neither pace nor crema consistency, and only the back of the body warmed slightly, never uncomfortably to the touch. We also timed the automatic switch-off, which kicked in at exactly 9 minutes of inactivity every time we checked, a detail that shows the energy saving is the real deal. The only shadow over the whole session was the pump hum on every cycle, audible from the next room, although it stops as soon as the coffee is done and the machine is practically silent at rest.

If you’d like to know more about what to look for, have a look at our guide to the best pod coffee machines, where you’ll find the best models we’ve tested, Nespresso included, to help you choose the right one for you.