Nespresso vs Keurig – What’s The Difference? Which Is Better? (2022)

 

In the US, there are two single-serve pod coffee maker brands you can choose between: Nespresso vs Keurig. If you want to start saving money by making more coffee at home and you want a way to do that easily, I know that one of these brands will be perfect for you. However, to decide which one is better for you, you need to know the key differences between them.

The Most Important Question: How Do You Like Your Coffee?

This is the #1 question you need to answer as you are shopping for a Nespresso vs a Keurig. That’s because Nespresso and Keurig make different types of coffee. This is the key difference to know to make sure you are not upset with your purchase.

A Regular Cup Of Coffee (Hot or Iced)

When you go to a coffee shop, do you order something like a “medium coffee” a ” french vanilla coffee” or an “iced coffee”? If so, you’ll be able to make all of those with a Keurig. Keurigs can only make a regular American cup of coffee. There are both flavored and unflavored pods. You can brew in a range of sizes with most models, from 6 oz to 12 oz. Keurig brewers CANNOT make espresso.

Espresso, Lattes, Cappuccinos, etc.

On the other hand, there are some Nespresso machines (known as the “Original Line”) that can only make espresso. Espresso is a concentrated coffee brewed under high pressure and typically served in small shots. The standard size is 1.35 oz, but Original Nespresso machines can also prepare a 3.7 oz lungo. Espresso is the only type of coffee that can be used to make an americano and certain drinks with milk. If your favorite drink is a cappuccino, latte (pumpkin spice or otherwise), macchiato, or flat white, then you will need an original Nespresso machine with its 19-bar pressure brewing system. You’ll need a milk frother to make these drinks too.

Both Regular Coffee & Espresso Drinks

What if you like both regular American coffee and an espresso-based drink every now and then? Do you need to get both Nespresso and Keurig? Nope! That’s where Nespresso’s newest product line comes in. Powered by centrifusion technology and a pod barcode reader, the Nespresso Vertuoline is easy to use to brew both espresso pods and 8 oz coffee pods.You’ll want a milk frother too.

Don’t be fooled by Keurig “espresso roast” pods or Keurig machines like the K-Latte or the K-Cafe. Keurig machines cannot make espresso to use in lattes and cappuccinos because they don’t use the high pressure brewing method that is required. The best Keurig can do is to try to replicate the taste of espresso. With Nespresso, you get the real thing.

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Other Nespresso vs Keurig Differences

Machine Price

Advantage for coffee drinkers: Keurig

Advantage for espresso drinkers: Nespresso Vertuo

Keurig coffee makers are more affordable vs Nespresso machines. You can usually find a basic, no frills model like the K-Mini or K-Express for around $80. If you want a more advanced one, you can get one for between $100 and $200.

Nespresso Vertuo machines that brew both coffee and espresso are a bit more expensive vs Keurig. They suggested retail price is around $180, though you can find some models on sale for as low as $120.

There is a much bigger range in price for Nespresso Original espresso machines. That’s because there are some higher end models that have more advanced features. These include built-in milk frothing and usually an extra year of warranty coverage. These high-end machines, like the Creatista Plus and the Lattissima One, can sell for $400 to $600. However, there are are a few more affordable Original machines with basic functionality you need to just brew a high quality espresso. This includes the Essenza Mini and the Pixie. You can probably find one somewhere between $150 and $200.

Coffee Selection

Advantage for coffee drinkers: Keurig

Advantage for espresso drinkers: Nespresso Original

For coffee only drinkers, Keurig will have many more coffee pods to choose from. There are over 200 K-cups to try, including popular brands like Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and The Original Donut Shop. Plus, you can get a lot of other non-coffee K-cups from Keurig, including tea and hot cocoa. There are no tea or cocoa pods for Nespresso, though you can use the machine to make hot water.

Your coffee options will be more limited with the Nespresso Vertuoline. Nespresso currently only makes 15 different Vertuo coffee pods. There are also a few made by Starbucks, the only official Nespresso partner. Because Nespresso holds a patent on the Vertuo pod design, you won’t find pods from any other brands for the Vertuoline until around 2030.

If you prefer espresso drinks, you’ll find more variety with Nespresso Original machines vs the Vertuoline. There are currently 38 different Nespresso espresso pods for Original machines. There is a wide range of both intensity levels and caffeine levels to pick from. Plus, you can find Nespresso Original compatible capsules from many other brands, including Starbucks, Peet’s Coffee, Cafe Bustelo and more. In comparison, there are only 14 espresso pods for Nespresso Vertuo.

Coffee Price

Advantage for coffee drinkers: Keurig

Advantage for espresso drinkers: Nespresso Vertuo

Keurig K-Cups can range quite a bit on price. You can usually find them for anywhere from 50 to 85 cents per pod. In comparison, Nespresso Vertuo coffee pods currently cost $1.10 each. Keurig even makes reusable pods that you can fill with your own coffee grinds for more savings.

You can get a single serve espresso pod for the Nespresso Original line for as low as 70 cents. For the Vertuoline, there are double espresso pods for $1.00. If you tend to make larger espresso-based drinks, it is cheaper to use one Vertuo double espresso pod than two single Original pods.

No matter whether you buy a Keurig or Nespresso, you’ll never want to use a Nespresso pod or K-cup more than once. If you do, you’ll end up with coffee that tastes bitter or burnt.

Coffee Pod Availability

Advantage for coffee drinkers: Keurig

Advantage for espresso drinkers: Nespresso Original

You can find a wide selection of Keurig K-cups at your local grocery store, Walmart and Target. There are even more to choose from on Keurig.com and Amazon.

To buy official Nespresso pods in store, you have to visit a Nespresso boutique. Otherwise, you can shop online at Nespresso.com, Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond and other retailers. You’ll only find Starbucks Nespresso pods at your grocery store, Walmart and Target. There might also be some store brand version of Original capsules. There won’t be any others for Vertuo.

Environmental Impact

Advantage for coffee drinkers: Keurig

Advantage for espresso drinkers: Nespresso Original or Vertuo

Since the end of 2020, all Keurig K-cups are recyclable. They are made of a plastic that is accepted in curbside recycling programs across most of North America. Just peel back the lid, empty the coffee grinds in the trash or compost, and then place the plastic pod in the recycling bin. Keurig is rolling out an easy-peel lid that will make this process really simple.

Nespresso pods are made of aluminum. Unless you live in New York City, you won’t be able to put used Nespresso pods in your recycling bin. However, Nespresso does have its own recycling program. You can bring your used pods back to any Nespresso boutique or send them to Nespresso by mail. In the US, Nespresso pays for this postage.

Machine Maintenance

No brand advantage

Whether you get a Nespresso or a Keurig, regular cleaning is needed to keep it working at its best. For Nespresso, you’ll want to run basic daily and weekly cleaning in addition to descaling everything three months or so. Keurig machines will need regular needle cleaning plus water filter changes and descaling. Descaling is an important process to remove mineral buildup that can impact your coffee taste and temperature.

My Recommended Nespresso and Keurig Machines

For Coffee Drinkers

We love our iced coffees here in the US. That’s why I recommend one of the new Keurig machines that can make both hot and iced coffee. The best Keurig hot and iced coffee makers arethe K-Supreme, the K-Elite and the K-Slim+ICED.

For Espresso Drinkers

My budget pick is the Essenza Mini. This is the most affordable Nespresso Original machine on the market. It’s small but brews a great espresso. Don’t sweat over the Breville or De’Longhi model; the only difference is design. I would strongly suggest getting it as part of a bundle with the Aeroccino milk frother if you want to make lattes and cappuccinos.

If you want to splurge on your coffee machine, get the Creatista Plus. This is what I use daily. It’s perfect for barista wannabes like me who want to make lattes and cappuccinos with the push of a button. The stainless steel design will also look great in your kitchen.

For Coffee & Espresso Drinkers

The best advice I can give you when shopping for a Nespresso Vertuoline is to stay away from the Vertuo Next! You might think it is the best one because it is the new and has the most features. While that may be true, a quick scan of Nespresso user groups on Reddit and Facebook will reveal that owners of the Next have A LOT of trouble (leaks, machine errors, etc.). Instead, you are better off getting the Vertuo or VertuoPlus or the Evoluo. I have the VertuoPlus, but they are all great and very similar. Get the one that has the best price.