Nespresso Vertuo Plus XN903140 Coffee Machine by Krups - White

The Vertuo Plus XN903140 is Krups' build of Nespresso's Vertuo system, and the thing that separates Vertuo from every other pod machine is that you do not choose a cup size. Each Vertuo capsule carries a barcode around its rim, and the machine reads it to set the water volume, the brew temperature and the spin speed for that particular coffee. You drop a capsule in, press one button, and it handles the rest.

That barcode is also the catch worth understanding before you buy. Vertuo machines take Vertuo capsules only. The original Nespresso capsules you may already have in a drawer, and the many cheaper third-party pods made to fit them, will not work in this machine. Switching from an OriginalLine machine means switching capsule ranges too.

What you get

• Cup sizes from espresso up to a large mug, chosen automatically by the capsule rather than by you
• 1.2 litre water tank
• Heat-up from cold in as little as 40 seconds
• Motorised head that opens and closes electronically, then ejects the used capsule into an internal container
• A thick crema on every cup, produced by spinning the capsule rather than forcing water through it under pressure alone
• A welcome set of 12 coffee pods so you can start straight away

Who it suits

This is a machine for people who drink a large coffee rather than a short Italian-style espresso. Vertuo's real strength is the bigger sizes, and if a mug of black coffee with a proper crema is what you want on a weekday morning, it does that better than most capsule machines. If you mainly drink espresso, or you want the freedom to shop around for cheap third-party pods, an OriginalLine machine will suit you better and cost you less to run.

Specifications