Nespresso Vertuo Creatista review: the latest and greatest Vertuo model yet

Nespresso is one of the go-to brands for convenient pod coffee makers, and it recently launched the top-of-the-range Nespresso Vertuo Creatista. 

Nespresso makes two different-style machines—one for its original coffee pods and another for the newer Vertuo pods. These Vertuo pods incorporate innovative technology: the machine reads a barcode on the pod and then adjusts its brew settings according to the pod you've inserted. It's clever stuff, and it makes many of these machines among the best coffee makers available.

This is the best Vertuo model available right now. It's packed with all the brand's latest features, so it's a surefire contender for inclusion in our best espresso makers guide. It's also the only machine to incorporate an automated milk wand. The build quality of this professional-looking, stainless steel machine elevates it above all the other plastic Nespresso Vertuo models you can buy. Put simply, it looks great on the kitchen counter.

However, all this technology comes with a hefty price tag, and it's the biggest Nespresso coffee machines we've seen. You'll need plenty of free counter space, but does it live up to its promise of being the best Nespresso Vertuo machine money can buy, or is it convenience over flavor? Keep reading to see our verdict.

Helen McCue

Helen has tested hundreds of coffee machines in her 10-plus years of reviewing appliances. However, it's only in the last three years that she's developed a daily habit, and during that time, she has jumped into the world of coffee with both feet. She now has two specialty coffee subscriptions and uses a Breville espresso machine daily to create a flat white or a cappuccino. She's yet to master latte art, however, which is a continued frustration.

Helen used the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista at home for a week. While she enjoyed the convenience and could appreciate the quality of this machine, she missed the flavor and rich crema she usually enjoys from her usual espresso machine.

Nespresso Vertuo Creatista: Key specs

Nespresso Vertuo Creatista: Price & Availability

The Nespresso Vertuo Creatista is the most expensive Nespresso Vertuo coffee machine at the time of writing. It'll set you back an eye-watering $749, at least three times the price of some of the cheaper Nespresso Vertuo machines.

The machine is available directly from Nespresso, Amazon, and other independent appliance retailers.

Nespresso Vertuo pods are also available directly from Nespresso. They start at $0.98 per pod, but prices vary depending on the size and type of coffee you choose. 

Nespresso Vertuo Creatista: Setup

Apart from the outer plastic bag, the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista arrived packed mostly in easy-to-recycle cardboard. As a certified B Corp, Nespresso has committed to reducing its environmental impact.

The coffee machine lifts out of the box, virtually fully assembled and ready to go. The only genuine assembly was getting the drip tray into position. However, the manual advises washing all the removable parts and performing an automated rinse cycle before you start.

This part was easy: I filled the tank with water and pressed the coffee button three times within two seconds. This started an automatic rinse, so any dust or manufacturing residues inside the machine were rinsed into a container I'd placed on the drip tray. I then rinsed the milk wand using a similar automatic rinse.

Next, I downloaded the Nespresso app and connected the machine to my Wi-Fi. The app walks you through the process, so you just need to know your Wi-Fi password. Having the device connected means it'll automatically update, you'll be guided through performing maintenance, and you will even receive coffee-making recipes and tips. You can also order pods from here, but overall, the benefits and functionality provided in the app are limited.

My first impression of the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista was that it's the biggest Nespresso machine I've ever reviewed, and I've tried most of them. It takes up as much counter space as some of the big bean-to-cup automatic espresso machines, which is surprising for a pod coffee machine.

The second thing that struck me was the quality of this model in comparison to most of the other, usually plastic, pod coffee machines. Its robust stainless steel finish gives it a professional, modern, and streamlined appearance, and you'd never guess that this is a pod coffee maker. It adds a barista-style steam wand, which looks more like an espresso machine than a pod coffee maker.

It's immediately apparent that the design has paid plenty of attention to detail, from the generous finger loop that allows the steam wand to be tilted upwards to the indent for your hand at the base of the removable water container. Nothing is clunky—everything is smooth, sleek, and well-considered.

The standout feature is, of course, the automated steam wand. But before you panic about learning barista milk frothing skills, know it's fully automated. All you have to do is place your milk jug on the drip tray, including a temperature sensor, and then select one of three temperatures and froth levels. The machine automatically does the rest - you don't have to hold the jug.

There's a similar ease to making coffee, too, with just one button, whether you want an espresso, mug, or a carafe. The machine reads the barcode on the pod, so it knows whether you've inserted an espresso pod or mug pod and automatically dispenses the correct volume of water. It then uses 'centrifusion' extraction technology to brew your coffee.

Nespresso Vertuo Creatista: Performance

Using the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista is effortless. The hardest part of brewing a coffee is choosing your pod, but then, by sliding the lever on top to the right, the brew head unlocks and lifts. Put a pod in the slot, push the brew head down on top of it, and slide the lever back into the lock position. All you have to do then is press the button with a cup symbol, and it'll make your coffee. 

Next time you unlock the brew head, the used pod is automatically ejected into the used pod bin, which can hold 6-10 pods, and pulled out from the side of the machine for easy emptying.

The cup support also has three different height positions, so if you're only brewing a shot of coffee, you can place your smaller espresso cup on the highest setting to avoid splashing. The lowest setting allows enough space for cups up to about 6 inches.

The initial heat-up takes around one minute. After this, it's ready to brew, and it'll make a single espresso in 55 seconds or a double in 75 seconds. If you want a larger coffee, the 5oz Gran Lungo takes around 1 minute 25 seconds, and the 8oz mug takes 1 minute 45 seconds. Brewing coffee maxed out my noise meter at about 78dB, but the sound level doesn't feel too loud or intrusive.

Unfortunately, there's no option to adjust brew settings, so you can't make the coffee hotter or stronger, but this is typical of a pod coffee machine. During testing, most coffees hit the cup at 140 - 160F, but the temperature varies slightly between pods.

However, you can adjust the milk temperature with three options and three foam levels. The milk was heated to about 140F at the lowest temperature, 155F in the middle, and 176F at the highest.

Using the milk wand is super simple, but it's worth noting that you can't heat more than 8 fl oz at one time. Once the wand is in the milk jug and you've selected the temperature and froth level, press the steam button, and the coffee machine does the rest.

The milk texture is good; the lower the foam level you choose, the more silky the microfoam it produces. It's a bit more bubbly on higher settings, but the manual gives some advice on the settings for different coffee recipes, so you don't have to guess.

After the jug of hot milk has been removed, the milk wand automatically rinses, so you just have to wipe the outside. You can perform a more thorough rinse by placing it in a jug of water and holding the steam button for 3 seconds to start the automatic clean.

Similarly, the rinse cycle I performed when I first got the machine out of the box can be performed at any time. When it needs descaling, it'll alert you with a light. As you'd expect, descaling is simple and automatic, but you have to be present to empty and refill the containers as needed.

Nespresso offers a wide variety of coffee blends, giving each combination an intensity rating for the strength of the coffee, and you can also read notes on flavor when buying. So, the taste of the coffee will vary depending on the blend and intensity you choose.

I'm used to making my morning coffee in an espresso machine using ground coffee that I buy from a specialty roaster. For me, there's no comparison in terms of flavor. Regardless of the blend (and I've tried several), Nespresso pods always taste bitter. They lack the fruitiness and depth you get from a premium, freshly roasted, ground coffee, and I can rarely detect nuanced flavor profiles.

Having said this, it does depend on what you're used to. If you're happy with coffee from chain coffee shops or you're used to making it at home using vacuum-packed, store-bought coffee, you'll probably enjoy the flavor of coffee from a Nespresso pod—and plenty of people do. But if you're a coffee connoisseur, you'll likely find the flavor lacks depth.

Similarly, Nespresso Vertuo machines don't produce a thick, rich crema on top of an espresso. Instead, the crema is usually weak, thin, and bubbly. Again, you likely won't notice or even care if you're not an espresso fan. But a thick, rich crema is essential for the best barista-style coffees.

Should you buy the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How does the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista compare?

If you're looking for the best single-serve coffee maker but want to avoid the waste associated with using coffee pods, it's worth considering The Scoop from Hamilton Beach. Not only does it create single-serve drinks using ground coffee instead of pods, but it's also cheaper and more compact than the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista.

The Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker is currently at the top of our best coffee makers guide. Unlike the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista, this drip coffee maker will give you a carafe of coffee so you can keep refilling all morning. It's a good choice for larger households, and while it can't make barista-style coffees, it also offers excellent value for money.

However, if you want to create barista-style drinks, the De'Longhi 10-Cup Coffee Maker and Espresso Maker offer the best of both worlds. It can pour a carafe of drip coffee and deliver an espresso just as well. Furthermore, it's compatible with both ground coffee and pods.

How I tested the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista

• Used for a week in my own home
• Tried most settings
• Evaluated ease of use and cleaning

I used the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista in my home to make my daily cappuccinos and flat whites, and I also tried out the larger coffee sizes. I mainly compared the flavor to my usual coffee, which is made in a Breville espresso machine.

I used a timer and thermometer to assess the drinks the Vertuo Creatista produced, noting how easy it was to use and clean and any quirks I noticed while it sat on my countertop.

Read more about how we test.

• First reviewed: July 2023