The Background
Well this post is LONG overdue. Like really long…but I’m here with everything you need to know about buying a Nespresso and details on how I make my latte’s! Let me start by saying that I’ve had two different machines and have been a loyal Nespresso lover for over 7 years now. Let’s rewind, shall we? There was once a time when I lived in Chicago and bought a latte (and also food when I was rushed in the morning) every single day on may way out to my territory for work. The barista’s knew my name and my order by heart and I CHERISHED sipping my coffee on my 45 minute (on a good day) commute to work. It was such a great way to start my day. Or was it? Austin and I were living together and one evening I decided to create a budget. The MOST shocking expense to me was my daily coffee habit. My habit was costing me North of $1600 per year. Umm WHAT?! That sure added up fast. I could not come to grips with it. So my Mom suggested I invest in a Nespresso machine to compensate for the loss I felt giving up my Starbucks habit.
The Machines
I initially got the Pixie machine and over the course of 7 years, I had two of them (I updated my colors so that’s why there was two). The Pixie is a perfect starter machine. It makes a great espresso drink and there are a ton of coffee options at Nespresso to choose from. Last year, we got the Vertuo Plus machine. We wanted to consolidate the machines on our counter and there was two with Austin’s Keurig. So he moved his Keurig to work and we both started using the Vertuo at home. The Vertuo is the ideal machine for people who like to make espresso drinks (like latte’s and cappuccino’s) but also want the ability to have a simple cup of coffee. One of the things I LOVE about this machine is the ability to get different size pods. For example, I love a double shot of espresso. That seems to be the perfect amount of caffeine for me. I can order a double espresso pod and Austin can order different size pods for his coffee- all the way up to a 14 oz cup!
Pixie
- Small in size
- Espresso only
- Lots of flavors to choose from
- 2 sizes of drinks to create
Vertuo
- Larger in size
- Espresso and Coffee
- Multiple coffee and espresso sizes to choose from (one shot, double shot, 7 or 14 oz cup of coffee)
- Quieter machine.
The Froth
Each time I post about making my coffee, someone asks about HOW I get it hot and frothy. This is the frother that will change your life and the way you make latte’s (if you’re a latte drinker) for life. It gently froths any milk of your choice to perfectly compliment your drinks. It also froths milk COLD to make iced drinks. Which basically means it makes your milk super cold which I love this time of year. You can buy a machine bundle that comes WITH the frother or if frothing is not your jam, you can buy the machine alone. You can also start with the machine and then buy the frother separate if you decide you want it down the road.
The Hot Latte Recipe
Froth your milk of choice. Run your pod of choice. Add milk to espresso. Stir and enjoy! I use Oatly oat milk but have tried Califia Almond milk and creamer in the past.
Iced Latte Recipe
Froth your milk on the iced setting. Fill a cup with ice. Run your pod over the ice. Add milk, stir and enjoy!
Favorite Pixie Flavors: Cocoa Truffle, Caramel Creme Brulee, Vanilla Eclair
Favorite Vertuo Flavors: Bianco Leggero, Double Espresso Chiaro, Double Espresso Scuro, Decafinato Intenso
Austin’s Favorite Coffee: Hazelino, Intenso. Melozio
FAQ’s
- Can your glass mugs? Yes! I LOVE drinking my coffee out of these glass mugs.
- How do you organize your pods? Austin and I each have this glass container for our pods. You could also use this or this depending on your space!
- Where do you order your pods from? I always order mine from the Nespresso website. I’ve heard stories of people getting them online at other places and receiving expired ones. Also, Nespresso saves my order and provides a free recycling bag! They have an amazing recycling program FYI!
I hope this helps if you’re debating or on the fence with one of these fabulous machines! I truly savor my coffee each and every morning. As always, thank you so much for following along! xx
