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The Nespresso VertuoPlus helped make larger-format pod coffee much more convenient: insert a capsule, close the machine, press a button and let the barcode-controlled brewing system handle the rest.
But the Vertuo range has moved on. In 2026, UK buyers can also choose from newer machines including the compact Vertuo Pop and Pop+, alongside the Next, Lattissima and Creatista.
So the important question is no longer simply whether the VertuoPlus is a good pod machine. It's whether buying one still makes sense when newer Vertuo machines can provide access to the same capsule system — sometimes for considerably less.
What Is the Nespresso VertuoPlus?
The VertuoPlus is part of Nespresso's Vertuo capsule system. Unlike the smaller Original capsules, Vertuo capsules use a barcode that the machine reads before automatically adjusting the brewing process for the particular capsule.
Nespresso calls its extraction system Centrifusion. The capsule rotates during brewing while water is introduced, producing coffee with the distinctive foam layer associated with Vertuo drinks.
The VertuoPlus can prepare five drink sizes:
- Espresso — 40ml
- Double Espresso — 80ml
- Gran Lungo — 150ml
- Mug — 230ml
- Alto — 414ml
VertuoPlus Specifications
The current UK specification for the VertuoPlus Piano Black includes:
- 1.8-litre movable water tank
- Approximately 20-second heat-up from cold
- Automatic capsule recognition
- One-button brewing
- Automatic capsule ejection
- Adjustable cup support
- Container for up to 10 large used capsules
- Automatic power-off
The movable tank remains one of the VertuoPlus's most useful design features. Depending on your worktop, it can make the machine easier to position than a model with a fixed rear tank.
What Makes Vertuo Convenient?
Convenience is the fundamental appeal of the Vertuo system.
There's no grinder to adjust, coffee to dose or espresso puck to prepare. The capsule tells the machine how it should be brewed, so the process is largely reduced to choosing a coffee, inserting the capsule and pressing a button.
That makes Vertuo particularly relevant if repeatability and speed matter more to you than having complete control over extraction.
The trade-off is that you give up much of the control available with freshly ground coffee. You aren't independently changing dose, grind size or other variables in the way you would with an espresso machine or manual brewer.
Is Vertuo Coffee the Same as Espresso?
Vertuo can produce a 40ml drink labelled Espresso, but the brewing method is different from a conventional espresso machine.
Traditional espresso is produced by forcing water through a prepared bed of finely ground coffee under pressure. Vertuo instead uses its capsule-based Centrifusion system.
That doesn't mean one drink must automatically taste better than the other. They're simply different brewing systems.
If your priority is learning to dial in espresso, adjusting grind size and experimenting with extraction, a capsule machine isn't designed for that experience.
If your priority is pressing one button and getting a repeatable drink with almost no preparation, Vertuo is designed around exactly that.
The Vertuo Capsule System
Buying a Vertuo machine also means buying into Nespresso's Vertuo capsule ecosystem.
There are numerous coffees and drink sizes available, including espresso, double espresso and larger mug-style coffees.
That choice is one of the system's strengths, but capsule cost should be considered as part of the machine purchase rather than looking only at the initial price of the appliance.
If you drink two or three coffees every day, even a relatively small difference in cost per drink becomes significant over a year.
Rather than relying on a fixed five-year cost calculation — which quickly becomes outdated as capsule and coffee prices change — look at the capsules you would genuinely drink and calculate:
Your preferred capsule price × coffees per day × 365
That gives you a much more useful estimate of your own running cost.
What About Capsule Recycling?
Nespresso's Vertuo capsules are made from aluminium and the company operates a UK recycling scheme.
Used capsules can be collected in Nespresso recycling bags and returned through participating collection services, drop-off points and Nespresso Boutiques.
That doesn't remove the additional packaging involved in a single-use capsule system, so environmental impact may still form part of your buying decision.
If you choose Vertuo, making use of the available recycling service is a practical way to deal with the used capsules rather than putting them into general waste.
Does the VertuoPlus Froth Milk?
No. The standard VertuoPlus doesn't include an integrated milk-frothing system.
If you want cappuccinos, lattes or other milk-based drinks, you'll need a separate frother such as a Nespresso Aeroccino or another suitable milk frother.
Factor that additional appliance, cost and worktop space into your decision if milk drinks make up most of your coffee consumption.
The Bigger Question in 2026: VertuoPlus or Vertuo Pop?
This is where the VertuoPlus becomes harder to assess in isolation.
The newer Nespresso Vertuo Pop provides a much more compact route into the same Vertuo capsule ecosystem.
The standard Pop has a considerably smaller water tank than the VertuoPlus, so you'll refill it more frequently. It also lacks the Plus's large movable tank and automatic powered head.
In return, the Pop is much smaller, adds Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity for machine updates and supports newer Vertuo brewing functionality.
VertuoPlus vs Vertuo Pop
| Feature | VertuoPlus | Vertuo Pop |
|---|---|---|
| Water tank | 1.8L | Approx. 0.6L |
| Heat-up | Approx. 20 seconds | Approx. 30 seconds |
| Tank design | Movable | Compact fixed design |
| Connectivity | No | Bluetooth & Wi-Fi |
| Capsule system | Vertuo | Vertuo |
| Main advantage | Larger tank and flexible positioning | Compact, newer entry into Vertuo |
Why Price Matters
The VertuoPlus can still make sense if you find one at an attractive price and specifically value its large movable water tank.
But don't assume an older VertuoPlus is automatically worth paying more for simply because it originally sat higher in the range.
Availability now varies considerably between retailers, while newer Vertuo machines are widely available.
At the time we reviewed the UK market for this 2026 update, we found an Amazon VertuoPlus listing at an unusually high price, while current Vertuo Pop machines were available for substantially less.
That makes the Pop much more relevant as a comparison for somebody simply wanting access to Vertuo coffee.
A Current Vertuo Alternative: Nespresso Vertuo Pop
The Vertuo Pop keeps the basic appeal of the system: insert a Vertuo capsule, press a button and let the machine recognise and brew it automatically.
Its smaller water tank means it isn't necessarily the better machine for a household making numerous large coffees throughout the day. The compact dimensions, however, make it particularly useful where worktop space is limited.
It's therefore worth comparing the current prices of both machines rather than searching specifically for a VertuoPlus.
Check the latest Vertuo Pop price on Amazon →
When the VertuoPlus Still Makes Sense
The VertuoPlus remains interesting if you:
- Want the larger 1.8L water tank
- Regularly make larger Vertuo coffees
- Like the flexibility of the movable tank
- Want simple one-button capsule brewing
- Find one at a competitive price
When a Vertuo Pop May Make More Sense
Consider the newer Pop instead if you:
- Want a lower-cost route into the Vertuo system
- Have limited worktop space
- Don't mind refilling a smaller water tank more frequently
- Want connectivity and support for newer Vertuo functionality
- Care more about the capsule system than owning a particular Vertuo machine
When Neither Is the Right Choice
A Vertuo machine isn't automatically the right progression simply because you want better coffee at home.
If you want to choose your own beans, adjust grind size, change brew ratios and learn how different brewing variables affect flavour, a capsule machine removes much of that experimentation.
A manual pour-over brewer, AeroPress, moka pot or espresso setup gives you considerably more control over the coffee you buy and how you brew it.
That requires more involvement, but for many home baristas the involvement is part of the appeal.
VertuoPlus in 2026: What to Consider
The Nespresso VertuoPlus still offers several practical advantages: a large water tank, flexible positioning, straightforward operation and access to Nespresso's extensive Vertuo capsule range.
Its age isn't the main issue. Price and availability are.
If you find a VertuoPlus competitively priced and want its particular design advantages, there's still a case for choosing it.
If the Plus is substantially more expensive than a current Vertuo Pop, however, think carefully about what you're actually paying extra for. Both provide access to the fundamental Vertuo experience, while the newer Pop is compact and widely available.
For many buyers in 2026, comparing the current price of the machine matters more than automatically seeking out the VertuoPlus.