“I’m working late ‘cause I’m a writer…” That chart-topping catchy tune escaped my lips, if a little inaudible, as I popped a shiny green capsule into the new Nespresso Vertuo Pop. It is the latest iteration of the Vertuo coffee machine, a range that allows you larger pods and longer drinks than the regular Nespresso system, which was launched a little over a month ago.
In many ways, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop is a more accessible version of its predecessor. Its compact design, for starters, will leave you reminiscing the days when you need to sacrifice your safe space for a large-sized coffee maker just to get that barista-approved cup of joe. Measuring in at only 136 x 426 x 250mm, the machine fits snugly in any corner of the house.
Another stark contrast here is the vibrant exterior. Available in spicy red, coconut white, liquorice black, pacific blue, mango yellow, and my colour of choice, aqua mint, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop aspires to brighten your living spaces and then some. It certainly does its job with mine, bringing a pop of personality when juxtaposed against the austere white walls.
Like the other iterations in the Vertuo range, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop comes with a foolproof, user-oriented system. A café-quality java will present itself in no time with just six simple steps: push the lever on the cap to the right, flip the cap up, insert your preferred capsule, close the cap, push the lever to the left, and press the unmissable one-touch button.
Will it satiate those who run on caffeine? It depends. The machine offers you four cup sizes—Espresso (40ml), Double Espresso (80ml), Gran Lungo (150ml), and Mug Size (230ml)—but the smaller, 600ml water tank means you would only get two mug-sized coffees before it needs to be refilled. That said, it is only a minor setback for those in single-person households like myself.
It is worth repeating that the Nespresso Vertuo Pop is an entry-level machine that allows more coffee connoisseurs to get their hands on the Vertuo system. Relishing a cup of coffee, from intense espressos to fruity long blacks—I thoroughly enjoyed the intense spicy and woody cereal aromas of the Stormio—with each cup crowned with a thick crema, has never been easier and so… cost-effective.