Nespresso VertuoLine: Better Than a Barista?

A coffee machine is a coffee machine is a coffee machine. Or is it? Because the Nespresso VertuoLine promises to be the “revolution” your coffee didn't know it was in need of.

Shilled by the suave and sexy Penelope Cruz (formerly, the debonair George Clooney), the Nespresso's VertuoLine is a Ferrari in a world of VWs – sleek design, chrome finish, and a simple “touch of a button” interface, all set to ensure that even the simplest cup of joe is elevated to a work of art every time. Did we mention it also brews a mean espresso?

What's so special?

Thanks to their unique Centrifusion technology, the VertuoLine promises to “squeeze” every drop of flavour out of each Grand Cru pod. The machine (which heats up within 15 seconds) spins at a ridiculous 7,000 rotations per minute, saturating every scrap of coffee and producing a rich crema (milk foam to the uninitiated), which adds a “whole new variety of flavour” to your life.

The different coloured pods feature black and white bar codes under their rims that tell the machine what flavour the pod is, and how to brew it perfectly each time. (In case you didn't know: like tea leaves, not all coffee beans are the same, and their complex flavours benefit from different boiling points.)

In addition, the online Nespresso Club serves up access to special services, including personalized advice and technical support for your machine from Nespresso Specialists, and quick, easy reordering.

But does it deliver?

On its own Nespresso coffee is top of the line – the brand's experts spend their days seeking out the finest beans and composing diverse blends and profiles, producing the distinctive character Nespresso coffee has come to be known for. You wouldn't want to make this in an “inferior” machine. It took a few years of tinkering and research, but the company hit a home run with VertuoLine.

Simple to use and easy to clean, you're looking at a smooth, perfectly balanced cup of coffee. Nespresso even provides a list of recipes to keep you from getting bored.

Are there drawbacks?

Sure. For one, you can only use Nespresso brand pods with this machine, so unlike with Keurig and Tassimo machines, your selection is limited to Nespresso pods – 8 Grand Cru and 4 espresso (the aforementioned recipes help this a little...), and it doesn't take the traditional pods. We give that a major boo.

The technology comes with a hefty price tag. A cool $299 ($349 if you add the Aeroccino+ milk frother) to be precise. On top of that, pods cost $0.95 a piece (or about $65 on Amazon.ca) and you have to purchase 50 at a time.

For coffee connoisseurs, we'd say the VertuoLine is a must have. For the rest of us who don't really need a more expensive way to funnel caffeine into our systems but don't want #FOMO, sample Nespresso at one of their Nespresso boutiques.