Nespresso Inissia Review – Don’t Put It In Your Pocket!

As far as espresso makers go, they can be pretty big. If you have a small kitchen, of course you would be looking for a smaller machine. What will this Nespresso Inissia review cover?

A petite espresso maker. The smallest! Delightful curve-edge design.

We’re not only talking about Nespresso machines. Nespresso Inissia IS the smallest Nespresso coffee maker but I would like to challenge you to find a smaller one. Keurig K15? Maybe. But does it look this cool?

nespresso inissia review
Beautiful curve-edged design of Nespresso Inissia – The Petite Espresso Maker.

Oh, just to clear the air: small is good. Today there are so many kitchen appliances that it’s difficult to find a place for them (I have currently 3 espresso makers on my counter and an additional closet full of the older ones). It’s no wonder one of them is Nespresso Inissia because, well, it’s just so compact and does neatly snug in the kitchen design very well.

What I personally love about it and we’ll include a photo later on in Nespresso Inissia review, is that there are only 2 buttons on the machine:

  • One for espresso (the small coffee icon)
  • Another for lungo (lungo is a ‘big’ espresso with more water – hence the big coffee icon)

The drawback of the small Nespresso Inissia is, well, all that comes with a small coffee machine. The water tank is only 24 oz. – yes, you can squeeze the machine pretty much anywhere but you have to refill the water often. By the way 24 oz. is enough for 3 espressos.

The price of Nespresso Inissia is the lowest for a Nespresso coffee maker. VertuoLine model will cost you more than $200, for example. Inissia shouldn’t cost more than $150.

BONUS: When you buy the Inissia, you get 16 sample capsules for free. You can experiment a bit which one is your best flavor.

Overall Score: 4.6 out of 5 stars (one of the the best, if not the best, Nespresso espresso machine)

As far as Nespresso Inisia price goes, you have two version:

  • Standard espresso maker (makes espresso and lungi)
  • Upgraded espresso and cappuccino maker (includes milk frother for cappuccino, in addition to making espresso and lungi)

The price difference between two models is about $20. You can check them out here:

Of course, if you already have a milk frother for cappuccino or would like to buy one separately, go for the standard Nespresso Inissia and save the $20 difference.

Let’s check some other features like the powerful 19 bar pressure in the Nespresso Inissia review:

Nespresso Inissia Review (Petite Espresso Maker Revealed)

There are several questions that need to be answered when you’re buying an espresso maker. Even if you don’t have a first idea what a great Nespresso espresso maker should include, we’ll cover these questions as we go through the review of Nespresso Inissia.

What do we need to know about every espresso maker:

  • How to use an espresso machine?
  • Is the design beautiful or ugly? Inissia has some fine-tuned curves to it.
  • What kind of pump does an espresso machine use? The pump is the center of every machine and they usually produce 15-bars of pressure.
  • How difficult (or easy) do you clean it? If you’re lucky, some parts may even be dishwasher friendly.
  • How to maintain and store it for maximum efficiency? Nespresso machines are durable but we few extra tricks Inissia will truly last for years on end.
  • What’s the price of an espresso maker? It can be anywhere from $50 to $500 but we already know what the current price of Nespresso Inissia is, right?

By the way, here is a quick comparison of Nespresso machines. As you see, Inissia has a price that’s right in the middle of the pack:

Coffee Maker:Nespresso Inissia Model
nespresso inissia
Nespresso VertuoLine
nespresso vertuoline
Nespresso Pixie Model
nespresso pixie
Nespresso VertuoPlus
nespresso vertuoplus
Quality:★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Feature:The SmallestThe BestThe Fastest+ Alto Brew
Price:$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Rating:★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Availability:Check PriceCheck PriceCheck PriceCheck Price

Daily Use Of Inissia Espresso Maker (Basically, Easy)

The whole point of Inissia is not only that it’s small. It’s also that it is easy to handle.

People who want to experiment with different brew types, water temperatures and want to do a Ph.D. in how to make an espresso go for Breville BES870XL machine.

For common mortals, we just want a great espresso in little time – and here the Inissia is the king.

The machine simply has only two buttons:

review of nespresso inissia espresso maker
The only two buttons on Nespresso Inissia. You only need two!

It’ easy. You want an espresso, press the left button. Thanks to the incredibly quick pump and thermoblock technology, Inissia with prepare it in about 40 seconds. Usually, it takes about 1 minute with a standard espresso maker.

You want a lungo? That’s just an espresso with more coffee, actually. You press the right button and voila!, a lungo is ready in about 1 minute.

It’s safe to say in this review of Nespresso Inissia that the espresso machine was designed to lessen your effort and the time to actually make an espresso (or lungo, of course).

The Nespresso Inissia is a fully automatic espresso maker. The machine is so simple to use that all that you have to do to enjoy the refreshing espresso is to fill the 24-ounce water tank, insert the capsule, select the cup size – espresso or a lungo – and you are done. There is no ON/OFF switch, just plug, select and enjoy; and we did just that – enjoyed the perfectly made espresso.

The folding cup tray ensures that you can use even tall glasses and large cups. That’s quite incredible for such a small device.

Pump Pressure (19 Bars)

When professionals baristas talk about espresso makers, this is the No. 1 question:

How many bars does an espresso machine produce?

The answer is usually 15 bars. Of course, some low-end devices still use inferior steam technology (you can find a decent discourse about pump vs steam makers here).

There are not many machines that would produce more than 15 bars of pressure; simply because the technology behind making some extra bars is advanced.

inissia machine pump 19 bar
That’s a lot of fine pressure.

Now get this: Nespresso Inissia is fully capable of producing 19 bars of pressure! Now that is something that you won’t get even with a $500 espresso machine. Thanks to the technology, most Nespresso machines can achieve that level of pump pressure.

This means the Inissia can shot through the Nespresso capsule that much quicker and takes out only the good stuff (leaves the bitter behind). This results in a sweeter and cleaner coffee.

The downside of the pump? To create the incredible 19 bars, Inissia’s pump has to do a lot of work – which means higher noise levels and more electricity.

Is Nespresso Inissia Beautiful?

First of all, every espresso maker is beautiful. Nespresso has an exceptional design, even when you compare it to Keurig or Mr. Coffee machines.

The bottom line is, of course, that you have to like it. It will be on your kitchen top, you’ll be enjoying the look of it every day and the design has to appeal to you.

The tiny Nespresso Inissia machine is just 4.7 inches wide, 9 inches high with a depth of 12.6 inchescompact and sleek to snugly fit in any small space or coffee table. The weight complements the size at a bit more than 5 pounds. Yeah, it’s that light!

It’s made from ABS plastic whereby enhancing the aesthetic appeal but not compromising on the durability, shock absorbing properties and the weight of the machine – perfect to complement any kitchen.

Cleaning, Maintenance, And Storage (Keep It Clean And Neat)

When you maintain any espresso machine well, you will increase the efficiency and the life of the machine. While the maintenance of some espresso machines can be tiresome, that is not the case with the Nespresso Inissia.

We tested it on daily basis. The results?

We were thrilled that we didn’t have to clean up the mess normally associated with espresso making from the more conventional machines; these machines often undergo the laborious process of grinding the beans, pumping the optimum water and then adjusting the correct cup size which is often associated with spills.

Thankfully the Inissia being fully automatic solves half the problems; even the folding drip tray which accommodates large cups drops down immediately to catch the drips.

Cleaning ABS plastic is fairly easy. Stainless steel machines are pretty much the only this that is easier to clean than the Nespresso Inissia.

This is literally all you need to do:

  • Empty the water container, the drip tray, and the crushed capsules.
  • Use a damp soft clean cloth to wipe it.

Isn’t it simple? And you needn’t do it every day. Once a week will be more than enough.

Let’s talk about the space Nespresso Inissia will take in your kitchen.

Space constraints should not deter you from owning a great appliance. That is why this Nespresso maker is an ideal kitchen companion because it can be stored easily as the drip tray can be folded when not in use, thereby allowing you to keep a clutter-free counter.

Connected To Nespresso Capsules (But Also Quality)

Nespresso works only with Nespresso’s coffee capsules which are known to maintain the freshness of the coffee. The capsules also simplify making an espresso: no need to grind (and clean) beans or fear the coffee would oxidize. You just put a capsule in and press the ‘Espresso’ or ‘Lungo’ button.

Are you wondering where the used up capsules go? The designers have taken care of that too – all the spent capsules are ejected into an internal receptacle which holds up to 9-10 capsules at a time.

The Nespresso capsules are great but the downside is that you can’t use non-Nespresso capsules. Too bad. Luckily, the capsules by Nespresso are not that expensive – if you buy the original 50-pack, it’s only about $0.70 per capsule.

The upside?

You will receive your first starter pack of 16 capsules of different flavors for free when you buy the Nespresso Inissia (standard or upgraded model with frother).

nespresso espresso capsules
A nice bonus by Nespresso. The 16 pack alone would cost more than $10.

How To Make A Cappuccino With Nespresso Inissia?

The Inissia is designed to make an espresso and lungo.

We all know what’s the makes an espresso a cappuccino, right?

what is a cappuccino
Cappuccino machines makes espresso and frothers milk automatically.

If you want to make a cappuccino, you make an espresso and just add steamed milk followed by froth for the perfect cappuccino.

The upgraded Nespresso Inissia includes the Aeroccino milk frother. With that model, you can make a cappuccino straight away.

If you’re feeling a bit innovative, you can try to make a dry cappuccino as well.

Energy Efficiency Is Important As Well

It has become paramount that all electrical equipment remain energy efficient in the fast energy depleting scenario engulfing our world today.

Nespresso is well aware of its social responsibility and designed not only Inissia espresso machine but all other models to save energy by automatically switching off after 9 minutes.

The Nespresso Inissia espresso machine has an A-class energy rating on it’s 1200W of power.

So the next time you are enjoying your barista style coffee you can be at peace because you’re supporting a company that does think of the environment as well.

Pros Of Nespresso Inissia

  • Petite Design: The Inissia is sleek, compact and lightweight. The smallest espresso machine you’ll find.
  • Simple To Use: You have 2 buttons. ‘Espresso’ and ‘Lungo’ button. That’s it!
  • Easy Maintenance: Empty the containers and wipe it with a damp cloth.
  • Fast Brewing: Heats up and brews espresso incredibly fast (40 seconds). That’s the 19 bar pump and thermostat tech at work.
  • Espresso, Lungo, Or Even Cappuccino: With the upgraded model, you can whip up a cappuccino as well. 
  • Variety Of Espresso Flavors: Connected to Nespresso capsules.
  • Best Value: The most affordable Nespresso machine on the market.
  • Durable: ABS plastic is known for its durability and impact resistance. The ergonomic handle adds to the usability.
  • Cable Length: A good 2.6 feet gives you more flexibility in placing your machine wherever you desire.

Cons Of Nespresso Inissia

  • Noisy: It is a little disheartening that such a delightful machine makes so much noise while brewing. Thankfully, it brews quickly.
  • Instruction manual: The manual that comes with the package has no written text and can be daunting to follow.
  • Expensive Capsules: For that exquisite espresso you have to use only Nespresso pods which are expensive and are available only in selective places.
  • Does not have a power indicator: The appliance has no indicator of any sort to identify if it is ON or OFF.
  • Small Water Tank: When making large brews like lungos, the water level is fast depleted and the absence of an indicator is sorely felt at such times.

Here is a quick look at Nespresso Inissia espresso machine, the upgraded model, Nespresso capsules and stand-alone milk frother:


Bottomline Verdict Of Inissia Espresso Maker

Our verdict on the Nespresso Inissia is that it is a prudent buy. Compact size, stylish design, and lightweight features make this appliance a pleasure to handle. Yes, the capsules are costly and require a little expertise in placing them right but you will be drinking delicious espresso to your taste every time.

If you are wondering about the cost involved with a purchase of a high-quality espresso machine, Nespresso Inissia is an apt choice because it is so affordable. There are several high-end espresso machines on the market, which seem to be a criminal waste of money when you can get the same quality at a far lesser price with Inissia. At this price tag, the Inissia is budget friendly and makes amazing espresso.

Look no further to enjoy a great tasting espresso in the comfort of your home; no more money spending at any baristas when you can make better ones at home whenever you want just with the switch of a button.

Summary
product image
Author Rating
1star1star1star1star1star
Aggregate Rating
5 based on 2 votes
Brand Name
Nespresso
Product Name
Nespresso Inissia
Price
USD 103.96
Product Availability
Available in Stock

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