Nespresso Vertuo Creatista Review: The Low

Aug 14, 2023

By Emily Farris

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If you check my Epicurious byline history you will quickly discover this: I am a Nespresso Vertuo stan. My love for Nespresso machines—and specifically, my VertuoPlus—is well documented. Having a machine that produces really good coffee and espresso-style drinks at the push of a button has completely changed my mornings, and because it requires no daily maintenance, it’s the only coffee maker I’ve ever managed to use consistently.

Because I’m a latte drinker (well, really more of an alternative-milk flat white drinker if a machine lets me get that granular), I also have Nespresso’s Aeroccino3, a separate milk frothing machine which froths and heats my “milk” at the touch of a button as well. And as long as I give the Aeroccino a really good rinse every time I use it, it also requires minimal cleaning.

But now there’s a Nespresso Vertuo machine—the Vertuo Creatista—that does it all.

In March, Breville released the Vertuo Creatista—the first Vertuoline machine with a built-in milk steamer. And as Epi’s foremost Nespresso evangelist, I was very excited to try it. However, the existence of a built-in piece that was in constant contact with milk also left me a little worried about the daily maintenance. After living with it for a month, here’s my full report.

When most people think of Nespresso, they picture the one-touch machines like the compact CitiZ, Pixie, and Essenza Mini which are in the brand’s Original line, as well as the newer Vertuo machines. I prefer the Vertuoline because there is a barcode on the rim of every Nespresso Vertuo capsule that tells the machine exactly how to brew each specific pod (how much water, how hot). And thanks to the Vertuoline’s centrifuge technology, everything that comes out of a Vertuo machine is topped with a beautiful crema.

Until very recently, if you wanted a Nespresso machine with any kind of milk functionality, you had to stick with the Original line. DeLonghi manufactures a handful of Lattissima machines that are one-touch milk-based-drink makers; they brew espresso-style shots from the Original capsules and have built-in milk steamers that consolidate everything into one cup. A note: We’re saying “espresso-style” here because what Nespresso machines produce looks and tastes a lot like espresso, but doesn’t actually involve the steps associated with making actual espresso like tamping or brewing under a specific pressure. Breville makes two higher-end Original line Creatista models that are more like two-touch machines, the Nespresso Creatista Plus and the Creatista Pro (the latter is a pricier programmable model with a digital display). Both brew a Nespresso pod into your cup, while steaming milk in a separate stainless steel jug that you pour over top of the coffee.

The Vertuo Creatista is similar in style, price, and operation to its Original line predecessors, but it takes the Nespresso Vertuoline capsules. It’s the first, and so far the only, Vertuo machine with an integrated steam wand, which is similar in functionality to the one on the Breville Bambino Plus. That means you have to place the milk jug on a sensor below the wand and leave it there, untouched, while it steams the milk. If you have used a steam wand on any other espresso machine you are probably more familiar with the practice of tilting the jug to incorporate the steam just right. That is not an issue here as it is completely automatic.

The main selling point of the Vertuo Creatista is the built-in steam wand. That, combined with the stainless steel body brings me to its other selling point: This thing looks sexy on your countertop. If you don’t look too closely, it looks a lot like a countertop espresso machine, sans the portafilter. In fact, it looks more like a semi-automatic espresso machine than those automatic espresso machines with internal grinders. Go beyond the looks though and it still offers a strong set of features.

Because the Veruto Creatista takes Vertuoline pods, you get consistently good espresso-style drinks without having to grind, measure, tamp, and probably screw up a few shots. You don’t even have to choose a brew size because the barcode printed on the rim of the pod tells the machine exactly how much water to use and how to best use it to extract optimal flavor. But you still get the pleasure of steaming your own milk in the included stainless steel milk jug. And if you want to play barista and make some pretty latte art in your milk foam, you can do that, too.

Not to be confused with most milk frothers, which aerate and agitate milk with what is essentially a tiny motorized whisk, steam wands like those on the Creatista use steam to force tiny air bubbles into milk and foam it. A good barista can use different techniques to produce steamed milk with very little microfoam, super-foamy frothed milk, or something in between. Think of this machine like a good barista—one who won’t even roll their eyes when you order your latte macchiato “not too hot.” That’s because there are three buttons that let you adjust the milk texture and another three for milk temperature settings. So if you want a ridiculously-frothy cappuccino that’s not too hot, you push the first button for temp and the third for texture. And if you want piping-hot milk with just a tiny bit of microfoam for your flat white, tap the third button for temp and the first for froth. It really is that simple, as long as you’re using steam friendly milks. Some alt-milks don’t foam that well under a steam wand—I like a coconut-based one, which didn’t work that well—so you’ll have to test your favorite to know how it will perform.

Though this is first and foremost an espresso maker for people who love milk drinks, it’s also a coffee machine. In addition to espresso, double espresso, and gran lungo shots, the Vertuo Creatista will make 8- and 12-ounce cups of coffee, and it will even brew an 18-ounce carafe from a single Vertuo coffee pod. Vertuo machines do not brew ristretto (.85-ounce) shots, but the Original line machines, including the Creatista Plus and Pro, do.

The thing I love so much about Nespresso (that it’s so easy to drop in a pod, push a button, and brew coffee or espresso) seemed more complicated on this machine. I’m willing to chock some of it up to user error since I’m so used to tapping the lever on my VertuoPlus first thing to warm up the machine and the Vertuo Creatista uses a twist-lock closure that I just didn’t find as convenient. The manual indicates that you should start the steaming process then open the lid, and when I worked out of order, I often had to quickly unlock and reclose the lid to get it to brew espresso.

It would be really nice to have the ability to make Americanos and this machine feels like it should have a dedicated hot water spout, especially for the price ($750 at the time of publication).

Finally, I always find Breville’s warranties to be a little stingy on their higher-priced appliances, and the limited two-year warranty is on par with similar product warranties.

While it’s a little more involved than plugging in and filling the water tank on a compact Nespresso coffee and espresso maker, it’s still a pretty quick and easy process. Assembly is really just sliding the drip tray components into place, washing the 68-ounce water tank, performing a quick water hardness test with an included test strip, then running a water-only rinse cycle.

In addition to regular descaling—which is usually required two or three times a year depending on how often you use your machine and how hard or soft your water is—the Vertuo Creatista requires some minimal daily maintenance. Though the steam wand automatically flushes itself with a little extra water after you use it, you still need to wipe the outside of the wand with a damp cloth after every use. There’s also a little pin included in case you ever need to clear a clog inside the steam head. The drip tray needs to be emptied and rinsed regularly, and there’s a little indicator that pops up when it starts to get full. The capsule container also fills up quickly; it can hold six large capsules or ten small ones.

The Vertuo Creatista has some great features packed into a sleek stainless steel body. It will look amazing sitting on your counter, though it takes up a little more room and requires a little more daily maintenance than Nespresso machines without integrated milk options. If you’re mostly an espresso or coffee drinker and you’re happy with your current Nespresso setup, this may not be the best upgrade for you. But if milk-based espresso drinks are your thing and you want to do more with them—without all the hassle and equipment that comes with other types of espresso machines—it’s a show-stopping appliance that will bring you joy in the form of caffeinated milk drinks literally every day.

Interested in another style of Nespresso machine? Here’s a guide to picking the best Nespresso machine for you.