We all need our daily dose of perfect coffee to drive the grogginess away, don’t we? It’s a surefire way to pump you up with energy and get you going. The only thing better than coffee is coffee at the click of a button!
The capsule coffee maker is capable of brewing a delicious cup of coffee for you within seconds. Here is everything you need to know about Nespresso Inissia vs. Essenza Mini, the two industry leaders.
Nespresso Inissia Short Review
Nespresso Inissia is a capsule espresso machine by Nestle. It can serve you a hot cup of coffee or espresso on the go! With its 12.6 x 4.7 x 9-inch design, it doesn’t take up much space, yet it’s quite efficient and quick.
If you’re short on time or you’re not an expert at brewing coffee, it makes one with just two buttons. The two shots of espresso (1.35-ounce) and Lungo (5 ounces) singlehandedly eliminate the efforts that go into grinding and brewing coffee. However, these wonderful machines can only use their proprietary pods, which are quite expensive.
Nevertheless, if you love your coffee and are willing to pay good bucks for it, this espresso machine is simply amazing. Their patented extraction system delivers as high as 19 bars of pressure and reaches ideal water temperature within 25 seconds.
You can brew up to 9 single-serve cups of espresso, cappuccino, or even iced-tea with just one touch in the 24-ounce tank. The best part is that it’s energy-efficient and automatically switches-off within 9 minutes. So if you’re in a hurry, it’ll manage itself!
Pros
- Compact and classy design
- Inexpensive initial purchase
- User-friendly, one-touch activation
- Very quick, 25 seconds to 1 minute
- Switches-off automatically, energy-efficient
- Foldable drip tray accommodates large size
- It comes with a complimentary capsule kit
- Automatic capsule ejection and collection
- Proprietary pods are recyclable.
Cons
- Expensive coffee capsule
- Relatively weak brew
- It doesn’t support milk frothing
Essenza Mini Short Review
The Essenza Mini espresso machine by Nestle is packed with rich espresso flavor within a super-compact design. It’s the smallest capsule coffee maker that can be activated by just one-touch. It’s very portable with its 4.3 x 12.8 x 8.1-inch dimensions and a shocking 5.1 lbs weight.
To top it off, you get to switch to an eco-mode for lower energy consumption after 3 minutes. It offers you two cup sizes, Espresso and Lungo, with a 19 bar high-pressure. Despite the tiny size, it can reach the ideal water temperature in just 30 seconds.
However, you only get to use the proprietary Nespresso pods and not your flavorful and inexpensive coffee grounds. Where this one wins is the flavor, the richness of the Essenza Mini brew is amazing. Its extraction system allows for the strongest brew in a single-serve cup.
Pros
- Exceptionally compact design doesn’t take up space
- Packed with rich flavor
- Caters to 2 sizes
- Stunning exterior
- Great speed, 30 seconds to brew
- Energy-efficient, 3-minute eco-mode activation
- Automatic shut-down after 9-minutes of inactivity
- User-friendly, easy assembly
- It comes with 14 complimentary pods
- Quite durable
- Affordable
Cons
- Expensive coffee pod, higher life-time cost
- Relatively noisy
- Lower tank capacity, 20.3-ounces
Also Read: Lattissima Touch vs Pro
Nespresso Inissia vs Essenza Mini: The Main Differences
These two capsule Nespresso coffee machine models are stellar and highly efficient. They are similar in a lot of ways and cater to all the coffee-driven people quite well. They come to your aid when you’re on the go and need your dose of coffee.
However, they differ on various parameters. We have listed their points of difference in this section to give you a clearer understanding.
Size
The first major point of difference is quite obviously the size. The Essenza Mini Nespresso machine is relatively compact with its amazing 4.3 x 12.8 x 8.1-inch structure. While the Inissia is comparatively larger at 12.6 x 4.7 x 9-inch. Owing to its slightly bigger structure, the Inissia has more storage capacity.
It can ultimately hold a higher number of used Nespresso capsules and has a better tank capacity. However, you can consider both of them to be very compact. These can be stacked anywhere in your house within very little space and would adorn it beautifully.
Capacity
These great automatic coffee brewers differ based on their capacity. The larger one, Inissia, has more water reservoir capacity with the 24-ounce tank. It can deliver up to 9 single-serve coffee shots in one setting with any refill.
On the other hand, Essenza Mini has a 20.3-ounce water tank capacity that is relatively less. Even the capacity of the empty-capsule reservoir differs. While the Essenza Mini can hold only 6 used pods at once, Nespresso Inissia can carry up to 11 at once.
Heat-Up Time
This one is a minor difference but since we are comparing them for you, let’s delve into seconds. Nespresso Essenza Mini takes up to 30 seconds to bring the water to an ideal temperature for brewing coffee. Whereas Nespresso Inissia takes less than 25 seconds to make hot water after being activated by one simple touch.
Energy Efficiency
Both these machines are very energy efficient, especially when compared to other capsule coffee makers in the market. However, the Essenza Mini is even better at conserving energy for you.
The Nespresso Essenza Mini goes into eco-mode after just 3 minutes of being inactive. It also switches-off automatically after 9 minutes. Whereas the Nespresso Inissia does not come with an eco-mode feature. It will, however, conserve energy but shutting-down after 9 minutes of inactivity.
Colors
These delightful- little machines are definite lookers too. They look beautiful placed on any counter or shelf, regardless of the interior design.
The Nespresso Essenza Mini comes in 3 vibrant and classy colors, namely, red, black, and lime. The Nespresso Inissia comes in 4 stunning colors, namely, black, red, silver and titan.
Weight
This again is a very negligible difference in terms of numbers. The Essenza Mini weighs a little less than Nespresso Inissia at 5.1 lbs. On the other hand, Inissia weighs 5.29 lbs. The difference may be minute but can create an impact when combined with the difference in their structure and size.
Taste
This is probably the most important aspect for all of you, and for a good reason. The selling point for any capsule coffee machine is the fact that you get a perfect brew within seconds.
That does not mean that the taste can be below par at any cost. The satisfaction of your taste-buds is paramount, right?
While both of these are extremely efficient, the Essenza Mini offers you a stronger and relatively richer coffee flavor. Many of you may even categorize the taste of an Inissia brew as average, at best. Avid coffee drinkers usually describe it as weak.
Model
Even though finding the parts shouldn’t pose any issues for you, another difference lies in their models. The Inissia has been discontinued. Whereas, the Nespresso Essenza Mini machine is a newer model and is more advanced in terms of technology, despite its size.
Inissia vs Essenza Mini: The Main Similarities
The Inissia and Essenza Mini may have their differences, but they belong to the same parent company. This entitles them to be somewhat similar. Both these machines have many points of similarities, which are stated below. You can read them thoroughly and then decide which coffee machine is better for you.
Energy Saving
Both these machines are designed keeping in mind your preferences and benefits. They include mechanisms that help conserve energy. The Inissia has an energy-saving mode that automatically turns the machine off after 9 minutes of inactivity. Essenza Mini too switches to low-energy mode after 3 minutes and automatically switches off after 9 minutes of inactivity.
Design
Nobody likes to carry around heavy machines, and that is why both Inissia and Essenza Mini have compact designs. They are built keeping in mind the interior of a classy home. Easy to carry with tiny footprints, both these machines weigh less than 5.5lbs. They can fit into any provided space with considerable ease and add shine to your home.
Capsules
Not to forget, these two coffee machines have the same parent company. So, they use similar kinds of capsules or pods, which results in identical coffee flavoring. They offer hermetically sealed and recyclable aluminum capsules of the highest quality. They also come with a starter kit of 16 Nespresso capsules.
Pump Pressure
Both these coffee machines offer high pump pressure for your convenience. You can enjoy incredible barista-style coffee every day with one simple touch. They contain extraction systems that deliver up to 19 bar pressure. These patented systems are carefully designed to give you the best flavors and the best experience.
Warranty
Every good product comes with a warranty, and that is how you know that the product is worth trusting and purchasing. Nespresso provides a one-year warranty on both these products, hence proving that these coffee machines are fully functional and up to the mark.
2 Sizes – Espresso and Lungo
You can brew two different cup sizes with both the machines using just a button. These cup size options are also similar for both the machines, Espresso (1.35 ounce) and Lungo (5 ounces). You can prepare what your heart desires with one simple press.
Price
Since these two coffee machines are of the same company and are widely similar to each other, there is not much left to discuss. The list price of both of them is $149.00. However, as mentioned before, there are several differences between these products too.
Water Tank
Even though the water tank capacity is dissimilar in these machines, the water tank type in both is removable. This feature adds to user-friendliness and makes it all the more convenient for you.
Milk Frother
Since the advantages offered by these machines are somewhat similar, the disadvantage is too. Both the Inissia and Essenza Mini don’t contain a built-in milk frother. If you like your coffee with thick and heavy foam, you’re not at luck here. You may have to froth the milk separately.
Machine Assistance
Nespresso is a widely-recognized and successful brand. Hence, it offers you the best services. You can receive immediate technical help, and you may even receive a loan coffee machine in case yours needs some repairing.
The Wrap Up
After considering all these factors, you should be able to pick the best Nespresso capsule coffee machine for yourself. They are both quite inexpensive for the initial purchase, but the compatible Nespresso capsules are very pricey.
The Essenza Mini machine is more advanced and relatively more cost-effective, in our opinion. However, if you would like a slightly bigger machine with more capacity, you can go for the Inissia Capsule coffee maker.
These machines are great tools for anyone who has an appreciation for coffee but does not have the time to make one. Grinding, measuring, filtering, and brewing takes some serious effort! You can also check out the Nespresso Citiz if that’s something you’re interested in. We hope you select the finest espresso maker for the perfect cup.