Comparison · Pod machines
Nespresso CitiZ vs Pixie: design, size and cup sizes compared
The CitiZ and Pixie share a 19-bar pump, 25-second heat-up and two cup sizes. The differences are the tank, the build and how easy each is to buy in the UK on 3 Oct 2026.
If you’re weighing up the Nespresso CitiZ vs Pixie, you’re comparing two of Nespresso’s longest-running machines for Original pods. Both make an espresso or a lungo at the press of a button, both use a 19-bar pump and both list a 25-second heat-up. The real differences are the size of the water tank, the way each machine is built and, right now, how easy each one is to buy in the UK. We haven’t tested this in person. Our comparison is based on Currys’ and Krups UK’s published specs and UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
This page sticks to the two machines head to head. For everything else about the CitiZ on its own, see our full Nespresso CitiZ review.
Nespresso CitiZ vs Pixie: the short answer
Choose the CitiZ if you want a machine you can order today with a bigger tank. The Krups CitiZ XN741B40 is £174.99 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026), and Currys lists a 1-litre tank, which means fewer trips to the tap than the Pixie’s 0.7 litres. There’s also a CitiZ bundle with a milk frother if you’d like lattes.
Who it isn’t for: anyone short of width and depth who wants the smallest possible footprint, or anyone who prefers a metal-sided machine to a mostly plastic one.
Choose the Pixie if you can find one at a fair price and you like its look. Krups UK describes hammered metal side panels and a polished steel handle, and the auto-off timer can be set to 9 or 30 minutes.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants to buy new this week. We couldn’t confirm a UK price for the Pixie on 3 Oct 2026, so you may be hunting for stock.
Skip both if you want milk drinks at one touch with no extra jug. Neither machine has a built-in milk system.
What they cost on 3 Oct 2026
These are the prices we could confirm:
-
CitiZ by Krups XN741B40 (silver): £174.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. Currys showed no was price, and the machine was listed as available for delivery.
-
CitiZ by De’Longhi EN167.B (black): £175.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. This is the same CitiZ design made by De’Longhi rather than Krups.
-
CitiZ with Milk Frother by De’Longhi EN267.BAE (black): £225.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026.
-
Pixie by Krups XN304T40 (titan): Check current price. Krups UK’s Pixie page didn’t show a price for the machine when we checked, and a Currys search for the Pixie returned only CitiZ models. We couldn’t load Nespresso UK or Argos, so we haven’t quoted either.
Design and build
This is the clearest difference between the two. The CitiZ is tall and narrow. Currys lists the XN741B40’s material as plastic, in a silver finish, with touch-style controls and a water level indicator.
The Pixie takes a more industrial approach. Krups UK describes metal side panels with a hammered finish and a solid polished-steel lever handle on the XN304T40, which comes in a colour Krups calls Titan. If you’d like a pod machine that looks less like a gadget, the Pixie has the edge on paper.
Who it isn’t for: if looks don’t matter to you, the build difference alone isn’t a reason to chase a Pixie that’s hard to find.
Size on the worktop
Currys gives the CitiZ XN741B40 as 318 x 181 x 396mm (H x W x D). That’s slim, at under 20cm wide, but nearly 40cm deep, so check the gap between the back wall and the front of your worktop.
Krups UK’s Pixie page didn’t list dimensions when we checked, so we’re not quoting a figure. If you find a Pixie listed, measure against the dimensions on that retailer’s listing.
If size is your main concern, our Nespresso Pixie vs Essenza Mini comparison looks at the Pixie against Nespresso’s smallest Original machine.
Water tank, heat-up and cup sizes
- Water tank: 1 litre on the CitiZ (Currys) against 0.7 litres on the Pixie (Krups UK). If several people in your house drink lungos, the CitiZ will need refilling less often.
- Heat-up: both list 25 seconds.
- Pump: both list 19 bar.
- Power: both list 1,260W.
- Cup sizes: both have two programmable buttons, for espresso and lungo. Currys lists cup sizes of 30ml and 90ml for the CitiZ.
- Auto off: Currys says the CitiZ switches off after 9 minutes. Krups UK lists the Pixie’s auto off as programmable, at 9 or 30 minutes.
On these specs, the two make the same drinks in the same way. Nothing in the listings suggests one makes a stronger or hotter cup, so the tank and the timer are the practical differences.
Who it isn’t for: anyone hoping for more than two drink sizes. Both are simple two-button machines.
Milk: bundles and add-ons
Neither the CitiZ nor the Pixie has a milk system built in. Krups UK lists the Pixie’s milk system as “No”, and the standard CitiZ XN741B40 has none either.
The CitiZ does give you a ready-made bundle. Currys sells the De’Longhi CitiZ with Milk Frother EN267.BAE at £225.00 (checked 3 Oct 2026), which is £50 more than the De’Longhi EN167.B on its own. We didn’t find a Pixie bundle with a frother at a UK retailer whose price we could confirm.
With either machine, you can add a separate frother later. Our guide to milk frothers covers UK options at different prices.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a single machine that handles milk at one touch. For that, look at a Nespresso model with a milk system built in.
Everyday handling
Both machines list a removable water tank. Krups UK lists a removable drip tray with two height levels on the Pixie, an integrated used-capsule container and detection that tells you when that container is full. Currys lists an adjustable cup stand, a drip tray and dishwasher-safe parts on the CitiZ.
In practice, the CitiZ’s larger tank and adjustable cup stand suit a household that switches between small espresso cups and taller lungo glasses. The Pixie’s full-container alert is a small but useful touch if you tend to forget to empty the bin.
Krups UK’s Pixie FAQ suggests descaling at least every three months if you make about four cups a day with hard water, and more often where water is very hard.
Downsides of both
- No built-in milk. You’ll need a bundle or a separate frother for milk drinks.
- Only two cup sizes. Both machines offer espresso and lungo, and that’s it.
- Pixie availability. We couldn’t confirm a UK price for the Pixie on 3 Oct 2026.
- CitiZ depth. At 396mm deep (Currys), the CitiZ needs more worktop depth than its slim width suggests.
- Missing specs. Krups UK’s Pixie page didn’t list dimensions when we checked.
Which should you buy?
For most people, the CitiZ is the easier choice right now. It’s in stock at Currys from £174.99 (checked 3 Oct 2026), it has the bigger tank, and there’s a milk frother bundle if you want one. The Pixie makes sense if you specifically want metal side panels and a longer auto-off option, and you can find one new at a price you’re happy with.
Where to go next
- Nespresso Essenza Mini vs CitiZ, if you’re also considering Nespresso’s smallest Original machine
- Pod machines, for other pod systems and machines
FAQ
Is the CitiZ bigger than the Pixie? The CitiZ has the larger tank, at 1 litre against the Pixie’s 0.7 litres. Currys lists the CitiZ at 318 x 181 x 396mm. Krups UK didn’t list the Pixie’s dimensions when we checked.
Do the CitiZ and Pixie make the same coffee? On the published specs, yes. Both use 19-bar pumps, heat up in 25 seconds and have programmable espresso and lungo buttons.
Can either froth milk? Neither has a built-in milk system. Currys sells a CitiZ bundle with a milk frother at £225.00 (checked 3 Oct 2026).
Why is the Pixie hard to find? We can’t say why. On 3 Oct 2026, Krups UK showed no price for the machine and Currys’ search returned no Pixie listings.
Do both use the same pods? Yes. Both take Nespresso Original pods.