Comparison · Nespresso Original
Nespresso Inissia vs Essenza Mini: which small Original?
Nespresso Inissia vs Essenza Mini: the tiny current entry Original machine against the older model it largely replaced, on size and tank, UK prices and what to buy if neither is in stock.
If you’re weighing up the Nespresso Inissia vs Essenza Mini, you’re looking at two small Original-system pod machines that both make espresso and lungo at the press of a button. The Essenza Mini is the one Krups UK still documents as Nespresso’s smallest machine. The Inissia is the older entry model that sat in that slot before it. On 3 Oct 2026 the white Essenza Mini XN110140 was £117.99 at DrinkGear, while we couldn’t verify a current Inissia price at Currys, Krups UK, De’Longhi UK or Nespresso UK. We haven’t tested this in person. This comparison is based on Krups UK’s Essenza Mini specs, DrinkGear’s listing and UK availability checks on 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
Our Nespresso Essenza Mini review covers the Mini in more depth, and our Pixie vs Essenza Mini page compares it with Nespresso’s other small classic.
Nespresso Inissia vs Essenza Mini: the short answer
Choose the Essenza Mini if you find a UK-plug model in stock and worktop width is the main problem. Krups UK lists it at 204 x 330 x 84mm (H x L x W) and 2.3kg, with a 0.6-litre tank, 19-bar pump, about 25 seconds to heat up, and two programmable buttons for espresso and lungo.
Who it isn’t for: busy households. That 0.6-litre tank and a small used-capsule bin (Krups’ spare-part listing says about 5–6 pods) mean frequent top-ups if you drink several lungos a day.
Skip the Inissia as a first choice if you’re buying new in the UK today. Brand UK shops didn’t show a buyable Inissia when we checked, so any stock you find is likely clearance or marketplace inventory. Confirm the seller, the plug and the warranty before you pay.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who needs a machine they can reorder parts for easily from a current UK brand page.
Buy a CitiZ instead if you want a small Original machine that’s straightforward to buy. The Krups CitiZ has been the easier in-stock pick at Currys; see our Nespresso CitiZ review and our Essenza Mini vs CitiZ comparison.
What they cost right now
These are the prices and stock notes from 3 Oct 2026:
- Essenza Mini XN110140 (white): £117.99 at DrinkGear, checked 3 Oct 2026, listed in stock.
- Essenza Mini XN110840 (black) at Krups UK: Check current price. Krups’ product page was marked unavailable, without a machine price when we checked. See the Krups UK Essenza Mini page.
- Inissia: Check current price. Currys, Krups UK, De’Longhi UK and Nespresso UK didn’t give us a verified machine price on 3 Oct 2026.
If a deal looks far below the Essenza Mini figures above, check that it’s a UK model and not a grey import. Prices can change.
Size and tank: where the Essenza Mini pulls ahead
Krups describes the Essenza Mini as ultra-compact and ultra-light. The published figures are clear: 84mm wide, about 33cm front to back, 2.3kg, and a 0.6-litre water tank. DrinkGear’s white XN110140 listing matches that footprint (33 x 8.4 x 20.4cm).
The Inissia was also sold as a compact entry Original machine, but Krups UK and De’Longhi UK no longer give a current UK product page we could quote for dimensions and tank size on 3 Oct 2026. Older Nespresso comparison charts often put the Inissia a little wider with a slightly larger tank than the Mini; treat those as historical figures and confirm on any listing you buy from. For a buy-today decision, the Essenza Mini’s Krups UK numbers are the ones you can check yourself.
Who it isn’t for: if you’ve got spare worktop, the Mini’s width advantage matters less than tank size and parts availability.
Drinks, pods and milk
Both machines sit on the Nespresso Original system: espresso and lungo from capsules, including supermarket-compatible Original pods. Neither has a built-in milk frother on the standard machine. If you want milk drinks, budget for a separate frother; our best milk frother guide covers UK options, and CitiZ & Milk bundles pair an Aeroccino with the bigger sibling machine.
Krups UK says the Essenza Mini’s two buttons are programmable, heats in about 25 seconds, uses a 19-bar pump and drops into a low-energy mode after three minutes. The Inissia used the same basic two-drink Original idea; without a current brand page we haven’t repeated a full Inissia spec sheet here.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants big mug coffees from pods. Vertuo machines brew larger cups; see our Vertuo Next review if cup size matters more than Original pod choice.
Availability: the practical catch
This comparison is half about hardware and half about whether you can still buy either machine cleanly in the UK.
- Essenza Mini: still documented on Krups UK, even though the brand page shows it as unavailable. Independent retailers such as DrinkGear still listed stock when we checked.
- Inissia: treated as a legacy model. Search results and outlet pages come and go; we couldn’t lock a major-retailer price on 3 Oct 2026.
For parts, descaling and pods, a current model is usually the safer long-term buy. Our capsule coffee hub covers Original pod options either way.
Which should you buy?
The Essenza Mini suits people who need the narrowest Original machine and can buy a verified UK-plug unit. At £117.99 at DrinkGear, checked 3 Oct 2026, it was the only priced machine in this pair we could confirm.
The Inissia suits buyers who specifically inherit one, or who find clear UK stock with a warranty they’re happy with. It isn’t the model we’d hunt for new if the Essenza Mini or a CitiZ is available.
Consider neither if you want an easy Currys-style purchase today. A CitiZ, or a Vertuo Pop if you’re willing to switch pod systems, is usually simpler to order. Our best Nespresso machine guide maps the wider range.
Common questions
Is the Essenza Mini the replacement for the Inissia? In practice yes: Nespresso and its partners moved the entry compact role onto the Essenza Mini, and Inissia pages have largely left UK brand catalogues.
Do they use the same pods? Yes. Both are Nespresso Original machines, so Original capsules and compatible supermarket pods fit.
Which has the bigger water tank? Krups UK lists 0.6 litres on the Essenza Mini. We couldn’t verify a current UK brand figure for the Inissia on 3 Oct 2026, so check the listing if tank size decides it for you.