Comparison · Nespresso Vertuo
Nespresso Vertuo vs Original: pods, cup sizes and running costs
Vertuo makes everything from a ristretto to a carafe, while Original keeps to espresso-style cups but takes supermarket pods. UK machine and pod prices checked 3 Oct 2026.
Nespresso Vertuo vs Original is the first choice to make before you pick a Nespresso machine, because the two systems use different pods that don’t swap over. In short, Original is built around espresso-sized drinks and takes cheaper compatible pods from the supermarket. Vertuo covers everything from a ristretto to a carafe, but only takes Nespresso’s own pods. We haven’t tested this in person. This guide is based on Currys’, De’Longhi UK’s and Morrisons’ listings, with UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
Nespresso Vertuo vs Original: the short answer
Choose Original if you mostly drink espresso, lungo or milky drinks built on an espresso shot, and you want to buy pods in your weekly shop. On 3 Oct 2026, Morrisons sold compatible capsules from L’OR, Lavazza, Starbucks and its own label, some for around 25p a pod.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a full mug of black coffee from one pod. Original machines such as the CitiZ list just two sizes, espresso and lungo.
Choose Vertuo if you want mugs, large cups or a carafe at the press of a button. Currys lists the Vertuo Up with seven sizes, from 25ml to 545ml, and the Vertuo Next is the cheapest way in at £69.99 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change).
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants to shop around for pods. We couldn’t find Vertuo pods at Morrisons or Currys online, and Nespresso’s own pod prices wouldn’t load for us.
Skip both if you want café-style milk drinks with no separate frother and the cheapest pods. Other pod systems build milk into the drink, and our Tassimo vs Dolce Gusto vs Nespresso guide compares them.
How the two systems brew
The systems look alike but work in different ways.
Original machines push hot water through the capsule under pump pressure, the classic espresso method. Currys lists the CitiZ at 19 bar. You pick the cup size yourself from the machine’s buttons, whichever pod you use.
Vertuo machines read a code on each pod. The machine then sets the water volume and spins the capsule to brew it. De’Longhi UK describes this as spinning at up to 7,000 rotations per minute. That’s why one button can produce a 40ml espresso from one pod and a 230ml mug from another: the pod decides.
In practice, Original leaves the cup size to you, while Vertuo gives you more drink sizes with less thinking.
Who it isn’t for: if you like to fine-tune how much water goes through each shot, Vertuo’s pod-led approach may frustrate you.
Cup sizes
Here’s what Currys lists for the machines in our table (checked 3 Oct 2026):
- CitiZ by Krups (Original): two sizes, espresso and lungo. Currys gives them as 30ml and 90ml for the Krups model, and as 40ml and 110ml for the De’Longhi version.
- Lattissima One (Original): a 40ml coffee plus milk from 30ml to 165ml, from its built-in milk system.
- Vertuo Next: five sizes, from a 40ml espresso up to a 414ml alto.
- Vertuo Up: seven sizes, from a 25ml ristretto up to a 545ml carafe.
If your morning drink is a big mug of black coffee, that difference alone usually settles it.
Who it isn’t for: espresso purists don’t need Vertuo’s bigger sizes, so they’d be paying for flexibility they won’t use.
Pods: who makes them and what they cost
This is the biggest practical difference.
Original pods are made by Nespresso and by plenty of other brands. Here’s what Morrisons charged on 3 Oct 2026:
- L’OR Supremo, 40 capsules: £10.00 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026, which works out at 25p a capsule. See it at Morrisons
- Starbucks by Nespresso House Blend, 36 pods: £9.25 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026, about 26p a pod. See it at Morrisons
- Morrisons The Best Fair Trade Colombian, 10 pods: £3.25 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026, about 33p a pod. See it at Morrisons
- Lavazza Qualità Oro, 10 capsules: £4.25 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026, about 43p a capsule.
Vertuo pods come from Nespresso. Neither Morrisons’ nor Currys’ online search showed any Vertuo pods on 3 Oct 2026. Nespresso UK’s capsule pages wouldn’t load for our checks, so we can’t give you a verified price per Vertuo pod. Check current prices on Nespresso’s site before you choose, because pods cost far more than the machine over a few years.
For a wider look at pod prices, see our capsule coffee comparison.
Who it isn’t for: if you’re happy buying only from Nespresso, the compatible-pod advantage matters less to you.
Machine prices: which model in each range
Prices at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change):
- Vertuo Next by Krups X910N40: £69.99, prices can change. The cheapest way into Vertuo. Our Vertuo Next review covers the reliability worries. See it at Currys
- Vertuo Next with Aeroccino by Krups XN911NG0: £99.00, prices can change. Worth a look if you’d want a frother anyway.
- Vertuo Up by Krups XN9408G0: £179.99, with the 1.4-litre tank and the seven sizes mentioned above.
- CitiZ by Krups XN741B40: £174.99, a 1-litre tank and the two classic sizes. See our CitiZ review. See it at Currys
- Lattissima One by De’Longhi EN510.BK: £209.00, an Original machine with a 165ml milk container built in.
At Currys on 3 Oct 2026, the cheapest Original machine we found cost more than double the Vertuo Next’s price. Over a year of daily coffee, though, cheaper Original pods can close that gap.
If you’re weighing up the Vertuo Plus, we’ve covered its patchy availability in our Vertuo Plus review.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who’ll only make a couple of coffees a week. At that rate, the machine price matters more than pod costs, which favours the Vertuo Next at that price.
Milk drinks
Neither the CitiZ nor the Vertuo Next froths milk on its own. You can buy either with a separate Aeroccino frother: Currys lists the CitiZ with milk frother (De’Longhi EN267.BAE) at £225.00 and the Vertuo Next Aeroccino bundle at £99.00 (both checked 3 Oct 2026; prices can change). Original also has machines with milk built in, such as the Lattissima One.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants milk drinks from a pod alone. Neither Nespresso system works that way.
Downsides of each
Original
- Only two drink sizes on simpler machines such as the CitiZ.
- On Currys’ prices, the machines cost more up front than the Vertuo Next right now.
- Compatible pods vary by brand, so you may need to try a few to find one you like.
Vertuo
- Nespresso’s own pods only, with no supermarket compatibles that we could find.
- We couldn’t find current Vertuo pod prices, so running costs are harder to pin down.
- The machine decides the volume from the pod, so you have less control.
FAQ
Can Vertuo machines use Original pods? No. De’Longhi UK says Vertuo pods are designed only for the Vertuo system, and the compatible capsules we found are labelled for Original machines. Check the box says which system it fits.
Which is cheaper to run, Vertuo or Original? Original can be, because supermarket compatible pods were 25p to 43p each at Morrisons on 3 Oct 2026. We couldn’t find current Vertuo pod prices, so compare them on Nespresso’s site.
Which system is better for a large mug of coffee? Vertuo. Currys lists sizes up to 414ml on the Vertuo Next and 545ml on the Vertuo Up, while the CitiZ makes espresso and lungo.
Can you recycle both kinds of pod? Nespresso is one of the machine brands on Podback’s UK postcode checker, which points you to recycling options near you. Check what applies to your area and to compatible brands. See Podback