Guide · Nespresso Vertuo
Nespresso: machines, pods and running costs compared
Our Nespresso hub: Vertuo vs Original in brief, every machine we cover with UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026, what pods cost per cup, recycling and descaling.
Nespresso isn’t one coffee system but two, with different machines and pods that don’t swap between them. This hub sets out what Nespresso machines cost, what the pods cost per cup and how to look after a machine, so you can work out the real price of a cup before you buy. We haven’t tested this in person. Everything here comes from published specs and UK retailer listings and prices checked on 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
If you just want our picks, go straight to the best Nespresso machines.
Nespresso Original vs Vertuo in brief
Original machines focus on espresso and lungo. Other brands make compatible pods, so you’ll find Original pods on supermarket shelves.
Vertuo machines read a barcode on each capsule and spin it to brew, which sets the drink size for you. On the Currys listings we checked, Vertuo sizes go from a 25ml ristretto on the Vertuo Up to a 545ml carafe on some models. Vertuo machines take Nespresso’s own Vertuo capsules only.
Our Vertuo vs Original guide compares the two in depth.
Who it isn’t for: anyone hoping one machine covers both. You’ll have to pick one system.
Every Nespresso machine we cover
The table above lists the machines we checked, from the £69.99 Vertuo Next to the £419.00 Gran Lattissima. A few things stand out:
- Where to buy: Currys had the Vertuo Next, Pop, Up and CitiZ, plus a Vertuo bundle with an Aeroccino frother. De’Longhi UK had the Lattissima range, the Essenza Mini, a CitiZ bundle and the Vertuo Pop.
- Milk options cost more. The cheapest machine with a built-in milk jug was the Lattissima One at £259.99 at De’Longhi UK (checked 3 Oct 2026). The cheapest route to milk drinks was the Vertuo and Aeroccino bundle at £99.00 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change).
- Prices change. The Vertuo Next was £69.99 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026), and Currys prices can change.
Our reviews go into individual machines: the CitiZ review, the Vertuo Next review and the Lattissima One review. There’s also a Vertuo Plus review, a model we didn’t price for this page.
Who it isn’t for: anyone after café-style milk with a steam wand. No Nespresso machine here has one.
Nespresso pods: official vs supermarket
This is where the two systems really differ.
Original pods come from Nespresso and from other brands. At Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026:
- Starbucks by Nespresso House Blend, 36 pods: £9.25, about 26p a pod. See it at Morrisons
- L’OR Espresso Lungo Profondo, 40 pods: £10.00, which is 25p a pod. Morrisons describes them as compatible with Nespresso Original machines. See it at Morrisons
- Morrisons The Best Fairtrade Espresso, 10 pods: £3.25, about 33p a pod. See it at Morrisons
- Costa Coffee Colombian Espresso, 10 capsules: £3.50, or 35p each.
- Lavazza Qualità Oro, 10 Nespresso-compatible capsules: £4.25, about 43p each.
The per-pod figures are our sums from the pack price. One pod makes one drink, so that’s also your cost per cup, before milk. Bigger packs work out cheaper.
Vertuo pods come only from Nespresso. Morrisons had none when we searched, and Nespresso’s UK site blocked our price checks, so we can’t give a Vertuo cost per cup. The same goes for Nespresso’s own Original pods. We’d rather leave the number out than guess, so check Nespresso’s current prices before you buy a machine.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who won’t shop around. As the list shows, the cost per pod varies a lot between brands and pack sizes.
Recycling Nespresso pods
Used pods still hold coffee grounds, so they need a little more effort than a can or a bottle. Podback, the UK’s coffee pod recycling service, says it’s free to use, has more than 1,500 drop-off points, and that 51% of UK households can recycle pods at a local council recycling centre. Its recycling checker lists Nespresso among the machine types it covers, so you can check the options for your postcode. Podback says it was set up by Nestlé and Jacobs Douwe Egberts and launched in 2021.
For Vertuo, TechRadar notes the pods aren’t recyclable in household collections, and BBC Good Food mentions Nespresso’s own recycling scheme. We couldn’t load Nespresso’s UK recycling page to confirm how its scheme works today.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants zero-effort recycling. You’ll need to collect pods and take them to a drop-off or use a scheme.
Descaling and care
Limescale builds up in any machine that heats water. Here’s what the listings say about each machine’s reminders:
- Vertuo Up: Currys lists a descaling reminder.
- Vertuo Next and Vertuo Pop: Currys lists a descaling programme.
- Lattissima One: De’Longhi UK lists a cleaning and descaling alarm.
- CitiZ: Trusted Reviews points out there’s no descale warning light, so you’ll need to remember yourself.
Follow the manual for your machine on how often to descale and which descaler to use. On milk models, rinse the milk jug or frother after each use.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who never wants to think about maintenance. Every pod machine needs descaling now and then.
Related guides: small Nespresso machine (Essenza Mini review); Nespresso Vertuo compatible capsules; do illy pods fit Nespresso?.
FAQ
Is Nespresso Original or Vertuo better? Original suits espresso drinkers who want cheaper supermarket pods. Vertuo suits anyone who wants big mugs and one-button brewing, and is happy to buy Nespresso’s own capsules.
How much does a Nespresso coffee cost per cup? With supermarket Original pods at Morrisons, from 25p to about 43p a pod (checked 3 Oct 2026). We couldn’t confirm Nespresso’s own pod prices.
Can I use supermarket pods in a Vertuo machine? No. Vertuo machines only take Nespresso’s own Vertuo capsules.
What’s the cheapest Nespresso machine? Of those we checked, the Vertuo Next at £69.99 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change).
Can I recycle Nespresso pods? Yes, but not in your household recycling. Podback offers drop-off points and council recycling centre options in many areas.