Nespresso Vertuo (Plus) vs Evoluo

This is our Nespresso VertuoPlus vs Evoluo comparison guide.

At The Coffee Arsenal, we are dedicated to creating the most comprehensive guides on coffee makers and espresso machines. This single article has taken us over 15 hours of in-depth research and testing.

In this article, we are going to compare the Nespresso Vertuo, VertuoPlus, and Evoluo, so that you can understand better these machines and choose the best one for your own needs.

After our research, we found that the Nespresso VertuoPlus is the best espresso machine compared to the Vertuo and Evoluo due to its versatility and convenience.

Want to learn more? Keep reading.

Manufacturers: Breville and De’Longhi

At this moment there are two manufacturers that build some of the machines under the Nespresso Vertuo line.

These manufacturers are Breville and De’Longhi.

The machines manufactured by Breville and De’Longhi have a couple of differences from each other, so we are going to make these small differences clear throughout this article.

Overview: Nespresso Evoluo vs Vertuo (Plus)

Before we move on with our VertuoPlus vs Evoluo review and get into all the specific details, let’s take a quick look at the main features of the Nespresso Vertuo, VertuoPlus and Evoluo.

The Nespresso Vertuo (Breville, De’Longhi) comes with a 40oz removable water tank (or 54oz if you choose the model by De’Longhi) and has 4 brew sizes available to choose from, apart from that, it is available in a wide variety of colors.

The Nespresso VertuoPlus (Breville, De’Longhi) comes with a 40oz removable water reservoir and has the same brew sizes as the Vertuo, however, the VertuoPlus has a couple of extra features that make it unique.

The difference is that the water reservoir is adjustable and the machine’s head opens automatically with a gentle touch of the machine’s lid (it’s motorized).

Finally, the Nespresso Evoluo comes with a large removable 54oz water reservoir. The same size as the Nespresso Vertuo by De’Longhi.

Also, its capsule container can hold up to 17 capsules, which is more than the other models (we will compare this aspect later in this guide).

As for the brew sizes, it is the same as the Vertuo and VertuoPlus.

There is one thing you should know about the Evoluo, this model has been discontinued by Nespresso, however, there are some of these available in online stores like Amazon and some physical stores.

You should know that they all come with a complimentary starter set and brew coffee very quickly.

Because of the versatility of the VertuoPlus, we consider it the best model for most people. However, the Vertuo by De’Longhi is also a good choice if you value the larger water tank.

Note: The VertuoPlus Deluxe has all the advantages of the regular VertuoPlus plus a 60oz water tank. (Buy the VertuoPlus Deluxe by Breville or the VertuoPlus Deluxe by De’Longhi).

We do not recommend choosing the Evoluo or the Vertuo by Breville, as they are inferior to the other models mentioned before.

If you want to know more about the differences between the Vertuo and VertuoPlus Nespresso machines, check out this article: Nespresso Vertuo vs VertuoPlus

Here’s an introductory video of the Nespresso Vertuo:

Here’s an introductory video of the Nespresso VertuoPlus:

Here’s an introductory video of the Nespresso Evoluo:

Comparison Table

SpecificationsNespresso VertuoNespresso VertuoPlusNespresso Evoluo
Brew Sizes1.35oz, 2.7oz, 5oz, 8oz1.35oz, 2.7oz, 5oz, 8oz1.35oz, 2.7oz, 5oz, 8oz
Water Tank Capacity40oz (Breville), 54oz (De’Longhi)40oz54oz
Removable Water Reservoir✔️✔️✔️
Removable Drip Tray✔️✔️✔️
Cup Support2 positions4 positions4 positions
Product Dimensions11.9″ H x 8.3″ W x 11.9″ D (Breville) / 12.2″ H x 9″ W x 12.3″ D (De’Longhi)12.8″ H x 9.1″ W x 13.2″ D (Breville) / 12.8″ H x 9.1″ W x 13.2″ D (De’Longhi)12.3″ H x 9.0″ W x 12.2″ D
Weight11lbs10.1lbs11lbs
ColorsBlack (De’Longhi and Breville), Graphite Metal (De’Longhi), Red (De’Longhi and Breville), Silver (De’Longhi), Titan (De’Longhi and Breville), Chrome (Breville), Matte Black (Breville)Black (De’Longhi and Breville), Gray (De’Longhi and Breville), Black Matte (De’Longhi), Matte Black (De’Longhi), Ink Black (De’Longhi and Breville), Red (De’Longhi), Silver (Breville), White (Breville), Titan (Breville)Graphite Metal, Red
Centrifusion Technology✔️✔️✔️
Button Indicators✔️✔️✔️
Auto-Off✔️✔️✔️
Motorized Head✔️
Complimentary Starter Set✔️✔️✔️
Capsule Container Capacity13 Mug capsules (Large)10 Mug capsules (Large)17 Mug capsules (Large)
Power1,350 Watt1300 Watt1,350 Watt
Power Cord Lenght33.46”29.13″29.13”

Key Features: Nespresso Vertuo (Plus) vs Evoluo

In the following paragraphs, we will go over all the key features of these coffee makers such as the water tank, brew sizes, design, dimensions, and much more.

Brew Sizes

Having several brew sizes to choose from is very important for any home espresso brewer, in short words, by having more brew sizes, you have more flexibility.

In terms of brew sizes, they are very similar. Below, I will break down the brew size options available for each coffee maker.

Nespresso VertuoPlus and Vertuo brew sizes
Source: Nespresso YouTube Channel

Nespresso Vertuo Brew Sizes:

  • Coffee: Gran Lungo (5oz) and Coffee (8oz)
  • Espresso: Single (1.35 oz) and Double (2.7 oz)

Nespresso VertuoPlus Brew Sizes:

  • Coffee: Gran Lungo (5oz) and Coffee (8oz)
  • Espresso: Single (1.35 oz) and Double (2.7 oz)

Nespresso Evoluo Brew Sizes:

  • Coffee: Gran Lungo (5oz), Coffee (8oz)
  • Espresso: Single (1.35 oz) and Double (2.7 oz)

Since all of these coffee machines can brew the same brew sizes, they are tied in this aspect.

Winner: Tie

Water Reservoir

A large water reservoir will allow you to refill the water reservoir less frequently.

The Nespresso Vertuo by Breville comes with a large removable 40oz water reservoir, but the Nespresso Vertuo by De’Longhi comes with a large removable 54oz water reservoir.

On the other hand, the VertuoPlus comes with a large removable, and adjustable 40oz water reservoir.

This is a huge advantage since you have more possibilities when it comes to locating your machine on your countertop.

The Nespresso Evoluo comes with a 54oz water tank that is also removable.

Which one has a better water tank? That depends.

  • If you prefer an adjustable water tank, choose the VertuoPlus
  • If you prefer a large water tank, choose the Evoluo or the Vertuo by De’Longhi

The Vertuo by Breville has a smaller tank, and it is also not adjustable, so, we will consider it as the model with the inferior water tank.

Winner: Nespresso VertuoPlus, Vertuo by De’Longhi & Evoluo

Ease of Use

Nespresso did an excellent job at making their coffee makers so user-friendly. The process is almost the same for all three coffee makers.

  1. Fill the water tank
  2. Press the power button and turn the machine on
  3. Wait for the green light to turn steady (It will blink while the machine is heating on)
  4. Adjust the height of the cup support
  5. Open the machine and insert a coffee pod
  6. Close the machine and press the coffee button (same as the power button)
  7. Once your coffee is ready, you can open the lid and the capsule will be automatically ejected

Easy right? Watch the video below to appreciate this process visually for the VertuoPlus.

You can also check this video to see the process for the Vertuo and this for the Evoluo.

Now, let’s talk about some features that contribute to the ease of use of these coffee makers.

Indicator Lights

These coffee makers come with indicator lights that tell you how to use the machine properly. For example, they will tell you when the machine is heating up or when the coffee is ready.

Nespresso Vertuo and VertuoPlus indicator lights
Source: Nespresso.com

Motorized Head

The Nespresso VertuoPlus comes with a motorized head, which means that a light touch on the lid of the machine is enough to open it automatically.

This function is not available on the Vertuo and Evoluo models, in which cases you will have to open the machine manually.

You can see how this works in the video we showed before.

Automatic Capsule Ejection

The automatic capsule ejection function allows these machines to automatically eject the capsules once the head is opened. So you don’t have to do it manually.

All three machines come with this feature.

Which One is Easier to Use?

In our opinion, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is the best option, as it has a motorized head that makes the coffee preparation process less physically demanding. Otherwise, they are all really easy to use.

Winner: Nespresso VertuoPlus

Brew Quality and Performance

In this section of our Nespresso VertuoPlus vs Evoluo comparison guide, we are going to talk about how these coffee makers compare to each other in terms of brew quality and temperature, and speed.

Speed

These coffee makers brew coffee extremely fast. They take around 15 – 20 seconds to heat up and around a minute and a half to brew a 5oz cup of coffee.

So, you can have a nice cup of coffee in less than 2 minutes with these machines.

Temperature

Temperature is a complex topic to talk about. We’ve tested the machine by ourselves, we’ve asked other people about this and we’ve read a ton of reviews talking about this, and we’ve reached a conclusion.

The temperature of the coffee made by these machines is hot enough to sip without burning your tongue, but the coffee may feel cold if you add milk or cream at room temperature.

For some, this temperature is perfect, for others it is too cold. So, if you like your coffee hot enough to burn your tongue, you probably won’t like the temperature produced by these machines.

Flavor

The Nespresso Vertuo, VertuoPlus, and Evoluo make use of an innovative technology called Centrifusion.

This technology has one main purpose: Optimize the brewing parameters for each blend to achieve the best flavor and aroma possible.

This goal is achieved by reading the unique barcode found on each capsule so that the machine knows how to brew each cup of coffee depending on the capsule.

If you want to know more about this technology, watch the video below (it only lasts 1 minute).

Which One Brews the Best Coffee?

Since they all make use of the Centrifusion technology, they all brew really good coffee.

Winner: Tie

Capsule Compatibility

The Nespresso Vertuo, VertuoPlus and Evoluo are only compatible with Nespresso Vertuo capsules.

You can also use reusable capsules that are compatible with these coffee makers. Just double-check before buying anything to avoid compatibility issues.

Winner: Tie

Cleaning and Maintenance

The cleaning process for each coffee maker is almost the same, in this case, we are going to describe the exact process for the VertuoPlus.

This process is for general cleaning, this will keep your coffee maker working optimally. This process should be performed every day or every couple of days depending on the level of use.

  1. First, you need to rinse the water reservoir and lid, also wash all parts with hot water and a mild odorless detergent (remember to remove used capsules from the capsule container), many parts such as the capsule container and drip tray can be disassembled, so this can be done easily.
  1. Once the above steps have been completed, assemble the machine, add water to the water reservoir, and put it in place
  1. Open the head of the machine, and let the capsule that has already been used be ejected, then, press the power button to turn on the machine
  1. Once the machine has warmed up, press the coffee button three times within two seconds to start the cleaning process, then wait for the process to finish.

To learn more about descaling and cleaning your Nespresso, watch the video below or visit the official documentation.

Design, Dimensions, and Weight

In this section of our Nespresso Evoluo vs VertuoPlus review, we are going to talk about the differences in design, dimensions, and weight between these machines.

Design

In terms of design, they are very similar, modern, smooth, and of high quality overall, we can say that these coffee makers are really sturdy, and definitely well made.

As we said before, you will notice that there is a model of the VertuoPlus and Vertuo that has rounded edges, and there is another model with squared edges.

This is because the models with rounded edges are manufactured by Breville, while the models with squared edges are manufactured by De’Longhi.

The difference is only in terms of design, they are exactly the same in terms of functionality and features (except for the Vertuo by De’Longhi which comes with a 54oz water reservoir).

They come in a wide variety of colors. However, the color variety changes depending on the manufacturer.

The Vertuo comes in:

  • Black (De’Longhi and Breville)
  • Graphite Metal (De’Longhi)
  • Red (De’Longhi and Breville)
  • Silver (De’Longhi)
  • Titan (De’Longhi and Breville)
  • Chrome (Breville)
  • Matte Black (Breville)

The VertuoPlus comes in:

  • Black (De’Longhi and Breville)
  • Gray (De’Longhi and Breville)
  • Black Matte (De’Longhi)
  • Matte Black (De’Longhi)
  • Ink Black (De’Longhi and Breville)
  • Red (De’Longhi)
  • Silver (Breville)
  • White (Breville)
  • Titan (Breville)

The Evoluo comes in:

  • Graphite Metal
  • Red

Dimensions and Weight

The dimensions differ a little bit depending if you are buying your Vertuo from De’Longhi or from Breville.

Nespresso Vertuo dimensions and weight:

  • By Breville:
    • Height: 11.9”
    • Width: 8.3”
    • Depth: 11.9”
    • Weight: 11lbs
  • By De’Longhi:
    • Height: 12.2”
    • Width: 9.0”
    • Depth: 12.3”
    • Weight: 11lbs

Nespresso VertuoPlus dimensions and weight:

  • By Breville:
    • Height: 12.8″
    • Width: 9.1″
    • Depth: 13.2″
    • Weight: 10.1lbs
  • By De’Longhi:
    • Height: 12.8″
    • Width: 9.1″
    • Depth: 13.2″
    • Weight: 10.1lbs

Nespresso Evoluo dimensions and weight:

  • Height: 12.3”
  • Width: 9.0”
  • Depth: 12.2”
  • Weight: 11lbs

Which One Has the Best Design and Dimensions?

When evaluating the design and dimensions of the Evoluo vs VertuoPlus and Vertuo we have decided that they are all pretty good.

They are all almost the exact same size and they all have a good-looking design, and they are very sturdy machines.

Since the major difference between manufacturers is just the design, we highly recommend you choose the one that is more appealing to you.

Here you have an introductory video of each coffee maker so you can know exactly how they look:

Introductory video of the Nespresso Vertuo:

Introductory video of the Nespresso VertuoPlus:

Introductory video of the Nespresso Evoluo:

Winner: Tie

Additional Features

In the following paragraphs of our VertuoPlus vs Evoluo comparison guide, we are going to talk about the differences in additional features between these coffee makers.

Auto Off

This feature allows these Nespresso machines to turn off automatically 9 minutes after the last brew. This feature is available for the VertuoPlus, Vertuo, and Evoluo.

This is great for saving energy when you’re not using your machine.

Complimentary Starter Set

The complimentary starter set is just a small box with a few Nespresso capsules, this comes included with any of these Nespresso machines.

This set is designed to start developing your tastes from the set of Nespresso capsules available.

Container for Used Capsules

These three machines come with dedicated containers for used capsules. Once the machine has finished brewing coffee, you just have to open the lid and the capsule will be automatically dropped into the container.

These containers are very useful and convenient to save time on cleaning.

This is the number of Mug size (large) capsules that each machine can hold:

  • Vertuo: 13
  • VertuoPlus: 10
  • Evoluo: 17

Which One Has The Best Additional Features?

The three Nespresso machines have the same additional features, however, we consider the Evoluo to be the winner in this aspect due to its bigger capsule container that can hold up to 17 used capsules.

Winner: Nespresso Evoluo

Pros and Cons: Nespresso Evoluo vs Vertuo (Plus)

Each coffee maker has its own advantages and disadvantages, let’s explore the ones from this coffee maker.

Nespresso Vertuo

These are some pros and cons of the Nespresso Vertuo.

Pros

  • It comes with a 1350W heating element that provides a shorter heating time of about 5 seconds less than the VertuoPlus (the VertuoPlus has a 1300W heating element)
  • The Vertuo model by De’Longhi comes with a large 54oz water reservoir

Cons

  • It requires some manual effort to open the machine
  • The water tank is not adjustable
  • The Vertuo model by Breville comes with a 54oz water reservoir

Nespresso VertuoPlus

These are some pros and cons of the Nespresso VertuoPlus. 

Pros

  • The machine head can be opened automatically by simply touching the lid
  • The water tank is adjustable

Cons

  • 40oz water tank
  • The capsule container only holds up to 10 used capsules

Nespresso Evoluo

These are some pros and cons of the Nespresso Evoluo.

Pros

  • The large water tank of 54oz
  • Capsule container holds up to 17 used capsules
  • 1350W heating element

Cons

  • It requires some manual effort to open the machine
  • This model has been discontinued

Alternatives

At this point of our Nespresso Evoluo vs VertuoPlus comparison review, you should have a pretty good idea of how these coffee makers work, therefore, there is a chance that you don’t like them at all.

If that’s the case, here we present you with a couple of alternatives.

VertuoPlus Deluxe

Nespresso Vertuo Plus Deluxe (Breville)
  • Key Feature: Extra-large water reservoir
  • Brew Sizes: 1.35oz, 2.7oz, 5oz, and 8oz
  • Water Reservoir: 60oz
  • Material: Plastic
  • Brand: Nespresso

The Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe (Breville, De’Longhi) is a direct upgrade of the VertuoPlus.

Simply put, it comes with everything the VertuoPlus has, but with two additional features.

The first feature is that it comes with an extra large 60-ounce water tank, this tank is removable and adjustable, exactly like the VertuoPlus.

The second feature is the chrome cup holder or drip tray, which looks nicer and gives a more premium look to the coffee maker.

So, if you liked the VertuoPlus, but the water tank was a limitation for you, this upgraded model is your solution, it is perfect for families or roommates.

Nespresso Pixie

Nespresso Pixie (Breville)
  • Key Feature: Compact design, only 11cm wide
  • Brew Sizes: 1.35oz, and 5oz
  • Water Reservoir: 24oz
  • Material: ABS plastic
  • Brand: Nespresso

The Nespresso Pixie (Breville, De’Longhi) is a small espresso machine with an industrial design that looks very attractive.

It is 11cm wide, which allows this coffee maker to fit almost anywhere, from offices to bedrooms. It is also extremely easy to use as it has only 2 buttons, both for selecting brew sizes and for turning the machine on.

As for the brew sizes, it only allows you to brew 2 sizes, Espresso (1.35oz) and Lungo (5oz), and the water reservoir has a capacity of 24oz, this reservoir is also removable.

As you can see, it is quite limited in terms of brew sizes and water tank capacity. However, being so small and simple, this machine is absolutely perfect for traveling, or even taking it to the office.

The Bottom Line: Nespresso Vertuo (Plus) vs Evoluo

Throughout this Nespresso VertuoPlus vs Evoluo review, you have learned their key features, pros, cons, and some good alternatives to them.

However, which one is definitely the best?

In our opinion, the VertuoPlus is the best in most cases, however, to answer that question properly, you have to find out which one is the best for your personal needs.

If you want a machine with an adjustable water tank, motorized head, and a wide variety of colors: Pick the VertuoPlus.

If you want something a little bit more “classic”, the Vertuo by De’Longhi is a great option too because it comes with a 54oz water reservoir.

On the other hand, if you want a machine with a large water tank, a larger capsule container and you don’t mind that it is discontinued: Pick the Evoluo.

If you liked the large water tank of the Evoluo and the features of the VertuoPlus, the VertuoPlus Deluxe (Breville, De’Longhi) is a good alternative since it has a water tank capacity of 60oz.

The Vertuo by Breville is inferior to the Vertuo by De’Longhi, VertuoPlus, and Evoluo in most cases.

Click on the links below to buy your Nespresso espresso machine:

Leandro Santorsola
Leandro Santorsola

Leandro is the founder of The Coffee Arsenal. His favorite relaxation method is to drink a Cafe Latte in the afternoons.