Nespresso Citiz vs Essenza Plus has been an easy debate for me to find the winner. After testing the flavor, operation, and cleaning efficiency, Delonghi Nespresso Citiz is the winner.
Delonghi Nespresso Citiz brews delicious espresso flavor with full-bodied texture. I’m impressed with its consistency in delivering hot drinks with top-notch quality. With its 2-tiers drip tray, you can use cups with different heights without experiencing spilling.
The runner-up Delonghi Essenza Plus doesn’t lack flavor. This model can brew espressos and coffees without making too much noise, perfect for users with small children. I also enjoy its rotatable water tank that helps the machine adjust to different spaces, from narrow to wide. However, some parts of its design don’t convince me as much as the device above.
Nespresso Citiz vs Essenza Plus: Comparison Chart




Last update on 2023-03-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Nespresso Citiz vs Essenza Plus: Differences
De’Longhi Nespresso CitiZ wins 3-1 against Essenza Plus in almost every aspect, it brews tasty coffees consistently and has good temperature control. The design also offers more convenience. I will explain how both models work for me below.
Coffee Flavor: De’Longhi Nespresso CitiZ
+Heating system
De’Longhi Nespresso CitiZ and De’Longhi Nespresso Essenza Plus use Thermoblock to heat water and brew coffee. This system is well-known for being efficient, and this is what we look for in nespresso machines.
According to the advertisements, Citiz takes only 25 seconds, and Essenza Plus takes 30s to finish heating up water. And after testing the theory, I was indeed able to brew after waiting around this amount of time.
But, there is a catch here. These devices take around 30s to heat up to a good drinking-right-away temperature, not hot. If you prefer a steaming cup of coffee that takes time to enjoy, I suggest that you leave these babies on for more than 1 minute or 2 to achieve the hot temp.

+Brewing technique
De’Longhi Nespresso CitiZ and De’Longhi Nespresso Essenza Plus use 19-bars pump pressure to extract coffee or espresso.
I get quite a similar espresso quality with the same pump pressure system, which is robust, fresh, and aromatic. I don’t taste the plastic flavor from the machines either.
But, I still notice that Citiz delivers a better espresso texture compared to De’Longhi Nespresso Essenza Plus. It is more full-bodied and velvety. The crema also is thicker and creamier. So for me, the espresso quality of Citiz is better with this device, even though the flavor is technically the same.
Also, it’s possible to adjust the dose of each cup you brew with both Nespresso machines. With Citiz, there are 2 volume options: Espresso (1. 35 oz. ) and Lungo (5 oz. ). With Essenza Plus, there are 4 volume options: Espresso (1.35 oz) Lungo (3.7 oz), Americano (5.05 oz) and Americano XL (6.75 oz).
Utilities: Tie
Both models have convenient features that the other doesn’t have.
For De’Longhi Nespresso CitiZ, it boasts of a 2-tiers drip tray that accommodates both tall and short cups. This helps avoid spilling in both cup heights, and you can use most containers that you have in hand to brew espressos.
For De’Longhi Nespresso Essenza Plus, you can enjoy to the fullest its rotatable water tank. This feature allows the machine to adjust depending on the space of each countertop.
Cleaning & Maintain: Tie
To clean nesspresso machines, we need cleaning capsules. They look exactly the same as coffee capsules, and more or less, they work in the same way. A cleaning capsule contains soap that is suitable for espresso machines and it is rushed through the brew group by the same brewing mechanism for coffees.
If you want a short explanation: Cleaning Nespresso machines are easy and no mess.
Design & Material: De’Longhi Nespresso CitiZ
The primary material that the manufacturers use to produce these Nespresso machines is plastic, which explains why they are so lightweight and affordable. But, for my taste, I prefer espresso machines made of stainless steel or at least have stainless steel parts.
The reason is that they have a sturdier feel to them and look better on a countertop.
This personal tase leads to the conclusion that Delonghi Citz has a better design and material, given that its 2 tiers drip tray and capsule slot’s lid are made of stainless steel.

Nespresso Citiz vs Essenza Plus: Similarities
De’Longhi Nespresso CitiZ and De’Longhi Nespresso Essenza Plus sharesimilar water tank design and capsule container capacity. I will comment about them below.
External water tank
Both Citiz and Essenza Plus use transparent and convenient external water tanks, which allow users to immediately decide if they need refilling or not. These tanks can hold up to 33.8 oz of water. For me, this amount is more than enough for capsule machines. If you brew small espresso shots, the tank can last 5-6 days if you brew once per day.
Capsule container capacity
Citiz and Essenza Plus hold up to 11 used capsules. The design of these machines makes them dispose of the capsules after each brewing session automatically. All we have to do is dump the container.
Quick Rundown of De’Longhi Nespresso CitiZ
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
- ESPRESSO MACHINE: Enjoy a full range of espresso coffee with Nespresso! Includes an integrated milk frother, 25 seconds heat up and energy saving automatic shut off.
- COFFEE SELECTIONS: Brew better coffee at home with two programmable buttons with automatic flow stop for Espresso and Lungo coffee preparations.
- ONE TOUCH MILK RECIPES: Espresso maker with milk frother. Prepare the perfect froth and create an endless number of recipes like cappuccinos and lattes at the touch of a button!
- INCLUDES: One Nespresso espresso maker with an iconic red dot award winning design that fits perfectly in any urban kitchen.
Last update on 2023-03-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown of De’Longhi Nespresso Essenza Plus
- OPTIONS: Nespresso Essenza Plus is always there when you need it. Whether it be for an espresso, a lungo, an americano or even tea, it’s here for you, and anybody else you want to treat
- SMART SYSTEM: It features a smart reordering system that's activated at the touch of a button. That way, you'll never run out of your favorite capsules
- PERFECT RESULTS: Fast heat-up time and 19 bar pump ensures perfect results
- SENDS ALERTS: To show you how much it cares about your coffee, it even sends out an alert when it needs descaling. A little plus, which might just be essential
- DESIGN: Featuring a stylish design, this machine fits into any kitchen seamlessly
Last update on 2023-03-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References:
- De’Longhi Nespresso CitiZ: https://www.delonghi.com/en-us/en167b-citiz-nespresso-coffee-machines/p/EN167B
- De’Longhi Nespresso Essenza Plus: https://www.delonghi.com/en-us/nespresso-essenza-plus-espresso-machine-by-de-longhi-black-en200b/p/EN200B

I am a passionate coffee drinker. Since I left my job as a barista a few years back in 2012, I’ve been sharing my expertise on coffee and buying the best coffee equipment online. That’s how Wild Boar Coffee came to life.
I write about everything coffee-related under the sun. Where to buy the freshest coffee beans from? How to test coffee beans based on texture, aroma, and acidity?
I know all this from scratch – all thanks to my years and years of experience as a barista. So I’ve gotten real up-close-and-personal with coffee beans and different brewing techniques.