Nespresso Pixie Vs Vertuo has been an easy debate for me to decide on the ultimate winner. And my pick is Breville Nespresso Vertuo.
Vertuo is equipped with a 40 oz water tank, much bigger than the other device, and it can brew up to 5 different cup sizes. The coffee flavor depends a lot on each capsule’s quality, but overall I find it robust, balanced, and refreshing. The operation is pretty quiet as well. I recommend it to any family or user with busy schedules.
The runner-up Nespresso Pixie Breville also delivers tasty espressos with minimum noise possible. The compact design tells that Pixie is ideal for single users. But, compared to the model above, it lacks convenient aspects that I look for in espresso machines.
Nespresso Pixie vs Vertuo: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2022-05-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Nespresso Pixie vs Vertuo: Differences
Nespresso Vertuo wins 3 to 1 against Pixie thanks to its larger water tank, tasty espresso and coffee flavor, and a trustworthy descaling alert. It has even more to offer, so I will get into the details right away.
Coffee Flavor: Tie
+Heating system
Both models use the same Thermoblock system, which I love because it heats water very fast for efficient use. But, what surprises me is that Vertuo warms up quicker while it works with a bigger water tank. It only takes 15 – 20s to get ready for the brewing process.
Pixie takes longer, which is about 25 to 30s. That’s not much of a difference, but I still want to comment on that.
But Pixie actually does a better job at brewing hot espressos. From my experience, it always delivers steaming cups of espressos. As for Vertuo, the coffee temperature is slightly lower, I have measured it and the temp varies around 175 to 185F.
Do you prefer hot coffee or warm coffee? The answer will decide your ideal espresso machine. For me, I prefer hot coffee since I can enjoy it with ease.
+Brewing technique
There is a big difference here because Breville Vertuo uses CENTRIFUSION™ technology to extract espressos. This technology spins the capsules at a very high speed, and the flavor is slowly pulled from the coffee ground.
As for Breville Pixie, it makes use of a 19-bars pump pressure system to pierce the capsules with pressure and extract.
I think the brewing technique clearly affects these machines’ coffee flavor. With Vertuo, I get a softer and more mellow flavor, but it doesn’t lose the punch either. With Pixie, the flavor definitely inclines to the stronger side with a tinge of bitterness.
Utilities: Nespresso Vertuo Breville
For me, Nespresso Vertuo Brevill wins in utility since it has a 40oz water tank, double the size of Pixie’s water tank, and a larger container for used capsules.
What do these features tell us? Less refilling, less capsule container clearing, less work. If you drink coffee regularly or live with another person who shares the espresso maker with you, I strongly recommend the Vertuo line.
Cleaning & Maintain: Nespresso Vertuo Breville
Cleaning capsule machines is technically the same. We need cleaning capsules for it, and we use them the same way we do with regular coffee capsules.
I prefer the cleaning part of Vertuo because it has a descaling alert which tells me when it’s time to descale the machine. The feature helps a lot when we want to make sure that each brewing session delivers good coffee while not having to guess whether the device needs descaling or not.
Design & Material: Nespresso Vertuo Breville
I pick Breville Nespresso Vertuo because it has a simple design where I simply open the lid to put the capsules in with ease. On the contrary, Breville Nespresso Pixie has a lever that I have to pull up to open the capsule slot and down to close it. With the lever up, I have to sneak my hand through it to get to the capsule slot.
So, not great for my big-hands fellows out here.
Nespresso Pixie vs Vertuo: Similarities
The flow stop and automatic shut-off features are two small similarities between Nespresso Pixie and Vertuo. Find out more below.
Flow stop
I don’t like having to watch the brewing process carefully and stop the cycle manually when I feel like it. For non-professional users, it is a nightmare having to figure out how much coffee is good by themselves. Therefore, I’m satisfied that both models that I reviewed today have a flow stop function. All I have to do is press a button, and the machines handle the rest.
Automatic Power-off
These devices will shut themselves off after 9 minutes of no use to save energy. This feature is ideal for users who forget to turn off their electronic devices. It also prolongs the lifespan of the machines.
Quick Rundown of Nespresso Vertuo Breville
- AUTOMATIC COFFEE/ESPRESSO MACHINE: Create barista grade brewed single serve coffee or espresso cups at the touch of a single button. Designed for use with Nespresso Vertuo capsules only
- VERSATILE COFFEE MAKER: Brew 4 different cup sizes at the touch of a button - Espresso (1.35 oz) Double Espresso (2.7 oz), Gran Lungo (5 oz), and Coffee (7.7 oz) . Pour over ice to create your favorite iced coffee and latte drinks
- SMART COFFEE MAKER: Brew the perfect single serve coffee or espresso drink time after time thanks to Nespresso's Centrifusion technology using barcodes to deliver the best in-cup results including the perfect crema for large coffee cup sizes
- FEATURES: Includes 40 oz. water removable water tank for no hassle refilling. Fast heat up time of only 15 seconds and adjustable drip tray
- COMPLIMENTARY GIFT: Each machine includes a complimentary starter set of Nespresso capsules (capsule assortment may vary from picture)
Last update on 2022-05-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown of Nespresso Pixie Breville
- BARISTA GRADE: Nespresso Inissia by Breville offers an impeccable single serve coffee or espresso cup every time thanks to its automatic operation and patented extraction system which delivers up to 19 bars of pressure
- FAST: Eliminate the wait time with how fast the water reaches the ideal temperature in less 25 seconds in a single touch. This automatic coffee machine gets your perfect cup of coffee or espresso to you fast
- VERSATILE COFFEE MACHINE: Brew two different cup sizes; Espresso (1.35 oz) and Lungo (5 oz) at the touch of a button. Pour over ice to create your favorite iced coffee drinks
- SMART COFFEE MAKER: Adjustable cup size with two programmable espresso and lungo buttons. The folding drip tray accommodates larger single serve cup sizes and recipes. Smart energy saving mode automatically switches off our coffee maker after 9 minutes
- COMPLIMENTARY GIFT: Each machine includes a complimentary starter set of Nespresso capsules (capsule assortment may vary from picture)
Last update on 2022-05-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References:
- Nespresso Pixie Breville: https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/nespresso/bec430.html
- Nespresso Vertuo Breville: https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/nespresso/bnv220.html
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.