Nespresso Vertuo Creatista - In Search of a Genuine Double-Shot

I have never bought into the capsule coffee hype.

I know George Clooney is a very cool, good-looking guy but it takes more than that to influence me. In fact, if you want me to use your coffee machine, I'd prefer it just makes good coffee.

I've definitely been impressed with some of the technology Nespresso has brought to the table - there's no denying how quick, easy and mess-free it's always been, even from day one. 

It was also a Nespresso machine that introduced me to automatic milk frothing at home - eliminating the frustratingly hit-and-miss nature of manually steaming your own milk with a wand and a jug.

And yet, I rarely achieved the full-flavoured, strong, hot coffee I was looking for. Like any self-respecting New Zealand caffeine addict, I wanted it like I get it at the cafe; a big latte in a mug - or even a bowl.

Until now, I've never had anything like that from a capsule. Until now.

The Vertuo Creatista is a whole new kind of machine for Nespresso, claiming to cater specifically to Kiwi consumers and their tendency to prefer larger, stronger, milkier coffees.

If you've ever travelled overseas you'll know it's virtually impossible to order our infamous "Flat White" (except perhaps in Australia). In fact, I know people who've tried to explain what a flat white is, only to be presented with a neverending selection of poor imitations or even worse, thrown out of the cafe.

Now Nespresso's Vertuo machines introduce a Coffee Creations mode; double-clicking the coffee button results in a more concentrated extraction, leaving plenty of space for milk without diluting the desired effect from the caffeine.

The Vertuo Creatista takes this to genuine cafe-level heights, as the machine sports its own steam wand - not an automatic frothing tank the likes of which I've used in the past. I was nervous about this design at first; in many ways, the Creatista looks like a "traditional" espresso machine. The stainless steel finish is quite timeless - although it does require a bit of maintenance to keep it smudge and fingerprint-free. There's no flashy electronic screen and the steam wand and metal milk jug look just like any other.

Initially.

However, as I soon discovered, this is no ordinary steam wand, it's actually automatic after all - fantastic news as I can only be trusted to steam my own milk correctly about once in every three attempts. Conversely, the Vertuo Creatista gets it right every time and that's what I want more than anything; consistency.

What's more, not only are there three different settings for texture but there are also three settings for heat; yes, this is the first home espresso machine I've used that automatically produces hot - actually hot - frothy milk. That's worth the purchase price on its own.

But then we come back to the capsule side of the equation, which as I mentioned earlier, has also been revamped - quite dramatically. The Vertuo pods are a totally different shape to the original Nespresso pods - five different shapes, in fact.

There are a number of reasons for this - and not just the fact bigger pods mean more coffee - although that's definitely part of it for some of the brews. The range is quite impressive, from quite traditional espresso blends of varying intensities through to vanilla, chocolate and even fruity or nutty flavours if that's your thing. 

Or you can try the Craft Brew selection - the result here could be a simple cold brew or a carafe pour-over. Yes, you read that right; an entire carafe of coffee from a single extraction. Admittedly these XXXXL pods are only seven to a sleeve (as opposed to the usual ten) but at most that still works out to just $2.35 a capsule. I think that bears repeating; a carafe of coffee for under $2.50. You may never go to a cafe again.

But only if it's any good, right?

Most of the other pods work out to between $1.05-$1.55 a capsule. I've done some rough arithmetic on this and even when my favourite beans are on special at the supermarket, I'm pretty sure going with the Nespresso option works out about the same if not slightly cheaper.

But again though, only if it's good.

Well let me put it this way; I just finished a bowl latte while writing this review. Here's how I made it. I extracted a single pod of Bianco Forte into my favourite bowl. I then frothed a jug of milk to top it up. That's two button-presses. (I didn't need to adjust the milk temperature or texture or it would have been a whole four button-presses).

The result was strong. It was hot - all the way through. The milk was velvety - not bubbly. And I got a whole bowl from just one pod.

Best of all, I know that if I want the same thing tomorrow morning it really will be the same. Exactly the same. Every time.

Bliss.

Obviously, it took a little experimentation to get to this point but the learning curve with the Vertuo Creatista is not arduous. In fact, the other three members of my household mastered this machine within a day or two of it arriving in the house. I just sent them a link to Nespresso's introductory video and they did the rest. And then proceeded to tell me how amazing the results were and how easy it was to use. I've never had that kind of universal appreciation for any other gadget I've brought home. Never.

Even setting up this machine is a doddle - just download the app and follow the step-by-step instructions to do things like pre-rinse, test your water hardness and connect to the Wi-Fi. This last step is crucial because unless you keep the Vertuo Creatista up to date, it may not recognise which capsule you're using.

Oh, didn't I mention that part? This machine is so smart, it reads the barcode on the underside of every pod and customises the extraction accordingly. Again, just like with the milk, take my judgement out of the equation and I'm far more likely to get a consistent brew every time.

It's been a while since I seriously tried the capsule coffee thing. I'd given up on it as all too often the results were weak and watery - usually requiring at least two capsules to achieve a robust, long cup of full-flavoured coffee. Admittedly, the system has always been fast and efficient but I always ended up reverting to beans for a more authentic taste.

After the bowl I chugged down this morning I've realised I'm now officially a capsule convert. A pod-person. And this time I don't see any reason to go back.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista.