Nespresso (Nestlé) Essenza Mini EN85B

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Overall

#68 in

Espresso Machines

according to Reddit Icon Reddit

Sentiment score83% positive
10
1
1
Last updated: May 5, 2026

Reddit Reviews

Reddit IconConBroMitch2247
4 months ago

I’ll get flamed for this because it’s not BIFL, nor is it coveted in the coffee community. But espresso is not a cheap hobby… But if you like just regular espresso pulls you really can’t go wrong with a basic **original line** Nespresso. The shot is actually very decent - We’ve had our esenza mini for a decade and it’s been excellent. Just keep up on descaling and it will last you a long time. Can you get better espresso? Absolutely. Will you have to take out a second mortgage and redo your kitchen for all the gadgets/grinders/etc. also yes.

4 months ago

The “original” line is very much an espresso. By definition. You might be thinking of the “vertuo” line which uses centrifugal force to extract which isn’t espresso by definition.

4 months ago

It Christmas and all, but that’s wrong - the ratio and grind freshness is totally irrelevant. The **grind size, coffee amount and pressure used to brew** is all that matters. **By definition** the OL is an espresso. Sure, it’s not as good as more artisan methods. But an espresso nonetheless. If you ever travel abroad, OL pods are ubiquitous for quick espressos. Vertuo on the other hand is not espresso at all as I mentioned.

Reddit IconDiamondSowsawat
2 months ago

Nespresso Essenza-Machine - it comes in three colors, uses the smaller pods that are sold by other brands. I got mine as a gift six years ago and running strong. Artizan Coffee makes organic, mold-free pods that are biodegradable that work with this machine. For a cheaper option, Trader Joe’s makes pods too. You can also get a nice milk frother for $50.

Reddit Icondorcsyful
5 months ago

As someone who went through uni with a Nespresso but grew up with a moka pot, I definitely recommend the Nespresso (Essenza Mini to be exact). It basically fits on your desk and makes you coffee in 30 seconds without any effort. Traditional coffee is probably cheaper but pods have a very big price range too and I would say it's fairly affordable.

Reddit IconFew_Refrigerator_557
10 months ago

The Essenza Mini is known to be the quietest

Reddit Icon_hera90
7 months ago

You don't need to pick which one is more faster cause it only took seconds to minute, I honestly dont think it matters. For Citiz and essenza, those are original line coffee machines, smaller capsule. Vertuo lines are good too. The difference between vertuo and original line is the extraction method. The original line uses pressure to extract coffee from capsules while the vertuo uses bar code for reading and then it identifies the volume of your coffee. You might consider the creatista so you could easily make coffee in just one press, it automatically adds milk depending on your coffee choice. Also the cup size, in vertuo you need larger cup size so if you like large cup of coffee you should go with vertuo. I have tried both vertuo and original line. I tried pixie, Citiz and creatista from original line and there is no big difference in the coffee extraction really. For vertuo, I tried vertuo plus and it's really good.

Reddit IconIllustrious_Dig9644
3 months ago

If you like black coffee and also want the espresso shot for your weekend mocha, an Original Line Nespresso (like a Citiz & Milk or Pixie/Essenza Mini + Aeroccino frother) is often the best bet.

Reddit IconMoeWee0815
6 months ago

Hatte früher auch eine gebrauchten vollautomat gekauft dann komplett auseinander genommen und Grund gereinigt, Dichtungen gewechselt, schlauche neu usw. War den Aufwand nicht wert nach paar Monaten dann bruheinheit defekt usw. Wenn du 100€ Budget hat eine DELONGHI Nespresso Maschine zb essenza Mini (60€) und ein aufschäumer zb Sensor milk twister oder auch einer vom Lidl geht auch und du bist bei unter 100€ mit echt guten Cappuccino. Wenig Wartungsaufwand einfach zu reinigen und Kapseln gibts überall.

Reddit IconNo-Beach-8401
3 months ago

SInce you value that classic crema and cafe-style lattes CitiZ by De’Longhi is definitely the top pick on this list. For anyone who wants that same quality on a smaller budget [Essenza Mini](https://www.reddit.com/user/No-Beach-8401/comments/1qoqr8w/top_6_nespresso_machines_you_can_buy/) is the way to go it delivers the exact same espresso experience without taking up much space. Both are solid choices for the Original line!

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