- Fill up the water tank with fresh water and press the power or coffee button to preheat your machine.
- Open your machine’s top lid and insert an espresso capsule inside.
- Place a mug under the pour spout and press the power or coffee button to start brewing. When it’s done, lift the lid to eject the used pod into the disposal container.
- Descale your machine every 3 months with Nespresso’s descaling solution, or use citric acid tablets.
Making Coffee with Nespresso
Fill the water tank at least halfway full. Take out the clear reservoir tank attached to your machine and fill it up with fresh, clean water. Using quality water—whether it's from the tap, distilled, or bottled—gives your coffee a great base. While you only need as much water as the capsule uses to brew your coffee, having more water in the tank lessens the risk of scorching the grounds.
Turn on your machine and wait for the power button to stop flashing. Depending on the model, your Nespresso either has a power button or 2 coffee buttons on the top or front of the machine. When you press the button, it starts to flash, indicating that your Nespresso is heating up. After 15 to 25 seconds, the button will stop flashing and turn solid. Your machine is now ready to brew. On the Pixie: locate the coffee buttons on the top of the machine and towards the back. On the Essenza: find the coffee buttons on the front face of the machine. On a Vertuo: locate the power button on the very top of the machine.
Place a proper-sized coffee cup below the coffee outlet. Different Nespresso machines have the option to make full cups of coffee, large espresso shots, or small espresso shots. If your machine has a size option, just decide on the amount of coffee you need today and set the appropriately sized mug on the platform below the spout. Nespresso recommends using 1.3 oz (40 ml) cups for espresso pours, 3.7 oz (110 ml) cups for lungo, or large espresso, pours, and 7.7 oz (230 ml) mugs for regular coffee pours. For large cups and small machines, lift or detach the platform to fit your cup under the spout.
Open the coffee capsule container. Some machines have levers to open the top of the machine, while others have a detachable or unlockable head that lifts up the top. Find the appropriate mechanism and open the capsule container as wide as it goes. On the Pixie: pull the circular lever up to reveal the pod slot. On the Essenza: pull upwards on the flap at the top of the machine. On the Vertuo: unlock the top by pushing the lever to the right and pulling it up. If you’re having trouble finding where to open your machine, consult your model’s manual.
Place your espresso pod in the machine and secure the lid. Your Nespresso machine has an open, capsule-shaped cavity to place your espresso pod inside. Depending on your machine, you might set the pod on its side, or leave it vertical with the logo facing up. Just turn your capsule in the correct direction. Once its inside, close the lid to secure the pod in place. If you have a Vertuo, lock the lid after inserting the pod by turning the lever to the left. Most Nespresso machines use a sharp needle-like piercer to puncture the capsule, so remove your hand before closing the lid.
Press the power or coffee button to brew your coffee. Some Nespresso machines, like the Vertuo, have just one button to press to start brewing your coffee. On other machines, like the Pixie, you press the small or large coffee button to start brewing a small or large espresso pour. Once you press the appropriate button, your coffee begins to flow out of the spout and into your mug. If you want to top off your coffee, press the power or coffee button again once your machine’s finished pouring. If it takes a long time for your machine to brew your coffee, it might not have fully preheated before you put the pod in. Make sure to turn your machine on to preheat it before brewing.
Eject the used coffee pod by opening the top of the machine. Depending on the model, lift, pull, or rotate the lever on your machine to open the top back up. When the top is opened, the used pod automatically ejects into the disposal compartment in your machine. Just press the top of the machine back down and you’re ready to enjoy your coffee! If the pod doesn’t automatically eject, the disposal container might be full of pods. To empty it, remove the used capsule container, which is typically at the front or back of your machine.
Add milk, cream, or sugar to your coffee, if desired. Just like a normal coffee maker, a Nespresso provides you with rich, black coffee to drink plain or doctored up. Make a mocha with some cocoa powder, or add milk to whip up a latte or create a cappuccino. For lattes, cappuccinos, and other milk-based coffees, steam milk at home with a steam wand or by simply heating the milk in the microwave and frothing it with a whisk.
Re-order pods before you run out. Now that you know the joys of brewing your espresso drinks in your own home, make sure you always have another pod on hand for your next brew. Keep your pods in a clear container so you know how many you have left. When you start to run low, order new coffee pods. This way, you’ll always have a seamless stream of coffee. Shop online to save time and keep your favorite flavors in your cart. Nespresso sells their own espresso pods, while other popular coffee makers like Starbucks, Peet’s Coffee, and Lavazza sell Nespresso-compatible pods. Buy your pods in bulk so you always have another espresso ready to go. Most espresso packages come in packs of 10 to up to 100.
Descaling Your Machine
Descale your Nespresso machine every 3 months. Over time, limescale inevitably builds up in your machine. This can reduce the quality of your brews, so descale your machine every 3 months, or after you’ve used 300 capsules. Cleaning your machine extends its life and ensures that your coffee tastes its best.
Purchase a descaling kit or citric acid tablets. The easiest way to descale your machine is by purchasing an official Nespresso descaling kit and letting it do the work for you. If you prefer to descale your machine yourself, dissolving citric acid tablets in water is a great alternative. Nespresso’s descaling solution contains lactic acid and phosphates, which are powerful cleaners that target lime and scum-covered metals. They can be hazardous to your skin, so wear gloves when handling the solution. Nespresso only recommends using their descaling product to clean your machine. Other cleaning solutions like baking soda and vinegar might damage your machine, so proceed with caution if going the DIY route.
Empty your machine’s pod disposal compartment. Before starting the descaling process, remove the used pods stored in your machine. Just pull out the disposal compartment at the front or back of your machine and set your pods aside to recycle them. Nespresso sells special recycling bags that you fill up with used pods and take to a nearby collection site. Or, call your local UPS store to see if they collect used pods.
Fill the water tank with water and the descaling solution. Follow the instructions on the descaling package and in your machine’s manual, as each machine requires different quantities of water to run through the machine. When using Nespresso’s descaling solution in the Pixie, Essenza, or Vertuo, fill the water tank half-way and add in 1 descaling packet. If you’re using citric acid, add 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of it into a full tank of water.
Place a 0.6 L (0.16 US gal) or larger container below the spout. When you descale your Nespresso, the cleaning solution runs through your machine and out through the coffee spout. So, place a large bowl or container under the spout to catch the water as it flows out of your machine.
Press the buttons on your Nespresso to start the descaling process. Each model’s descaling process is started using a different combination of buttons. Check your manual to determine which ones to press and for how long to begin descaling. For the Pixie: press and hold both coffee buttons for 3 seconds. Then, press the large coffee button. For the Essenza: press and hold the power and coffee buttons for 5 seconds. Then, press the coffee button. For the Vertuo: unlock the lever and press the power button. Then, press and hold the button for about 7 seconds until the light starts blinking. Lock then unlock the lever. Press and hold the button again until it blinks and lock the lever. Finally, press the button to start descaling.
Wait for the descaling process to finish, which takes about 10 minutes. Be patient, as the descaling process takes a few minutes to work. Your machine is busy removing all the gunk and lime scum inside. Don’t interrupt the process or remove the container unless it is overflowing.
Run the descaling process again with the used solution. To make sure your machine is sparkling clean, Nespresso recommends running the used water and descaling solution back through your device. Just pour the water from your collection bowl back into your machine’s water tank and start the descaling process again.
Fill the tank with drinking water and run the cycle with no solution. Running the descaling process with plain water removes any leftover solution in your machine and prepares your Nespresso for making coffee again. Just fill your machine’s tank full of water and start the descaling process again. Once your machine is finished descaling, rinse the water tank thoroughly.
Exit descaling mode by pressing the same buttons that started it. Now that your machine is fully cleaned out, it needs to get back into brew mode. Just press the same buttons that started the descaling process to exit it. For example, with the Pixie, press and hold the small and large coffee buttons for 3 seconds. Then, let your machine rest for about 10 minutes before brewing a cup of espresso. The outside of your machine also needs care, so wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove any water or dust.
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