We don’t have to tell you that purchasing a new coffee machine is a pretty big deal. The market is full of brands and products to choose from, and two popular choices among coffee connoisseurs are the Nespresso Vertuo and Ninja DualBrew Pro brewers.
It’s not enough to click “Add to Cart” (or add it to a physical cart, if you prefer the old-school shopping experience) simply because a product is popular, though. You need to know about all of its ins and outs so you can determine whether or not it’s the right coffee maker for you and your brewing needs.
Fortunately for you, we’ve researched the aforementioned items, so you don’t have to. Once you’ve read up on each product, all that’s left for you to do is decide which coffee brewing machine is suitable for you.
Espresso Yourself with Nespresso: An Overview
When filling their mugs, many coffee fans prioritize ease and convenience over everything else. They applaud the Ethiopian goat herder who first harvested those precious coffee cherries, but they’d rather not put forth quite as much effort as he did to make their morning brew. And trust us, fellow coffee lover, we completely understand.
That’s why Nespresso Vertuo machines are such popular picks — they’re quick and convenient! This machine can produce a single or double shot of espresso with just the touch of a button and a coffee capsule. It can also dispense cups of regular coffee in three other brew sizes: Alto (14 ounces), Mug (7.8 ounces), or Gran Lungo (5 ounces).
With this espresso maker on their countertop, a coffee drinker can not only treat themself to different cup sizes but a wide range of flavors, too. Nespresso’s capsule line includes joes of several blends, flavors, and roast levels.
Kick your day off with a nice single-origin brew, maybe one from Ethiopia, or pop in a limited-edition gingerbread capsule to sip a bit of holiday cheer. (Psst…we’ve listed our favorite Nespresso capsules here if you’re interested in seeing what kind of java one of the most popular brands of coffee makers has to offer.)
Overall, this machine has a simple interface, can brew quickly, and does not require many adjustments. And thanks to precision technology, each of the Vertuo’s coffee brews is topped with a layer of flavorful, rich crema. Casual coffee drinkers and java experts alike will be satisfied with the wicked-good espresso and layer of bubbly foam the Vertuo can produce.
You Brew You with the Ninja: An Overview
A budding barista whose brewing routine includes ground coffee and coffee pods needs a Ninja DualBrew Pro at their disposal.
This machine provides a coffee shop experience. It dispenses regular drip brew and a strong concentrated coffee that can substitute for espresso in drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and more. Just pour the freshly brewed coffee into a mug, then use the built-in milk frother to create a perfect layer of bubbles. Voila — a café-quality cup of coffee from the comfort of your home!
This Ninja brewer can whip up nine different coffee cup sizes (Small Cup, Cup, XL Cup, Travel Mug, XL Travel Mug, 1/4 Carafe, 1/2 Carafe, 3/4 Carafe, or Full Carafe) when brewing ground coffee beans, or four sizes (six, eight, 10, or 12 ounces) if you use pods.
This kind of variety makes the DualBrew a versatile machine that comes in handy at pretty much any time, whether you need a single serving or entire pots of coffee.
There’s also an independent hot water system, which means you can dispense hot or boiling water from the machine to use for instant meals, hot chocolate, or tea. No worries, though; this water doesn’t flow from the same spout as the coffee, so there won’t be any stray grit or residue floating around in your H2O.
Things to Keep in Mind Before You Buy
Your Drink of Choice
Naturally, one of the most important factors to consider when buying a coffee machine is the kind of coffee it produces. Duh, right?
If you have irregular coffee habits and like to switch things up — espresso brews some days and regular cups of coffee others — you’ll probably be happier with the Nespresso Vertuo on your counter. The sleek and compact machine is designed to produce a full cup of coffee or a full-bodied single or double espresso shot in just 15 seconds!
A coffee aficionado who wants to enjoy real espresso at home may be a bit disappointed with the Ninja coffee brewer. One of the key differences between the Nespresso and Ninja coffee makers is that the Ninja can’t produce authentic espresso with decent crema as the Vertuo can. You can use it to make a coffee concentrate that’s close to espresso, but let’s face it: it’s not the same thing.
That doesn’t mean the Ninja isn’t versatile in its own right, though. It has four brew styles to choose from: Classic, Rich, Specialty, and — a must-have for our iced coffee lovers on hot summer days — Over Ice.
Brewing Control
Someone who doesn’t have much time on their hands in the morning would probably benefit more from a Nespresso Vertuo. When you’re rushing out the door in a hurry, it’s helpful to have a system that does all the work for you — no grinding or measuring beans necessary; pop a coffee blend capsule into the machine and press a button. From there, it does the rest.
However, those who want a bigger say in how their coffee drinks are made will most likely find more joy in having the Ninja on their kitchen counter. Unlike the Nespresso Vertuo, the Ninja DualBrew Pro gives users more freedom to customize their coffee recipes, alter the coffee-to-water ratio, and ultimately decide how strong or weak the resulting cup will be.
Budget
If you’re brewing on a budget and the amount you pay for a machine is almost as important to you as the joe it produces, you should note that these two products tend to be close in price. However, you should note that the Vertuo is a few dollars pricier at most retailers.
But the cost of the machine isn’t the only expense to consider. Remember, you’ll have to pay for coffee, too!
Nespresso machines only work with brand-compatible capsules, which tend to cost a few dollars more than coffee beans. The Vertuo also lacks the built-in frother the Ninja has, so if you plan on making a milk-based drink or two, you’ll have to factor the cost of a separate milk frother into your brewer budget.
Size
Size matters when you’re shopping for a coffee or espresso machine — after all, what good is finding the perfect brewer if it doesn’t fit into your space? Luckily, the many coffee makers on the market today come in every size, shape, and color; there’s something out there that will meet the spatial needs of every coffee guru.
If you’re a coffee drinker with limited counter space to spare, like in a dorm room or studio apartment, for example, the Nespresso Vertuo is the wiser choice here. Measuring at about one foot high and deep and around nine inches wide, this little machine takes up far less room than the Ninja DualBrew does.
Since the Nespresso machine is the smaller of the two coffee maker systems, you’d probably assume it has a smaller water tank, and you’d be correct. The Vertuo has a 54-ounce water reservoir, while the DualBrew holds 60 ounces of water. Both are removable for easy refills, but the DualBrew’s water tank can be positioned on either the side or back of the machine. Change it depending on what would help it fit on your coffee bar best.
Sustainability
Environmental impact is another factor that often comes into play when shopping around for a coffee maker.
Some shudder at the thought of having single-use plastic pods in their homes, but fortunately, the range of capsules manufactured by Nespresso is made of aluminum instead. That means they’re 100 percent recyclable!
If you use the pod-brewing side of the DualBrew, you may have to do a bit of searching to find recyclable pods. Fortunately, single-serve reusable filters exist, and adding your favorite coffee grounds to those cuts down on the cost of joe and keep you from contributing to the already-massive piles of plastic pods sitting in landfills across the globe.
Ninja Coffee Bar vs. Nespresso Systems — Who Wins the Coffee Maker Debate?
The bottom line is this: both new and longtime coffee drinkers alike can appreciate the wide variety of drinks either machine can produce.
Ultimately, though, the features of the Ninja DualBrew Pro and Nespresso Vertuo are tailored to the consumer, so determining the correct machine for you depends on the type of coffee you plan to brew.
If you’re a true espresso lover who wants to brew one serving at a time, the Nespresso Vertuo might be the machine of your dreams. When you’re known for changing things up and are likely to brew a full pot of coffee one day and a single cup the next, you need the Ninja DualBrew.
No, it can’t produce espresso, but its strong coffee concentrate does the trick if you want to sip a creamy cappuccino, flat white, or other espresso-based drink.
Both of these machines utilize precise technology designed to make high-quality coffee, so you won’t be disappointed by whichever you choose.
Happy Caffeinating!
