Nespresso vs Keurig: Which Is the Better Brewing Machine?

Technology has taken a long journey to become what it is now. People have become more productive thanks to the assistance of machinery. However, to truly make people productive and fill them with the energy they need to go through the day is with caffeine—this is where the coffee brewing machine comes in.

Keurig and Nespresso have been the top brewing companies that led this new movement of having brewing machines in your own home or even also having brewing machines in your work offices. Both companies have come with an array of different models of different price points, having different impacts regarding functionality and suitability.

Launched in 1998, the first Keurig machine was an instant hit with avid coffee drinkers. Their original single-serve brewer and coffee-pods were first manufactured in Massachusetts. The single-cup brewing system was loved by many homebrewers, and just like the coffee, gained instant popularity.

Founded in the year 1986, Nestle’s Nespresso has changed the way that people enjoy their espresso coffee—people from all over the world, having their eyes set on coffee culture. Many avid coffee drinkers appreciate the convenience of having their own coffee brewing experience, the exact experience that Nespresso claimed to bring.

Through technological advances, the two companies have succeeded in making more modernized brewing machines. This is where we go through the latest Keurig and Nespresso machines, finding out which brewing machine comes on top.

So from which brand should you buy? And what are the major differences between Keurig and Nespresso’s brewing machines? With a variety of different models being sold and loved worldwide, we have to take into consideration each of their best-selling machines from various categories.

This in-depth guide will surely help answer those questions, in an attempt to cover all of the major factors that both Keurig and Nespresso have, highlighting the pros and cons of each product.

How We Started

When picking out a coffee brewing machine, the average person may not know what to look for. Many people have various ideas and goals in mind when prioritizing different factors.

Some might look for something that offers convenience—for certain, there are instances where convenience wins over taste. Famous brands like Nespresso and Keurig are commonly known as the top competitors for the most convenient coffee machines.

To have a comparison that is simple and easy to understand, we’ll put each of the brands to the test, finding out about the range of various factors and dive into the vast array of unique features for each Keurig and Nespresso. To note: We’ll be comparing the top-rated brewing machines offered by each brand. From Nespresso comes the Nespresso Gran Lattissima, with Keurig comes the Keurig K-Cafe.

Regardless of the factors that you’re looking for in your next device, you should be able to find all the necessary information you need throughout this guide.

Covered with everything from convenience, coffee type, brew size, special features, and many others, this should be able to tell you which of the various brewing machines are most suitable for you and your needs.

Both Nespresso and Keurig have advantages and disadvantages, with some major differences that separate one from the other. This guide will allow anyone who hesitates between these two models to draw a clear conclusion.

Similarities and Differences 

To begin with, when taking a glance, the average person might find difficulties finding the major differences between the Nespresso Gran Lattissima and the Keurig K-cafe. In appearances, they both serve a different model design while maintaining a beautifully sleek aesthetic. However, to the untrained eye, they’ll only seem like any luxurious brewing machine.

The Nespresso Gran Lattissima along with the Keurig K-cafe are known to be the best single-serve coffee makers. With both having similar black and grey aesthetics, they also feature a lot of the same technology too—both of them offer their renditions of coffee cups, namely, Keurig’s K-cups and Nespresso’s Capsules.

Nespresso developed their capsule-brewing system in the mid-1970s, yet it wasn’t until 1990 that its product became popular in the European markets. 

The Nespresso’s Capsule is manufactured with aluminum and food-grade lacquer as the materials for the container. Its foil is also made into different patterns depending on which particularly suits the coffee.

The patterns are claimed to adjust brewing duration and temperatures as needed by the type of coffee. On the other hand, Keurig’s K-cups are mostly made of plastic and a foil lid. Either pod or capsule is said to have about 3–4 grams of coffee, which is just enough for one cup’s worth of brewing.

The Keurig K-cafe was released in 2018, making it Keurig’s top of the line brewing machine, embellished with the best brewing technologies and features (all the while maintaining affordability) that Keurig has to offer.

The Nespresso Gran Lattissima was later on released in the year 2019, also implemented with cutting-edge Nespresso brewing tech, the Gran Lattissima was made with the intent of the most luxurious single-brewed coffee drinking experience.

Aside from price ranges and affordability factors, with such similarities, are there in actuality any notable key differences between Nespresso and Keurig? For certain, there are. If we take a closer look, we should be able to spot the various important differences between the two brands.

Design and Build Quality

One of the important factors to pay attention to when considering any type of brewing machine is the general design and build quality. Knowing that you’re planning on purchasing a coffee machine, it should be kept in mind that you’re most likely going to use the machine daily. This means that you need to also keep in check the machine’s longevity and durability, to make sure that it functions as well as stays at its peak conditions. 

With having priorities in check, you would want to keep your machine looking good and staying robust throughout its ownership. So with that in mind, how do the two brands compare with each other?

The Keurig K-Cafe measures in at the hefty size of 12.5×15.3×11.7”, which then weighs in at exactly 10 lbs (Approx. 4.53 kg). This brewing machine might take up some counter space, and it's made with heat resistant plastic and has a rather unique and odd shape. It has two segments designed into each side of the K-cup holder—the left has a 60 oz. water container installed in it, while the right portion contains the frother’s base.

The design seems asymmetrical since the right segment is a lot lower in height than the rest of the unit. Nevertheless, it’s still a good take on a more modern and sleek aesthetic, making it easy to fit into most kitchens in terms of eye-candy value.

The Nespresso Gran Lattissima however measures in at the size of 8×14.4×10.8”, which then weighs at a slightly heavier weight of 11.4 lbs (Approx. 5.2 kg). This brewing machine takes even less counter space. Within its beautiful design. It contains a water tank with a 1.3-liter capacity and a removable milk container that has a 0.5-liter capacity.

The machine is built with stainless steel material, making it quite a durable machine. It’s designed with a very squared off and modern look, giving it a very sleek and sexy shape to it, and asides from its functionality, doubles up as a decoration in your kitchen space, as its aesthetics are deeply pleasing to the eye.

In terms of both build quality and design, the Nespresso Gran Lattissima is the winner here, as its build material is stainless, making it a whole lot sturdier than the plastic-based Keurig K-Cafe. The Nespresso Gran Lattissima overall has a sleeker and more beautiful design to it, at least more aesthetically pleasing than the asymmetrical Keurig K-Cafe.

The Nespresso Gran Lattissima is also the better machine when it comes to the automatic shut-off function (Turning off after 9 minutes of non-use, contrasted with Keurig K-Cafe’s shut-off feature that activates after 2 whole hours).

Convenience

After all, when purchasing a single-brew coffee, you’re going to be prioritizing convenience over most other factors. 

The Keurig K-Cafe is considered to be a very user-friendly machine—it takes little to no effort to make great quality coffee drinks. All you need to do after turning the machine on is to place a K-Cup into the machine’s designated pod-slot, place your coffee cup into the drip area, and finally press the start button. The machine should do all the tough work. The Keurig K-Cafe is also designed with a built-in frother which gives you freedom and versatility when it comes to coffee making. 

The Nespresso Gran Lattissima has virtually the same functions that exude convenience. Take a Nespresso Capsule and do all the same steps. However, there’s a feature in the Nespresso Gran Lattissima that puts it a step further than the Keurig K-Cafe.

Before this model was released, people would usually have separate brewing machines—one for basic coffee and another for espressos. However, the Nespresso Gran Lattissima has a built-in brewer to brew both coffee and espresso options—making it both convenient and a good option for saving space.

Overall, both machines serve their purpose. What might be considered an extra advantage in the Nespresso Gran Lattissima is that it has the added function of brewing espressos. However, this ends in a draw, since both fairly serve their purpose: brewing single-serve coffee at your leisure.

Unique Features

Another factor to think about is the different variety of features that are offered by each brewing machine. As long as the machine serves its purpose—to conveniently brew single-serve coffee without breaking a sweat—what else is there to consider? Well, it depends on which machine better suits your daily caffeine needs.

With the Keurig K-Cafe, even a novice at coffee making can make brewed coffee like a professional. The machine’s built-in frother allows for versatility, you can do a lot with it such as making up lattes and cappuccinos.

You can even use different types of milk such as soy, almond, and skimmed milk among many others. The Keurig offers a serving size selection ranging from 6oz–12oz. You can also use travel mugs and it would still work out.

 The large water reservoir makes up for an easier coffee experience, with the convenience of not having to fill it up every couple uses. The brew strength is also adjustable, giving you different options all the while being compatible with all the different K-Cups that Keurig offers. Additionally, the Keurig K-Cafe will automatically shut off after 2 hours of non-use to improve energy-efficiency.

The Nespresso Gran Lattissima, as we’ve mentioned before, has its espresso maker. Having a single machine that performs twice the amount as expected is a great asset to any avid caffeine fan.

You can now make coffee or espressos at any time of the day, making it a great way to cycle through either mode so you would never get sick of either. The machine has Centrifusion technology, allowing for the capsules to create a natural crema in both their coffee and espresso.

All you need to do when brewing is press one button, the machine will smartly read the bar codes found on the Nespresso capsules, making it an even easier task to do.

The machine also has a fast heat-up time of 15–20 seconds—nothing is better than great quality coffee brewed in almost an instant. Just like any modern brewing machine, it also has an automatic shut-off feature—the machine automatically turns off after nine minutes of being inactive.

Overall, the Keurig K-Cafe’s frothing technology is a great addition to any brewing machine. However, the Nespresso Gran Lattissima greatly overshadows that with its built-in espresso brewing technology. 

Price

For most coffee drinkers, a cup of Nespresso and Keurig can cost about $0.75, with higher-end drinks getting as expensive as $2.00 per cup. However, bulk buying can help bring the price down by a lot.

Both Nespresso and Keurig machines generally have a price range of $80-$100 and can get up to as high as $180-$300 for much higher-end models. The Keurig K-Cafe fits right in with its price ranging around $160-$190 depending on the market.

However, with the Nespresso Gran Lattissima being a luxury item, it completely gets outside of the price range and is sold at a hefty price that ranges from $455 to $600. With that being said, the Nespresso is for sure an item that exudes luxury and class.

Brand & Customer Service

Both Nespresso and Keurig are trustworthy brands that have been successful in producing high-grade brewing machines for many years now. Their goals are set into manufacturing the highest quality appliances, suitable for users anywhere around the world. 

Both companies boast that they make sure that their clients are taken care of properly, this was a claim by their customer service representatives.

They only hire properly qualified professionals to handle their customers and ensure customer satisfaction. If you encounter any issues, you have the leisure of messaging them for inquiries and support.

Maintenance & Cleaning

The convenience of cleaning and maintenance is another major factor to put into consideration when deciding between either Nespresso or Keurig brewing machines.

With both machines claiming their ease and convenience of use—however, the same promise should be extended to cleaning and maintenance as well as they are prime factors for the making of a much better brewing experience.

 Regardless of which machine you go for, the cleaning experience should be fairly similar. To start, you have to begin with wiping the surface of the exterior and hand wash any removable parts.

It is suggested that either of the brewing machines should be flushed out every 3–6 months as a countermeasure to any dirt buildup.

Nespresso

Ease of mind comes from simplicity and convenience when cleaning and maintaining Nespresso coffee brewing machines. Nespresso machines also come with a mode for cleaning through the use of several coordinated presses on different buttons to be used as a code.

For this to work out, all you need is water, nothing else has to be bought or applied to finish the cleaning process. 

Keurig

With Keurig, users should be expecting a bit of a more difficult cleaning process. Most users claim that they need to utilize a water and vinegar mixture to get rid of scales.

However, Keurig recommends using their patented Keurig Hot Descaling Solution to get rid of any dirt. The product comes with a step by step instruction as to how the cleansing can take 15 minutes or less.

The cleaning and maintenance methods for the two coffee machines can still make some users doubt the claims for convenience. Nespresso seems to be the easier machine to clean and maintain, but some users believe that it’s still impossible for using nothing but water to cleanse the inner workings of the machine.

Also, it’s been noted that Keurig pod assembly—which has an entry and exit, are easily clogged and can make it troublesome to clean.

Who Should Get This?

Keurig K-Cafe

The reliable and cheap Keurig K-Cafe is blatantly lacking in some features that some of the more modern brewing machines have. However, the Keurig K-Cafe is still a very solid machine—it’s reliable, convenient, well-made, and still has a lot more to offer.

When it was launched back in the year 2018, it was widely known for being one of the most affordable, high-quality, and convenient brewing machines found in the market, and still holds the title up to today.

Its reliability for its affordability is unrivaled. For anyone who’s looking for a brewing machine that offers the best coffee experience, while maintaining its cheap price, will find a lot to like about the Keurig K-Cafe.

It may not have all the latest cutting-edge technology that the current models have, but it’s still a great device overall. It’s a device that is certainly recommended to people who don't want to bust their wallet for all the added features like the extra espresso brewer that they might not even utilize. 

Nespresso Gran Lattissima

The Nespresso Gran Lattissima takes on everything that makes a good brewing machine, along with the many added features that are unique to it. The design is also designed with the intent of making it pleasing to the eyes, giving a much smoother and sleeker look.

The machine is also very compact so that storing it wouldn’t become a negative value when purchasing since it has become very easy to keep it hidden and stored with its petite dimension. The added features may not all be needed depending on your priorities and situation.

However, they certainly prove to be highly useful to all, especially the featured espresso brewer that might entice people to drink espressos more often than not. 

However, the Nespresso Gran Lattissima is a much more expensive item to procure. It advertises to be the most luxurious brewing experience there is in the market, which is certainly true.

Although being a great option, not everyone can afford this, and it certainly isn’t worth breaking the bank when you could purchase a much cheaper option like the Keurig K-Cafe.

All in all, the Nespresso Gran Lattissima is recommended to any avid caffeine lover, with its full-fledged espresso brewer alongside the up to par coffee brewer. Of course, you’d have to pay a lot extra for the added privilege, as compared to the Keurig K-Cafe, it surely is the pick for anyone who has the money to spend.

Our Pick

Overall, it’s apparent to see that both the Keurig K-Cafe and the Nespresso Gran Lattissima have tons of features and uses to offer. The humbler Keurig K-Cafe can serve as a great introduction to the world of home coffee brewing—along with its fairly moderate price.

While the Nespresso Gran Lattissima for certain has the same roots, it is a step-up when it comes to elegant features and luxurious designs. So, which one of the two differently priced machines gets our approval?

Our Pick: Nespresso Gran Lattissima

In this battle of side by side comparison, the winner has to be the Nespresso Gran Lattissima. Even though the Keurig K-Cafe is a whole lot cheaper for most of the time, the Gran Lattissima just has better features and functions.

With its overall better production, such as its much more durable and aesthetically-pleasing design, additional espresso brewer, and smarter design, it becomes a truly unrivalled luxury item.