A Nespresso Deluxe machine that is not popular with customers

Nespresso is a leader among coffee machine manufacturers, offering its customers a wide range of machines and additional gadgets. The company pioneered the world of coffee pods and is a favorite brand for many people who enjoy the ease of preparing their morning cup with little more than the press of a button. However, despite Nespresso’s unshakable position in the world of hot drinks, its offer includes one device that has caused great emotions among customers: Vertuo Next.

The attractiveness of the Vertuo line lies primarily in the fact that it brews larger cups of coffee and offers a wider selection of infusions than standard espresso. Understandably, this attracted many coffee lovers to purchase, despite the more expensive Vertuo capsules. However, it’s easy to sympathize with customers’ disappointment with Vertuo Next machines, as many of them discovered within weeks that their machines were defective. There is a disproportionate number of one-star product reviews on Nespresso’s global websites.

One of the main complaints appearing on Reddit and Nespresso websites is that Vertuo Next machines constantly leak, a problem that cannot be solved even by regularly cleaning and descaling the machine. Another common problem is that the device soon starts flashing an error light without a good explanation. It then needs to be unplugged and completely reset before it starts working again. Another dissatisfied customer commented on Nespresso’s US website: ‘Red, orange or red lights are flashing. Things that should go around don’t always go around.” They warned buyers that it was “not worth the bother.”

Read more: 26 coffee tricks you need to know for a better cup

Customers claim that replacement machines do not solve the problem

Although in most cases Nespresso was happy to replace the faulty coffee machine, this did not solve the problems. The issues occurred with replacement Vertuo Next machines, indicating a possible manufacturing issue. As one customer who replaced the Vertuo Next several times in two years noted on Reddit, “I hope the 5th machine does the job.” One solution people have found is to replace the Vertuo Next with another machine in the Vertuo line, such as the Vertuo Plus, rather than asking for a new Next. However, this solution will not work for those who specifically chose the Next model due to the Pour Over capsules, which are incompatible with the Plus model. However, they work with Creatista, Latissima and Pop Vertuo machines, so they would be a better replacement.

The Vertuo Next is also a disappointment in an area that coffee lovers find truly inexcusable: Some say it makes bad coffee. Many faults result in coffee that is watery, irregular and too frothy. Nespresso doesn’t seem to be publicly acknowledging the problems, other than offering replacements and telling some customers to clean the inside of the machine after each brew, which seems incredibly difficult to maintain for a coffee machine that’s supposed to make our lives easier. As one Redditor joked: “Don’t give a Nespresso VL Next as a gift – the intended recipient of the gift may no longer be your friend.”

Read the original tasting table article.