If you love coffee but can’t be bothered to brew your own, you need a pod coffee machine in your life. They take care of pretty much everything so all that’s left is for you is to sit back and enjoy. If you’re looking for one, Nespresso is the most popular brand on the market but there are actually a bunch of other high-quality models out there that deserve a share of the spotlight. Here’s a roundup of the best Nespresso alternatives in our book to help you choose, including picks from Keurig, Chulux, and De’Longhi.
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Nespresso Machine Alternatives Comparison Chart
| Name | Keurig K-Cafe | De’Longhi Dedica Pump Espresso Machine | Hamilton Beach FlexBrew 2-Way Coffee Maker |
| Â |  |  |  |
| Price | Check Price at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon |
| Drinks | Coffee, latte, and cappuccino | Single and double espresso, latte, and cappuccino | Single and 12-cup coffee |
| Capsule Compatibility | K-Cups | E.S.E pods or ground coffee | K-Cups and ground coffee |
| Frother | Yes | Yes | No |
| Water Reservoir | 60 ounces | 35 ounces | Singe serve side – 14 ounces Carafe side – 12 cups |
| Dimensions | 12.5 x 15.3 x 11.7 inches | 13 x 5.9 x 12 inches | 11.4 x 12.2 x 13.7 inches |
Keurig K-Cafe
The Keurig K-Cafe makes quality coffee drinks and is reasonably priced.
You can’t go wrong with the Keurig K-Cafe because it’s able to make quality coffee for a very reasonable price. Whether you’re into cappuccinos, lattes, or just straight up espresso, your drink of choice will be ready for you in just a couple of minutes. It also has a 6-ounce cup setting for those of you who like your coffee extra strong. The milk frother is decent too, able to make rich and foamy milk. Of course, it’s not able to perform on the same level as an espresso machine but that’s expected from any pod coffee machine.
As for maintenance, the Keurig K-Cafe is easy to take care of. You just need to regularly empty out the water reservoir and rinse it, as well as clean the entrance and exit needle. As for the milk frother, it needs to be cleaned after every use but it’s dishwasher safe so you can just chuck it in and forget about it.
De’Longhi Dedica Pump Espresso Machine
The De’Longhi Dedica Pump Espresso Machine is able to make single and double shots of espresso.
The De’Longhi Dedica Pump Espresso Machine is the halfway point between a pod coffee machine and an espresso machine. Taste-wise, you get espresso that’s pretty close to the real deal. There is, however, a bit of a learning curve involved as it’s not as straightforward to use as the usual pod coffee machines. The extra steps are worth it though. With the Dedica, you get to enjoy tasty single or double shots of espresso as well as lattes and cappuccinos if you choose to use the frother.
One important thing to note about the Dedica is that it’s not compatible with K-Cups or Nespresso pods. Instead, you use it either with E.S.E pods or ground coffee. As for size, you won’t have a problem finding a spot for it on your kitchen counter because it’s a surprisingly small machine despite having a porta filter.
Chulux Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer
The Chulux Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer is consistent and compact.
If you’re on a tight budget, the Chulux Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer is the best affordable option in our book. While it’s definitely lacking in terms of power and versatility when compared to high-end models, it’s able to make single cups of coffee that’s consistently good. The best part is that it’s compatible with K-Cups, allowing you to enjoy all of your favorite coffee drinks. Another advantage of this model is its small footprint, measuring in at only 7.4 x 4.3 x 9.06 inches.
While it’s great that it doesn’t take up much space, its compact design comes with a drawback. Because its small water reservoir is only able to hold 12 ounces at a time, you’re going to have to refill it a lot more often. Also, take note that this machine is quite slow at brewing coffee, needing around 3 minutes each time.
Hamilton Beach FlexBrew 2-Way Coffee Maker
The Hamilton Beach FlexBrew 2-Way Coffee Maker has a 12-cup carafe setting.
If we’re taking about versatility, it’s hard to beat the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew 2-Way Coffee Maker. While pod coffee machines are usually only able to make a cup at a time, this one has a 12-cup setting that uses ground coffee to make an entire carafe of coffee for you. This feature will come in real handy when you have guests over. But on days when you’re only making coffee for yourself, its other side is compatible with K-Cups and makes single servings of coffee.
Aside from its versatility, this coffee maker has other commendable features such as 24-hour programmability and a setting for extra strong coffee. The best part is that even though it’s equipped with all of these bells and whistles, you can get it for around the same price as other pod coffee machines. Its only real drawbacks are its slow brewing time and the fact that there are two water reservoirs to refill.
Keurig K-Mini Plus Single Serve Coffee Maker
Keurig K-Mini Plus Single Serve Coffee Maker is capable and versatile despite its compact design.
If you don’t have much space to work with in your kitchen, the Keurig K-Mini Plus Single Serve Coffee Maker is a great option to consider. It’s less than 5 inches wide so it shouldn’t be too hard to find a little nook for it. But even though it’s smaller than a lot of the other pod coffee machines out there, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how capable and versatile it is. For starters, it’s able to make your coffee extra strong, a feature that even some high-end models don’t have. In addition, it’s compatible with K-Cups so you can enjoy all of your favorite coffee drinks.
Aside from its small footprint, other convenient features you can enjoy with this model include a dedicated storage for K-Cups, a removable water reservoir, an adjustable drip tray, and storage space for the cord. The only disadvantage of this coffee maker is that its reservoir can’t hold that much water and needs to refilled before every use.
Verdict
There are many alternatives to Nespresso that are just as capable and versatile.
If coffee machines and espresso machines are way too complicated for you to use in the morning, a pod coffee machine is the next best thing. In case you didn’t know, you’re not just limited to Nespresso as there are plenty of models to choose from out there. The top Nespresso alternative in our book would have to be the Keurig K-Cafe because it makes a wide range of quality coffee drinks, is able to brew bold coffee, and is equipped with a milk frother, all for a very reasonable price.
As for the De’Longhi Dedica Pump Espresso Machine, it’s the perfect match for those who love espresso but are too intimidated to handle a real espresso machine. It takes in both ground coffee and E.S.E pods and can make single and double shots of espresso. But if what you’re looking for is versatility, there’s no beating the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew 2-Way Coffee Maker. It’s able to make single cups of coffee as well as 12-cup carafes.
If your main concern is limited kitchen space, however, the Keurig K-Mini Plus Single Serve Coffee Maker and the Chulux Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer are great options for you.
FAQs
The top Nespresso alternative in our book would have to be the Keurig K-Cafe because it makes a wide range of quality coffee drinks, is able to brew bold coffee, and is equipped with a milk frother, all for a very reasonable price.
If you love drinking espresso but are too intimidated to work with a real espresso machine, the De’Longhi Dedica might be a worthwhile investment for you. It takes in both ground coffee and E.S.E pods and can make single and double shots of espresso.
The Keurig K-Mini Plus Single Serve Coffee Maker is a great option to consider because despite its compact design, it’s just as capable and versatile as bigger models.
The Chulux Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer is the best affordable option in our book. While it’s definitely lacking in terms of power and versatility when compared to high-end models, it’s able to make single cups of coffee that’s consistently good.
