Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ Review: Worth It? (October 2026)
This Nespresso Vertuo Pop review recommends the Pop+ for small kitchens and mixed coffee routines. Choose the Vertuo Next bundle for milk foam or the Pop+ Deluxe for fewer water refills.
On this page (10 sections)
- Nespresso Vertuo Pop review: who should buy it?
- What cup sizes can you make?
- How much counter space and water capacity does it need?
- Does the Pop+ include a milk frother?
- Pop+ or Pop+ Deluxe: what changes?
- How should you set up the Pop+ for the first cup?
- What should you know about capsules and daily use?
- How do you clean and descale the Pop+?
- Which buying mistakes should you avoid?
- Nespresso Vertuo Pop review verdict: which should you choose?
Our Nespresso Vertuo Pop review recommends the Pop+ for small kitchens where you want both espresso and mug coffee. Its main compromises are a small water tank and the need for a separate frother if you want milk foam.
Buy it for the drinks you actually make, rather than the number of options you might use someday. A black-coffee drinker has different needs from someone making 2 lattes each morning, and those differences decide which of these machines makes sense.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop review: who should buy it?
The standard Pop+ suits one-person coffee routines and kitchens with limited space. It covers short coffee drinks and larger cups without requiring you to measure grounds or adjust a grinder.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ by De'Longhi
- 5 cup sizes
- 25 fl oz side water tank
- One-touch brewing
- Adjustable drip tray
Choose the Pop+ for a small kitchen where one machine needs to cover espresso and mug coffee. Its removable side tank is easy to reach when you leave space beside it.
Pros
- Five coffee and espresso sizes
- Side-mounted removable tank
- 30-second heat-up time
- Adjustable drip tray
Cons
- Vertuo capsules only
- Separate frother needed for milk foam
- Small tank means more frequent refills
Its strongest use case is a home where you might want espresso after lunch and a mug of coffee in the morning. One-touch brewing keeps that switch simple, with the capsule guiding the brew settings.
The Pop+ also suits someone who drinks coffee black or adds a splash of milk. You don't need a frother unless you want foam, so that missing accessory may have no effect on your daily routine.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ review: who should skip it?
Skip the Pop+ if you want loose-ground coffee or detailed control over extraction. This is a capsule machine built around convenience, so it won't replace the workflow of a traditional espresso setup.
It is also a weaker fit for a busy household making several large coffees in quick succession. Refilling a small reservoir becomes more noticeable when multiple people are waiting for a drink.
Daily latte drinkers should compare complete setups before choosing. A machine, separate frother and space for both may suit your kitchen differently from a machine-only purchase.
The Nespresso machine guide explains the wider system choices if you haven't settled on Vertuo yet.
What cup sizes can you make?
The Pop+ makes 5, 8 and 12 oz coffees, plus single and double espresso. It supports drinks brewed hot or over ice, but the capsule you choose matters as much as the machine.
Choose capsules for the drink format you want. A bigger mug doesn't turn an espresso capsule into a mug-coffee capsule, and adding extra water changes the strength of the drink.
If you prefer a longer, lighter drink, you can add hot water to brewed espresso. That is a different choice from buying a capsule intended to produce a larger coffee.
For iced drinks, leave enough room for coffee, ice and any milk. Coffee brewed over ice will melt some of it, so start with a recipe suited to that format rather than filling the glass to the rim.
The Next adds an 18 oz coffee option, which matters if the Pop+'s largest format is too small for your routine. Our Vertuo Pop+ and Vertuo Next comparison helps you weigh that extra format against the different machine shapes.
How much counter space and water capacity does it need?
The Pop+ needs working room around its body, not just an empty rectangle on the counter. Measure the space where you'll open it, refill it and place your cup.
| Detail | Vertuo Pop+ |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 14 x 8.6 x 10.4 in |
| Water tank | About 25 fl oz, removable and side-mounted |
| Heat-up time | 30 seconds |
| Drip tray | Adjustable, with 2 positions |
Check depth first if your counter is shallow. A machine can fit between appliances yet still sit too close to the front edge or leave awkward access behind it.
Next, check the space above the machine for opening the head. Its closed height doesn't tell you whether you can load a capsule comfortably under a low cabinet.
The side tank is useful only if you can reach it. Don't wedge that side against a wall or place another appliance where you'll need to lift the reservoir.
A full tank holds roughly enough water for 3 nominal 8 oz coffees before allowing for any rinsing. Treat that as a planning estimate, and expect to refill sooner when making larger drinks.
For a broader choice of footprints and reservoirs, compare the best Nespresso Vertuo machines.
Does the Pop+ include a milk frother?
This Pop+ package doesn't include a milk frother, so choose a separate one if you want foamed milk. For plain coffee with a little milk stirred in, an extra appliance isn't necessary.
The foam produced during coffee brewing isn't milk foam. Lattes and cappuccinos need a separate milk step, which adds preparation and cleanup even when the coffee itself is simple.
The Vertuo Next bundle includes an Aeroccino3 for hot or cold milk foam. It measures 16.9 in deep, 5.5 in wide and 12.4 in high, so its narrower body still needs more depth and height than the Pop+.
Choose that bundle if milk drinks are your main reason for buying a machine. Skip it if you'll rarely use foam, especially when the deeper body would make your counter harder to use.
Allow space beside the Next for the frother and a place to set it while cleaning. Comparing machine width alone misses part of the setup.
Our guide to Nespresso machines with milk frothers covers other options if milk drinks are your priority.
Pop+ or Pop+ Deluxe: what changes?
The Deluxe is the better fit when fewer water refills matter most. Its 37.2 fl oz reservoir holds more than the standard Pop+'s tank, and dark chrome accents change its appearance.
That extra capacity is useful for a couple sharing a machine or someone who makes several coffees during the day. It reduces trips to the sink without changing the need to load a capsule for each drink.
Buy the Deluxe for that practical benefit or its finish. A larger reservoir by itself isn't a reason to expect better-tasting coffee.
The Deluxe package identifies a welcome pack of Vertuo capsules, while frother inclusion can vary. Confirm the drink formats and included accessories for your chosen package before ordering.
Choose the standard Pop+ if topping up the tank is easy and you don't need the extra capacity. Our Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ Deluxe review explains that variant in more detail.
How should you set up the Pop+ for the first cup?
Start with the first-use rinse in the machine's manual, then brew a capsule once the machine is ready. Don't treat the first coffee as a substitute for the setup rinse.
Place the machine on a stable, level surface near a suitable outlet. Check tank access and head clearance before filling it, since moving a filled machine is less convenient.
Wash removable parts as directed, fill the reservoir with fresh drinking water and seat it securely. Put a suitable container under the outlet for the first-use cycle.
Set the drip tray for your usual cup. Keeping a small cup reasonably close to the outlet helps limit splashes, while taller mugs need enough clearance to sit flat and safely.
Use the included capsule sampler to learn which drink formats suit you before stocking up. Try a small range first, especially if you're moving from a different coffee system.
Keep the manual somewhere easy to find for light signals and maintenance steps. Our guide to using a Nespresso machine is a useful companion as you learn the routine.
What should you know about capsules and daily use?
The Pop+ requires Nespresso Vertuo capsules, so capsule choice is part of the buying decision. Original capsules won't fit, and loose coffee grounds aren't an alternative input.
The machine reads the code on each capsule and adjusts brewing settings. Match the capsule to your preferred drink rather than assuming every capsule will produce the same amount of coffee.
Before buying, consider how many capsules your household will use in a normal week. Compare the ongoing capsule expense with your current coffee routine, rather than judging the machine alone.
Store capsules somewhere clean and dry, and keep a few familiar choices on hand. A sampler helps you explore, but a routine needs coffee you'll want to drink repeatedly.
Nespresso offers a free recycling program for its aluminum capsules. Set aside a collection spot and check the program's local return instructions so recycling becomes part of your routine.
Empty used capsules and drip water regularly according to the manual. Leaving those tasks until the machine is crowded makes an otherwise simple coffee routine less pleasant.
How do you clean and descale the Pop+?
Clean removable parts regularly and descale when prompted, following the Pop+'s instructions. These jobs solve different problems, so one doesn't replace the other.
Routine cleaning removes coffee residue and spills from accessible parts. Descaling addresses mineral buildup inside the water path, which wiping the outside can't remove.
Empty the drip tray, clean the cup support and wash the reservoir as directed. Let cleaned parts dry, and avoid assuming that every removable piece belongs in a dishwasher.
The Pop+ has a descaling alert to help you keep track of maintenance. Use the recommended solution and follow the complete sequence, including rinsing, rather than stopping once the descaling liquid has passed through.
Our Nespresso cleaning guide covers regular care. For mineral removal, follow the separate steps for descaling a Nespresso Vertuo.
If you also use a frother, clean it after preparing milk according to its instructions. Dried milk adds a separate cleanup task that black-coffee drinkers won't have.
Which buying mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid choosing on machine size, drink count or bundle name alone. The right choice fits your daily cup, available space and willingness to refill and clean it.
- Buying the wrong capsule system: Check for Vertuo compatibility before stocking up, particularly if you already have Original capsules.
- Measuring only width: Include depth, room above the head and access beside the tank.
- Forgetting the milk step: Decide whether you want plain milk or foam before choosing a machine-only package.
- Ignoring your usual cup: Check the mug's height and leave room for milk or ice as well as brewed coffee.
- Choosing for occasional guests: Prioritize the drinks you make each day, then decide how much rare extra capacity matters.
Also remember that these are single-serve machines. A larger drink option or tank doesn't turn one into a brewer that prepares several separate cups at once.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop review verdict: which should you choose?
Choose the standard Pop+ for a compact coffee-and-espresso routine, the Next bundle for frequent milk drinks, or the Deluxe for fewer refill stops. Those are the practical differences that should drive your decision.
The standard Pop+ is the strongest starting point if you usually make one drink at a time and can refill the tank easily. Skip the extra accessories if black coffee is what you'll actually drink.
Choose the Next when the included frother or larger coffee format solves a daily need. Choose the Deluxe when repeated refills would interrupt your routine, rather than expecting the larger tank to change the coffee.
The decision from this Nespresso Vertuo Pop review is to match the machine to your normal morning. If you're choosing between the standard model and the milk-frother bundle, use our Vertuo Pop+ vs Next comparison for the final check.
Frequently asked questions
What drinks can the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ make?
The Pop+ makes 5, 8 and 12 oz coffees, plus single and double espresso; it can brew hot or over ice with compatible Vertuo capsules. Choose the capsule for the drink you want, and leave extra room in your cup when adding ice or milk.
Does the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ come with a milk frother?
This Pop+ package includes the machine and a capsule sampler, so plan on a separate frother for milk foam. The Vertuo Next bundle here includes an Aeroccino3 for hot or cold foam; choose that bundle if you want to make lattes without selecting another accessory.
How much space does the Vertuo Pop+ need?
The Pop+ measures 14 in deep, 8.6 in wide and 10.4 in high; allow extra space to open the head and remove the side tank. Check your usual mug with the adjustable drip tray, and leave room to reach the controls without moving nearby appliances.
Can the Vertuo Pop+ use Nespresso Original capsules?
No, the Pop+ uses Nespresso Vertuo capsules exclusively, so Original capsules won't fit; check the capsule system before buying a box or replacing an older machine. Our Nespresso Original vs Vertuo guide explains the system choice if you are still deciding which type suits your coffee routine.
