Nespresso vs. Keurig: Which single-serve coffee maker should you buy?

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The world of pod coffee makers is dominated by two brands: Keurig and Nespresso. We typically find Keurig coffee makers in college dorms and our dentist's office, and spot Nespresso machines in 4-star hotels and day spas. As each brand continues to evolve, we wanted to take a deeper dive into their different brewing systems, pod variety, sustainability, and more.

I tested the Keurig K-Duo (Gen 2) and a Nespresso Vertuo Plus, using my experience as a product tester, kitchen editor, and coffee drinker. Though the K-Duo is capable of pod and carafe brewing, I focused on the pod settings for a direct comparison to the Vertuo Plus.

After over-caffeinating for a few weeks, I asked myself if Keurig had made the leap from a communal space standby to luxury home brewer. Spoiler: Not exactly. Keurig is better for variety: it has a larger pod selection and an expansive range of brewers catalog, which caters to big households with multiple types of coffee drinkers. Nespresso, however, still makes a better cup of coffee. For quality over quantity and a more nuanced coffee palate, Nespresso is the way to go.

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Brewing method

Both the Nespresso VertuoPlus and the Keurig K-Duo are consistent and convenient to use, which is true for any of the best single-serve coffee makers. However, there are key differences in the mechanics of the brewing systems.

When you brew with a Keurig, hot water is quickly and forcefully pushed through the coffee grounds in the pod. The user can control the amount of coffee brewed. The K-Duo also lets you adjust the temperature with an extra-hot setting, but I didn't measure any temperature difference between that and the standard.

The positives of the Keurig system are that every K-Cup works in every Keurig model and it's fast. It only took a minute to brew eight ounces of coffee, while I timed the Nespresso at nearly two minutes to do the same.

At a basic level, Nespresso Vertuo machines have a similar brewing process to Keurigs. Hot water is pushed through the coffee grounds in the pod. Nespresso then adds a unique element: the pod spins at over 1,000 rpms as the grounds are infused. This is part of what gives Nespresso coffee its signature crema, which made me feel like every drink came from a café.

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Coffee quality

Unfortunately, Keurig customization comes with a cost. Most K-Cups are designed for 6-ounce brews; you can choose a larger amount on the machine, but you'll end up with a watered-down cup of coffee. When I made an eight-ounce cup with a Peet's Dark Roast K-Cup, I wasn't impressed. The coffee tasted a little diluted and faintly burnt.

The most important distinction between the Keurig and Nespresso brewing processes is built into the pods themselves. Each Nespresso pod has a code that tells the machine the optimal size, amount of water, strength, and speed of rotation to brew. The machines themselves often have just one button.

For some people, this may feel less customizable than the Keurig. Using a Nespresso means you have to choose flavor, strength, and size when buying the pods themselves. As someone who drinks the same cup of coffee every morning, I like the Nespresso system. Not only does the coffee taste better with a fuller flavor, but I also like not having to think when operating the machine.

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Pod cost and variety

Undoubtedly, Keurig has a more robust pod library. Almost every coffee brand makes a K-Cup, from Starbucks to Atlas Coffee Club. In contrast, Nespresso uses patents and design trademarks to maintain tight control over their pods. You can find pods from Peet's and Lavazza that are compatible with Nespresso Original brewers, but Starbucks is the only other brand with Vertuo pods.

The main downside of choosing a Nespresso machine is that there's less variety and at a higher price. For $40, you can get 60 Starbucks Cafe Verona K-Cups. The same price gets you just 32 Nespresso Vertuo pods with the identical Starbucks blend.

I have to mention that all pre-filled pods, like any pre-ground coffee, have less flavor than freshly ground coffee beans. No matter how carefully curated and sourced the coffee is, it's inevitable that the second you grind the beans, even with the best coffee grinder, you start losing flavor. So, we rounded up the best Nespresso pods and best K-Cups to guide your purchase.

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Brewer models

Keurig's catalog of 21 machines seems complicated at first, but once you decide on the key features you care about, it's easy to choose. In our guide to the best Keurig coffee makers, we categorize the machines by size, capacity, and special features, like an iced coffee setting or integrated milk frother. Plus, most K-Cups work with most Keurigs.

Choosing the best Nespresso, on the other hand, requires a key decision right off the bat. The brand has two product lines, Original and Vertuo, and separate pod types for each. The Original line has eight machines and only makes espresso using a pressurized brewing system; it's the closest to true espresso you can get with a pod machine.

No current Keurig compares to the Nespresso Original models, so to really evaluate the two brands, we looked at Vertuo machines. Like with Keurig, you'll sort through based on the most important features to you. Unlike with Keurig, you only have seven models to choose from. As we described above, the pods are the main way you customize your Nespresso drinks. Only the Lattissima and Creatista models have additional functionalities, like integrated milk frothers. The other Vertuo models differ in size, compatibility with iced or carafe pods, water tank capacity, and used pod reservoirs.

Keurig is the more budget-friendly brand. The Keurig K-Duo Plus is the brand's most expensive consumer model at $230, but Keurig coffee makers are on sale so often that we hardly ever see one at full price. During deal events, we regularly find compact Keurigs (like the K-Mini and K-Express) discounted to $50. In stark contrast, Nespresso's cheapest Vertuo machine is $130, and the top of the top-of-the-line Creatista is $700. That's only $100 less than one of our best espresso machines, the Breville Barista Express Impress.

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Recycling pods

For many people, the negative environmental impact of single-use pods is a dealbreaker. Even with recycling efforts made by both brands, pod brewers are not the most eco-friendly coffee option.

How to recycle Nespresso pods

According to the brand, you cannot recycle Nespresso pods at home. New York City is the exception; you can drop used pods in with your regular curbside recycling. Elsewhere, I've seen people puncture the used capsules, dump out the coffee grounds for compost, and rinse the aluminum casings to recycle, but it's a huge inconvenience. You can bring used capsules to drop-off points (mostly Nespresso boutiques and Williams Sonomas) or fill a branded recycling bag with them and mail it back to Nespresso.

How to recycle Keurig pods

In recent years, Keurig has made strides toward making its pods more sustainable: introducing easy-peel lids (so you can dump out and compost the grounds) and making pods from recyclable materials. Getting the grounds out is easy, but many communities don't actually recycle the type of plastic. You'll have to check with your local recycling resources.

The most sustainable K-Cup is the My K-Cup Universal Filter. You can fill it with any coffee grounds and use it as a single-serve pod. I tried it out and found it surprisingly easy to use. The initial setup instructions were confusing, but once I got it organized, it was easy to brew and clean the filter basket.

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The bottom line

I prefer Nespresso because of the system's simplicity and the coffee's rich flavor, but I also live by myself and only drink one cup a day. For families, roommates, or people who drink coffee all day, a Keurig machine is more affordable. Plus, on machines like the K-Duo or K-Supreme, each pod's strength and size are customizable each time you brew.