Price: Currently £379.95 at Sage, £349 at John Lewis Or £499 at Nespresso

Our rating: 9/10

We like:

• High quality and elegant design
• Small footprint but large water tank
• Simple to use and clean
• Wide variety of flavors and sizes
• Always excellent results

We don’t like:

• Limited to the use of Nespresso capsules
• Non-compostable pods that must be recycled
• Vertuo capsules are larger than the standard size, so fill the recycling bag quickly

What is the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista?

The Vertuo Creatista is a top of the range pod coffee machine made exclusively for Nespresso by premium appliance manufacturer Sage.

The machine is not compatible with the classic capsule style found in most supermarkets, but requires Vertuo pods, which are larger and available in a huge assortment of blends, with seven different sizes. Each pod has a barcode that tells the machine how it should be brewed, ensuring consistent results.

There are several pod machines in the Vertuo range but the Creatista is the only model to integrate a steam wand. Hoping to effortlessly create a range of barista standard coffees, I put its brewing capabilities to the test.

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How we test coffee machines

I tested the machine for several weeks and used a varied selection of pods – from the classic double espresso to capsules specially formulated to be accompanied by milk. I tried a range of different styles including ristrettos, lattes and cappuccinos.

Since pod machines are designed with convenience in mind, I paid special attention to the effort required to unbox, set up, and program the device. I kept in mind the ease of use and the time it takes to prepare each coffee, as well as the quiet operation of the device and the varieties of coffee offered. The quality and consistency of the final product itself was taken into account before rating the model based on its ease of cleaning.

Since most coffee makers take up a permanent spot on the counter, I also considered the size and overall appearance of the machine, two crucial factors for most kitchens.

Design: 10/10