Nescafe Dolce Gusto vs. Nespresso

Before you settle on a coffee pod machine to invest in, you need to make sure you have the Dolce Gusto and the Nespresso machines, both by Nescafe, on your shortlist. This is because they are among the best coffee machines in the world and, like any good set of siblings, have quite the competition going on between them. I could not decide which to pick, so I researched to find out more about them. I have therefore created this post to take you along in my search so that you can also discover which machine suits your needs and lifestyle the best. So read on!

Table of Contents

What are the differences between Nescafe Dolce Gusto and Nespresso?

Features	Nescafe Dolce Gusto	Nespresso
What it’s made of (material)	Some parts of the machines are made of stainless steel, others plastic. A number of these machines use recycled plastic. They use almost similar materials.	The machines have parts made of stainless steel and plastic. Newer machines use recycled plastic, as with the Dolce gusto range.
Appearance	Dolce Gusto coffee machines have more curvaceous and modern lines and bolder color choices.	Nespresso uses a limited number of colors and styles
Price	More affordable	Comparatively more expensive
Coffee Pods compatibility	Pods compatible across all dolce gusto machines	Use Vertuoline pods for only vertuoline machines. However, Original line machines can take Original line, some reusable and third-party pods. More flexible
Warranty	Limited two years warranty Longer warranty for all items.	One to two years limited warranty years for some machines.
Capacity	Water tank capacity ranges from 0.8 liters to 1.2 liters	water tank capacity ranges from 0.6 liters to 2 liters More capacity in several items.
Ease of clean up	The machine rinses as it descales, so there is no need to rinse afterward.	Clean the milk frother or steam wand right after use. Regular frother cleaning is more involving.
Model	Has four models, which are fewer compared to Nespresso	The Original Line has eight base models and twelve different products. Vertuoline has four models. It has more models to choose from.
Availability	Can get pods in supermarkets. More available	Specialty and gourmet pods are only available online at the Nespresso store.
Ease of use	Easier to use. These machines have only one control handle for the whole coffee-making process.	Need to learn how to operate which makes it less straightforward to use compared to the Dolce gusto

Nescafe Dolce Gusto vs. Nespresso: How do they compare?

What it’s made of (ingredients)

We looked at both sets of machines and discovered they were made of stainless steel for most parts that came into contact with the food, plastic covers, and other parts. We also learned the plastic, especially on the newer machines, was from a recycled source; some of it was over 50 percent recycled, which we found very impressive.

When it comes to the build of the machine, it is a draw as both have similar kinds of materials.

Appearance

The Dolce Gusto items look quite attractive for their curvaceous and modern lines. Although the Nespresso lines have some elegant pieces, we found them more dated in styling than the Dolce Gusto range. Plus, Dolce Gusto machines come in various designs and colors to fit any kitchen or office décor. Nespresso uses a limited number of colors.

So when it comes to appearance, Dolce gusto is the clear winner.

Price

Looking at the prices, we realized that the Dolce Gusto machines and pods were affordable compared with the Nespresso. Although the Nespresso price per cup is still much lower than what you’d get in a coffee shop, especially for a great specialty cup, you will be hard-pressed to pick a Nespresso machine over a Dolce Gusto machine based on price alone.

As far as price goes, the Dolce Gusto wins for having lower prices.

Coffee Pods compatibility

We liked that the pods were compatible across all Dolce Gusto machines, which means, for instance, you just shop once for your home and office Dolce Gusto machines, regardless of their different sizes.

However, while Nespresso Vertuoline will only use Vertuoline pods, we learned something new about the Original Line machines: in addition to taking Original Line pods, several brands of third-party pods, including some refillable pods, can be used with some of these machines. This gives you a chance to use your ground coffee of choice, contribute to saving the environment, and save some money.

The Nespresso Original line machines are thus the most compatible winner.

Warranty

While the warranty runs for two years from the date of purchase for all Dolce Gusto machines, we found out that some Nespresso machines had one year while others, including milk frothers, had two years.

Dolce Gusto wins for having at least two years of warranty on all their coffee machines.

Capacity

When comparing capacities, we got to establish what we had observed: some of the Nespresso machines could serve many more cups than most Dolce Gusto machines. This is because the largest Nespresso tank could hold 2 liters of water, while the largest Dolce Gusto tank got full at 1.2 liters.

This makes the Nespresso machine the winner in the capacity category.

Ease of clean-up

You have regular cleaning and descaling after several months of use for every coffee machine. During our testing period, we found ourselves descaling the Dolce Gusto at least once every 4 months, with little to do during regular cleaning because we used milk pods and neither a milk frother nor a steam wand on any of the apparatus.

Because the frother or wand on the Nespresso needed to be cleaned after every use, the Dolce Gusto wins for having a more straightforward cleaning process.

Model

The Dolce gusto models include Genio S, Mini Me, Piccolo XS, and the Infinissima series; we tested two. We checked out most of the Nespresso Original line eight base models, beginning with the tiny Pixie and progressing to the Creatista Plus, Lattissima, One Lattissima Pro, Creatista Pro Breville, Citiz, Essenza Mini, and the bean-to-cup Gran Lattissima. The Nespresso VertuoLine machines have a paltry four models by comparison, most of which we checked out, including the Vertuo, the VertuoPlus, the Vertuo Next, and the Evoluo.

From the foregoing, the Nespresso Original line is the clear winner for having the highest number of models with the widest coverage.

Availability

We easily got machines and pods for the Dolce Gusto machines, but we could only get some of the Nespresso pods online from their website. Although the site is responsive, getting the former was easy.

For that reason, Dolce Gusto wins regarding how the product is positioned in the market.

Ease of use

The beauty of Dolce Gusto machines is that all you need to know to make a great cup of coffee is how the single-control handle works, which we found anyone could do. You must take time to learn how to use the Nespresso machines, and while they are also simple, they are not as easy to use as the Dolce Gusto.

The Dolce Gusto, therefore, wins for being easier to use.

Nescafe Dolce Gusto vs. Nespresso: A Comparison Overview

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Overview

Did you know that in Italian, “dolce gusto” refers to music to be performed softly and sweetly? We thought the name was fitting for machines meant to operate quietly in various kitchens. Dolce Gusto was first released in 2006 and quickly became popular due to its versatility. Dolce Gusto machines are produced by companies other than Nestle, including DeLonghi and Krups.

The Dolce Gusto machines can brew a much wider range of beverages and sizes. They can make espresso, various types of coffee, and even hot chocolate and tea. Simply insert your preferred pod and enjoy coffee shop flavors at home in minutes. If you prefer to control the amount of water in your coffee, the Dolce Gusto manual coffee machines have an easy lever that allows you to do so.

Alternatively, if you’d rather hang back and let your coffee machine do all the work, go with an automatic option that adheres to the specifications listed on the pack by our expert baristas. Dolce Gusto machines are some of the most affordable, and the pods are cheaper than Nespresso’s.

What I liked

Wide selection of coffee sizes—in some instances, up to seven sizes—to choose from.
Affordable Dolce Gusto machines and capsules
Wide range of drinks, including hot chocolate and tea capsules.

What I didn’t like

Limited number of specialty and gourmet coffee pods
Espresso flavor is not as good as on Nespresso coffee machines.

What are customers saying?

“I like the Dolce Gusto machines for “their ease of use and the variety of pod choices, which include Starbucks-branded coffees.” –Lisa.

The price is great for such a great machine-Anonymous.

Nespresso Overview

Nespresso, just like Nescafe Dolce gusto, is a Nestle product. However, it was developed much earlier by Erik Faver, a Nestle employee, and inspired by the espresso from a popular coffee shop in Italy that had a thick crema.

The first Nespresso device was introduced in 1986. Since then, the brand has grown to become one of the world’s most popular and largest coffee machine manufacturers, with machines in 64 countries. There are currently two types of Nespresso machines: the Original Line and the Vertuo Line. Original Line was the initial product created by Nespresso, and it makes single-serve ristretto, espresso, or lungo using a hermetically sealed pod of ground coffee.

Nespresso collaborates with well-known manufacturers such as Breville and Delonghi to create a wide range of the Original Line. Currently, whatever your budget, space, or preferred espresso beverage, there is a Nespresso Original line coffee machine for you.

In 2014, Nespresso introduced the new Vertuo Line. VertuoLine was created to produce bigger coffee drinks and cater to the North American customer segment, which often prefers larger coffees over espresso. The VertuoLine’s claim to fame is that it uses special barcoded coffee capsules and a unique removal system to generate five drink sizes, ranging from a shot of espresso to a 14-ounce coffee cup.

Nespresso machines can only make espresso and lungo.

What I liked

Has a selection of high-end gourmet coffee pods and coffee blends.
Best suited for espresso enthusiasts
Fully recyclable pods

What I didn’t like

Nespresso machines and pods are typically more expensive.
Gourmet coffee pods are only available online from Nespresso.

What are customers saying?

The Nespresso machine “consistently produces coffee with the magnificent mouthfeel of barista-created coffee with silky steamed milk.”-Anonymous.

“This machine’s espresso is to die for”-JB.

Final Verdict: So, Which is Better?—Nescafe Dolce Gusto vs. Nespresso?

Neither Nescafe Dolce Gusto nor Nespresso is better than the other. In our assessment, ultimately, the choice comes down to personal preference-which counts for a lot, budget, and the functions you want in your machine.

If you enjoy espresso or espresso-based drinks, get a Nespresso. It will also come in handy if you enjoy gourmet coffee. However, it comes at a premium, which you should consider.

If, on the other hand, you don’t particularly care for gourmet coffee but want to make flavorful espresso-based beverages, then look into the Dolce Gusto line, where there will be more models to select from various price points.

Either pod machine will be an excellent complement to your kitchen and will provide you with a superb beverage option for many years.

FAQ SECTION

Which has a better appearance between Nespresso and Nescafe Dolce Gusto?

With a wider variety of colors and modern lines, the Nescafe Dolce Gusto has a better appearance than the Nespresso.

Is the Nescafe Dolce Gusto more expensive than the Nespresso?

No, the Nescafe Dolce Gusto is typically less expensive than a Nespresso with comparable features.

Which is more popular between, Nespresso and Nescafe Dolce Gusto?

The two brands as popular in different market segments: the Nespresso for aromatic espressos with classic full-bodied tastes, and Dolce Gusto machines for affordability and large coffees