Why I Switched to a Nespresso Essenza Mini & A Trick to Keep the Water in the Tank Fresh

[@johnwang9914]

What I find is that the water tank being behind the machine in the Nespresso rather than visible at the side of the Keurig makes a world of difference in terms on managing the water supply. I lover the Nespresso original line products but you pay a price for the slim form factor. As to the Nespresso Vertuo line, well let's just say I don't like it at all, you might as well just buy a Tassimo. For me, a Nespresso original and a Keurig (mostly as a hot water dispenser for tea, hot chocolate, cup-a-soup and Ramen noodles as well as drip coffee) is the way to go. The Essenza mini is almost always out of stock so it's usually the clunkier but stylish Inissia that you have to look at (at least the spent capsule bin holds a few more capsules).

[@efficientway]

Yea, the Nespresso Essenza Mini definitely has a small footprint and takes up minimal space on the counter. Whereas some of the other Nespresso Original line espresso machines have had issues, very few people complain about the Essenza mini. It would explain why it is always sold out. I keep my Essenza mini pushed against the back of the counter so refilling the water can be a bit of a pain (I use a zero water jug with filtered water to do so). I recommend filtered water so there are no limescale issues to deal with. The basket that holds the used pods isn't huge for sure. Maybe a max of 6 pods or so. For me, as I stated in the video, I wanted to the variety of coffee brands that the Original line offers over the Nespresso Vertuo line. I didn't want to be forced to pay a dollar or more for each shot either. Thanks for your thoughts and experience with both.

[@frito_bandito_]

Good video. I’m not sure why you feel that the water chamber is air tight, it’s nowhere near air tight. The lid exists to keep dust, pollen, insects etc. from drifting into the water. If you’re concerned about water freshness, just wait to add water until you’re ready to make your coffee :)

[@efficientway]

Thank you for the positive feedback. Regarding the water chamber, you are correct in terms of what the lid is supposed to do. Using the little trick I mentioned in the video, I keep the lid about 80% shut which prevents dust, pollen, etc. from getting in. But my concern with a closed system (I don't know if it's hermetically sealed, but mine is definitely closed off- there's the tiniest bit of space around the edges about as wide as a pencil tip for an air exchange) is based on my experience with humidifiers and my water jug/filter (Zero Water). In the case of the humidifier, if I take the tank off and do not take the lid off, after a couple of days it will develop a musty smell inside the tank. In the case of the jug/filter, if it isn't refrigerated, it has a tendency to develop red mold inside. In general, stagnant, uncooled water that isn't exposed to air will develop more issues. Your solution as far as adding fresh water each time I use the machine is a logical one. But here's the thing... I already have to remember and take the time to flush out the system after I'm done pulling my shots by running a shot without a pod in the unit (to prevent buildup, clean it out, etc.). I have to empty out the basket that holds the used pods, and then wash the 2 parts to the basket too. It's not a huge deal to also dump the remaining, unused water in the tank, but here is the MAIN concern: I spent considerable time reading reviews on the Nespresso Essenza Mini and there were a decent number of complaints about leaky units (from the tank area). I have a suspicion or perhaps paranoia that it can result from removing and replacing that water tank over and over again. That little black piece at the bottom of the tank is attached to a spring (which when depressed allows the water to release into the system). I'd rather keep the spring depressed vs. loading and unloading the spring to the point where there's too much play in it. With all of that said, I still don't use water that has been sitting for two or so days without having used the machine. In those cases, I dump out whatever water is in there, washout the tank, and refill it with filtered water. When I'm using the machine day after day, I bring the filtered water jug to the machine/tank and fill it while the tank is attached to the machine for the same reasoning I mentioned above.

[@DJESHGAMING]

For first use need to push the lungo button 3 times to rinse whole tank but it just does 1 cup when i do that

[@efficientway]

i'm not sure. On the Essenza Mini, I think I just manually pressed the Lungo button enough times to go through 2 water tanks. I can't recall to be honest. But if you're having an issue, that should serve the same purpose. It will cycle water through all parts of the Nespresso machine.

[@DJESHGAMING]

@@efficientway Thanks for the reply. I think i read it wrong. Need to set a lungo 3 times. Thought u had to rapidly press the button 3 times to do a full cycle..

[@jaksdh-u4t]

@EfficientWay does this take the regular pods or the other big round pod with the barcode on it? thanks

[@efficientway]

This is the Nespresso Essenza Mini which is part of the Nespresso Classic or Original line. So these take the smaller pods as opposed to the larger more disc like pods. As I mentioned the advantages of the Nespresso Essenza Mini and other Nespresso Original line machines is that the machine itself is smaller than the newer Virtuoso machines and thus leaves more space on your countertop. Additionally, the Nespresso pods (original) are cheaper, and there are tons of Nespresso compatible pods for the Classic line. The compatible pods are a fraction of the price of the Nespresso pods and there's a huge variety of flavors to choose from. For now, with the Virtuoso pods, you're fairly limited.

[@SoChicLife]

How many ounces do you get for the lungo? Mine only gets 4 ounces. I have to use 2 pods for a full cup of coffee!

[@efficientway]

4 ounces for a lungo on the classic Nespresso machines (like the Essenza Mini) is normal/default. It's also pretty standard universally as it's usually double the amount of water contained in 1 regular shot of espresso (keep in mind one shot can be anywhere from 1-2 ounces depending upon who is making it). You can set the amount of water that comes out when you press the lungo button on the Nespresso machine if you want more or less water than the default. The instructions to do so are in the manual or can be found online. My issue isn't necessarily the amount of water/espresso coming out. It's the strength. As I explain in the video, the amount of espresso grind (measured in ounces) found in the pods is slightly less than one would normally use in a standard shot or lungo (when using a scooper or even an automatic machine). If I wanted it to be stronger, I'd have to compromise on the amount of overall liquid coffee I get from one shot (because I would have to use a bit less water). My standard in the morning is 2 shots, 1 pod in each, with the Nespresso default amount of water in the single shot. I combine in one cup. In the end, it's a trade-off for the convenience and consistency that the Nespresso machines offer.

[@Kylaknowws]

Can you please tell me how many ml mug that is

[@efficientway]

When filled to the rim, it holds 100ml of espresso or other liquids. Single shot espresso cups will usually be labeled around 85-90ml. I literally filled it to the rim and poured it into a measuring cup which is why mine came out to 100ml.