If you’re in the market for a new Nespresso machine, you might be choosing between two of the most popular options; the Breville Nespresso Inissia, or the Delonghi Nespresso Essenza Mini D. So how to pick a winner? In this post I’ll take a look at what sets these two extremely popular machines apart from each other and which one might be the best option for you.
Both of these machines are extremely similar in design and features, so what might be a deciding factor for you could come down to two key things: size, capacity and noise… Let’s get to it.
Watch my video review of Nespresso Inissia vs Essenza Mini
Machine Size
Each of these are dedicated to making espresso only. As a result they are both on the small side. While their design makes them look a little bit different, the Inissia is a bit fatter and bulkier than the Essenza Mini.
Measurements:
Inissia:
4.7×9.01×12.6
Essenza Mini:
4.3×8.07x 12.8
Pod capacity
Being the smaller machine, it will probably not be surprising that the Essenza Mini holds fewer pods in the discard bin. The Essenza holds about 6 pods while the Inissia will hold up to 11. If maintenance of your espresso machine is a concern, the Inissia will give you more time between needing to empty the waste bin.
Inissia:
11 pods
Essenza Mini:
6 pods
Water capacity
Not surprisingly Nespresso Inissia has a bigger water tank. Holding about 27 ounces compared to the Esssenza Mini’s 20, you’ll have to refill a lot less often with the Inissia.
Inissia:
27 oz
Essenza Mini:
20 oz
Brewing Pressure
Strong pressure helps brew an excellent espresso, and these machines are evenly matched on this front. Both of them offer 19 bars of pressure which I have found to be effective in delivering a quality shot.
Noise
Not everyone likes loud noises first thing in the morning… And less so before you’ve had that first cup of coffee. So it’s going to be important for some of you to know that one of these machines is significantly louder than the other.
The Inissia makes a loud buzzing sound during the brew process, which I found annoying. The Essenza Mini by comparison is noticeably much quieter, which makes it my pick for early morning use.
Brew time
Both of these machines heat up quickly and make their espresso shots fast too. The differences here are a few seconds, so unless you were super jittery for your first shot to the point where seconds matter, this will probably not be a make or break proposition for you.
Inissia:
24 seconds (double shot)
Essenza Mini:
21 seconds (double shot)
Brew temp
The temperature results for these machines are also essentially the same. I got readings of about 165F immediately after brewing for both machines. These readings can fluctuate based on temperature in the room, if your cup is cold and more, but I found the brew temperature is largely the same, and another consideration is that water temperature is not adjustable on these machines.
Price
Both machines are essentially equal when it comes to price; selling for about $209CAD/$179US. Or you might want one over the other is if you see sale prices.
Reviews
On the surface these two machines are quite evenly matched; with just a few features set them apart from each other. For example if you want a bigger capacity machine for both water and discarded pods, the Inissia is a better choice. If you want a quieter machine, it’s all about the Essenza Mini. One other caveat I will add is that I’ve seen many customer reviews on the Nespresso website and Amazon that complain the Inissia is prone to leakage.
Check out my full reviews of the Essenza Mini or see the in-home review of the Inissia… right now.
Shop Nespresso Essenza or Inissa espresso machines on Amazon.
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