Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ Review 2026: Standard vs Deluxe

Buying in the UK

Buy the UK model: UK machines run on 230 V with a three-pin plug, while US-spec machines are built for 120 V and should not be used with a plug adaptor. In the UK the same Nespresso machines are sold under the Krups, De'Longhi and Magimix names; the coffee system is identical, so compare colour, bundle and price. Our links open Amazon.co.uk, and John Lewis, Argos and Currys also stock Nespresso machines. Warranty is handled in the country of purchase, so a UK listing is the safer buy.

In the US the Pop+ has replaced the older Vertuo Pop, which had a tank of about 20 oz (0.56 to 0.6 L) and stopped at the mug size. Amazon results still mix the two names, Breville and De'Longhi versions and Aeroccino bundles, so look for the "+" and the tank size in the title before you order.

Like every Vertuo machine, the Pop+ reads a barcode on the rim of each pod to set the cup size and spins the pod to brew. There are no size buttons to programme: insert a pod, close the lid, press the one button. It takes Vertuo pods only; Original capsules do not fit, and the pod compatibility chart shows which formats go where.

Vertuo Pop+ versions at a glance

Pop+ sizes: espresso 40 ml, double espresso 80 ml, gran lungo 150 ml, mug 230 ml and Alto 355 ml. Heat-up is about 30 seconds on every version, and the used-pod container holds about 8 espresso or 5 mug pods.

Source: manufacturer specifications published by Nespresso, Breville and De'Longhi; figures can differ slightly by market and version.

Is the standard Vertuo Pop+ enough?

For one person drinking one or two mugs a day, yes. The standard Pop+ brews every everyday Vertuo size up to the Alto, is ready in about 30 seconds and takes up little counter space, which is the reason to choose it over a larger Vertuo.

The tank is the limit. At about 25 oz it covers about three mugs, or one Alto and a mug, before it needs refilling, and the rinse and descaling cycles draw from the same water. A solo morning mug plus an afternoon coffee means a daily refill; two people means a refill almost every round. The pod container fills quickly on Alto days too.

The Pop+ is sold under both Breville and De'Longhi names in bright colours, and the machines are the same inside. Choose by colour, then confirm that the title says Pop+ and states the tank size, because older Vertuo Pop listings still show up in the same search results.

WhichCapsule note: Live alone, drink one or two mugs, short on counter space: the standard Pop+ is enough. A second regular drinker is the sign to move to the Deluxe.

What does the Pop+ Deluxe add?

A bigger tank and a metallic finish; the brewing, cup sizes and button are identical. The Deluxe tank holds about 1.1 L, the same as the Vertuo Next, so it serves four to five mugs between refills instead of about three.

That extra water is what changes daily use. Two people with a mug each in the morning and another in the afternoon can usually get through the day on one fill, which the standard tank cannot do. I would buy the Deluxe for the tank even if I preferred the plainer look.

Some listings bundle the Deluxe with an Aeroccino milk frother, which heats or cold-whips milk in its own jug. That is worth having only if you will froth milk every week; Aeroccino 3 vs Aeroccino 4 explains which frother you are getting.

WhichCapsule note: For most households of two, the Deluxe is the Pop+ to buy. Keep the standard version for a genuine one-mug-a-day kitchen.

Can the Vertuo Pop+ brew the carafe size?

Not in practice. Nespresso's US pod list includes the Pop+ for the 535 ml carafe pod, but Nespresso's Pop+ product pages warn that the carafe does not fit under the Pop+ spout and advise against brewing it there. If carafes for weekend breakfasts or guests are part of the plan, the Pop+ is the wrong machine.

Clearance matters for everyday cups as well. Nespresso says the Pop+ suits small travel mugs best, so measure a tall tumbler before you count on it, and treat the 12 oz Alto as the largest single cup to plan around. Vertuo pod sizes explained lists every format and the machines that brew it.

WhichCapsule note: The Alto is the ceiling on a Pop+. For regular carafes, the Vertuo Next or Vertuo Up is the practical choice.

Pop+ vs Vertuo Next and the older Vertuo Pop

The Vertuo Next is the step up. It has the Deluxe's 37 oz tank as standard, a larger used-pod container (about 10 espresso or 6 mug pods), more room under the spout and a supported carafe size. It is a slim but taller, deeper machine with the tank behind it (about 12.4 in, or 31.4 cm, high), and it connects to the Nespresso app for software updates. Vertuo Pop+ vs Vertuo Next goes through the choice line by line.

The older Vertuo Pop matters mainly if you already own one. Its tank is about 20 oz and it stops at the mug size, with no Alto and no carafe. If you refill it more than once a day, Vertuo Pop vs Vertuo Next covers the upgrade, and Vertuo Pop vs VertuoPlus compares it with the older large-tank model.

Still choosing a system? Vertuo Pop vs Essenza Mini sets the compact Vertuo against the compact Original machine, and Original vs Vertuo explains the capsule trade-off.

WhichCapsule note: Pop+ Deluxe for two people drinking up to the Alto; Vertuo Next once you add carafes or tall travel mugs, or want a bigger pod bin.

Living with a Pop+: refills, cleaning and descaling

The small tank shapes the routine more than anything else. On the standard Pop+ I would refill it every evening so the morning cups are never interrupted; on the Deluxe, one person can usually go two days between fills.

Daily care is short: empty the pod container and drip tray before they fill, and rinse the tank every few days rather than topping up old water. Descale on the schedule in the manual, sooner in hard-water areas; the descaling guide has the Vertuo steps. The manual that ships with the machine covers the rest.

What people actually ask

Is the Vertuo Pop+ worth it for one person?

Yes. A solo drinker uses it exactly as intended: one pod, one button, no settings. The standard tank suits one or two mugs a day; three or more and the Deluxe pays off in fewer refills.

Does the Vertuo Pop+ make lattes?

Not on its own; it has no milk system. Add an Aeroccino for occasional lattes, or read Vertuo Pop+ vs Vertuo Lattissima if milk drinks are a daily habit.

Does the Vertuo Pop+ leak?

Water under the machine usually traces to a lid that is not fully locked, a damaged pod rim, a full drip tray or a tank that is not seated. Check those first; persistent leaks need Nespresso support. Our leak guide walks through each.

Can you make iced coffee with the Pop+?

Yes. Brew a double espresso or a pod made for ice over a full glass of ice; Nespresso sells Vertuo pods designed to be poured over ice. For iced lattes, add cold milk or cold foam from a frother. Our iced latte guide has the method.

Is the Vertuo Pop+ loud?

Vertuo machines spin the pod to brew, so you hear a whir that rises on larger cups. That is normal; a new grinding or rattling sound is worth checking against is a noisy Nespresso normal?.

Can the Pop+ use Original capsules?

No. Vertuo machines only take Vertuo pods. If you want the wider choice of third-party capsules, read Original vs Vertuo first.

Who should buy which version

• Living alone, one or two mugs a day, tight counter: the standard Pop+.
• Two people, or one person drinking three mugs a day: the Pop+ Deluxe for the 37 oz tank.
• Lattes every week as well: a Pop+ Deluxe with an Aeroccino; daily lattes point to the Vertuo Lattissima.
• Weekend carafes or tall travel tumblers: the Vertuo Next, or the Vertuo Up for a faster start and a bigger tank.
• Already own the older Vertuo Pop: keep it unless the refills bother you; your pods work in every Vertuo machine.

The bottom line

The Vertuo Pop+ is the right first Vertuo for a small household that drinks espresso to Alto-size coffee, and the Deluxe is the version I would buy for anyone not living alone. Choose the standard tank only when one person drinks from it and every inch of counter counts.

Not sure Vertuo is your system? The machine finder asks seven short questions about your cup size, milk, counter space and daily routine and ranks the machines that fit.