Krups Virtuoso XP442C40 Espresso and Coffee Maker with Milk Frothing Wand, 1 Litre Coffee Machine, Automatic Bean to Cup Coffee Machine, 15-Bar Pressure Pump, Barista-Style Drinks, Stainless Steel

Product Information

Continue lowering the jug steadily ( without shaking), in the manner of a lift, stretching the milk to the top of the jug, creating a dense foam. Although the original Nespresso system is designed to be easy to use, the Vertuo takes things one step further. Pull the handle on the front and the lid mechanically lifts up, waiting for you to drop the pod into the holder in the middle. You then tap the handle again to bring the lid down and press the single button on top. The Vertuo Plus then reads the barcode on the pod, which tells the machine the exact amount of water to use and the brewing process parameters. The barcode most likely means that you won’t find Vertuo-compatible capsules from other manufacturers. If you live in an area where the water is very hard, you may wish to descale more often. Does the water tank need to be cleaned? Taste: there should be a balance of tones, like you’d find in a good wine. An initial sweet acidity should be followed by richer, more mellow tones. Aside from emptying out the pod capsule and filling the water reservoir, there’s refreshingly little to do with the Vertuo Plus. I found that the drip tray stayed clean (spinning the capsules at the end gets rid of any dripping from the spout), so rarely needed cleaning or emptying.

I’m a fan of Nespresso’s flavoured capsules, and they work even better here. The new extraction systems really bring out the flavour and bouquet of the capsules: hazelnut is my all-time favourite.

The Krups Virtuoso XP442C40 also features a removable water tank for easy cleaning, so you can keep your espresso machine in top condition. The machine is also surprisingly quiet, so you don’t have to worry about waking up your family or neighbours when you make your espresso.

It’s an impressive system, with plenty of coffee choices, including espresso, double espresso, grand lungo, mug and alto (large mug) options. Nespresso launched with an impressive array of coffee types, including flavoured ones, and the range has extended: see my best Nespresso Vertuo pod round-up for more details. To brew the coffee, the Vertuo uses the Centrifusion technology. This pushes a central hole into the middle of the pod, and 18 smaller holes around the outside. While the capsule spins at up to 7,000rpm, water is injected through the central hole and out of the smaller openings. It’s a completely different way of making coffee.

Availability and price of the Krups Virtuoso XP442C

I prefer my coffee machine to offer the right settings, such as temperature and strength control, but does the Krup Virtuos offer this?