Nespresso vs. Keurig: What Kind of Pod Person Are You?

Pod coffee makers aren’t for everyone, but they are a great option for anyone who needs quick and easy access to caffeine at home. I know this because as a single, working mom with ADHD, I am one of those people.

My Nespresso Vertuo machine has completely transformed my mornings (and my afternoons). I love that I can push its sole button and get a consistently good cup of coffee or espresso-style shot every time. And I really appreciate that, unlike a drip coffee maker, my Nespresso requires no daily cleaning or maintenance (I just have to run a descaling cycle a couple times a year). According to my sloppy calculations, over the last few years, it has saved me thousands of dollars I otherwise would have spent at the coffee shop too.

But Nespresso isn’t the only big player in the pod-coffee game, and if you’re in the market for a single-serve coffee maker, you might be debating Nespresso versus Keurig. While my product testing has proved that Nespresso coffee is far better than anything you’ll get out of a Keurig, the type of machine you should get really depends on the kind of coffee (or latte, or cappuccino, or Americano) drinker you are, as well as how you prefer to buy your coffee capsules.

I’ve broken down the differences between Nespresso and Keurig below, including the price of the machines and pods, the quality and types of drinks you’ll get from both, how each company’s capsule recycling program works, and what may be the most important factor for some: how you get your coffee pods.

The difference between Nespresso’s OriginalLine and VertuoLine

Before you can compare Nespresso and Keurig, you need to understand the difference between Nespresso’s two systems. Because while all Keurig machines take the ubiquitous K-Cups, Nespresso has two very different lines which take two very different pod styles.

Making sense of Nespresso machines has never been easy, in part because most Nespresso machine models are manufactured by both Breville and De’Longhi (and other than minor aesthetic differences, they’re the same machines). But the more important distinction is between the OriginalLine and the VertuoLine.

Machines in Nespresso’s OriginalLine take smaller geometric pods and brew only espresso-style shots using pressure. On Original machines, you can choose whether you want to pull a single shot or a lungo (Italian for “long’) shot, no matter what Original pod you’re using.

When we recommend Nespresso machines, we’re recommending machines in the newer VertuoLine. Introduced in 2014, Vertuo machines offer more versatility because they function as coffee makers and espresso machines, allowing you to brew both espresso-style shots and single cups of coffee at the push of a button. The rim of each Nespresso Vertuo capsule is printed with a barcode unique to the style, strength, and size of the coffee or espresso inside, which tells the machine the amount and temperature of the hot water to use, and—because these machines brew using centrifugal technology—even the speed at which it should brew.

Drink type

In addition to brewing coffee, Nespresso machines in the VertuoLine function as espresso makers so you can have espresso shots for cappuccinos, lattes, Americanos, flat whites and more. A Keurig machine, on the other hand, might be a good option for folks who aren’t necessarily “coffee people.” Beyond regular and flavored coffee (lots of flavored coffee), it’s easy to find tea and hot chocolate K-Cups online and in stores. Both machines have iced coffee pod options too—though, they both require you to brew that coffee with hot water over ice.

In my product testing, I found the Nespresso Vertuo Plus to be the best single-serve coffee maker in terms of size, price, functionality, durability, and versatility, but some models, including the Vertuo Next, can also brew an 18-ounce carafe full of coffee from a single pod. Pricier Vertuo machines even have built-in steam wands or milk frothers, so you can make lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, and more at home. Keurig also offers a machine with a built-in milk frother and Coffee Shot button for specialty drinks.

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Coffee quality

Both Nespresso and Keurig offer a variety of capsules full of ground coffee, eliminating the need to grind your own coffee beans in a grinder or store fresh coffee grounds. But the coffee you get from each machine’s respective pod is very different.

It’s estimated that 40 million homes in the United States use Keurig machines, and you can find Keurig K-Cups and compatible off-brand capsules nearly everywhere (more on that in a minute). Nespresso’s market share isn’t nearly as large—nor is the pod selection. Only the VertuoLine machines make regular coffee, and Nespresso offers a much more limited selection of high-quality single-origin and specialty coffee capsules for those. Nespresso is also much more selective about branded partnerships (Exhibit A: the sold-out, limited edition Blue Bottle capsules). Conversely, you can get McDonald’s coffee, Dunkin’ coffee, and Folgers in a K-Cup.

I’ve used a lot of Nespresso machines. I’ve also been subjected to far too many cups of Keurig coffee in waiting rooms and at relatives’ houses. And I’ve never had anything from a Keurig that I actually liked. Even the high-end Illy single-serve pods disappointed.

Still, when I tested single-serve coffee makers for Epicurious, I wanted to level the playing field as much as possible, so I used the same blend of Starbucks pods to compare Keurig and Nespresso Vertuo machines. The coffee I got from the Keurig machines was somehow watery and bitter at the same time, while the same coffee from various Nespresso Vertuo models was fuller, more nuanced, and had a nice crema on top.

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Machine price

Overall, Keurig coffee makers are more affordable than Nespresso machines, and both brands offer a variety of machines with a range of functionalities, styles, sizes, and water tank capacities. For example, you can get Keurig’s smallest machine, the K-Mini, for about $90, though it’s often on sale, while Nespresso’s smallest VertuoLine offering, the Vertuo Pop, starts at around $100. (The smallest machine in Nespresso’s OriginalLine is even pricier.) The $200 Keurig K-Cafe has a built-in milk frother and can make a coffee shot for specialty drinks. Nespresso Vertuo machines with built-in frothers cost quite a bit more.

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Pod price

Price-wise, both brands’ pods vary by coffee style, origin, brew size, etc. But in general, as I write this in early 2025, Nespresso’s VertuoLine coffee pods are about $1.30 to $1.35 each while Keurig’s coffee pods are about 65 to 70 cents a piece. Generic and store-brand Keurig-compatible pods can often be found even cheaper, especially if you buy them at Aldi, Walmart, or Costco. With Nespresso, you’re paying for quality over quantity, but they’re all more affordable than visiting your local barista for a cup of joe.

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Pod accessibility

To have access to all of Nespresso’s pods, you need to order directly from Nespresso.com or visit a Nespresso Boutique retail location, though you can find a limited selection of Starbucks coffee pods for both OriginalLine and VertuoLine machines at Target and Walmart. (Target has a few of its own OriginalLine-compatible pods, and L’or pods are compatible with Original Nespresso machines too.) You can also find a very limited selection of Nespresso Vertuo capsules on Amazon.

Beyond cost, pod accessibility is the best reason to opt for a Keurig machine. Keurig K-Cups and a selection of branded capsules from companies including but not limited to Dunkin’, Green Mountain Coffee, Illy, and even McDonald’s are available at all the major big-box stores. You can also find a pretty big selection at your local grocery store as well as chain discount grocers like Trader Joe’s and Aldi. I’ve even seen Keurig pods at gas stations and convenience stores.

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Pod recycling

Many environmentally conscious coffee drinkers who just want a cup of regular coffee or two in the morning are put off by single-serve coffee machines and prefer using a French press or the pour-over method, as they create little to no waste. But making a great cup of pour-over coffee takes patience and precision, and not everyone has time to spare for a coffee ritual with either gadget.

It might help your conscience to know that both Keurig and Nestle (Nespresso’s parent company) now have recycling programs in place to reduce the environmental impact of their coffee pods, though this hasn’t always been the case.

Nespresso capsules have been made from fully recyclable aluminum since 2010, and it’s easy for consumers to recycle through the brand’s free mail-in recycling program. (New York City residents and New Jersey residents in low-rise buildings can toss their spent pods into their blue curbside recycling bins.) It took another decade for Keurig to make its plastic pods fully recyclable, and in that time, the inventor of the K-Cup pods essentially admitted that he regretted inventing them. But Keurig now offers residential and commercial mail-in recycling programs. However, it is worth noting that Keurig charges for its recycling bags while Nespresso offers them for free with pod orders. Both bags are shipped with postage-paid labels.

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Which system is best for you?

At Bon Appétit and Epicurious, we recommend Nespresso Vertuo machines—and specifically, the Nespresso Vertuo Plus—for coffee lovers looking for a single-serve pod device for at-home brewing. If you want high-quality coffee and espresso-style shots and you don’t mind ordering your pods online, Nespresso is simply the better option.

For some coffee drinkers, a Keurig machine is still the better choice because Keurig K-cups are not only more affordable than Nespresso capsules, they’re far more accessible. However, you’ll likely only be happy with a Keurig system if you’re currently content with what you’re getting from a very basic drip coffee maker, or if you’re the kind of person who adds a lot of cream and sugar to your coffee—because you won’t get the same high-quality results from a Keurig machine that you’ll get from a Nespresso machine.

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