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Nespresso Vertuo Creatista coffee machine

Pros
Comes with milk steaming function, easy to operate, attractive sleek look
Cons
Large footprint, noisy, restricted to the Vertuo pods

Read our full guide to the best coffee machines

How easy is the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista by Sage coffee pod machine to use?

With a number of different settings available on this machine you really need to spend some time perusing the manual before you get started, but the QR codes which take you to step-by-step video instructions are clear and useful.

The machine has an impressive versatility, offering five sizes of coffee from an espresso (40ml) all the way to an alto (355ml), and can also make a carafe (535ml). There are four different styles of coffee which you can choose from: a caffe latte, cappuccino, a flat white and latte macchiato.

Unlike the majority of coffee pod machines this model comes with a milk wand which we found really easy to use. There are markings on the milk jug indicating how much to use, plus a choice of three different temperatures and texture settings depending on your preference.

The Vertuo Creatista requires you to use Nespresso’s own Vertuo pods which limits your selection, but you can make the most of the new cold brew style pods, which we haven’t yet tried but promise quickly brewed and rich iced coffee.

Results

On test we used the Nespresso II Caffe pods, which produced a dark espresso with a thick and bubbly crema. It’s worth noting that the espresso was very strong, but we were slightly disappointed by the quality of the coffee which lacked the wow-factor we were expecting given the price of the machine.

The steam wand performed well, producing creamy milk which gave our cappuccino a great texture.

olive’s take: should you buy the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista by Sage coffee pod machine?

The Nespresso Vertuo Creatista will be a great fit if you want the sleek look of a Sage appliance but at a fraction of the cost of its bean-to-cup and espresso models. The quality of the espresso isn’t quite what we’d expect given the price, but if you want a machine that is happily used by a crowd and fits everyone’s preferences, plus looks the part, this is a good option.

All costs-to-run calculations were done against the variable tariff at the time of testing (16.6p/kWh), which may have since changed – read more on the current energy price guarantee rates.