Lattissima vs Gran Lattissima - which Nespresso is best for you?
Whether you’re already a coffee capsule convert or are thinking about getting your first espresso machine, there’s no looking past Nespresso, the creators of the pod coffee phenomenon.
Nespresso has a wide range of coffee machines, all designed to extract maximum flavour from their clean and convenient little Nespresso capsules. If espressos and long blacks are your coffee of choice, you might be happy with a Citiz or one of Nespresso’s many other models, but if milk-based coffees are your thing, the Lattissima machines are well worth considering.
Made by DeLonghi, (Nespresso machines you buy in Australia are manufactured by either DeLonghi or Breville), the Lattissima One and the Gran Lattissima take pod coffees up a notch. Here, we look at which might suit you better.
It’s Italian for milk
As siblings in the Lattissima family, it’s no surprise that the Lattissima One and Gran Lattissima have much in common. The name Lattissima derives from the Italian for milk ‘latte’, with ‘issima’ meaning very. Make no mistake, these machines are both built for milk! (As an aside - if you order a latte in Italy, you’ll get a glass of milk, so remember to ask your barista for a ‘caffé latte’!)
The machines both have detachable milk containers that deliver automatically frothed milk to the coffee cup, without needing a steam wand. They also share several other features, like the 1-litre water tanks, 19 bar pressure, fast heat-up times that get your coffee ready in around 25 seconds, and automatic power-off that saves energy by switching the machine off nine minutes after the last coffee has been made. Both coffee makers also have 2-year warranties.
Nespresso Lattissima One
The DeLonghi Lattissima One takes the effort out of making milk-based coffee drinks, with its one-touch fresh milk system. A clever optical sensor eliminates milk wastage, and the compact milk jug is dishwasher-safe, so you don’t have to worry about washing up when you’re dressed for work and rushing out the door, coffee in hand.
Key features of the Lattissima One
- Four drink options: The Lattissima One lets you choose from espresso, lungo (a long espresso), cappuccino and latte macchiato (not to be confused with a caffé latte).
- 165ml milk container: The small container holds enough milk for one milk-based coffee, making it ideal for individuals or smaller households.
- Creamy milk: The Single Serve Cappuccino System creates creamy hot foam at the push of a button, and leaves no milk behind.
- User-friendly interface: Lattissima One has ease of use front and centre, with three selection buttons making it simple to choose the coffee you fancy.
- Consistency: The 19 bar pump pressure extracts every last drop of flavour and aroma from every coffee capsule, so there’s no risk of making yourself a weak coffee.
Nespresso Gran Lattissima
The ‘Gran’ in Gran Lattissima means large - not dimension-wise (it’s actually a little shorter and shallower than the Lattissima One) but in terms of capacity, features and drink options. So what does this ‘Gran’ get you? Essentially, it does everything that the Lattissima One does, and then some. It caters to a wider range of coffee tastes by making multiple cafe-style creations at the touch of a button. With several additional milk-based drink options, the milk container capacity is three times that of the Lattissima One.
Key features of the Gran Lattissima
- Nine drink options: The Gran Lattissima's menu has five more one-touch drink options than the Lattissima One. This means you can choose one of three classic black coffees - espresso, ristretto or lungo - or go with one of six milk-based choices in a range of cup sizes.
- 500ml milk container: The large container can hold enough milk for several milk-based coffees, making it suitable for families or busy homes where the coffee orders come rolling in every morning.
- Pre-set milk frothing: The Pure One Touch function takes the milk system used in the Lattissima One up a notch, with pre-set foam regulation. Taking the guesswork out of frothing is actually very handy considering the larger range of drinks the Gran Lattissima can make.
- Lattecrema system: By integrating the hot milk function, the Gran Lattissima’s double milk system can make flat as well as foamy milk drinks. Foam lovers can choose cappuccino, latte macchiato or hot foam settings, while the froth-free can go with that great Aussie creation the flat white, a latte or simply hot milk.
Looking after your Lattissima
Whichever Lattissima machine you choose will need a little cleaning to keep it working at its best. In terms of day-to-day maintenance, emptying the drip tray and the used capsule container regularly will prevent overflow and stale coffee smells. After making milk-based drinks, you should also remove the milk container and milk frother spout and rinse them in warm water.
Less frequently, descaling the machine will help keep it running smoothly, ensuring a purer coffee flavour and perfect crema on your espresso drinks. Look out for the descaling alert light which will let you know if the machine needs a descaling cycle to get rid of calcium and mineral buildup. This generally only needs to be done every three months or so and takes around 25 minutes.
Should I get a Nespresso Lattissima or Gran Lattissima?
Most of us are creatures of habit and have one go-to coffee that we always order or make. If that order for you is espresso, lungo, cappuccino or latte macchiato, the Lattissima One is a great choice. If you’re strictly a flat white or latte lover, though, or you want to let guests select from a more extensive coffee menu, the Gran Lattissima could be the way to go.
As you’d expect, the machine that can do more costs more. As a premium model in the range, the Nespresso Gran Lattissima is priced at around $780, compared to the Lattissima One which is sometimes available for less than $500. As with most premium appliances, the extra cost is worth it as long as you make use of the extra functions.
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