Nespresso’s next big coffee machine is a small one

Nespresso is looking to make its premium coffee maker line a more bite-sized proposition with the new Vertuo Pop.

This new pod-based machine is built with a smaller form factor in mind than the one found with more mainstream Vertuo Next. It's not quite travel-friendly, but it's definitely a little less of a physical imposition than the most obvious alternative. Despite the downsizing between this particular machine and its more sizable sibling, both coffee machines rely on the same larger and smarter brew capsules.

When you place a Vertuo coffee pod inside the Vertuo Pop, it reads and ingests a barcode containing specific brewing instructions that cover factors like temperature, infusion time and water flow. The pitch for the Vertuo line writ large remains intact here. It's not just about having a machine that can make you coffee, but one that knows how to make it well (or, at least, better than other coffee pod machines).

Though that part of the process is the same as it is with the Vertuo Next coffee machine, the Vertuo Pop breaks from tradition through its introduction of a new Expert Mode.

This setting gives you more control over the brewing process, allowing you to use Vertuo capsules in more dynamic or inventive ways rather than just sticking to the script. Any Vertuo pod used with the Pop can be dispensed as either a single-shot, double-shot or ristretto rather than only as the barcode says it should be brewed.

It's worth adding that the Vertuo Pop still use those barcode-based instructions to prepare your style or choice of coffee-based beverage. It'll just adjust the numbers to better suit the type of beverage you want.

While part of the pitch for the Vertuos line to date has been that purist one-size-fits-all approach, the opportunity to play and experiment with that formula sets the Vertuo Pop apart from previous efforts in a pretty significant fashion.

Other specs here include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity (needed for integration with the Nespresso app), 30 seconds of warm-up time plus a power saving setting that'll automatically turn off the device after two minutes of inactivity.

In Australia, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop willl be available at an RRP of $229 and is available through Nespresso from this week. As mentioned, there are several colors on offer. The list here includes Mint, White, Black, Yellow, Red and Blue.