Nespresso Vertuo Centrifusion

Nespresso Vertuo is Nespresso’s second capsule system, launched in the United States and Canada in February 2014 to offer the larger cups North Americans wanted, and it brews in a completely different way from the Original. Instead of forcing water through the capsule under pressure, a Vertuo machine spins it: water goes in, the capsule turns at up to 4,000 revolutions per minute, and centrifugal force pushes the coffee out. Nespresso calls this Centrifusion. A barcode on each capsule tells the machine how to brew it, which lets one machine make everything from an espresso to a large mug. Here’s how it works.

The short version

• Spins the capsule instead of pumping water through it.
• Up to 4,000 rpm, according to Nespresso.
• A barcode on each capsule sets the temperature, water and spin.
• One machine, many sizes: espresso up to a 535 ml carafe.
• Vertuo capsules only: Original capsules won’t fit.

How does Centrifusion work?

1. The barcode. As the capsule turns, the machine reads the barcode printed around its rim. Nespresso says it uses it to set the temperature, the quantity of water and the number of revolutions; Tasting Table adds the flow rate and infusion time.
2. Water in. A measured amount of water is added to the capsule during a pause before brewing.
3. The spin. The capsule spins at up to 4,000 rpm, and the coffee is pushed out through the capsule’s edges by centrifugal force.
4. Crema. Tasting Table credits the spin with the thick, foamy layer on top of Vertuo coffees.

Some third-party guides quote higher spin speeds, up to 7,000 rpm, but Nespresso’s own figure is up to 4,000 rpm. One supply-chain writer notes that the barcode is printed five times around the rim, so the machine can read it whichever way the capsule sits. Nespresso adds that the fast spin also removes the last drops of water, so the used capsule drops out dry.

How do you use a Vertuo, step by step?

1. Fill the tank with fresh, cold water and switch it on.
2. Insert a Vertuo capsule, dome down, and close the head.
3. Press the button once. The machine reads the barcode.
4. Let it brew: it spins, and the coffee flows.
5. Drink it fresh, and open the head to eject the capsule.

What sizes can it make?

Nespresso says the Vertuo system can make anything from an espresso to a 535 ml carafe, depending on the capsule and machine. It lists five sizes:

Size	Volume
Espresso	40 ml
Double Espresso	80 ml
Gran Lungo	150 ml
Mug	230 ml
Carafe	535 ml

Each capsule is designed for one size, set by its barcode, and the capsules come in different sizes too: a small one for Espresso, a medium one for Double Espresso and a large one for the longer coffees. Nespresso puts the caffeine at 70 to 150 mg a cup for the Espresso to Gran Lungo sizes, and 170 to 200 mg for the Mug and Carafe.

How do I get better coffee from a Vertuo?

• Use fresh water in the tank.
• Choose the right capsule for the size you want, since the barcode decides the volume.
• Warm your cup for small coffees.
• Clean and descale the machine as its instructions say.

Vertuo vs Original

	Nespresso Original	Nespresso Vertuo
How it brews	Pressure through the capsule	Spins the capsule (Centrifusion)
Brew settings	Buttons for espresso or lungo	A barcode on each capsule
Sizes	Three sizes, 25–110 ml	Five sizes, 40–535 ml
Capsules	Original only	Vertuo only

General guidance only. Follow the maker’s instructions for use, cleaning and descaling, and check local rules for recycling used capsules.

Vertuo vs other methods

• Nespresso Original: the first Nespresso system.
• K-Cup: single-serve filter-style pods.
• Spinn: another brewer that uses centrifugal force.
• Bean-to-cup machine: grinds fresh beans for each cup.

Explore every machine method in the machine chapter.