Buying a Nespresso machine on a plan: Is it worth it?

Kate Reynolds
Jun 25, 2024
Icon Time To Read3 min read
// That’s a good cup of Joe. Or in this case, a cup of George (Clooney)

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If the convenience of freshly made coffee straight from your kitchen has been tempting you, then no doubt getting a Nespresso machine has crossed your mind. Little pods of caffeine dripping into your morning brew, without even needing to leave the house (or flick on the kettle. What a time to be alive).

But there’s loads of Nespresso machines on the market - and to complicate the choice further, Nespresso now offer Nespresso Plus - a machine and pod subscription plan, with monthly payments for your machine, and monthly supply pods. But, is it a good deal? Or are you better off buying a Nespresso machine outright, and get the pods separately?

Let’s dive in and find out, shall we?

What is a Nespresso machine?

Okay, let’s wind back. If you’re not familiar with George Clooney sipping coffee wistfully in some beautiful apartment - aka every Nespresso ad of late - Nespresso machines use little pods of coffee in a small machine to make your favourite hot drinks. There’s mini machines that take up hardly any bench space, to advanced devices that come with their own in-built milk frother. Some Nespresso machines take the intelligent Nespresso Vertuo pods exclusively, while others are a classic pod design, so you can bung in some cheaper alternatives and save some dosh.

How much does a Nespresso plan cost?

This will come down to which machine you want. Let’s have a look at three of the plans and compare.
Vertuo Pop & Aeroccino3 plan
VERTUO POP & AEROCCINO3 PLAN
Price:$60/mo
+ $60 outright

Minimum cost: $720 over 12 months

Includes:
  • Milk frother
  • $259 machine discount
  • First month free
  • Approx. 70 capsules
  • Lattissima One plan
    latissima one
    Price:$80/mo
    + $250 outright

    Minimum cost: $2,090 over 12 months

    Includes:
  • In-built milk frother
  • $269 machine discount
  • First month free
  • Approx. 95 capsules
  • Vertuo Pop (solo) plan
    vertuo pop
    Price:$50/mo
    + $50 outright

    Minimum cost: $650 over 12 months

    Includes:
  • $179 machine discount
  • Approx. 60 capsules
  • Nespresso Plus vs Outright Pricing

    On paper, the Nespresso Plus subscription plans look like a great deal - especially when they throw in things like a free month included. But will you actually save money compared to buying the machine and pods outright?

    A quick look at the Nespresso website tells us that for their Espresso range of Vertuo pods, you’ll part with $8.60 for a sleeve of ten pods, so that’s going to be our yard stick for the Vertuo machines. 

    For their Original Collection pods, they’ll set you back $8.20 for a sleeve of ten pods.

    We’ll compare the cost of purchasing the pods outright with how many are included in the Nespresso subscriptions, which can differ between machines and plans.

    We’ll also compare them to a sleeve of Nespresso compatible pods from Woolworths, which retail at $3.55 for a sleeve of ten pods.

    Vertuo Pop & Aeroccino3 plan
    VERTUO POP & AEROCCINO3 PLAN
    Difference:$321.40

    Plan minimum cost: $720

    Outright cost: $319
    70 Vertuo pods: $60.20
    12 month pod price: $722.40
    Total 12 month cost: $1041.40
    Lattissima One plan
    latissima one
    Difference:$637-$1,166.30

    Plan minimum cost: $2,090

    Outright cost: $519
    95 pods: $33.70 - $77.90
    12 month pod price: $404.40 - $934.80
    Total 12 month cost: $923.70 - $1,453.80

    Vertuo Pop (solo) plan
    vertuo pop
    Difference: $198.20

    Plan minimum cost: $650

    Outright cost: $229
    60 pods: $51.60
    12 month pod price: $619.20
    Total 12 month cost: $848.20

    So is it a good deal?

    Well, look at that! When it comes to Nespresso Plus plans that use the Vertuo pods, our examples show that you’re better off getting it on the plan than buying the machine and pods outright. This is helped by the fact that there’s a decent savings on the machine, and you can’t opt to use the cheaper pods, as Vertuo machines use the Vertuo pods exclusively. 

    However, getting the Lattissima One machine and pods outright was more cost effective over the 12 months - even more so if you opt to buy the cheaper sleeves of pods from Woolworths.

    That is of course, assuming you need all the pods included in the subscription. If you’re only drinking a few cups of coffee, here’s how much you’d save on the Vertuo Pop and Aeroccino3.

    Coffees per month
    Outright machine cost
    Pod cost
    Total 12 month cost
    Difference
    20 Vertuo pods
    $319
    $17.20/mo
    $525.40
    $194.60
    30 Vertuo pods
    $319
    $24.60/mo
    $614.20
    $105.80
    40 Vertuo pods
    $319
    $34.40/mo
    $731.80
    $11.80

    If you’re going to drink less than 40 cups of coffee per month, you’re better off buying the Vertuo Pop and Aeroccino3 and pods separately. If you need more than 40, then the subscription is better.

    It’s also worth noting that the Nespresso Plans require a 12 month minimum commitment, so if you’re only wanting pods every so often, then buying them outright would also put you on top.

    FAQs

    What is the Nespresso Subscription plan?

    Machine Plus by Nespresso is their coffee machine and pod subscription on either a 12 or 24 month plan.

    Are Nespresso plans cheaper?

    Sometimes they are cheaper than purchasing a machine and pods outright, depending on the type of machine and plan.

    Do I get a Nespresso machine in my plan?

    Yes - all of the Nespresso Plus subscriptions come with a one-off payment for your Nespresso coffee machine and a rolling monthly fee for your coffee pods.

    Compare coffee machines

    We have drunk countless cups of coffee in the search for the best coffee machine you can get. Here are how products from leading brands like Breville, De'Longhi, and Nespresso stack up.
    Product
    Our score
    Price
    Coffee type
    More info
    3.8 out of 5 stars
    3.75
    🔥From $399$169
    Manual espresso
    3.8 out of 5 stars
    3.75
    From$1299
    Automatic espresso
    3.5 out of 5 stars
    3.5
    🔥From $1,099$696
    Pod coffee
    3 out of 5 stars
    3
    🔥From $1,899$1675
    Pod coffee
    3.8 out of 5 stars
    3.75
    🔥From $1,399$997
    Pod coffee
    3.8 out of 5 stars
    3.75
    🔥From $229$159
    Pod coffee
    3.8 out of 5 stars
    3.75
    From$399
    Manual espresso
    4.3 out of 5 stars
    4.25
    🔥From $1,499$1373
    Manual espresso w/ grinder
    3.8 out of 5 stars
    3.75
    From$299
    Pod coffee
    4 out of 5 stars
    4
    🔥 From $799$534
    Automatic espresso w/ grinder
    3 out of 5 stars
    3
    🔥From $299$188
    Manual espresso
    Kate Reynolds
    Written by
    Kate Reynolds is a writer who's at her happiest when there's haloumi on the brunch menu and a dog to give pats to. She's worked as a travel writer, journalist, theatre reviewer, broadcaster and radio creative, and spends her weekends with as much of the aforementioned haloumi and dogs as possible. She writes on Cammeraygal and Wangal land.

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