Nespresso Essenza Mini D30 Espresso Machine Review

I’ve had my Nespresso Essenza Mini espresso machine for almost 2 and a half years. Some might say a review is now too late down the road, some might say this is just the right time to do it. 

I wanted to write this Nespresso Essenza Mini review because I know there are a lot of you out there who are thinking about buying a Nespresso machine and are unsure of the purchase. 

So I’m here to give all the details I could possibly think of, that might be of interest for a person thinking of buying a Nespresso Essenza Mini machine. 

How I discovered Nespresso coffee

Let’s start with how I found out about Nespresso in the first place. I think my absolute first interaction with the brand was an ad, most likely a George Clooney one, since he has been its ambassador for many years. 

After that, my older sister got a Nespresso machine and that is where I had my first taste of its coffee. That is the moment I got hooked. 

Nespresso coffee is very flavourful and delicious. It has a true coffee taste, without being too bitter. (it depends on the type of coffee you choose, there are some Nespresso pods who are very intense)

That was the first time I had coffee without needing to put milk and sugar in it. My sister saw me reach for the milk and said “Try it without it, I think you will like it”, and I did. This was huge for me, since I can’t have coffee without milk. 

After that initial taste test at my sisters’, I thought about it for a long time. (Even interviewed for a job at Nespresso company for a marketing position, but that’s a different story).

A couple of months later I decided to buy my own machine. 

How I decided on the Nespresso Essenza Mini machine

I bought my Nespresso machine in November 2018, during a Black Friday sale. I knew the brand would have sales on its own website during Black Friday, so I went online a couple of days before and decided on the machine. 

Now, Nespresso has many machines, at least 6, ranging from $149 to $800, but at that time (and even now) I didn’t have enough resources to go for the best one. 

Obviously, I would have liked to have one with the milk frother incorporated, but it was too much for my budget. So I went with the cheapest option available at the moment: the Nespresso Essenza Mini in piano black. 

Besides the price point, I chose the Nespresso Essenza Mini D30 because 

• It was black, so it matched my kitchen aesthetics;
• The actual machine was very small and compact, so it didn’t occupy a lot of space.

Nespresso Essenza Mini D30 review

I will start with the boring, but necessary part: the technical details you should know or might be interested in when buying an espresso machine. The details below can also be found on the Nespresso official website:

Weight: 2.3 Kilogram / 5 Pounds

Removable water tank: 0.6 Liter / 20.3 Ounces

Used capsules container capacity: 6

Dimensions (WxDxH): 11×20.5×32.5 cm  / 4.3×8.0x12.8 in

Automatic shut off after 9 mn, programmable

Pressure: 19 bar

My exact model is Essenza Mini D30 in Piano Black. You can buy it on their website or you can buy it from Amazon, but it is made by De’Longhi- click here for Amazon Link. I can’t really attest to the performance and value of the one from Amazon, but visually, it looks exactly the same. If you want the Nespresso quality, I recommend getting it from the official website. 

The Nespresso Essenza Mini machine I have is an original espresso machine, not a Vertuo one that can usually be found in the US. 

What’s the difference between Vertuo and Original?

The main difference between the Original and the Vertuo is the size of the capsules: the Vertuo capsules are bigger and in a different shape, compared to the Original ones. This is due to the fact that you can find bigger size cups and coffee servings in the US, versus Europe, for example, where the largest is a Lungo.

Now, back to the Nespresso Essenza Mini D30.

Water tank

The water tank is 0.6L / 20.3 ounces. I find that it holds water for about 4 normal cups of coffee (not espresso, but Lungo, so Americano in the US, I guess). Make sure you have enough water for at least a cup when you turn it on, otherwise it will completely stop when running out of water. 

Temperature wise, the coffee is hot, but it does not burn your tongue if you drink it right away. Perfect!

Used capsules container

The used capsules container holds about 6 or 7 capsules. When it gets full, you’ll notice you won’t be able to clear out the capsule in the machine when trying to insert a new one, so you will be forced to empty the container either way. 

I usually empty it out when I notice it full, like you see it below. 

Weight and Size of Nespresso Essenza Mini

In terms of size, the Nespresso Essenza Mini D30 is very small and compact. As you’ll see in the picture below, my hand is the size of the actual machine, without the water tank. So it easily fits on a small counter. The second picture actually shows that it’s the size of half of our kitchen window, and that window is very small.

In terms of weight, it’s 5 pounds, so I can easily lift it with one hand, if I need to move it, or wipe the counter beneath it. 

Sounds

Compared to other coffee machines I’ve had or seen, this Nespresso machine is pretty quiet. I use it in the morning and my boyfriend doesn’t hear it from the bedroom; it never wakes him up. It doesn’t overpower the room and the coffee is done pretty quickly (around 10-15 seconds). 

Coffee

Personally, I love the Nespresso coffee taste. I feel like the machine makes a true espresso (or lungo), and the coffee is not diluted with too much water, or is too strong. It’s just the right amount.

I also like the fact that the coffee pours in the mug with a bit of foam, if I can describe it like that. It makes it taste better. 

Another great thing about Nespresso coffee is that they have a wide variety of flavors, from strong, bitter ones, to chocolates ones, to the ones that are specially made for Ice Coffee. 

How to use a Nespresso Essenza Mini D30

To give you an idea, I’m going to show you how to make a Nespresso coffee in 4 easy steps:

1. Turn on the espresso machine so the water can heat; This step takes around 25 seconds and it’s silent, you only see the buttons blinking.

2. While the water heats, take a coffee mug and put it in the allocated space, beneath the drip. If the coffee mug is large, you might need to remove the bottom part.

3. When the blinking stops, press the Espresso or the Lungo button, which one you like. The short one, Espresso, pours a smaller amount of coffee than the longer one, the Lungo. This step will take around 15 seconds. 

4. After you’re done, press both buttons simultaneously to stop it, or let it automatically turn off after a couple of minutes.

My Experience with Nespresso Essenza Mini D30 Coffee Machine

Overall, I really love my Nespresso machine. 

• It’s easy to use.
• The machine doesn’t take too much space on my counter.
• The coffee making process is quick and relatively silent.
• Nespresso Coffee tastes amazing.
• I love the diversity of the Nespresso coffee sortiments, there are so many to choose from. 

The only downside is that it doesn’t have a milk frother, but this is an investment I really have to make this year. I think it will elevate my coffee experience, since I do love myself a latte. 

In the end, I strongly recommend you get a Nespresso Essenza Mini D30 as your coffee machine! I think you will love it just as much as I do!

P.S. Since we’re talking mornings, here’s my morning routine (which obviously involves coffee)!