fbq('trackCustom', 'view_shop_gear'); var trackEvent = 'shop_gear'; I like coffee, but I love espresso drinks. You…
Sasha Pavlovich is a coffee expert with years of experience as a barista, and she knows quite a bit about caffeine and coffee. She manually curates every single page on CaffeineStats.com to make sure that you are getting the right information at your fingertips.
Sasha's expertise is backed by a strong foundation of credentials. She is a certified Coffee Roast Master, specializes in Green Coffee Analytics, and is a certified Sensory Cup Taster.
I wanted an espresso maker that is small enough to fit on my desk. I looked at several reviews online and the Nespresso Pixie reviews stood up for me. It is a machine that makes a strong espresso, yet small enough to fit on a small desk space. I like that this single serve coffee maker is beginner-friendly with toned-down features to just make the right cup of coffee.
If you want to make more than a few cups of coffee, or you want to try out different forms of making espresso, this machine may not be the right option for you. However, it is an ideal option for those who need a fast cup of espresso without having to visit the barista. Below is a complete review I created to help you decide whether the espresso maker is right for you.
This espresso maker is one of the most compact and lightweight single-serve espresso makers. It heats up in less than 30 seconds and then brews your espresso in 30 seconds. Within a minute, you will have your cup of espresso ready, making it one of the fastest espresso makers on the market. The manufacturer notes that the Pixie is one of the original models of their espresso makers.
Nespresso is in competition with Keurig in producing single-serve coffee makers. Although Pixie is not a new model, the latest improvements have created a quieter machine that I can use in the office. With it, you can make espresso and lungo drinks. This is in comparison to other espresso makers, such as the Lavazza Expert Coffee Bundle, which allows you to make six beverages, including the two above, eight-ounce coffee, cappuccino, latte, and macchiato.
Nespresso single-serve coffee makers are so popular in Europe, and they are only starting to gain popularity in the U.S. Here, they battle with Keurig, which is a household name. It is easy to confuse the machines from these two brands.
If you live alone or no one else loves espresso in your house, this machine will make enough espresso for you. It doesn’t involve you much in the espresso making and this is why beginners will find it a good option. Below are its great features:
The water tank in the Pixie can hold up to 24 ounces of water. This allows you to make up to nine lungo shots and up to 20 espresso shots before you refill the tank. If you are in an office, the machine saves you time, allowing you to do other tasks.
You can use tap water and still make a sweet-tasting espresso, but the manufacturer recommends filtered water. If you use tap water, descale the espresso maker after a month. If you use filtered water, you can wait for up to six months to descale the machine.
Pixie aims at making less mess when making espresso. It has a removable drip tray that slides out for easy cleaning. Better still, you can flip this tray up when you need to use a larger cup, allowing you to make lungo coffee drinks. When it is down, the Pixie tray can only accommodate a small cup.
Pixie also uses a used capsule container that is also removable. After brewing espresso, open the brewing chamber by pulling up the handle and the capsule will drop into the container. This container can accommodate up to 10 capsules before the need to empty it. This also saves you time, allowing you to perform other tasks.
The Pixie espresso maker offers a 19-bar pressure pump. This is way higher than the standard nine-bar pressure pump you will see in most machines. With more pressure, the espresso maker is able to extract more flavors and aromas from your coffee, creating a more wholesome espresso.
If you have ever used an espresso maker whose coffee tasted like it had excess water, the Pixie gives you a rich cup of coffee with all the flavors and the aromas you want in your espresso.
Pixie does everything for you. It comes pre-programmed with the best brewing temperatures, allowing you to make the perfect cup of espresso. If you do not know how to set the brewing temperatures based on the coffee you want to make, the Nespresso capsules feature a barcode that the machine uses to adjust temperature accordingly.
The temperature is dependent on the blend you choose. You also get brewing instructions to help you make the cup of espresso that you need.
Pixie fits on small spaces perfectly. The unit is only nine inches tall and accommodates eight capsules high. Its width is about four inches and its length is about 12 inches. With these dimensions, it is easy to fit this espresso machine on your work desk or under a kitchen cabinet at home.
The machine is also lightweight at only 7.5 pounds, allowing you to bring it to events and when you go on vacation. You can enjoy a cup of espresso when you are home and away. Even better, the convenience continues in that you can make espresso in under a minute.
Pixie has an automatic shutoff feature that switches off the machine if it runs idle for nine minutes. This feature saves you energy by shutting off the machine if you forget to switch it off. All the lighting features on the Pixie are LED to reduce the energy that the machine uses.
Unless you keep forgetting, you can unplug the machine completely when not in use. This machine uses Thermoblock technology, is highly energy efficient, and also allow the machine to heat up in 30 seconds or less after plugging it in.
This compact espresso maker features a simple construction with all the features you need to make a strong cup of coffee. Except that it doesn’t offer a milk frother, all the other features make the machine worth its price.
Pixie makes espresso and there are so many other machines that do the same. You can pick the best by considering:
What kind of coffee do you need from your machine? If you only need espresso, Pixie can be a great choice as that is what it makes. If you want more beverages, you may have to go for a different machine such as the Lavazza Expert Coffee Bundle, which can make eight-ounce coffee, espresso, lungo, cappuccino, latte, and macchiato.
Here, you also consider whether the machine features a frother for added beverages. A machine with a frother helps you create more espresso-related beverages.
Espresso machines are available to accommodate your coffee needs. If you live alone, or you are the only one who loves coffee, you can go for a compact espresso maker. If you are in a household that loves espresso, you will need a larger machine. The compact machines are also ideal when you need something you can carry to your next adventure.
Consider the size of the water tank in relation to the size of the machine. You need a tank that holds enough water so that you do not keep going back to the tap.
A coffee aficionado may want a coffee maker with multiple features so that they have more control of the coffee making process. However, if you are a beginner, or you do not have the time to keep tweaking features, you will need an easy-to-use machine. Some machines come with pre-programmed settings and these make them simple to use.
Consider the range of features that a machine offers in relation to its cost. Some of the features that you need include auto shut-off, LED lighting, LED screen for the settings, and reusable capsules among others. The range of features will determine whether the machine offers value for money.
Keurig is one of the top single-serve coffee maker brands. The K-Café differs from the Pixie in that it has a larger water tank, up to 60 ounces, so you can make up to six cups of coffee before you refill water. It is also different in that it comes with a frother and allows you to make different beverages, including espresso, cappuccino, and latte. It is larger than the Pixie and also weighs more at 12.65 pounds.
The DeLonghi Lattissima Plus is a single-serve espresso machine that offers three options for making espresso and three options for making milk drink. It is as easy to use as the Pixie as all you do is hit a button, and it does everything else for you. It differs from the Pixie in that it has a milk frother and allows several beverages. However, they have similar features such as 19-bar pressure pump, auto shutoff feature, sliding drip tray, and one-touch operation.
This is another single-serve espresso machine. Unlike the Pixie, it has a milk frother, allowing you more beverages. You can make ristretto, espresso, and lungo and also milk drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes. It also differs in that it has an advanced LCD display for easy settings. Its water tank is bigger than that of Pixie at 50.7 ounces. It is similar to Pixie in pressure (19 bars), auto shut-off and fast heating times.
If you want strong espresso for one, then this single-serve espresso maker is worth the cost. It has just enough features to help beginners and aficionados make the espresso they want.
You can only use Nespresso capsules in the Pixie. It accommodates eight capsules up, which are held on the capsules container after use.
The espresso maker will last between five and 10 years, depending on how well you take care of it. If you clean it often and descale after about 300 capsules, the machine will give you about 10 years. It will last longer if you use filtered water as recommended.
From all Nespresso Pixie reviews we explored online, most coffee lovers love this coffee maker. It helps when you need a compact espresso machine that you can place on your desk at work or on a small space in your kitchen. If you are the only one who loves espresso at home, and you love your coffee black, then this machine will offer you value for money.
It is compact, brews espresso in under a minute, and has pre-programmed temperature and pressure for ease of use. For beginners, the espresso maker allows one-touch coffee making.
