Last updated: October 2, 2026
Quick answer: Our top pick in 2026 is the Lattissima Plus (EN520/550) — our #1 rated choice. See the full ranked comparison, alternatives and buying advice below.
What the Lattissima Plus Actually Is
The De’Longhi Lattissima Plus is a Nespresso Original-line machine with a built-in milk system. It was sold as EN520 and EN550 variants in the US (the difference is mostly finish and bundle), and it sits between the basic Original machines like the Essenza Mini or Pixie and the more automated Lattissima One and Lattissima Pro. The core idea is simple: one-touch cappuccino and latte without a separate frother or steam wand.
It uses 19-bar pressure to brew standard Nespresso Original capsules, not Vertuo pods. If you already buy Original capsules, or you prefer the wider third-party capsule selection that Original supports, this machine fits. If you want Vertuo’s larger cup sizes and centrifusion brewing, this is the wrong system entirely.
On the counter, it is not small. At roughly 12 x 8 x 10 inches and with a detachable milk carafe that sticks out on the right side, it needs more depth than a Pixie or Essenza. The 30-ounce water tank is on the back, which is annoying if you push it under cabinets. The used capsule container holds about 10 capsules before it needs emptying.
How It Brews and What You Control
See also: Breville Bench Saver • Rocket Espresso Coffee Machine
Brewing is fully automatic. Insert a capsule, press one of the six backlit buttons, and the machine does the rest. The buttons cover ristretto, espresso, lungo, and three milk drinks: cappuccino, latte macchiato, and hot milk. There is no dial for temperature or texture beyond a small slider on the milk carafe lid that controls how much foam you get.
You can reprogram shot volumes by holding the button until you have the amount you want, then it saves that volume. That is useful because the factory settings are often too much water for a proper espresso. Most owners end up shortening the espresso to 1 oz and the lungo to 3.5 oz to keep flavor concentrated, then add milk to taste.
Heat-up is about 25-30 seconds from cold, and the thermoblock reheats quickly between drinks. It also has an auto-off after 9 minutes, adjustable to 30 minutes or 8 hours. There is no app connectivity or Bluetooth, which is a plus for reliability – there is simply less to go wrong.
The Milk System: Where It Wins and Loses
The Lattissima Plus uses a detachable milk carafe with its own auto-frothing unit. Milk is siphoned up, steamed inside the carafe lid, and dispensed directly into your cup through a spout. You do not need to pour milk separately or clean a steam wand. Press the cappuccino button and it makes milk first, then coffee.
For convenience, it is excellent. Foam is dense and fairly dry when the slider is set to max froth, and more like hot steamed milk when set to minimum. It will not make true microfoam for latte art. If you care about pouring rosettas, you will be disappointed. A separate electric frother like the Aeroccino or a manual wand gives you more control.
Cleaning is the trade-off. De’Longhi added a one-touch cleaning cycle: after each milk drink, the machine prompts you to turn the milk dial to clean and it flushes hot water/steam through the system. If you skip this, milk bakes inside the lid and the thin siphon tube clogs within a few days. Even with regular rinsing, the carafe lid has several small silicone parts and gaskets that need a thorough hand wash every 2-3 days and a full disassembly weekly. The carafe can go in the fridge with milk inside, but do not leave milk in it at room temperature for hours.
Common failure mode here is weak or sputtering milk output. Almost always it is a clogged frothing connector or dried milk in the dial. Soaking the lid parts in hot water and running the clean cycle twice fixes it. If you do not want this maintenance, a simpler Original machine plus a standalone frother is less hassle long-term.
Capsule Cost and Flavor Reality
Like all Nespresso Original machines, brew quality depends almost entirely on the capsule, not the machine. The Lattissima Plus does not make better espresso than a $149 Essenza Mini with the same pod. What you pay for is the automated milk.
Expect to pay $0.70 to $0.85 per Nespresso-branded Original capsule, less for compatible Nespresso Original capsules from third parties. If you drink two milk drinks a day, you are looking at $45-$55 a month in capsules plus milk. That adds up faster than whole beans for a semi-automatic machine, but you get consistency and almost no learning curve.
Flavor is classic Nespresso: clean, heavy crema from added robusta in many blends, low acidity, and limited crema persistence compared to freshly ground espresso. Milk drinks taste balanced and sweet because the system automatically doses more milk than most cafes do. If you like very strong, short lattes, reprogram the milk portion down or the coffee will taste diluted.
How It Compares to Other Nespresso Options
The Lattissima Plus is discontinued but still sold refurbished and used in large numbers. Here is how it stacks up against current and closely related models:
| Machine | System | Milk | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lattissima Plus (EN520/550) | Original | Built-in carafe, one-touch, adjustable foam slider | True one-touch; large milk carafe (12 oz); reprogrammable volumes | Bulky; carafe cleaning is mandatory; discontinued so warranty is via seller only |
| Lattissima One | Original | Built-in carafe, single milk recipe | More compact; simpler single-serve milk system; easier to clean | Only one milk portion size; smaller 5 oz milk tank needs refilling often |
| Essenza Mini + Aeroccino | Original | Separate electric frother | Cheapest, smallest footprint; frother easy to replace if it fails | Two-step process; Aeroccino foam is not steamed, just whisked |
| Vertuo Lattissima | Vertuo | Built-in carafe | Makes 5 cup sizes including 14 oz coffee; good for drip-coffee drinkers | Pods cost more; no third-party capsules; not real espresso by traditional definition |
If your priority is convenience for milk drinks and you do not mind a used or refurbished unit, the Plus is often the best value of the Lattissima line because the carafe is larger than the One and the used prices are $100-$160 less than new next-gen models. If you want new with warranty and a smaller machine, the Lattissima One is the logical new equivalent. If you rarely drink milk drinks, save your money and buy a basic Original machine.
Reliability, Common Problems, and Maintenance
The Lattissima Plus is generally reliable, but it has well-known weak points after 2-4 years of daily use.
First, the milk carafe lid. The silicone nipple and frothing chamber wear and start to leak air, which causes thin, bubbly foam. Replacement lids are available but cost $35-$50. Second, descaling. The machine will flash an orange descaling alert. If you ignore it, the thermoblock scales up and the pump gets loud and weak. Run a proper Nespresso descaling kit every 300 capsules or every 3 months in hard water areas. Do not use vinegar. Third, the capsule piercing plate dulls over time and can cause capsules to not puncture cleanly, leading to watery coffee or leaks into the drip tray. Brushing out coffee grounds weekly helps.
Day-to-day, empty the drip tray and capsule container daily, rinse the milk circuit after every milk drink, and hand-wash the carafe lid with warm soapy water. Dishwasher heat warps the lid gaskets. Keep the water tank filled with fresh water; leaving it half-empty for days speeds scale buildup.
This is not a repairable machine in the way a semi-automatic with a 58mm portafilter is. When the pump or board fails out of warranty, replacement is usually cheaper than service. That is worth factoring into the price you pay for a used unit.
Who Should and Should Not Buy It
Buy the Lattissima Plus if you want one button for cappuccino in the morning without learning to steam milk, you drink mostly Original capsules, and you are okay buying refurbished to get the lower price. It is ideal for an office, a second home, or a household where different people want different milk drinks without technique.
Do not buy it if you want to control milk texture, you want the largest Vertuo mugs, or you hate cleaning milk parts. In those cases, a basic Original machine paired with a standalone milk frother for espresso gives you better control and easier maintenance, and you can replace the frother for $40 if it dies instead of hunting for a carafe lid.
Also skip it if you are hoping to save money by switching from cafe lattes to Nespresso. You will save, but the per-capsule cost is still 3-4x higher than beans. The cheaper option is genuinely fine if you mostly drink black coffee: a Pixie or Essenza Mini brews identical coffee for half the price and leaves more counter space.
FAQ
Does the Lattissima Plus use Vertuo pods?
No. It only uses Nespresso Original capsules, which are the small, dome-shaped ones. Vertuo pods are larger and barcode-brewed, and they will not fit or brew in this machine.
Can I use third-party or refillable capsules?
Yes, any Original-compatible capsule works, and many third-party brands are cheaper than Nespresso. Refillable stainless capsules also fit, but they produce weaker crema and require a fine grind and careful tamping to avoid leaks.
Is the milk carafe dishwasher safe?
De’Longhi lists the carafe as dishwasher safe, but the lid with the frothing parts warps and loses seal if washed on high heat. Hand-wash the lid and put only the clear jug in the dishwasher if you need to.
What is the difference between EN520 and EN550?
Functionally they are the same machine. The EN550 was a later bundle that often included a different finish and sometimes an Aeroccino, but the brewing unit, pump, and milk carafe are identical.
Ready to decide? Our #1 pick for 2026 is the Lattissima Plus (EN520/550).
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