Need that one under-$100 gift that hits the mark? Amazon has marked down the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ to $99, a 23% reduction from its regular $129 list price. Some colors are dropping to sub-$100 territory, so this is a prescient score for coffee lovers striving for café-style espresso and coffee without the café learning curve.
Why You Should Pay Attention to This $99 Deal
The Vertuo Pop+ is Nespresso’s smallest Vertuo model, but it doesn’t cut core features. It uses the brand’s Centrifusion system to read a capsule’s barcode and adjust settings for single or double espresso, as well as 5-, 8-, and 12-ounce coffees. Heat-up time is about 30 seconds, meaning you can go from half-asleep to brewed before your toast pops.
- Why You Should Pay Attention to This $99 Deal
- Compact Performance From the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+
- Pods Cost and the Actual Savings When Brewing at Home
- Vertuo vs Other Single-Serve Options and Key Differences
- Sustainability and Maintenance for the Vertuo Pop+
- Buying Advice and Color Options for the Vertuo Pop+
Despite its small size (it takes up only 8.5 inches of counter space and has a 25-ounce removable water tank), the Pop+ produces the tall, thick crema that’s made Vertuo machines famous. It’s a good fit for dorm rooms, small kitchens, and even the home desk situation you’ve been working at all these weeks, and the fun color options are more design-forward than bad stainless steel.
Compact Performance From the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+
Vertuo, in response to the high speeds at which it spins during extraction, has a system that saturates and layers the crema evenly. The result is a reliable cup with very little fiddling (no tamping, weighing, or guesswork). Note that brew sizes are set by the capsule; if you want something longer, you can top up with hot water for something Americano-like.
Cleanup is no-nonsense: Pop in a capsule, press a button, and toss the spent pods in the bin when you’re finished. It features an energy-saving auto-off mode and descaling alert to help ensure you’re never out of coffee if your brewer would otherwise be out of commission due to limescale buildup — especially handy for hard-water locales.
Pods Cost and the Actual Savings When Brewing at Home
If you are the type of person who cares about cost-per-drink over time, Vertuo pods typically average between $0.90 and $1.30 per drink depending on variety. Compare that with the $4 to $6 price many American cafés charge for espresso-based drinks — industry point-of-sale data typically puts lattes in that range — and the math skews toward making it at home. At $99, the Pop+ can easily pay for itself in as few as 20 (or even 30) café visits, although potentially much faster with multiple daily drinkers.
According to the National Coffee Association, 67% of Americans drink coffee on a daily basis, and single-serve brewers continue to be among the most popular at-home options. But it is the use case that this model nails: consistent results, almost no learning curve, and speed.
Vertuo vs Other Single-Serve Options and Key Differences
Unlike Keurig-style brewers, Nespresso’s Vertuo system is geared toward espresso and espresso-like coffee with a more developed crema. Unlike the Nespresso Original line (which pulls espresso at high pressure and in small pods), Vertuo machines capture a barcode on each pod and spin it to extract. Vertuo and Original capsules are not cross-compatible, so just make sure you’re shopping Vertuo pods from Nespresso and partners like Starbucks by Nespresso.
If you drink mostly drip-style coffee in big batches, a classic brewer is still cheaper per cup. But for most espresso shots, Americanos, and smaller cups — especially when time and counter space are at a premium — the Pop+ is a strong value play at $99.
Sustainability and Maintenance for the Vertuo Pop+
Nespresso maintains a special capsule recycling program that offers prepaid mail-back and retail drop-off options. The aluminum capsules are separated from the spent grounds, which can be diverted for composting or other uses while the aluminum is recycled. If you are giving, drop a recycling bag in the box so your recipient can get into the habit from day one.
Buying Advice and Color Options for the Vertuo Pop+
Pricing on the Pop+ can fluctuate by color, and inventory often goes fast when it drops below $100. For $99, you get a compact, design-forward machine that brews multiple sizes; heats up fast; and barely needs cleaning — just the kind of practical crowd-pleaser to gift without feeling too compromised in taste or style.
Bottom line: If you’re in the market for espresso on demand and don’t feel like paying triple digits while doing so, then it’s time to take advantage of the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ at $99.
