Only 8.4 cm wide and about 20 cm tall, it brews espresso and lungo from Nespresso Original capsules with a 19-bar pump.
Updated
- None Milk system
- 0.6 L Water tank
- 20.4 cm Height
- 2 years Warranty
Pros
- Just 8.4 cm wide and about 20 cm tall
- Heats up in about 25 seconds
- Espresso and lungo buttons can both be reprogrammed
- Uses Nespresso Original capsules with a 19-bar pump
- Auto-off after 9 minutes, which you can lengthen to 30
Cons
- Small 0.6 L tank needs frequent refills
- Holds only 5 to 6 used capsules
- No milk frother: an Aeroccino is sold separately
- Only two cup sizes, espresso and lungo
- Best for
- Small kitchens, offices and anyone who mainly drinks espresso or lungo from Original capsules.
- Not for
- Large mugs or milk drinks without a separate frother, or households who would tire of refilling a small tank.
Our verdict
The Essenza Mini is the Nespresso to buy when space is the problem. At 8.4 cm wide and 20.4 cm tall it is about half the width of most of the pod machines we list, and it runs Nespresso Original capsules through a 19-bar pump. Two buttons brew a 40 ml espresso or a 110 ml lungo, and holding either one while it brews stores a new volume.
It heats in about 25 seconds and switches itself off after nine minutes, which you can lengthen to 30. The catch is upkeep: the 0.6-litre tank and a capsule container that takes five or six pods need frequent attention, there is no frother, and there are only two cup sizes. De’Longhi sells it as the EN85, and Nespresso sells the same machine under its own C30, C31, D30 and D31 codes, in square and triangular shapes; the colour and shape vary, the machine does not.
Cleaning and running costs
Empty the drip tray, drip base and capsule container every day, and wash the tank and its lid with an odourless detergent before rinsing them in warm water. Descaling takes about 15 minutes: one sachet of Nespresso descaler (the Descaling Kit, 142420, holds two) with water to the 0.6-litre line, both buttons held for five seconds to start, the solution run through twice, then two rinses with fresh water. Before a long break, a frost or a repair, Nespresso says to empty the system: switch off, take the tank out, open the lever and hold both buttons for five seconds. Used capsules go back to Nespresso free in its recycling bags.
Who should look elsewhere
If you want large mugs, the Nespresso Vertuo Up brews seven sizes up to a carafe from a 1.4-litre tank, in a body 12 cm wide. If you want milk drinks without buying a separate frother, the Sage Nespresso Creatista Plus takes the same Original capsules and adds an automatic steam wand, at twice the width.
Compare it with every pod machine we track, or see it in compact coffee machines that fit under kitchen cupboards, Nespresso Original vs Vertuo, the best pod coffee machines and our sums on whether beans or pods cost less per cup.
Nespresso Essenza Mini specs
- None Milk system
- 0.6 L Water tank
- 20.4 cm Height
- 2 years Warranty
Milk
| Milk system | None |
|---|
Drinks
| Cup sizes | 2 |
|---|
Size
| Water tank | 0.6 L |
|---|---|
| Width | 8.4 cm |
| Height | 20.4 cm |
| Depth | 33 cm |
| Weight | 2.3 kg |
Coffee
| Heat-up time | 25 s |
|---|---|
| Pump pressure | 19 bar |
Ownership
| Warranty | 2 years |
|---|
Manufacturer figures, checked 2 Nov 2026. — means not listed.
Where to buy the Nespresso Essenza Mini
- De’Longhi£119Go to De’Longhi (opens in a new tab)
Prices and stock change; the retailer’s page is always the final word.
Essenza Mini questions
How do I descale a Nespresso Essenza Mini?
Use one sachet of Nespresso descaler with water up to the 0.6-litre line, then hold both buttons for five seconds to start. The solution runs through twice, followed by two rinses with fresh water, and the whole cycle takes about 15 minutes. Nespresso’s Descaling Kit (142420) holds two sachets and also suits its Vertuo machines.
How do I change the cup size on an Essenza Mini?
Hold the espresso or lungo button while the machine brews, and let go when the cup holds what you want: it stores that as the new volume. Out of the box, espresso is 40 ml and lungo 110 ml. To go back to those, switch the machine off and hold the lungo button for five seconds, which restores the factory settings.
How do I stop my Essenza Mini switching off so quickly?
Change the auto-off time from 9 to 30 minutes. With the machine switched off, hold the espresso button for five seconds, then press it again to choose the longer setting, as Nespresso’s UK assistance page describes. Thirty minutes is also the longest that GB standby rules allow a machine like this to wait after the last drink before dropping to low power.
Can I froth milk with the Essenza Mini?
Not with the machine itself: it has no frother or steam wand. Nespresso sells the Aeroccino3 (3694-GB-BK), a separate frother for hot and cold milk, for its machines without a milk system. If you want milk drinks from the machine itself, the Creatista Plus adds an automatic steam wand and takes the same Original capsules.
How big is the Essenza Mini water tank?
It holds 0.6 litres and lifts out for filling. At the factory volumes that is about five lungos or at most 15 espressos per fill, before you count any rinses. The capsule container takes five or six used capsules, so in practice you will empty it about as often as you refill the tank.
Is the Essenza Mini the same as the De’Longhi EN85?
Yes. De’Longhi sells it as the EN85, and Nespresso sells the same machine under its own codes: C30 and C31 for the square version, D30 and D31 for the triangular one. The colour and shape change between codes, not the machine. The version we track is De’Longhi’s EN85.B, so check the code when you compare listings.