Nespresso ‎XN741B40 Single Serve Machine - Review 🏆

The Nespresso XN741B40 is a popular single-serve pod coffee machine made by Nespresso, the leading brand in pod-style coffee. This compact and stylish unit is designed to make barista-quality espresso and coffee drinks at home with remarkable convenience.

The XN741B40 uses Nespresso's special coffee capsules containing ground coffee. With a simple touch of a button, the machine delivers a consistent, high-quality cup of coffee or espresso every time. No grinding beans, no measuring grounds, no messy filters to deal with. Just pop in a capsule and let the machine take care of the rest.

This self-contained system has everything needed to brew delicious coffee and espresso drinks, including a high-pressure pump and a 19-bar pressure system. The Nespresso XN741B40 is an excellent option for coffee lovers looking for an easy way to enjoy café-style drinks at home without hassle or complicated setup.

Design

The Nespresso XN741B40 VertuoPlus coffee machine has a sleek and modern design that looks great in any kitchen. It has compact dimensions of 12.83 x 4.05 x 11.91 inches and weighs in at 9.72 lbs, making it easy to fit on your countertop without taking up too much space.

The VertuoPlus comes in a variety of colors including black, red, silver, and titanium, so you can choose the one that best matches your kitchen's aesthetic. The exterior has a smooth, rounded shape with clean lines that give it an elegant, contemporary look. The top of the machine flips open to reveal a large 54 oz water tank that is easy to fill. Overall, the VertuoPlus coffee maker has a premium design that looks far more expensive than its affordable price point.

In contrast, the Keurig K-Express single serve coffee maker has a more industrial look with exposed pipes and connectors. It comes in either a brushed silver or matte black finish. The K-Express is taller than the VertuoPlus at 17 inches high but has a smaller 9 inch by 12.6 inch footprint. While the VertuoPlus aims for an elegant, upscale look, the Keurig K-Express has a no-frills design focused on functionality over aesthetics. However, it does have programmable settings and a large color touchscreen for convenience.

The water reservoir on the Keurig K-Express is removable with a capacity of 52 ounces - slightly smaller than the VertuoPlus. The drip tray is also removable to accommodate travel mugs up to 7 inches tall. LED indicators let you know when it needs cleaning or descaling. Overall, the Keurig has a very functional design with great customization options but lacks the refined styling of the Nespresso VertuoPlus. Which one you prefer will depend on whether you value form or function more highly when it comes to your kitchen appliances.

In terms of dimensions, the VertuoPlus coffee machine has a footprint of just 12.83 by 11.91 inches compared to the larger Keurig K-Express at 9 by 12.6 inches. However, the Keurig is several inches taller at 17 inches high versus the more compact 12 inch height of the Nespresso. So while the VertuoPlus may take up less counter space overall, the Keurig has a larger water reservoir and can accommodate taller travel mugs. The Nespresso weighs in at a light 9.72 lbs compared to the heftier 13.7 pound Keurig model. But the additional weight of the K-Express lends it a sturdier, higher quality feel.

When choosing between the Nespresso VertuoPlus and Keurig K-Express single serve coffee makers, you'll need to decide which is more important - a sleek, elegant design or customizable functionality. The VertuoPlus looks far more expensive with its curvy silhouette and premium aesthetics. But the Keurig offers programmability and high-tech features for making espresso drinks. Both brew excellent coffee and espresso. But your own design preferences will likely dictate your choice between these two capable single serve machines.

Features

The Nespresso XN741B40 machine comes equipped with several notable features to deliver high-quality coffee drinks with simplicity and convenience.

Pressure Pump

This model contains a 19-bar pressure pump that allows you to brew barista-style coffee. The high pressure unlocks the flavor from the coffee grounds and produces rich crema on your espresso shots. With this amount of pressure, you can achieve the full potential of each coffee capsule.

Large Water Tank

The XN741B40 has a generous 1L removable water tank. This provides the capacity to brew multiple coffees before needing a refill. Having a large water supply on hand means you don't have to interrupt your coffee routine to frequently top it up.

Used Capsule Container

Once you finish a coffee, this machine collects the used capsules in an internal container that holds 10-11 capsules before needing emptying. This is a useful feature that keeps your countertop clutter-free while brewing. The container is also hermetically sealed to prevent odors from escaping.

The Nespresso XN741B40 offers convenience and quality with its capsule-based brewing system. However, there are other single serve coffee makers worth considering if you want more variety. One popular model is the Bosch TASSIMO TAS1002GB. This machine uses TASSIMO T DISCs instead of Nespresso capsules. With TASSIMO, you can brew coffee, espresso, tea, hot chocolate and more from a wide range of brands. The Bosch model has a compact footprint, 0.8L water tank, and automatic pod ejection. It heats up in just 40 seconds and has an intelligent barcode system to optimize the brew settings. The TAS1002GB is an affordable and versatile single cup brewer. While the Nespresso XN741B40 offers a premium capsule coffee experience, the TASSIMO opens up more beverage possibilities if you want variety beyond espresso and coffee.

Coffee Customization

The Nespresso XN741B40 offers a good amount of customization when it comes to the coffee it brews. You can choose from 3 different cup sizes - espresso (1.35oz), double espresso (2.7oz), and gran lungo (5oz). This allows you to brew anything from a strong, concentrated shot of espresso to a longer cup with more water.

You can also adjust the brewing parameters to control the strength and flavor of the coffee. There are two programmable buttons that you can set for your preferred lungo and espresso volumes. In addition, there is a button to add extra water to either size if you want an even longer cup.

The flow speed and temperature can be adjusted as well. The machine heats the water to the optimal temperature for coffee extraction and the pump pressure is set at 19 bars to properly saturate the coffee grounds. Overall, the XN741B40 provides the flexibility to customize your coffee exactly how you like it.

Ease of Use

The Nespresso XN741B40 is designed to be convenient and simple to operate on a daily basis. The machine has two programmable one-touch buttons that allow you to brew your preferred coffee or espresso beverage with just a press. There are also two buttons for lungo and espresso to easily make those standard drink sizes.

Loading the machine is very straightforward - just lift the lever, insert a capsule, and lower the lever to lock it in place. The capsule is pierced when you lower the lever, so no prep is required. The spent capsules are ejected into an internal receptacle after brewing.

When it's time to empty the used capsule container, the process is simple. Just lift the rear flap of the machine and slide out the container. There's no need to disassemble anything. The container and surfaces of the machine can be wiped down as needed to keep things hygienic.

The XN741B40 alerts you when the used capsule container is full or any other issue arises via LED lights on the top front. This allows you to keep the machine in optimal brewing condition without guesswork. Overall, Nespresso designed this model to be effortless to operate and maintain on a daily basis.

Coffee Quality

The Nespresso XN741B40 makes coffee of excellent quality thanks to its 19 bars of pump pressure and fast heating time. The espresso it produces has a rich, full-bodied taste with a smooth velvety crema on top. The temperature is always hot but not scaldingly so.

The system uses Centrifusion technology to spin the coffee at 7,000 rotations per minute, blending water and coffee under intense pressure. This extracts the fullest flavor and aroma from the coffee. The result is espresso with complex notes and a long-lasting aftertaste.

While espresso pods often produce watery coffee, the Nespresso's high pressure ensures the espresso is thick and syrupy. It consistently pulls flavorful shots without bitterness or acidity. The Crema produced is finely textured with no large bubbles.

No matter if you are making an espresso, lungho, or Americano, the coffee has an authentic cafe-quality taste. The system allows customization of volume, but no matter how long the pour, the flavor profile remains excellent.

Capsule Variety

The Nespresso XN741B40 machine is compatible with Nespresso's Vertuo system capsules, which come in an assortment of coffee blends and flavors. Nespresso offers around 30 different Vertuo capsule options currently, with seasonal and limited edition flavors released periodically.

The Vertuo capsules utilize centrifugation technology and barcode reading to customize the brewing parameters based on the specific coffee blend inside each capsule. This allows the XN741B40 to optimize the extraction and create the ideal cup of coffee for whichever Vertuo capsule is inserted.

Some of the most popular Vertuo capsule varieties include Caramelizio, Half Caff, Stormio, Odacio, Melozio, and Altissio. The capsule options range from mild and well-balanced choices to more intense and bold coffee profiles. Having access to this wide assortment of single-serve capsules makes the XN741B40 quite versatile.

The only downside is that the Vertuo system is proprietary, so you can only use Nespresso branded capsules. However, Nespresso's large capsule selection helps offset this limitation for most owners. As long as you don't mind being locked into the Nespresso ecosystem, the XN741B40 gives you plenty of delicious coffee and espresso options to explore.

Value

The Nespresso XN741B40 offers decent value for an original line Nespresso machine. At around £130, it's affordably priced for a single serve pod coffee maker with the Nespresso brand name.

The machine comes with a welcome set that includes a sample pack of 16 Nespresso capsules containing a variety of blends and flavors to get you started. This allows you to try out the different capsules before purchasing more.

In the box, you'll also find the Aeroccino milk frother. Having the milk frother included is a nice extra, as it allows you to make lattes and cappuccinos. The Aeroccino heats and froths milk with the push of a button, requiring minimal effort on your part.

Overall, given the trusted Nespresso name, convenient single serve functionality, and inclusion of the helpful Aeroccino frother, the XN741B40 provides solid value at its price point. You're getting an appliance that makes quality espresso-based drinks with minimal fuss.

Pros & Cons

The Nespresso Vertuo XN741B40 has several notable pros and cons worth considering:

Pros

• Produces barista-quality espresso and coffee with rich, bold flavor using Centrifusion technology
• Automatic capsule recognition for optimal brewing
• Fast preheating time of only 20-25 seconds
• Large 40 oz water tank capacity
• Simple one-touch button operation
• Energy saving mode shuts off after 9 minutes of inactivity
• Nespresso capsules are recyclable through the company's recycling program
• Compact, lightweight, and stylish design

Cons

• Only uses Nespresso Vertuo capsules which can be expensive
• Capsules are not as widely available compared to Nescafe Dolce Gusto
• No option to use your own ground coffee
• Limited milk frothing abilities compared to machines with built-in frothers
• Water tank only accessible from rear so must move machine to refill
• Some reliability complaints and quality control issues reported
• No Bluetooth connectivity or smart features

Conclusion

The Nespresso XN741B40 VertuoPlus offers impressive coffee customization in a sleek, user-friendly design. This single-serve coffee machine can brew espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, coffee, and alto in five different cup sizes. The motorized head and barcode reading technology help deliver the perfect cup every time.

The VertuoPlus produces excellent coffee quality and crema thanks to the centrifuge extraction process. There is a wide variety of Nespresso capsule flavors to explore for different tastes and preferences. While the pods can be pricey, the convenience and quality may make it worthwhile for coffee lovers.

Overall, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is an excellent choice for those seeking an automated single-serve coffee maker with gourmet results. The only downside is the reliance on proprietary Nespresso capsules. If you want more freedom to use ground coffee or pods from various brands, a different single-serve machine may be preferable. However, within the Nespresso ecosystem, the VertuoPlus is hard to beat.