Nespresso Citiz vs Pixie vs Inissia? You’re in the market for a new coffee maker. You’re in the right place. When the machine that keeps you running isn’t running itself, we have the reviews that make your decision-making process easier.
If you have come to this page, you might have already decided that it’s time for an upgrade in your life. Why replace the old coffee maker that you’ve had for years with the exact same model when you could explore the wonderful world of high-end coffee machines that Nespresso provides? It’s time for a newer, more powerful coffee maker. But which one? We can help you decide which is the best small Nespresso machine.
Contents
- 1 Similiarities at a Glance – Nespresso Citiz vs Pixie vs Inissia
- 2 Differences at a Glance – Nespresso Citiz vs Pixie vs Inissia
- 3 Why buy a Nespresso machine?
- 4 [UPDATE] Why can’t I find the Inissia on the Nespresso website easily?
- 5 The Inissia Espresso Maker
- 6 The Pixie: AKA Luxury Inissia
- 7 Pixie Vs Inissia – Differences
- 8 The Citiz: Something Different
- 9 Nespresso Inissia vs Pixie vs Citiz : Final Verdict
Similiarities at a Glance – Nespresso Citiz vs Pixie vs Inissia
| Features | Inissia | Pixie | Citiz |
| Espresso Brewing | Fully automatic | Fully automatic | Fully automatic |
| Drink Options | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Water Heatup Time | 25 secs | 25 secs | 25 secs |
| Pressure | 19 bars | 19 bars | 19 bars |
| Auto turn off | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Differences at a Glance – Nespresso Citiz vs Pixie vs Inissia
| Features | Inissia | Pixie | Citiz |
| Size | 4.7 inches x 12.6 inches x 9 inches high | 4.4 inches x 12.8 inches x 9.3 high | Deeper and taller than Inissia and Pixieat 5.1 inches x 14.6 inches x 10.9 inches |
| Design | modern | industrial | modern |
| Controls | two drink buttons double up as power button and will power up upon any of the two buttons being pressed. | separate third button for switching the machine on and off | two drink buttons double up as power button and will power up upon any of the two buttons being pressed. |
| Water Tank Capacity | 24 ounces ( or 0.7 litres ) | 24 ounces ( or 0.7 litres ) | 34 ounces ( or 1 litres ) |
| Used Capsule container capacity | 11 | 11 | 9 |
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Why buy a Nespresso machine?
Nespresso is a well-known, high-end coffee maker company whose name conjures images of luxury and relaxed mornings gazing at beautiful scenery with a cup of coffee in hand. They specialize in creating machines that produce both excellent quality coffee and espresso. Part of their secret to excellence is their ability to continually evolve and refine their products.
Nespresso has sought this refinement through the creation of two distinct lines of products: the OriginalLine and the VertuoLine. Machines within each line share common features have similar capabilities. While we have written other articles on machines in the VertuoLine, this article will focus on three popular models from the OriginalLine: the Inissia, the Pixie, and the Citiz.
[UPDATE] Why can’t I find the Inissia on the Nespresso website easily?
The Inissia is a discontinued model that is available for sale through retailers like Amazon and Target, but that does not appear under the OriginalLine machines on the Nespresso website unless you specifically search for “Nespresso Inissia” on your search engine.
The Inissia Espresso Maker
“Suitable for those buying an espresso maker for the first time and on a budget”
The Inissia is the budget espresso maker of the OriginalLine. Marketed as playful, efficient, and fast, the Inissia was designed to serve those in need of a good cup of coffee at a good price. It’s curved shape and 4 bold colors also cater to a stylish, relaxed consumer. Beyond price and style, the Inissia has an impressive list of key features including:
- 2 programmable buttons with auto flow stop
- A mere 25 seconds to heat up the water
- Auto turn off after 9 minutes
- A small footprint (WxDxH) 4.7 x 12.6 x 9
- 4 fun colors
- A 23.7 oz water tank
- Unused capsule container capacity of 11 capsules
Pros:
- Compact
- Light weight
- Nice colors
- Fast heatup time
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Noisy
- Not as sturdy as other Nespresso models due plastic built
- No alert to clean or descale the coffee maker or to fill the water tank
Ease Of Use
The Inissia has simple controls, only 2 main buttons to control the function of the machine. One, indicated by a small cup, is for espresso. The other, indicated by a large cup, is for lungo. (For those not familiar with Nespresso terminology, lungo is watered down espresso. If espresso is 1 part coffee for 2 parts water, then lungo is 1 part coffee for 3 parts water).
These two buttons must be set by hand to release the right amount of water for the cups that you use. At the first use, you press down one of the buttons and wait for the machine to release water. When the appropriate amount of liquid to fill your cup has been dispensed, release the button. That button is now programmed and will provide the same amount of coffee every time. Then you simply repeat this process with the other side, dispensing more water if you are programming for lungo or less water if you are programming for espresso.
Ease Of Mind
The auto turn off feature is standard on Nespresso machines. It is a great feature that gives you the peace of mind. Even if you forget to turn the unit off, it recognizes it has been on for 9 minutes and will shut off. If you don’t think that 9 minutes is long enough for you, this setting can be changed so that the unit shuts off after 30 minutes.
Compact
The water tank is a bit small at 23.7 oz. This is equivalent to about 3 cups of water. This is a trade-off for the small footprint of the machine.
Ease of Cleaning up
Despite the compact nature of the coffee machine, its used capsule container can still store up to 11 capsules. If you only drink 1 espresso a day, you can be lazy for at almost 2 weeks before dumping the used capsules.
As you will see, several of these features are also present on both the Pixie and the Citiz machines as they are all part of the OriginalLine.
The Pixie: AKA Luxury Inissia
For all intents and purposes, the Inissia and the Pixie are the same machines. Stylistically, they have almost identical appearances. Both have curved tops and a handle for easy moving. The Pixie also retains many of the features of the Inissia:
- 2 programmable buttons with auto flow stop
- A mere 25 seconds to heat up the water
- Auto turn off after 9 minutes
- A small footprint
- A 24 oz water tank
- Capsule container holds 11 capsules
Pros:
- Compact
- Light Weight
- Fast heatup time
- Easy to use
- Sturdier Build
Cons:
- Noisy
- No alert to clean or descale the coffee maker or to fill the water tank
Pixie Vs Inissia – Differences
Pixie vs Inissia: What’s the difference? One major difference! The Pixie is built better. Where the Inissia was made with plastic sides, the Pixie is built with aluminum sides. The metal construction gives the whole unit a much sturdier and luxurious feel.
A smaller selection of color choices complements this rebranding of the playful Inissia as the more sophisticated Pixie. Instead of having four bold colors, the Pixie has two metallic choices: Aluminum and Titanium.
The Citiz: Something Different
The Inissia and the Pixie are very similar. As another machine in the OriginalLine, the Citiz is not entirely different from these two. It also has these same features.
- 2 programmable buttons with auto flow stop
- A mere 25 seconds to heat up the water
- Auto turn off after 9 minutes
- A small footprint although slightly larger than Pixie and Inissia
Pros:
- Fast heatup time
- Easy to use
- Sturdier Build
- Larger water tank capacity
- Able to accomodate larger mugs
Cons:
- Smaller unused capsule container of 9 capsules
But it does have some variances. In addition to stylistic differences, like its tall, slim body, it has several different features.
Larger Water Tank Capacity
Being the largest, Citiz has a larger water tank capacity of 34 ounces ( or 1 litres ). Pixie and Innissia both have a smaller water tank capacity of 24 ounces ( or 0.7 litres ).
Able to Accommodate Larger Mugs
The drip tray of Citiz can be removed. Hence, it can accommodate a much larger mug than Pixie and Inissia.
Smaller Unused Capsule Container
Despite the larger size of the Citiz, the capsule container holds less. This is the tradeoff for a larger water tank.
Nespresso Inissia vs Pixie vs Citiz : Final Verdict
Nespresso Inissia vs Pixie vs Citiz: Which one should I choose? Despite these similar characteristics and features, each of these different machines caters to a different consumer base.
In general, while we wouldn’t recommend the Inissia, it could be an option for a first-time Nespresso owner on a budget. The Inissia is not recommended for people who have had other Nespresso machines in the past, as the quality will seem like a step down from what you are used to.
The Pixie is for consumers looking for a coffee machine that is sturdy, compact, and portable. If you prefer having more capsule capacity at the expense of water tank capacity, this coffee maker is for you. If you want a warning signal for a low water tank or when to clean and descale your coffee maker you may want to consider a Nespresso product from the VertuoLine over the Pixie or Citiz.
If you would rather have a larger water tank and less capsule capacity, choose the Citiz. This coffee maker is bigger and comes in more colors than the Pixie. If you value the aesthetics, you might consider the Citiz. You may be frustrated with the Citiz if you are someone who likes to be productive while your coffee is being prepared, as you may need to monitor your cup in case it begins shaking with the machine.
Nespresso Citiz vs Pixie vs Inissia. Have you made your decision yet?
