In a Nutshell:
The Breville Nespresso Pixie is an affordable single-serve espresso maker that uses 19-bars of pressure to pull a shot from coffee capsules. It’s ideal for busy households and espresso drinkers who prefer hands-off convenience over manual brewing skills.
Brew Quality
Customization options
Ease of Use
Durability
Overall Rating
4.6/5
Benefits
Drawbacks
Recommended For: Busy households and espresso drinkers who prefer hands-off convenience over manual brewing skills.
Coffee is life, but waiting in those long cafe lines to splurge on a latte can drain your life.
ThThat’shy investing in an at-home espresso machine is worth it. Especially if all you have to do is push a button to get a tasty shot.
We take a look at a highly rated single-serve model in our Nespresso Pixie review. ItIt’sast, small, and magical- just like a woodland fairy.
Breville Nespresso Pixie Machine Design Overview
Nespresso is a known name in the single-serve coffee maker biz alongside Keurig, but while Keurig rules the coffee capsule kingdom, Nespresso lords over espresso capsules.
For this review, we’ll focus on the Nespresso Breville Pixie espresso maker.
It’s a Nespresso fan favorite and for a good reason. It uses 19 bars of pressure to pull a delectable shot, which is above the typical 9-bars of pressure needed for what’s considered “quality espresso.”
You wouldn’t think it puts on such a high-caliber performance just by looking at it. The Pixie is a lightweight, compact machine at 126″ x 7.2″ x 126″, weighing 6.6. pounds.
With no protruding levers and knobs, it slides seamlessly into any tight space, making this a gem for small apartments.
A smaller machine also means a smaller carbon footprint, and in a world environmental impact is becoming more important to consumers, rest assured that the Pixie is pro-planet earth.
One of the biggest complaints about single-serve coffee machines is that the capsules contribute to plastic waste.
Nespresso went to work creating hermetically sealed recyclable aluminum capsules. That way, flavors, and aromas are not compromised, and the capsules don’t end up in a landfill.
Here’s another cool fact: Nespresso plants trees to offset their carbon footprint. While we don’t know exactly what their carbon footprint entails, a little bit goes a long way, right?
All in all, you get a slim, minimalistic espresso machine with metal side panels and plastic parts. It isn’t as feature-rich as a superautomatic, and it’s not as involved as a semi-automatic, but it is highly affordable at under $300.
Pixie is the perfect espresso machine for beginners to get their toes wet. And for everyone else? Don’t compare it to your local barista- it brews with very little customization. Remember, this is a Pixie, not a Wizard.
You’ll see what we mean in the next section. Let’s dive into the features!
Nespresso Pixie Espresso Maker Features
The Nespresso Pixie titanium isn’t packed with features, but the trade-off is a user-friendly operation and a delicious shot of espresso.
24-oz Water Tank
Yes, we know 24 oz is small, so offices and large households might want to look elsewhere to escape the never-ending refills.
The reservoir is also removable, which makes refilling and cleaning easy peasy. And while it doesn’t have a water filter, you can program the water hardness to streamline the quality of your espresso.
Unfortunately, some Nespresso Pixie reviews had less than favorable things to say about the water system and the lack of LED indicators that the older Pixie version provided.
A red light would glow when the water level was low, but now there is no way to tell if the tank is empty or not. It’s a slight inconvenience but not a dealbreaker.
No Milk Frothing System Included
If you’re looking for the button for lattes, the Nespresso Pixie doesn’t have it. You have to buy the milk frother, called Nespresso Pixie Aeroccino3, separately.
There is an option to purchase the Nespresso Pixie and Aeroccino 3 as a bundle package, but it’s more expensive.
If you love specialty drinks, then it’s still more affordable than a superautomatic and easier to use than a semi-automatic.
The Nespresso Pixie with Aeroccino 3 is capable of producing a hot or cold milk froth for your lattes and cappuccinos.
Best of all, you don’t have to be a professional microfoam artist to achieve a worthy froth. Just push the button, and the device does it all for you in about 90 seconds.
Brewing Capabilities
What we love most about the Pixie espresso machine is how much power it packs in such a small package. It’s everything you need to get a quick shot of espresso on a dime.
But most importantly- it’s reliable. The 19-bar pressure gauge ensures that your espresso is full-bodied and never watered down, which many single-serve espresso machines are notorious for.
The Pixie utilizes a Thermoblock heating element and takes only 30 seconds to heat up.
It comes with a tasting box of Nespresso capsules (there are 16 different flavors in this line), so you just pop one in and shut the capsule holder.
If you don’t want to use capsules, Nespresso gives the option to use reusable coffee capsules with freshly ground coffee.
The temperature and pressure are already pre-programmed to correspond to the amount of coffee in each capsule. Still, you can adjust the amount of water for your shot. This lets you customize the strength and size of your espresso.
There are two programmable sizes to choose from between Espresso and Lungo. While the Nespresso Pixie aluminum only brews espresso, you can pour it over ice to create iced coffee.
Nespresso Pixie Espresso Machine Setup & Operation
Another big bonus with the Pixie coffee machine is that it is not complicated to use. There is no steep learning curve trying to figure out a load of features, no fancy touchscreen to swipe through, and no manual maneuvering.
Three buttons are all it takes to operate the machine: the Power button and two select buttons to choose Espresso or Lungo.
Here’s a quick rundown on how to set it up:
1. Fill the Water Tank
Remove the tank or open the top and pour water into the tank to the fill line. Note that the Nespresso Pixie D60 does not have a water filtration system, so you’ll have to use your filtered water.
Filtered water makes a huge difference in the taste and quality of your espresso as opposed to regular tap water.
2. Brew Your Espresso
Everything is hands-off! All you have to do is select one of the cup sizes, and the Thermoblock heats up the brew system to 185 degrees within 30 seconds.
Once the buttons stop blinking, this signifies that Pixie is ready for action. Place your Nespresso capsule in the holder, and lock it shut.
3. Choose Your Cup
Place your espresso glass or mug underneath the nozzle to catch the espresso. You can also remove the drip tray if you want to fill a taller cup.
4. Customize
You can customize the strength of your coffee by holding down the Espresso or Lungo button. It will dispense hot water into the cup until you release the button, at which moment it will dispense the espresso.
One cool feature is that it will remember this amount for the next time and dispense the same quantities unless you go through the process again.
5. Enjoy!
And boom– you’re ready to indulge in a flavorful espresso drink! Unfortunately, the Pixie doesn’t come with a milk frother if you crave a silky latte. But you can buy the Nespresso Pixie Aeroccino frother separately, as mentioned.
After the brewing is done, the Pixie will shut off automatically after nine minutes, saving energy until the next time it’s used.
Nespresso Pixie C60 Cleaning Process
One of the most crucial factors to consider with an espresso machine is the cleaning process. The larger the machine and the more functions, the more complicated the cleaning procedures may be.
Luckily, the Nespresso Pixie coffee machine is low maintenance. The drip tray slides out for easy rinsing, and the water tank is removable for cleaning under the faucet.
When an espresso capsule has been used, it automatically gets disposed into the capsule compartment, which holds 10 used capsules before it needs to be emptied into the trash.
Other than that, you do need to undertake a 20-minute descale every six months to clean out any calcium deposits. If you do this, it will keep the Pixie performing in optimal condition for years to come.
Nespresso Pixie Espresso Machine Pros vs. Cons
PROS
CONS
Breville’s Pixie espresso machine is revolutionizing the way we enjoy espresso. Traditionally, espresso is an art form. One that you perfect by learning how to pull the perfect shot manually.
It’s a skill that takes time, is respected, and the reward is a phenomenal shot. But while some people make it a passion, others don’t have the time. And that’s where the Pixie comes in handy.
The 19-bar pressure gauge is what sets the Pixie apart from other models. It’s small, but it can pull a strong shot of espresso without watering it down.
This and the Thermoblock that heats up in a snap making it perfect for busy households. It doesn’t get much more convenient than that. Even maintenance is a breeze since you don’t have a milk system to worry about.
Of course, nothing is perfect, and the Pixie does have its drawbacks. For example, some Nespresso Pixie Titan reviews have remarked about it being noisy.
And since it is compact with a 24-oz water tank, it might not be the best choice for offices or large households.
The humble Pixie also doesn’t offer much variety. It strictly brews espresso and nothing else- not even coffee. You can buy the Nespresso Pixie frother separately if you want milk-based coffee drinks, but it will cost you more money.
We Recommend the Pixie Espresso Machine for…
Nespresso Pixie Espresso Maker Warranty
Breville offers a One-Year Limited Warranty from the date of purchase. You can read the fine print here.
Comparable Products
Are you curious about how the Breville Nespresso Pixie stacks up against other popular Nespresso machines? We’ve added a few for comparison below.
Recommended For: Users who want the same features of the Nespresso Pixie for less money.
You can go with the slim, ultra-compact Essenza that has almost identical features to the Pixie for less money. The important feature is the 19-bar pressure, and it can pull shots in 30 seconds. The most significant difference is that the Essenza is made of black plastic.
Recommended For: Small households. It has a large water tank and brews four single-serve cup sizes.
Nespresso Vertuo Evoluo: This is a larger model that costs around the same price as the Pixie. It has a 54-oz water tank and can brew coffee along with espresso. It utilizes unique Centrifusion technology to brew by reading a special barcode on each capsule and adjusting the settings according to the capsule type.
Recommended For: Users who want an elegant urban design vs. the industrial look of the Pixie by Breville.
Nespresso Pixie Delonghi: There is some confusion surrounding these two models. One is manufactured by Breville and the other by Delonghi. So what’s the difference? Well, there is none. Both have the same features and put on the same performance, but with a slightly different design.
Nespresso Pixie Review Conclusion
Long gone are the days when you had to put in the painstaking work to learn how to pull an espresso shot. Nespresso makes it easy and affordable with the single-serve Pixie espresso machine and its 19-bars of pressure.
This model is the epitome of convenience with its compact design, hands-off brewing, and low maintenance requirements. You also don’t have to grind your own coffee beans since the recyclable capsules are ready to go.
To conclude this Nespresso Pixie review, this machine is ideal for those who love espresso but don’t have the time or passion to brew it manually. It’s an affordable option for households but might be too small for office settings.
Breville Manufacturer Support | Nespresso Manufacturer Support
REFERENCES & RESOURCES:
- Breville, Official Brand Website.
- Nespresso, Official Brand Website.
- Caffeine, MedlinePlus.
- Coffee and Health, NCBI.
- Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?, FDA.
- Does Coffee Really Give You More Energy?, Queensland Health.