How to Use a Nespresso Vertuo Pop for the First Time

On this page (12 sections)

1. What should you do before the very first cup?
2. How do you run the first setup cycle on the Vertuo Pop?
3. How do you brew your first pod?
4. What cup sizes and pods work in the Vertuo Pop?
5. How do you get a hot cup and good crema?
6. Should you connect the Vertuo Pop to the app?
7. How do you keep the Vertuo Pop clean after the first use?
8. Which Vertuo Pop should you buy?
9. How does the Vertuo Pop compare with the Vertuo Next?
10. What mistakes should you avoid on the first run?
11. The short version
12. How we researched this guide

Here's how to use a Nespresso Vertuo Pop for the first time: fill the tank, run a short rinse cycle, lock in a pod, and press the button. The machine heats up in about 30 seconds, reads the pod's barcode, and brews the right size without you setting anything.

The whole first run takes five to ten minutes. Most of that is the rinse, which clears the brewing path before your first real cup.

The steps below follow the order that keeps the first cup tasting clean.

What should you do before the very first cup?

Rinse the water tank and run a brew cycle with no pod first. This flushes dust and factory residue out of the brewing head so it doesn't end up in your coffee.

Take the 25 fl oz water tank off the side of the machine and fill it with fresh, cool drinking water. It sits on the side for easy access, so you don't have to move the machine to reach it.

Seat it back firmly until it clicks.

Plug the machine in and press the button to wake it. Give it about 30 seconds to heat up, then run a cycle with the head empty.

Pour that water away.

How do you run the first setup cycle on the Vertuo Pop?

Press the button once with no pod in the machine and let it run into a cup. This is the rinse step, and it also primes the pump so the first pod brews without sputtering.

Put a cup on the adjustable drip tray and close the brewing head. The tray has two positions, so set it low for an espresso cup and high for a mug.

A short press starts the cycle.

Let the water run until it stops on its own. Empty the cup, then repeat once more if you want a fuller flush.

After the second run, the machine is ready for a pod.

How do you brew your first pod?

Open the head, drop in a Vertuo capsule, twist it to lock, close, and press the button once. The machine does the rest, including choosing the cup size.

Lift the lever at the top to open the brewing head. A Vertuo pod only fits one way: dome down, flat foil rim up.

Press it gently into the holder and turn it until it seats.

Close the lever fully. Then press the button once.

The machine spins the capsule and reads its barcode, which tells it whether to brew an espresso, a double, a gran lungo, a mug, or an alto.

Don't press the button a second time mid-brew. That's the stop command on most Vertuo models, and it cuts the cup short.

What cup sizes and pods work in the Vertuo Pop?

Only Vertuo capsules work, and the pod sets the size. There's no lever or dial to choose between espresso and mug before brewing.

The Pop+ brews five sizes: espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, mug, and alto.

Each capsule carries its own barcode, so the machine already knows what to do when you close the head.

Original Nespresso pods do not fit. They're a different shape and work only in original-line machines.

If you're unsure which capsules you already have, read whether a Nespresso Vertuo can use original pods before you stock up.

Nespresso offers more than 40 permanent Vertuo blends, from dark and strong to mild and smooth, plus limited editions. The Pop+ ships with a sampler pack so you can try several before buying a full sleeve.

How do you get a hot cup and good crema?

Use fresh water, a clean machine, and the pod's own size setting. The Pop+ heats in about 30 seconds, so a hot cup is mostly about not letting the water sit in the tank.

The Centrifusion system spins each capsule and reads the code to adjust the brewing settings. Nespresso says this builds a smooth, full-bodied cup with a layer of coffee foam on top.

That crema comes from the pod, not from added milk or a frother. A very thin layer usually means the pod is old or the machine needs a rinse.

For a hot cup, run a blank cycle first to warm the cup and the head. Then brew straight away.

Small habits like this matter more than any setting on the machine.

Should you connect the Vertuo Pop to the app?

Connect it if you want firmware updates and maintenance help from your phone. The Pop+ has app connectivity, and Nespresso says the machine stays up to date once linked.

The app also guides you through descaling and cleaning steps. It's optional: the machine brews fine without a phone, and every brew button works offline.

If you don't use the app, note when the descaling alert appears. The light tells you when the machine needs a clean, and ignoring it is the most common way a Vertuo starts tasting flat.

How do you keep the Vertuo Pop clean after the first use?

Rinse the head and empty the used capsule container regularly. A quick wipe and a fresh water run keep the next cup tasting like the first.

The used pods collect inside the machine, and the container fills after several brews. Empty it before it jams.

Wipe the drip tray and the area around the spout, since coffee residue builds up there.

Descale when the alert appears. The Nespresso Descaling Kit Solution comes as two portioned pouches made for Nespresso machines.

Add one to a full tank of water, run the guided cycle, then rinse with fresh water.

Nespresso capsules are aluminum and fully recyclable through Nespresso's free program. Rinse and collect the used pods rather than tossing them in general waste.

Our guide to descaling a Nespresso Vertuo Pop machine covers the full cycle step by step.

Which Vertuo Pop should you buy?

The Pop+ with Milk Frother suits anyone who drinks lattes or cappuccinos. The plain Pop+ is the pick if you already own a frother or don't need one.

Both machines brew the same five sizes from the same Vertuo capsules. The difference is the box.

The milk frother version adds an Aeroccino-style frother for hot or cold foam.

Best for black coffee and espresso

The Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ by De'Longhi is the straightforward pick. It's compact at 14 x 8.6 x 10.4 inches and weighs 7.9 pounds, so it fits a small counter.

The 25 fl oz tank is small enough to lift for refills. Its side placement means you don't have to pull the machine forward.

It brews espresso through alto, hot or over ice.

This version suits a kitchen where the coffee maker shares space with other appliances. The one-touch button and 30 second heat-up keep the routine short.

Our score weighs specs and features against what a first-time buyer wants, at 8.3.

Best for lattes and cappuccinos

The Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ with Milk Frother is the better buy if milk drinks are the point. It's the same machine with a frother in the box.

It brews espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, mug, and alto, and the frother turns the espresso into a cappuccino or latte. It also makes iced coffee easy when you want a cold drink.

If you mostly drink plain coffee, the frother takes up counter space you could use elsewhere. For milk drinks, it saves buying a separate frother.

The score is 8.9 because the added frother covers more drink styles.

How does the Vertuo Pop compare with the Vertuo Next?

The Pop+ is the smaller, simpler machine, while the Next is a different shape and brew setup. Both read Vertuo pod barcodes and both brew espresso through alto.

The Pop+ measures 14 x 8.6 x 10.4 inches and weighs 7.9 pounds. It's the more compact of the two and uses the same Centrifusion brewing.

Our comparison of the classic Vertuo vs Vertuo Next covers how those two differ in size and features.

If counter space is tight, the Pop+ is the easier fit. If you want to see how the whole Vertuo range lines up before deciding, our difference between Nespresso Vertuo models breaks down the sizes and brew options side by side.

What mistakes should you avoid on the first run?

The most common first-time mistakes are brewing without a pod, leaving the head open, and skipping the rinse. Each one costs you a cup or a cleaning job later.

Here's a short list of what to watch for:

1. Brewing with an empty head on purpose. That's fine for the first rinse, but a real cup needs a pod locked in place.
2. Using original pods. They don't fit the Vertuo Pop. Buy Vertuo capsules only.
3. Not closing the lever fully. The machine won't start a brew if the head isn't locked.
4. Pressing the button twice. The second press stops the brew early.
5. Skipping the descaling alert. Mineral buildup changes the taste and can slow the machine.

Check the tank level before you start a cup. The Pop+ tank is small, and running it low mid-brew leaves you with a half cup.

Refill it after each session so the next brew is ready.

The short version

Learning how to use a Nespresso Vertuo Pop for the first time comes down to four moves: fill, rinse, lock, press. Do the rinse once and the first cup tastes clean.

After that, each brew is a pod and a button.

Pick the Pop+ with Milk Frother if milk drinks are your habit. Pick the plain Pop+ if you already own a frother or don't need one.

Either way, keep the tank filled and descale on the alert to keep the cups consistent.

How we researched this guide

We compared the Vertuo Pop+ specs and brew features against the steps a first-time owner needs. Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for.

We haven't run the machine ourselves, so we rely on Nespresso's published details about the Vertuo Pop+.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the first setup take on a Vertuo Pop?

About five to ten minutes. The machine heats up in around 30 seconds, and the first rinse cycle runs water through the brewing head before you brew a real cup.

Do I have to run a rinse cycle before the first coffee?

Yes. A first rinse clears dust and factory residue from the brewing path.

Run it with plain water and no pod, then empty the used-water container before you brew anything you plan to drink.

Can I use original Nespresso pods in the Vertuo Pop?

No. Vertuo machines read a barcode on the rim of each pod and spin the capsule to brew, so only Vertuo capsules work.

Original pods are a different shape and fit the original line of machines.

How do I descale the Vertuo Pop?

The machine gives a descaling alert when it's due. Add Nespresso descaling solution to the tank, run the guided cycle, rinse the tank, and run a fresh water cycle to clear the lines before brewing again.

What cup sizes can the Vertuo Pop brew?

Five sizes: espresso, double espresso, gran lungo (5 oz), mug (8 oz), and alto (12 oz). The pod's barcode decides the size, so you don't choose it by hand.