Pixie is one of the earlier models by Nespresso. Back when there was still no VertuoLine, the Pixie was one of Nespresso’s few machines. And although there are now so many machines and two type of brewers (OriginalLine and VertuoLine), the Pixie is still one of Nespresso’s top selling espresso machines. In this post, you’ll find what makes the Pixie special and how it compares to other models and if you should buy it.

Features of Nespresso Pixie:

  • Powerful 19-bar pressure pump
  • Quick 25 seconds startup time
  • Two programmable cup sizes: Espresso and Lungo.
  • Available either as a standalone machine or bundled with an Aeroccino so you can make milk based drinks at ease.
  • Backlight indicators: red backlight indicates water reservoir needs to be refiled. Otherwise, it will be blue.
  • Folding drip tray allows you to fit taller cups.
  • 24 oz water reservoir capacity.
  • Compact and sleek design.
  • Metal side panels gives it a more upscale look and makes it more sturdy.
  • Available in three color variations.

Click here to learn more about Nespresso Pixie, read the customer reviews and buy it.

Pixie by Nespresso, DeLonghi or Breville, Is There a Difference?

When buying your Pixie (or other Nespresso models), you’ll most likely find them available under three different brand names: Nespresso, Breville or DeLonghi. Is there any actual difference between them? Should you pick one brand over the other?

Actually, no, there is no difference in how the machines operate. They’re all the same Nespresso machine. Nespresso has partnered with these two companies to help them with the manufacturing and distribution of their popular machines. If there’s one difference between those, it will be in the aesthetic of the machines (very slight change in design) and in available colors. But overall, whichever brand name you choose, you’ll get the same Nespresso machine and the same after sale support from Nespresso.

What Kind Of Capsules Is Pixie Compatible With?

Pixie is an OriginalLine espresso machine, so it’s compatible with OriginalLine capsules either from Nespresso or from third party companies (and there’s so many to choose from!). This is one of the pros of going for an OriginalLine machine, you will not be restricted to Nespresso’s capsules only, but you’ll have the option to try capsules from so many different brands.

Nespresso Pixie Comparisons:

Here’s a look at how the Pixie compares to Nespresso machines that are similar:

Nespresso Pixie vs. CitiZ, What’s The Difference?

CitiZ is another great machine from Nespresso’s earlier models. It’s a great machine and it is similar to Pixie in these features:

  • Both have 19 bar pressure pumps.
  • Both are OriginalLine machines
  • Both offer two cup sizes (that can be reprogrammed)

The differences are:

Design wise, the Pixie is smaller and lighter in weight. Dimensions of the Pixie are 4.4″ x 9.3″ x 12.8″ and dimensions of the CitiZ are 5.1″ x 10.9″ x 14.6”. This should make a difference to someone who is tight on countertop space or needs to fit their machine in a personal office or a dorm.

Water Reservoir: as the Pixie is smaller in size, then it makes sense that it has a smaller water reservoir than the Citiz. Pixie’s reservoir is 24 oz and CitiZ has a 34 oz capacity.

Materials: this is where the Pixie shines, it has the best exterior of all Nespresso machines. Although it is not fully metal, the sides make a big part of the machine and they’re fully metal. On the other hand, the CitiZ has plastic housing.

Backlight Indicator: while this isn’t a major deal breaker, it is still a nice part of the machine’s design. Only Pixie has backlight indication for water reservoir and capsule drawer. The CitiZ does not have this feature.

Color Variation: If you like your machine’s design with nice color, the CitiZ is available in few colors like white, silver black or red. Pixie’s aluminum side panels can be updated to other colors as Nespresso does sell those panels individually as an accessory (called Pixie Clips), so if you ever get bored of the machine’s design, you have the option of updating it.

Which One Should You Buy?

I guess when picking between the Pixie and CitiZ, especially as standalone machines, it’s really hard to pick between the two. If you care about design, Pixie has the upper hand. But there’s also a price difference between the two, so budget is another thing to keep in mind.

If you’re planning to buy an Aeroccino with your machine, then I would absolutely recommend going for the CitiZ with built-in Aeroccino. Although it takes up some space, it makes a better choice as the Aeroccino is built into the base of the machine, which means you’ll only need one electric outlet instead of two to power the separate devices (when bought as a bundle).

Click here to learn more about Nespresso CitiZ, read the customer reviews and buy it.

Nespresso Pixie vs. Essenza Mini, What’s The Difference?

As of the time I write this, the Essenza Mini is the most compact Nespresso machine available. It’s only 3.3” wide, making it easy to fit almost anywhere you want to use it. It’s my machine of choice for the office and I simply love how small it is.

Like the Pixie and CitiZ, Essenza Mini is an OriginalLine machine too. So they’re all compatible with the same line of capsules, either from Nespresso or from Nespresso-compatible brands.

Other similar features:

  • Two programmable cup sizes: Espresso and Lungo.
  • Removable drip tray.
  • Removable water reservoir.

Differences:

  • Of course, there’s a huge difference in design between the Pixie and Essenza Mini. The Pixie has a more upscale and more durable design while the Essenza Mini has fully plastic housing and is probably not as durable as the Pixie.
  • And with the Essenza Mini being that small, we can’t expect it to have a large reservoir. It has the smallest reservoir with only 20 oz capacity. Yet, it’s not that different from Pixie’s 24 oz capacity.
  • When it comes to the fancy light indication features of the Pixie, the Essenza Mini is yet another model that doesn’t have that.
  • The Used capsule drawer on the Essenza Mini is rather small and can hold up to 5 capsules only, so it will require more clean up than the Pixie which can hold up to 11 capsules before needing to discard them.

Which One To Buy?

The Nespresso Essenza Mini was introduced to the market as the smallest and most affordable choice out of all OriginalLine models. It’s perfect for someone who has limited space or want the Nespresso experience but doesn’t care much about the design. The Essenza Mini still looks good, and it’s available in two different aesthetics, one by Breville and another by DeLonghi. But in comparison to the Pixie, it’s a bit flimsy.

If design in a priority to you, the Pixie is the way to go. It’s still compact in comparison to other Nespresso OriginalLine machines, yet it has the best build of them all.

Click here to learn more about Nespresso Essenza Mini, read the customer reviews and buy it.

Has Nespresso Pixie Been Discontinued?

As mentioned before, the Pixie is one of Nespresso’s earliest models. This makes people wonder if Nespresso has discontinued the model. The answer is no, the Pixie has not been discontinued (As of May 2019). It’s still pretty much on demand and Nespresso is still selling them.

Where Is Nespresso Pixie Made?

Pixie is the only Nespresso machine to be made in Switzerland, home of the Nespresso brand.

About the Author

Nicole

Enjoying coffee, one pod at a time. Bringing all my coffee expertise to this blog.

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