For anyone looking for a Nespresso machine with an integrated milk frother, Lattissima comes as their first choice. It is definitely one of the easier machine to use, and with a variety of selections to choose from.
As I receive many questions about Lattissima, and although this site already features a few guides on it, I decided to compile a list of the most asked questions in one single post to make it a reference for anyone looking to buy a new Lattissima, whichever of its models.
And if you already have one, you can scroll down to the troubleshooting section. In fact, even if you don’t have one, have a look at the most common issues with the machine to familiarize yourself with any troubles you could come across.
Before Buying Lattissima:
Is Lattissima by Nespresso or DeLonghi?
Most buyers are confused by the fact that the Lattissima carries both brand names. Are Lattissimas made by Nespresso or DeLonghi?
The simple answer is, both. Lattissima is a unique combination of two brands. It uses Nespresso’s single-serve brewing system in combination with DeLonghi’s patented automatic frothing system. So you’re getting the best of both brands.
But if you ever need help? Who do you contact, DeLonghi or Nespresso?
You’ll get in touch with whoever you purchased the machine from. They are sold by Nespresso as well as DeLonghi. When you open your box, you’ll find warranty information and contact numbers inside.
Does Nespresso Lattissima Make Regular Coffee?
Lattissima is a single-serve espresso maker. It is designed to make espresso as well as any espresso based drink like cappuccino, latte, macchiato and so on.
If, by ‘Regular coffee’ you mean Drip Coffee, then no. Lattissima is a high pressure machine, it is not designed to make regular drip coffee maker. Instead, you have to options:
You can make Americano – which is a shot or two of espresso mixed with hot water.
Or you can reprogram your Lungo shot to dispense a larger cup of coffee, which will result in weaker but full cup of coffee.
Either way, none of these methods will replicate the taste of drip coffee.
Which Pods Nespresso Lattissima Use
It’s an OriginalLine machine, so it uses Nespresso or Nespresso-compatible capsules.
Watch How Lattissima Works in Action
Which Nespresso Lattissima is Best?
This is definitely a hard one to answer, because it’s up to you to decide what is best for your use and needs.
The good news is, all Lattissima machines perform greatly especially when it comes to milk based coffee drinks.
If you’re not the type of person who likes milk based coffee drinks, you’re better off buying a Nespresso machine like Essenza for example. Or if you want variety of sizes for espresso or longer coffee, a Vertuo machine will make more sense.
But if you’re a latte or cappuccino person, you’ll absolutely love having an automatic milk frother. Lattissima’s milk system is even better than Aeroccinos that come bundled with some Nespresso machines. This is because it is designed to froth and dispense the exact amount of milk for each recipe you choose to make. So you don’t have to worry about frothing more than you need or measuring the correct amount of milk for your recipe.
Here are a few guides to help you pick the right Lattissima for you:
After Buying/ Troubleshooting:
How to Descale Nespresso Lattissima
Regularly descaling your Nespresso, whichever model it may be, helps maintain the internal parts of your machine, and gives you better tasting coffee.
To descale your machine, you’ll first need to buy the descaling solution from Nespresso. The package includes two packets of descaling solution, good for two uses. It is recommended that you descale your machine every three months or so, depending on your use of the machine.
Follow the instructions in this video from Nespresso:
When to Descale Nespresso Lattissima?
Most Lattissima models have a light indicator that will light up when it is time to descale the machine. However, here are a few signs that it could be time to descale your machine:
- you see a lot of coffee ground residue in your cup
- the temperature of dispensed coffee seems to have changed, it’s not as hot as it used to be.
- the flow of the coffee dispensing seems to be slower.
- The coffee tastes unusually bitter and unpleasant.
Why Is My Nespresso Lattissima Not Frothing
If your integrated frother no longer froths, or results in little to no froth, first thing you’ll want to do is make sure it is thoroughly clean. You’ll want to take it apart and clean each and every piece. Sometimes, a small piece would clog and result in this issue.
If your machine is new and you’re not seeing good results, the issue could be the milk itself. Frothing in general gives the best results when using whole milk. Milk alternatives do not perform best when it comes to frothing, so you’ll have to keep that in mind.
My Lattissima Is Not Pumping Water
The obvious reason here would be that the water tank is empty. Yet, some users do run into the problem of the machine not pumping water even though the water tank is full. The reason for this could be an air bubble trapped in the way. This mostly happens when the machine has not be used for a while.
In this case, all you’ll have to do is
- fill the water tank,
- Lift the lever, make sure there’s no capsule inside the machine and close it again.
- Press the large cup (with NO capsule inside).
- The automatic priming function should activate and work out the trapped air bubble on its own.