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Last Updated on November 26, 2023
If you think bliss means your favorite espresso drink on demand, you probably have a high-end Nespresso machine in mind.
Nespresso partners with two leading manufacturing brands, Breville and De’Longhi, to bring you capsule convenience and a full coffee drink menu. When you weigh the Nespresso Creatista Plus vs. the Lattissima Pro, you’re comparing a Breville machine and a De’Longhi machine—and either one will give you an automatic machine’s features with the one-touch ease Nespresso pioneered.
You’ll enjoy premium extracted espresso, velvety lattes, and drink options with either espresso machine. They differ primarily in the milk system and in the ways you can customize your beverage.
How do you choose between them? Let’s take a closer look.
About the Creatista Plus and Lattissima Pro
Nespresso Creatista Plus
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In Breville’s high-end Creatista line, the Creatista Plus expands on the base models by offering more options, capacity, and a longer warranty. It is one step down from the top-end Creatista Pro, which has a dual heating system.
The Creatista Plus heats up in a blazing three seconds. By the time you’ve grabbed a Nespresso OriginalLine capsule, it’s ready for you to choose from seven one-touch drinks. The menu offers cappuccino, ristretto, espresso, lungo, cafe latte, flat white, and latte macchiato, along with hot milk.
The colorful control panel walks you through beverages, settings, and maintenance. You can customize foam density and volume of coffee and milk per drink. You can also adjust beverage volume from 0.85 ounces to two ounces for espresso drinks and 2.37 to five ounces for lungo.
If you’re the customer who orders “light foam,” you’ll enjoy the eight milk foam settings, from 0.08 inches to 1.2 inches. If a lukewarm latte drives you nuts, you can select from 11 milk temperature settings up to 167 F.
The temperature-sensing milk frother heats and froths the milk to your chosen settings. For the ultimate finish, the microfoam this machine produces is fine enough for latte art.
Caring for the machine is easy, with automatic cleaning of the steam wand, a removable rear water tank, and maintenance alerts. You will need to regularly clean the milk nozzle with a hand tool that is provided.
The Creatista Plus is a compact, elegant unit that fits anywhere. Its stainless-steel housing adds durability as well as good looks.
Nespresso Lattissima Pro
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The Lattissima line is premium among the De’Longhi Nespresso lines, and the Lattissima Pro is the top model. It offers the most preset drinks, the highest capacity, and comes housed in metal rather than plastic.
If you want to touch a drink button and think no further, the Lattissima Pro certainly delivers. It’s ready to extract a coffee drink from convenient Nespresso OriginalLine capsules in just 25 seconds. You can choose from six pre-programmed beverages, including cappuccino, ristretto, espresso, lungo, latte, and hot milk. It comes with a separate hot water spout that you attach in place of the milk carafe.
The straightforward control panel features three one-touch beverage buttons and three coffee drink sizes. A settings icon takes you to a scrollable text menu with more choices and options to set coffee, milk, and hot water volumes.
De’Longhi’s “rapid cappuccino system” heats to steam in 40 seconds and dispenses milk directly into your cup. You add your milk to a detachable carafe and adjust foam density using a dial on the lid.
Easy maintenance includes programmed milk frother and assembly cleaning, a dishwasher-safe carafe, and descaling alerts.
The Lattissima Pro’s retro metal styling and small footprint fit wherever you want your coffee handy.
Differences between the Creatista Plus and Lattissima Pro
If you’re partial to a particular coffee machine manufacturer, the brains behind these models may matter to you. Breville collaborated with Nespresso on the Creatista Plus, whereas De’Longhi takes the honors for the Lattissima Pro.
Milk system
The machines differ primarily in their milk systems. The Creatista’s semi-automatic process uses a smart steam wand with a temperature sensor. You set your desired milk temperature and froth level, watch the unit steam the milk automatically, and pour the milk from a stainless steel jug (included with purchase) into your cup. The foam quality is worthy of latte art.
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We’ve found that milk temperature can vary by a few degrees between drinks, but with 11 settings to choose from, you’re bound to find one you like.
In contrast, the Lattissima Pro uses an automatic milk frother that requires no intervention once you snap the milk carafe into place. The frother works magic according to your chosen volume and density settings, and the carafe dispenses creamy foam directly into your cup. The carafe holds a generous 16 ounces, and you can store it in the refrigerator for reuse.
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Drink options
The Creatista Plus lets you select milk temperature up to a blistering 167 F, whereas the Lattissima Pro does not. If you find the Lattissima Pro’s steamed milk too hot or cool, your only recourse is to adjust the milk you add.
Both models let you choose your beverage size and customize coffee and milk volumes to your liking. Both allow you to adjust milk foam, but the Lattissima Pro’s density settings won’t produce a true microfoam. If you want barista-worthy results, you will need the Creatista Plus.
Comparing the Creatista Plus and Lattissima Pro
| Creatista Plus | Lattissima Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 6.7” W x 12” D x 15.4” H | 7.6” W x 13” D x 10.8” H |
| Weight | 11.4 pounds | 12.6 pounds |
| Heating | Single boiler | Single boiler |
| Milk steaming | Steam wand | Automatic milk frother |
| Startup time | 3 seconds | 25 seconds |
| Water tank | 50 ounces | 44 ounces |
| Dregs drawer | 12 used capsules | 15 used capsules |
| Construction | Brushed stainless steel | Brushed aluminum |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
What the Creatista Plus and Lattissima Pro have in common
If you buy either model, you’ll get unparalleled convenience in an espresso machine. Nespresso machines are easy to use. You pop in a capsule, choose your drink, add milk if desired, and go. Both choices feature a pre-programmed drink menu and the ability to customize your beverage in a few menu-driven steps.
You want flavor as well as convenience, and both models deliver. They use an espresso extraction process for a rich, authentic taste, and the capsules ensure consistency across cups.
An integrated milk system lets you create café-quality drinks at home. No more running out for a mocha while ignoring the low-end espresso maker on your counter. You save money and can brew what you want when you want it.
You’ll save time, as both machines go from power-on to brew readiness in well under a minute. The Creatista Plus does it in an incredible three seconds, and the Lattissima Pro clocks in at an impressive 25 seconds.
Other useful features and functions include:
- Using Nespresso OriginalLine capsules or comparable brands
- 19-bar pump pressure
- Flip-down tray to hold shorter cups
- Rear mounted, removable water tank
- Compact size and sharp looks
- Water hardness setting
Which Nespresso machine is right for you?
If you’re particular about milk texture and temperature, the Creatista Plus gives you precise control over both. The results are good enough to impress your barista friends.
The tradeoff is that you have to manually add the milk to your cup and forego a refrigerator-ready carafe.
Buy the Creatista Plus if…
- Milk temperature matters
- You want to create latte art or precise milk pours
If the above sounds like overkill for a decent latte, consider the Lattissima Pro. You’ll get quality drinks and adjustable foam density. You can also customize coffee and milk volume. Let’s face it—this is more than cafes deliver.
Buy the Lattissima Pro if…
- You’re not picky about milk temperature.
- You want plug-and-play milk drinks.
Either choice delivers premium espresso your way in under a minute. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of whatever Nespresso machine you choose.
