The Better Nespresso: Lattissima Touch or Lattissima Pro?

crazy by Editorial Staff | Posted on June 27th, 2022

Nespresso Lattissima coffee machines aren’t the cheapest of their kind, so if you have narrowed down your search to this, it is safe to assume that you have already made peace with spending some extra bucks for a good coffee maker. However, now that you are here, it is time to weigh your options: Lattissima Touch or Lattissima Pro?


Despite the hefty cost, you still get to save money in the long run if you continue to depend on Starbucks and other modern coffee shops. What sets the Lattissima line apart from other Nespresso models is that it’s the only line that offers fully integrated and automated milk frothing. This is all-in-one: brewing your espresso, frothing your milk, and blending all else in your choice of drink without requiring much effort from your end.

Lattissima Touch or Lattissima Pro

It is important to note that the Lattissima Pro is $75-$200 more expensive than the Touch model. Read on as we unleash what benefit this extra cost comes with and if it’s essential to you as a consumer.

What differs one from the other?

Lattissima Touch

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Lattissima Touch
  1. More compact with a smaller capacity
  2. 6 individual drink buttons
  3. Hot water comes from the coffee-brewing spout
  4. Plastic exterior
  5. Lighter weight

Lattissima Pro

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Lattissima Touch pro
  1. Larger body and capacity
  2. 7 drink touchscreen options
  3. Hot water comes separately for Americanos and tea
  4. Brushed aluminum exterior
  5. Heavier weight

Those are the primary differences between the two, and we’ll dive deeper as we go through this article.

Lattissima Touch vs. Lattissima Pro

Drink selection and options

The Lattissima Touch houses six buttons at the top that offer six drink options: espresso, ristretto, lungo, latte macchiato, cappuccino, or frothed milk. Some of these beverages may sound unfamiliar to you, refer below for some fun information.

  • Lungo: slightly less concentrated espresso shot with more volume by having more water dilute the espresso over a longer brewing time
  • Ristretto: opposing lungo, this beverage is of lesser volume with more concentrated espresso by filtering less water in the same amount of time through the coffee grounds
  • Latte macchiato: found somewhere between a latte and macchiato prepared mostly with milk and a little espresso.

The Lattissima Pro, on the other hand, offers seven beverage controls on a touchscreen display on top of the machine. It offers the same drink selections as its Touch counterpart, only with the addition of a hot water option. 

For both machines, it may be tricky to pinpoint which beverage is which since the buttons only have small icons with no wordings. Refer to the user manual to learn about these, and with a few brewing sessions, these will be ingrained in your memory in no time. 

Hot water

With Lattissima Touch, the hot water comes from the same spout where espresso is brewed. To achieve this, take the coffee capsule out of it. This is good enough to help you make your Cafe Americano with no sweat. However, remnants of your previous coffee brew may leave some taste in your hot water. This does not stir a problem if you use your hot water for coffee only, but it’s a different story if you intend to utilize this with other beverages, such as tea or lemon water.

On the other end is the Lattissima Pro, which has a separate hot water spout. The spot is stored in a small compartment when not in use. To boil some hot water, it is attached to the same connection as the milk reservoir since it uses the same heating source used for the frothing process. This concept eliminates the taste of coffee in your hot water.

Setting and Programming

The pre-programmed drink volumes are pretty much the same for the two Lattissimas.

DrinkEspressoMilk
Espresso1.35 oz0
Lungo 3.7 oz0
Ristretto 0.75 oz0
Latte Macchiato1.35 oz5 oz
Cappuccino1.35 oz1.7 oz
Warm milk04.1 oz

You are to adjust and control these pre-programmed settings however you want. The only difference between the machines is the different way this is done.

The process is not complicated with a Lattissima Touch. To switch to “programming mode,” just press and hold the button for three quick seconds. The machine then starts to brew, and the blinking of the button signals this. Keep holding the button down until you have your desired volume. Once you’re happy with the amount, release it. The machine stores this memory for you and will be available next time. If you want to program for a beverage with both milk and espresso, repeat the process twice for milk frothing and espresso brewing.

A little less straightforward is the Lattissima Pro’s touchscreen display. First, press the “settings” icon and then utilize the arrows to look for the volume programming option. This is where instructional text will be available for you to follow.

If you cannot be bothered by techie things, then you may fare better with the Lattissima Touch because of its straightforward settings.

Tall cups

The Lattissima Touch has a smaller clearance available as compared to a Pro. Despite this, it still can accommodate some latte glasses on the tall end of the spectrum, given that the drip tray is removed. 

With greater clearance, the Lattissima Pro can accommodate glasses up to 5.5 inches tall when the drip tray is set aside. Another feature only available in this variant is that it comes with a small platform for short espresso cups that lie out similarly to a Murphy bed. This thoughtful feature saves you from wasted coffee from having your small espresso cup positioned further down on the drip tray. Instead, the small platform takes your small espresso cup higher to allow a reasonable distance from the spout to avoid the splashing of your precious coffee.

Milk and water capacity

Now, let’s move to the machines’ milk and water capacity. 

The Lattissima Touch is the more compact variant; therefore, it has less capacity for both. It has a 30.5-ounce water capacity and 12 ounces of milk. The Lattissima Pro has the greater capacity to accommodate up to 44 ounces and 16 ounces for water and milk, respectively. If you are preparing a beverage for a good amount of people, you might need to opt for the model with the bigger capacity.

Capsule compartment

One feature of the Lattissima Touch that needs improvement is the capsule compartment. It can only house up to 9 used capsules; when it’s complete, it will not allow you to brew coffee. This adds up to the extra effort the consumer needs to shell out. Yes, it may be pretty easy to slide it out and overturn the compartment. However, this is where it can get pretty messy because coffee usually settles at the bottom, so you have no choice but to give it a rinse. This may be time-consuming, especially for those who are on the go. 

For this criteria, Lattissima Pro wins the grand slam. If you’re lucky and the capsules don’t clog, you may fit up to 15 pieces in the compartment. Even if you brew a couple of shots a day, it will take you a whole week to fill it. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Weight and size

The Lattissima Touch measures 6.8 inches wide and 10.2 inches tall from the front facade and 12.6 inches when viewed from the side. Although both machines are compact, this variant wins the smaller and space-saving department.

The Lattissima Pro is about an inch wider than the Touch and measures about half an inch more in-depth and height. The apparent difference, however, is in the weight. It is three pounds heavier than the Touch.

Exterior

The Lattissima Touch owes its lesser weight to its plastic body. However, plastic is not the first in mind when discussing durability and quality. Although the Touch is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, its plastic feel and relative weightlessness give you the impression that it’s not as sturdy as it looks.

Conversely, the Lattissima Pro is made of a brushed aluminum body. The extra three pounds of its weight is exactly because of this. It also gives an impression of a sturdier machine that looks explicitly sleek.

Pros of the Lattissima Touch and the Lattissima Pro

Although we have spent quite some time pointing out both of the machines’ differences, they are still generally more similar than contrasting. So here are some of the things both machines boast of.

Fast heating time

Nespresso machines are known to be quick, which is perfect for those who have no luxury of time in the mornings. Both machines can heat up within 25 seconds and even much quicker if you’re only preparing a milk beverage. If you don’t understand the gravity of this, consider that many high-end home espresso machines usually take 15 minutes or even more to heat up. Just think about that.

They work hard in silence.

Do you have other family members who are not required to wake up early? These machines respect others’ sleeping time by working hard in brewing us our delicious cup of coffee minus the excessive noise some other models produce. Nespresso’s Pixie and Inissia can quickly wake the whole household up. 

Milk froth quality

Not all built-in milk frothers are the same. Although a skilled barista’s milk froth is still undoubtedly the best, Nespresso Lattissima does the job relatively well. Compared to other automatic frothers, this line easily comes on top of the list. It is even better than Nespresso’s Aeroccino frother, a standalone variant that isn’t built-in.

Removable water reservoir

The water reservoirs for the Touch and Pro are beautifully placed and easily removable for washing and refilling. In addition, each reservoir has a flip cover which also functions as the handle and is strong and durable enough to carry the tank’s weight.

Descaling reminder

To keep your machine working at its best, descaling should be done every few months to remove any mineral deposits brought about by your water. Descaling isn’t that hard but may be time-consuming. To perform, run one or two brew cycles with an acidic cleansing solution to break down the debris, and then another two cycles to rinse the machine with water. Of course, how frequent you should descale depends on how mineral-congested your water quality is.

When you purchase either of these machines, it will come with a water hardness measuring strip. This will read the quality of your tap water. Once you have tested, you are to input the data into the machine, and it will automatically remind you when it’s finally descaling time. 

Two-year warranty

De’Longhi offers a generous two-year warranty for both the Touch and the Pro models. That’s double the warranty as compared to other competitors in the market

Cons of the Lattissima Touch and the Lattissima Pro

It may already be obvious by now that we adore the Nespresso Lattissimas, and this is also because there aren’t many bad things we can say about these machines. But, some of the possible drawbacks are as follows:

  • The drinks selection icons may be difficult to understand at first.
  • The milk frother should be cleaned every few days because milk stales quickly.
  • Although the components can go in the dishwasher, care should be taken because some are too small that it’s easy to lose them.
  • The water tanks are located at the back of the machine, so you will have to put in the effort if you want to check the water level, especially if your machine is located between other appliances or if it’s directly against the wall.

Specifications

Lattissima TouchLattissima Pro
Weight9.9 lbs12.6 lbs
Water capacity30.5 oz44 oz
Milk capacity12 oz16 oz
Spent capsule capacity914
Dimensions6.8” W x 12.6” D x 7.6” H7.6” W x 13” D x 10.8” H

Nespresso Lattissima Touch summary

The more compact option and aesthetically pleasing in its terms, the Nespresso Lattissima Touch can brew you your much-needed coffee at a magical push of a button. It is straightforward, quick to use, and extremely convenient. Although nothing beats a skilled barista’s hands, this coffee maker offers you a beverage that does not come far from those in the coffee shops. Its primary drawbacks are its less capacity and less pleasing look compared with its Pro counterpart.

Good points

  • Customizable programming
  • Stylish look
  • Modest footprint
  • No room for mistake
  • Brews quietly

Bad points

  • Accepts Nespresso capsules only
  • Small used capsule capacity
  • The milk reservoir needs cleaning every after few days.
Nespresso Lattissima Touch

Nespresso Lattissima Pro summary

The Nespresso Lattissima Pro is undoubtedly the top of the line. It boasts of its aluminum exterior, touchscreen display, and weight that gives off a sturdy impression. You can never go wrong with this, as coffee connoisseurs treat this as an investment piece. This may not be for you if you prefer straightforward old-school buttons. But if you are willing to take the challenge of learning a more techy machine for its appearance and sturdiness, this must be the one. 

Good points

  • Brush aluminum exterior
  • Larger capacity in all aspects
  • Brews quietly
  • Easy to use and clean
  • Customizable programming

Bad points

  • Most expensive out of the line
  • Accepts Nespresso capsules only
  • The milk reservoir needs cleaning every after few days
  • No other color options
Nespresso Lattissima Pro

Nespresso Coffee

Through the efforts of Éric Favre, the high-end capsule brewing system for Nestlé that is Nespresso came to life. The machines were initially targeted towards huge businesses such as hotels but later gave in to cater to household consumers. Until today, it is regarded as one of the luxury brands of coffee brewing.

The efforts of Favre consisted of looking delicately into the large-scale professional espresso machines found in restaurants and coffee shops and learning from people who know how to operate them. He then utilized aluminum capsules that were hermetically sealed and filled them with exact doses of pre-ground coffee beans. This system he used for Nespresso machines requires the least effort from the user.

Nespresso granted various manufacturers licenses to produce machines using Favre’s technology. For example, the Lattissima line is exclusively manufactured and produced by De’Longhi. 

How does it work?

Despite the various Nespresso machines available today, the brewing system is pretty much still the same: load a Nespresso capsule pierced by the machine on one end where pressurized water will be injected. The capsule then ruptures at the other end, where your freshly brewed coffee will flow out towards your cup.

The heat and pressure provided by this method are the essential components of extracting coffee grounds into an espresso. It delivers a concentrated coffee with crema on top. On top of that, it also includes a fast-heating boiler and a pressure release valve that functions automatically for protection against clogs.

Lastly, sealed capsules provide the coffee grounds an environment where they can stay fresh for longer. 

Final say

Now that the differences between the Lattissima Touch and the Lattissima Pro are already under your hands, you are ready to choose which purchase suits you well. What may be best for me may be of lesser value to you. I wish you an excellent coffee-shopping experience!

crazy

Editorial Staff

The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.