Not only that but the drip tray is also smaller on the Mini and it fills all the way up nearly to the brim more often than I care for, presumably due to it’s super small size. The Pixie on the other hand holds twice as much, roughly ten used capsules! That means I have to empty it every day or so because I usually make 3-5 capsules a day for myself and my wife. On the Essenza Mini I can only hold roughly 5 spent capsules before having to empty the chamber. Obviously the Pixie is larger than the Essenza Mini and for some this is a bad thing but having brewed thousands of capsules since 2017 I can tell you that I think the extra size in the pixie is worth it! This limitation is annoying because I do this frequently, at least once or twice a week. With the Essenza I just can’t do this unless I use a special short mug. The Pixie’s drip tray folds up for larger mugs, something not possible with the Essenza.įor me this comes into play when I plan on brewing a couple of lungo shots back-to-back into a regular coffee mug. The drip tray however is a big disappointment on the Essenza Mini when compared to the Pixie. This isn’t a big deal but I do think the new lever on the Essenza Mini is an improvement. This sometimes pushes mugs around when I’m not paying close attention. On both the Pixie and the Inissia the espresso spout literally moves in and out as the lever is raised and lowered. It goes up and down without moving the spout in and out like the older models do. It’s not really faster and doesn’t produce a better quality espresso in my opinion but the improvement in loudness is a big selling point to me.Īdditionally I love the new design of the capsule handle.
One of my favorite things about using the Essenza Mini is that it is noticeably quieter than the Pixie and the other low priced alternatives.įrom what I can tell this is the newest model in the Nespresso Original line of espresso machines and although it still uses a similar 19 bar pump to operate it just does it better and quieter. The Pixie is simply more sturdy due to increased weight and width. That doesn’t seem like much but considering how skinny the Essenza Mini is compared to the Pixie it’s somewhat easy to tip over.
Its casing is aluminum which is a notable upgrade from the plastic casing on the cheaper Esssenza Mini and Inissia.Īdditionally the casing and body of the unit is heavier and simply feels better and stronger. The Pixie is an older model but it’s made to a higher standard than the Essenza Mini and their other entry level Nespresso machines such as the Inissia and the CitiZ. Performance and Espresso Quality Comparison.You can jump to any section you want using the following index of links: You can see pricing and specs for the Essenza Mini on Amazon here or the Pixie on Amazon here.īelow I’ll be explaining the differences between these models in sections. It is a bit more expensive and a tiny bit louder than the Essenza Mini but the quality of espresso is exactly the same between the two units.Īround here I like to recommend most people to buy the Essenza Mini because it works great at a lower price but there are a number of lesser reasons why the Pixie my be a better match for you in your home so lets explore those reasons and points of differentiation in greater detail below. The main difference between these two espresso machines is that the Pixie is a bit heavier and durable housed in an aluminum casing that can hold 20% more water in the reservoir and almost twice as many spent capsules before needing to be emptied. I did some digging and eventually I purchased the Pixie as well (I’ve got a problem, I Know)… and now I know exactly what sets them apart! I can now summarize the differences for you. Obviously the Pixie costs a bit more and the Essenza Mini is marketed as their most compact model but is that really it? This questions has since been posed to me here at GBC virtually every day since: What is the difference between the Essenza Mini and the Pixie anyway? Soon thereafter however I started wondering a very common question. When I made that second purchase I really came close to buying the Pixie instead because I figured it was a better unit due to the higher price tag. I’ve been an avid Nespresso user for since late 2017 and the first unit I bought was the Inissia followed shortly thereafter by the Essenza Mini.