Description
What the Gran Lattissima Is
The Nespresso Gran Lattissima, model EN640W, is a capsule machine with a milk system built in, listed here in white with a matte finish. The specification table names the specific uses as flat white, espresso, latte, ristretto and cappuccino, and the recommended uses add foamed milk and hot milk as standalone outputs. Nespresso’s copy describes nine one touch drink options.
The included components list confirms an Original Line capsule sampler pack ships with the machine, which is the detail that identifies the capsule format. This is an Original system machine, not a Vertuo one, and the two formats are not interchangeable. Original capsules have wider third party availability, which gives more choice of coffee than the Vertuo system offers. Buyers comparing the two should look at the Vertuo Lattissima, which offers a similar milk system on the other format, and the wider range is in single-serve brewers.
The Milk System
The milk frother is integrated, which means milk is drawn from a container into the machine, heated and aerated internally, then delivered into the cup. That is what makes nine one touch drinks possible, and it is the reason this machine exists rather than a plain capsule brewer.
Nespresso’s copy describes the milk container as removable for refrigerator storage between uses, which is the single most important feature on any machine with an integrated milk path. Milk left in a container at room temperature sours, and milk residue left in tubing sours faster. A container that lifts out and goes in the refrigerator makes the routine practical rather than a chore, and it is worth confirming the machine also has a rinse cycle for the milk path, which most machines in this class do.
The passive cup warmer listed among the special features is a small but real addition. A cold ceramic cup pulls several degrees out of a fresh espresso immediately, and a warm cup does not. Passive means it uses waste heat from the machine rather than a separate element, so it warms slowly and costs nothing to run.
Capsules, Heat Up and Everyday Use
Nespresso’s copy claims the machine is ready to brew in about 25 seconds. That figure appears in the marketing description rather than the specification table, so it is a manufacturer claim rather than a published specification. The self priming system named in the special features is what handles the initial water fill after the tank is refilled or the machine has stood unused.
The sliding drip tray described in the copy adjusts for different cup heights, which matters on a machine that produces both a ristretto in a small cup and a latte in a tall glass. Without it, either the espresso falls too far or the glass does not fit. The auto shut-off is standard and sensible, and the filter type field reading No Filter Needed simply reflects that a capsule contains its own filter medium.
Original Line Versus Vertuo
Nespresso runs two incompatible capsule systems and choosing a machine means choosing one of them. Original Line, which this machine uses, is the older format: small capsules, brewed under pressure through a fixed aperture, producing a short espresso style shot. Vertuo capsules are larger, carry a barcode that sets the recipe, and spin during brewing to produce anything from a ristretto to a large mug.
The practical difference for a buyer is coffee supply. Original Line capsules are made by Nespresso and by a wide range of third party roasters, which means more choice and more competition. Vertuo capsules come only from Nespresso and a small number of licensed producers. Against that, Vertuo produces larger cup sizes that Original cannot, so a household that drinks mugs rather than espresso may prefer it despite the narrower supply. Neither format fits the other machine, and there is no adapter that makes them interchangeable, so this is a decision made once at purchase.
Highlights
- Integrated milk system with a removable container for refrigerator storage.
- Nine one touch drinks including flat white, latte and cappuccino.
- Foamed milk and hot milk available as standalone outputs.
- Original Line capsule sampler pack included with the machine.
- Passive cup warmer using waste heat.
- Sliding drip tray for different cup heights.
- Auto shut-off and a self priming system among the special features.
Things To Consider
The specification table publishes no voltage, no wattage, no water tank capacity and no milk container capacity. For a machine with two tanks that heats both water and milk, those are exactly the figures a buyer wants, and none of them appear. It is safe to assume standard North American household supply for a product sold in this market, but the listing does not state it and this review will not invent a number.
The specific uses field also contains a spelling error, reading Flate White rather than flat white, which is a small sign that the page was populated automatically rather than checked.
The practical caveat applies to every machine with an internal milk path. There are more parts to clean than on a plain capsule brewer, the milk system must be rinsed after each use, and neglect leads to blockages and off flavors rather than to a machine that simply keeps working. A household unwilling to keep that routine should buy a plain capsule brewer such as the Nespresso Essenza Mini and froth milk separately. Households that want a carafe rather than single cups should look at the coffee machines category.
Who Should Buy It and Who Should Skip It
This suits a household where milk drinks are the default, where several people want different drinks, and where someone will put the milk container back in the refrigerator each time. Nine one touch options and a sliding drip tray make it genuinely easy to live with, and the Original capsule format keeps coffee choice wide.
Skip it if you drink black coffee, where the milk system is expense and cleaning for no benefit. Skip it too if you want to texture milk yourself with a wand, in which case the Nespresso Creatista Plus is the machine to look at, or if you object to a proprietary capsule supply.
