Nespresso Prodigio Coffee Machines
Welcome to our Nespresso Prodigio coffee machine review! This machine was Nespresso’s first foray into the world of the “connected coffee machine”, and for several years went from strength to strength.
Sadly, Nespresso discontinued the Nespresso Prodigio line of products in 2020 as they found fewer users really needing Bluetooth connectivity with their coffee machines. The good news is that for a similar price, you can get a better machine with a steam pipe, where the lack of Bluetooth is a cost saving. We would recommend the Nespresso Creatista, although it’s worth remembering the Nespresso Expert ticked pretty much all the other boxes with Bluetooth connectivity to boot. It was a great looking and fantastic functioning coffee machine, but we recommend taking a look at the Creatista and Creatista Pro!
Nespresso Prodigio Coffee Machine Review
The Prodigio was originally a bit of a gamble as it wasn’t clear whether the concept would take off. However, given that modern life is moving further towards technologies such as Bluetooth, it proved to be a step in the right direction. Let’s take a closer look under the hood to help understand who the Nespresso Prodigio coffee machine is most right for!
The Bluetooth Connected Coffee Machine
Let’s start with what made the Nespresso Prodigio make waves when it was first released: it was Nespresso’s first connected coffee machine! Using an app and built-in bluetooth functionality, Nespresso specifically designed this machine to be your coffee companion in a connected home. Specifically, you could do three main things from your phone:
- Brew your coffee at a set time – not only can you set your machine to brew your coffee for you, but you can even plan it at a specific time. This is probably most ideal for people who want a coffee ready for them for when they get up in the morning, or coming home from work.
- Order more capsules / capsule stock management – The Nespresso app keeps track of the number of capsules you have left in total, and helps to deduct this each time you brew a coffee. When you get to a certain point, you can make another order for capsules – either the same as your previous order or a new one!
- Receive maintenance alerts – You don’t need to worry about missing a low water alert or needing to descale your machine. The Nespresso app will monitor these and let you know if these things on your machine need your attention.
This actually provides several cool advantages. Since Nespresso machines are designed to deliver a consistent cup of coffee no matter what machine you’re using, there is no disadvantage to using the Prodigio over another machine in terms of taste.
However, being able to schedule your favourite brew for a specific time and not having to worry about forgetting about maintenance are both very useful.
It’s also great to be able to order Nespresso coffee capsules from your app instead of moving to a difference device or remembering to buy some from a store.
Incidentally, if this sounds like your kind of machine you can take a look at which capsules might suit your taste the most by checking out our ultimate guide to Nespresso coffee capsules.
Nespresso Prodigio vs Prodigio & Milk
The options for the Nespresso Prodigio are simple and to the point: you can buy either a normal Prodigio machine for those who prefer water based coffees, or a Prodigio & Milk if you like your coffee drinks with frothed milk.
Magimix and Krups are the main manufacturers of the Nespresso Prodigio coffee machine. Depending on your region and if you buy a Prodigio or a Prodigio & Milk, you could get a machine from either of these brands. The underlying equipment and style are the same for both, and you will still receive the same warranty – so there’s no need to worry here.
Nespresso Prodigio Specifications and Features
The Nespresso Prodigio has all the high-expectation standard features you would expect from any Nespresso coffee machine. In addition, you can make frothed milk-based drinks if you buy the Prodigio & Milk. Here is the rundown of the specifications:
| Product Name | Nespresso Prodigio | Nespresso Prodigio & Milk |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Prodigio | MagiMix |
| Colours | Silver / Titan | Silver / Titan |
| Height | 25.5cm | 25.5cm |
| Depth | 37.4cm | 37.4cm |
| Width | 12cm | 12cm |
| Pressure | 19 bars | 19 bars |
| Heat-Up Time | 25 seconds | 25 seconds |
| Capacity | 0.8L | 0.8L |
| Weight | 2.6kg | 2.6kg |
| Milk Frother Included? | No | No |
| Steam Pipe Included? | No | No |
| Water Quantity Control | No | No |
| Adjustable Temperature Control | No | No |
| Cup Warmer | No | No |
| Bluetooth Connectivity | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic Stock Control | Yes | Yes |
| Maintenance Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
Nespresso Prodigio: Pros & Cons
The Nespresso Prodigio coffee machine is an excellent example of how increasing connectivity in our home appliances is designed to make our lives easier. It will attract lots of people who enjoy being early adopters of technology, and for people who are more night owls than early morning risers the automatic coffee in the morning will be a welcome way to start their day.
On the flip side, however, the process is still far from fully automated – cups, water, milk etc. still have to be done manually the night before, so to some that don’t mind actually pressing the button and getting their accessories ready in the morning, the ability to schedule a brew can be seen as a bit of a gimmick.
It also depends highly on your schedule, and whether or not for example you can commit to having a coffee while it’s hot if you set it for a particular time. Otherwise, hitting the snooze button on your alarm clock could mean a cold Nespresso!
Finally, not all smartphones are supported (although most tech savvy people will have a smartphone that’s compatible we’re sure) – so it will definitely pay to do your homework and ensure the Prodigio is the right machine for you and your phone before making a purchase.
For those that are not so tech savvy or want a more advanced coffee machine beyond the basic Bluetooth features, we could also recommend the Nespresso Expert / Expert & Milk which is also bluetooth connected, Creatista for a beautiful high-end product or KitchenAid which is a great iconic look.
Nespresso Prodigio Summary
Ultimately, the Nespresso Prodigio is a great option for “non-morning people” to schedule their coffee, or for someone to save a bit of time when coming back from a lunch break or from work to a welcome brew. It’s a step in the right direction for the Internet of Things and home appliances in general, and soon we’ll be able to do a lot more with these machines as well.
For those with less-set lifestyles and schedules, or those who don’t mind the extra time / effort to make a brew themselves, most of what sells the Prodigio could be seen as a bit of a gimmick. However, there are other Nespresso machines to consider if automating your morning coffee isn’t high up on your priority list. For a newer bluetooth connected machine look at the Nespresso Expert / Expert & Milk. For a top of the line machine that lets you practice coffee art as well check out the Nespresso Creatista. For a more iconic / classic look with great build quality you can also check out the Nespresso KitchenAid. Don’t forget, though, that the Prodigio is a fantastic entry level machine with Bluetooth connectivity, so it’s not a bad option at all if that’s what you’re after!
In short, the Prodigio does cater to a very niche audience – but if you’re part of this niche audience and are looking for a more entry-level price, we have no doubt you’ll love it to bits.
Sadly, Nespresso discontinued the Nespresso Prodigio line of products in 2020 as they found fewer users really needing Bluetooth connectivity with their coffee machines. The good news is that for a similar price, you can get a better machine with a steam pipe, where the lack of Bluetooth is a cost saving. We would recommend the Nespresso Creatista, although it’s worth remembering the Nespresso Expert ticked pretty much all the other boxes with Bluetooth connectivity to boot. It was a great looking and fantastic functioning coffee machine, but we recommend taking a look at the Creatista and Creatista Pro!