Home » Coffee and Tea Makers » NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Genio vs Genio 2


Starting with a good cup of brewed coffee prepares you for your long day ahead. Whether you are going to work or just staying in during the weekends, good coffee wakes your systems up for whatever you intend to do for the day. However, not everyone can brew coffee manually as it is very tiresome and takes a long time. That is why most people buy coffee machines.

In this article, we will take a look at two products from the Dolce Gusto line-up of NESCAFÉ – the Dolce Gusto Genio and Genio 2. Both coffee machines utilize NESCAFÉ proprietary coffee pods which can brew various beverages in just under a minute. These coffee machines are similar when seen from afar, but they have their differences. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Genio vs Genio 2

Let’s review the specifics in a side by side chart.

Genio vs Genio 2 Comparison Chart

	Dolce Gusto Genio	Dolce Gusto Genio 2
Image
Pump Pressure	15 bar pump pressure	15 bar pump pressure
Compatible Coffee Capsules	NESCAFÉ pods, Starbucks Capsule, etc.	NESCAFÉ pods, Starbucks Capsule, etc.
Beverage Temperature	Hot and Cold	Hot and Cold
Heating System	Thermoblock	Thermoblock
Water volume toggle	Scroll wheel dial	Toggle Joystick
Water Tank Capacity	21 oz.	45 oz.
Removable Drip Tray	Yes	Yes
Dishwasher-safe Drip Tray	Yes	Yes
Inclusion of Coffee Pods	No, pods are sold separately	No, pods are sold separately
Product Dimension	12.4 x 7.7 x 13.5 inches	17.75 x 16.75 x 8.5 inches
Item Weight	5.51 pounds	6.8 pounds
Electrical Specification	220V/240V, 50Hz/60Hz, 1340-1600W	120V, 60Hz, max. 1460W
Price	Check Price on Amazon	Check Price on Amazon

 

Pump Pressure

Both the Dolce Gusto Genio and the Genio 2 feature a maximum of 15 bars of pump pressure. While 9-bars of pump pressure is the industry standard, many enthusiasts argue that 15-bars of pump pressure produces the best coffee. With a higher pump pressure, these coffee machines will push more pressure to the coffee capsules which will produce higher-quality coffee with better aroma and flavor. 

Compatible Coffee Capsules

As NESCAFÉ’s Dolce Gusto line-up is one of the most popular single serve coffee capsule machines, the Dolce Gusto Genio and the Genio 2 is compatible with many beverage capsules available in the market. They are compatible with NESCAFÉ’s own coffee pods, and even capsules from Starbucks. However, it does not stop with just coffee beverages. Therefore, you, your family, or your friends can choose what suits their tastes. Other available compatible pods include tea, hot chocolate, infusions, etc.  

Easy Interface

Both coffee machines feature an easy interface. On the front of both machines, the 7-level LED display is easy to see. This display indicates how much volume the coffee machine will pump through its nozzle. The label of beverage pods, specifically NESCAFÉ’s own pods, includes how much water is needed for that particular beverage. To adjust the amount, you must use the dial on top of the LED display. With this easy interface, anyone can enjoy a frothy cup of Vanilla Latte Macchiato.

Easy-to-use

Using the Dolce Gusto Genio and Genio 2 is easy and straightforward. To make an aromatic cup of coffee, you just need to turn the machine on, fill the water tank up, insert the pods in the tray, place your cup on the drip tray, set the water volume using the dial, choose either hot or cold, and then just wait. In just under a minute, you can enjoy your coffee beverage.

Beverage Temperature

You can enjoy either hot or cold beverages on these machines. Both are capable of creating beverages that are cold like iced coffee for lazy Sunday morning, or hot like hot chocolate for rainy days. The hot or cold option flanks the dial for the LED display mentioned above. 

Brewing Time

Brewing time in both coffee machines are faster compared to other coffee machines out in the market. Beverages, either hot or cold, can be made in just under a minute. Either machine is perfect for coffee enthusiasts who have no time to brew coffee manually in the morning. 

Energy-efficient

Not only does both machines brew in just a short span of time, both the Dolce Gusto Genio and the Genio 2 are energy-efficient too. Both have a convenient eco-mode feature that automatically turns off the machine after 5 minutes of being idle. 

Heating System

Coffee and Espresso machines use a heating element to raise the temperature of beverages. The Dolce Gusto Genio and Genio 2 use thermoblock as the method of heating water up. Compared to other types of heating that are commercially available in the market, thermoblocks require less preheating time, use energy more efficiently, and generate constant hot water.

Removable Drip Tray

Coffee cups differ in height. We use tall glasses for iced coffee, medium glasses for Cappuccinos, and small shot glasses for Espressos. Luckily, both the Genio and the Genio 2 have adjustable, removable, stainless-steel drip trays that can accommodate all cup heights. Additionally, this removable drip tray is dishwasher-safe also for easier cleaning.

Small Footprint

The Dolce Gusto Genio and the Genio 2 have a very similar and simple design language. Both come in silver color with black accents. Furthermore, both have small footprints, with the latter having marginally larger footprint due to its larger water tank capacity. Either one is perfect for early birds who are looking for a coffee machine that makes great coffee, has an eye-pleasing design, and does not take much space on the kitchen counter space. 

Difference between Dolce Gusto Genio vs Genio 2

Scroll wheel vs Toggle Joystick

The interface to adjust the amount of beverage you want to produce is different in both machines. The Dolce Gusto Genio and the Genio 2 have a scroll wheel and a toggle joystick, respectively. It all boils down to your preference on how you want to interact with the machine. Either way, both coffee machines are easy-to-use.

NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Genio

In the first iteration of the Genio, NESCAFÉ added a scroll wheel as a method of interacting with the machine. It works exactly like the scroll wheel on a computer mouse. Scrolling up will increase the amount of water the machine will push, and vice versa. Flanking this scroll wheel are the buttons for hot or cold options. Additionally, compared to the Genio 2, the power button on this machine is placed differently which is on its side.

NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Genio 2

On the other hand, the Genio 2 features a toggle joystick for its operation. Unlike the first Genio, the Genio 2 does not have buttons for the hot and cold options. Instead, its toggle joystick works like a stick shift in cars. Moving the lever up increases the volume of water the machine will push, and vice versa. After setting the right amount of water, you can move the joystick to either left or right to choose the desired beverage temperature. Lastly, while the first Genio has the power button on its side, the Genio 2 has its power button on the top.

The Winner Is- It’s a tie

 

Water Tank Capacity

The water tank capacity tells you how much water the machine can hold and how often you must place water inside the tank. One of the two offerings from NESCAFÉ has twice the capacity than the other. Additionally, it also tells you the machine’s footprint. The bigger the capacity, the larger its footprint is. 

NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Genio

The Dolce Gusto Genio can hold up to 21 oz. of water in its tank. This will probably last you just 2-4 cups of coffee depending on which type it is. If you are sharing one machine with other people, it means that you must fill the tank up once a day.  It can be a tad inconvenient for some, but replacing water in the tank often is very hygienic.

NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Genio 2

The water tank capacity of the Genio 2 doubles than that of the first Genio at 45 oz. This equates to lesser frequency of filing the water tank and more beverage that it can produce. It does come with a caveat, however. The Genio 2 has a larger footprint than the first Genio. One should not worry about that since both machines are as compact as they can be. They should easily fit in anyone’s kitchen countertop with no problems. The Dolce Gusto Genio 2 is a great addition for the pantry of office situations where more people can share the machine with.

The Winner Is- NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Genio 2

Also read: Dolce Gusto Esperta vs Esperta 2

Pros and Cons

Finally, some pros and cons of the NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Genio and Genio 2 will help us determine which is the best option.