A growing library of level-graded English lessons for classroom or self-study, with reading, listening, vocabulary, activities, and discussion practice from A1 to B2.
Lesson Info
In this lesson:
- Warm-up
- Vocab List
- Reading and Audio
- True or False Check understanding.
- Review Breakdown Sort ideas from the review.
- Words That Go Together Connect words and collocated phrases from the lesson.
- New Sentences Choose words to complete sentences in new contexts.
- Evaluation Builder Use sentence frames to evaluate details from the review.
- Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
- Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.
Ask: (1) Do you make coffee at home? How do you make it? If not, what do you usually drink? (2) What kitchen appliances do you have, and what do you use them for?
VOCAB LIST
Reading
I love good coffee, but I don’t always want to spend time making it. That’s where the Nespresso Vertuo Pop comes in. This compact pod machine is quick, colorful, and incredibly easy to use.
To make a coffee, you simply open the top, put in a Vertuo pod, and press the button. The machine reads a barcode on the pod and automatically chooses the right amount of water. My espresso was ready in just 19 seconds, and it tasted rich and smooth. The machine wasn’t very noisy, either.
Its slim design is ideal for a small kitchen, but there is one annoying problem: there isn’t much room between the spout and the drip tray. My tall travel mug would only fit when I held it at an angle, while my wide cappuccino cup couldn’t sit properly on the tray.
The Vertuo Pop can make different sizes of black coffee, but it cannot froth milk. Latte and cappuccino drinkers will need a separate milk frother. You also have to buy Nespresso’s special Vertuo pods, although you can take used ones to certain collection points for recycling.
Overall, I think the Vertuo Pop is a great affordable machine for someone who wants good black coffee without any fuss. However, people who love milky drinks or use large mugs may find it too limiting.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop Review
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
Ask: (1) Do you make coffee at home? How do you make it? If not, what do you usually drink? (2) What kitchen appliances do you have, and what do you use them for?
-
compact (adj.)
-
pod (n.)
-
barcode (n.)
-
automatically (adv.)
-
spout (n.)
-
drip tray (n.)
-
froth (v.)
-
limiting (adj.)
-
at an angle (phrase)
-
without any fuss (phrase)
I love good coffee, but I don’t always want to spend time making it. That’s where the Nespresso Vertuo Pop comes in. This compact pod machine is quick, colorful, and incredibly easy to use.
To make a coffee, you simply open the top, put in a Vertuo pod, and press the button. The machine reads a barcode on the pod and automatically chooses the right amount of water. My espresso was ready in just 19 seconds, and it tasted rich and smooth. The machine wasn’t very noisy, either.
Its slim design is ideal for a small kitchen, but there is one annoying problem: there isn’t much room between the spout and the drip tray. My tall travel mug would only fit when I held it at an angle, while my wide cappuccino cup couldn’t sit properly on the tray.
The Vertuo Pop can make different sizes of black coffee, but it cannot froth milk. Latte and cappuccino drinkers will need a separate milk frother. You also have to buy Nespresso’s special Vertuo pods, although you can take used ones to certain collection points for recycling.
Overall, I think the Vertuo Pop is a great affordable machine for someone who wants good black coffee without any fuss. However, people who love milky drinks or use large mugs may find it too limiting.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. The writer found the Vertuo Pop difficult to use. TRUEFALSE False
2. The machine automatically decides how much water to use. TRUEFALSE True
3. Both of the writer's large cups sat properly on the drip tray. TRUEFALSE False
4. The writer recommends the machine mainly to people who enjoy black coffee. TRUEFALSE True
Review Breakdown
Review Breakdown
Read each statement. Write the letter in the correct group below.
- The machine works with pods from many different companies.
- Some large cups do not fit properly under the spout.
- People who love milky drinks may find it too limiting.
- The writer's espresso was ready in just 19 seconds.
- The machine reads a barcode on each pod.
- The machine can make different sizes of black coffee.
- Latte drinkers need to buy a separate milk frother.
- The espresso tasted rich and smooth.
- It is a good choice for someone who wants black coffee without any fuss.
- The writer recommends it for people who mainly use large mugs.
Product Information:
Positive Point:
Negative Point:
Final Opinion:
Not in the Review:
Product Information: e f
Positive Point: d h
Negative Point: b g
Final Opinion: c i
Not in the Review: a j
Words That Go Together
Drag each word to its match below, or select a word and then select its match:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Words That Go Together
Match each word with the words it goes with:
1. Spendf) time making coffee
2. Reade) a barcode
3. Choosed) the right amount
4. Holdc) a mug at an angle
5. Frothb) milk
6. Makea) coffee without any fuss
a) coffee without any fuss
b) milk
c) a mug at an angle
d) the right amount
e) a barcode
f) time making coffee
New Sentences
Choose the best word for each new sentence.
-
We chose a {blank} table that could fit in the corner.
-
The lights turn on {blank} when someone enters the room.
-
She filled the watering can and poured water from its {blank}.
-
Having only one day to finish the project felt very {blank}.
-
The picture was hanging {blank}, so I straightened it.
-
The children took their medicine {blank}.
New Sentences
Use the words in the bank to complete the new sentences.
at an angle / automatically / compact / froth / limiting / spout / without any fuss
- We chose a table that could fit in the corner.
- The lights turn on when someone enters the room.
- She filled the watering can and poured water from its .
- Having only one day to finish the project felt very .
- The picture was hanging , so I straightened it.
- The children took their medicine .
Evaluation Builder
-
The machine makes coffee in only 19 seconds.
This seems useful because .
Example: This seems useful because it would save time in the morning.
-
The machine cannot froth milk.
This might be a problem for because .
Example: This might be a problem for latte drinkers because they would need a separate milk frother.
-
Which feature appeals to you most?
One thing that appeals to me is because .
Example: One thing that appeals to me is its compact design because I have limited kitchen space.
-
Who would this machine suit best?
I think it would suit someone who because .
Example: I think it would suit someone who mainly drinks black coffee because they would not need a milk frother.
Evaluation Builder
-
The machine makes coffee in only 19 seconds.
This seems useful because .
-
The machine cannot froth milk.
This might be a problem for because .
-
Which feature appeals to you most?
One thing that appeals to me is because .
-
Who would this machine suit best?
I think it would suit someone who because .
Discussion Questions
- Have you ever bought a kitchen appliance that you rarely used? What happened?
- Would you rather have a compact, simple coffee machine or a larger machine with more features? Why?
- How would you feel about having to buy one company’s special pods?
- What else would you want to know before deciding whether to buy this machine?
- Based on the review, would you consider buying the Vertuo Pop? Why or why not?
Discussion Questions
- Have you ever bought a kitchen appliance that you rarely used? What happened?
- Would you rather have a compact, simple coffee machine or a larger machine with more features? Why?
- How would you feel about having to buy one company’s special pods?
- What else would you want to know before deciding whether to buy this machine?
- Based on the review, would you consider buying the Vertuo Pop? Why or why not?
Answers
True or False:
- False. The writer says it is incredibly easy to use.
- True. It reads the barcode on the pod and chooses the right amount of water.
- False. The travel mug had to be held at an angle, and the cappuccino cup could not sit properly on the tray.
- True. The writer calls it a great machine for someone who wants good black coffee without any fuss.
Review Breakdown:
Product Information: e f
Positive Point: d h
Negative Point: b g
Final Opinion: c i
Not in the Review: a j
Vocabulary:
- Spend: time making coffee
- Read: a barcode
- Choose: the right amount
- Hold: a mug at an angle
- Froth: milk
- Make: coffee without any fuss
New Sentences: 1. compact; 2. automatically; 3. spout; 4. limiting; 5. at an angle; 6. without any fuss
Evaluation Builder examples:
- This seems useful because it would save time in the morning.
- This might be a problem for latte drinkers because they would need a separate milk frother.
- One thing that appeals to me is its compact design because I have limited kitchen space.
- I think it would suit someone who mainly drinks black coffee because they would not need a milk frother.