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Author:
Melissa Collins
Got Nespresso?
Whether you’re the proud owner of an OriginalLine or a VertuoLine, we’re here to talk about everything coffee capsules with you!
The convenience and flavor of these Nespresso capsule machines are undeniable. No more brewing full carafes of coffee that goes to waste. With single-serving brewers, everyone gets precisely the coffee they want.
Whether you sip your daily cup of joe black or with milk, these are the year’s 13 best Nespresso capsules. Check them out below, then stick around until the end for frequently asked coffee pod questions!
Mmm, is this coffee or a decadent, luscious dessert in a cup?
Tough to say! Our best choice pick is that tasty. It boasts an indulgent vanilla flavor with notes of almond and butter biscuit.
This smooth and creamy medium roast packs a caffeine punch of 170 to 200 milligrams. The coffee beans are a blend of Arabica and Robusta sourced from Central and South America.
Enjoy a cup hot or iced. Mix it with milk, or sip it straight. The choice is yours, and there are no wrong choices!
Try not to drool:
A warming vanilla base of malted cereal. A round, smooth, silky mouthfeel. Reminiscent of one of the most indulgent French pastries — the eclair!
So, if you’re an OriginalLine user that was bummed about the vanilla custard pie being VertuoLine only, this is your delicious dessert-like option!
This split-roast comes from a mix of Brazilian and Colombian coffee beans. Nespresso puts it at an intensity six, making it a vibrant light roast.
Like Nespresso’s other capsules, these are delicious hot or iced. With milk or without. Add your favorite type of milk to create a creamy eclair latte whenever you need an afternoon pick-me-up!
If you’re here to learn where to get the most bang for your coffee buck, this best value pick is for you.
The double espresso Chiaro by Nespresso is a dense and wild medium roast. The flavor notes are intensely woody and earthy with hints of blond caramel. Making this espresso choice one that’s best taken with some kind of milk.
These espresso capsules will cost you around a buck apiece, which is a pretty great deal for a cup of coffee, no?
Each pod brews up to 2.7 ounces of rich, indulgent espresso. Enjoy hot or iced, but sorry OriginalLine users — they aren’t compatible with your machine.
Brazilian and Central American coffees meet and blend in this toasty medium roast. This well-rounded coffee is smooth, perfectly balanced, and environmentally friendly to boot. (Just remember to recycle your spent pods!)
You can enjoy Melozio hot or iced. We recommend using it for an iced latte, though.
Tip: Adding milk is said to open up the coffee to a softer, sweeter side. Thus treating your tastebuds by enhancing the natural biscuit flavor notes.
Each capsule can brew up to 7.8 ounces at a time. Perfect for those of us craving a larger cup of joe.
Tall, dark, and intense. We aren’t talking about how we like our men; we’re talking about how we want our coffee.
For dark roast fans, you won’t find an espresso capsule quite as satisfying as the Intenso by Nespresso. This is another for VertuoLine only users, though.
So, what’s it like?
Deep, dense, thick, and with flavor notes of toasted brown sugar.
Is your mouth watering, or is that just us?
Pair with lots of frothed milk for a cappuccino that will knock your socks off. Get ready to have enough pep in your step to clear your to-do list and beyond!
Roasted Nicaraguan and Guatemalan Arabica beans blend to become the Stormio. An intense coffee that evokes spicy, woody, and cereal-y notes.
Adding milk will soften the distinct dark roast flavors. At an intensity eight, this dark roast will definitely perk you up first thing in the morning!
Brew up to 7.8 ounces at a time with these Nespresso capsules. Then enjoy as is or add ice, milk, sugar, or all three! It’s your mug, have it your way!
Remember to recycle your pod after using it. If you’re wondering if you can reuse pods, refer to our FAQ section down below.
Not compatible with OriginalLine.
The finest South American Arabica beans (plus some mighty fine ones from Colombia, Brazil, and East Africa) made it into this slow-roasted blend. Where they then met up with some Robusta beans for extra zing.
The Ristretto Intenso is an intensity 10; it offers a subtle contrast of bitterness and strength. Coffee lovers who appreciate acidity will especially enjoy this one. The fruity notes pair interestingly but well with intensely roasted and chocolaty ones.
A ristretto is traditionally a short shot of espresso, but you can enjoy these capsules any way you please.
We just keep diving deeper and darker with these roasts. The Starbucks by Nespresso dark roast is an intensity 11.
And good news for the caffeine-sensitive:
It’s decaffeinated! Decaf coffee still contains some caffeine, but it is much less than the average cup of joe.
These espresso roast capsules are robust, full-bodied, and bold. Exactly what you expect from a mug of dark roast. Each pod brews between 0.85 and 1.35 ounces, perfect for ristretto or espresso shots.
Two words to describe the Arpeggio:
Intense and creamy.
Coffee beans from South and Central America are chosen for their malted and fruity profiles, then roasted until dark to bring out unique origin characteristics. Grilled notes play alongside ones of subtle cocoa and wood.
Honestly, we love a smoky dark roast around here. The Arpeggio Intenso makes one killer Americano for those mornings that you need to go-go-go. Or knock the intensity down a peg by mixing in your favorite frothed milk.
Another option for the decaffeinated crowd, cause you deserve delicious coffee too!
The Decaffeinato blend comes from Costa Rican and South American Arabicas. It’s smooth and delicious and not lacking in that coveted coffee zing. (But hold the caffeine jitters!)
The tasting notes are of malt and cereal. Adding milk will bring out a whole different side and sipping experience, of course! Enjoy balanced notes reminiscent of fresh nuts by adding a splash of your favorite milk.
Another one for the Starbucks fans! If you know the ‘bux, you know their blonde roast.
Low intensity, with smooth and sweet notes. That’s the classic blonde roast for you.
Best served as ristretto or espresso shots, each capsule brews between 0.85 and 1.35 ounces. Pair with milk for a sensational espresso-based beverage. Make a milky macchiato or a rich chocolaty mocha.
Central and South American Arabica beans are medium roasted to give the Livanto a round and balanced bouquet.
The malted and fruity notes combine, creating a complex caramelized tasting experience.
These espresso capsules will brew up to 1.35 ounces at a time, but you can do them as shorter ristretto shots as well. As an espresso, it’s mild and fruity. A nice flavor, even just sipping on it plain with nothing added.
And last, but certainly not least, we have a lungo offering for you. The Fortissio Lungo is a dark roast made from all Arabica beans. Sweden’s love of pure dark coffee was the inspiration for this blend.
A lungo is a long shot of espresso, so these capsules will provide you up to 3.7 ounces each.
Enjoy the distinct malted and sweet cereal notes of this dark roast as is. Or, if the rich bitterness is a bit much for your palate, swirl in some freshly-frothed milk.
Some final insights into the world of Nespresso coffee capsules. Learn how to reuse them, how long they last, how to store them, and how much caffeine to expect per cup.
You can use most Nespresso pods at least twice. Simply make one cup, then stick the pod right back in the machine and brew another. The second cup will likely be a bit weaker than the first, but still tasty!
Reusing your Nespresso capsules is a great way to stretch your budget further and cut down on waste.
Nespresso capsules should stay fresh at least one year from purchase (from the official Nespresso brand, that is). The box your capsules came in should have a printed expiration date you can double-check as well.
If you’re concerned about the freshness of your pods, there’s an easy way to check if they’re still okay to use. If the foil cap is still intact with a slight bump (like there’s air inside the capsule), it is still good. If the foil has fallen into the pod and seems deflated, consider tossing it.
A shorter answer would be, how do you not store Nespresso capsules?
The internet is full of crafty Nespresso capsule storage ideas. Ranging from DIY mug rack pallets to fancy vintage glass jars.
If you have the drawer space, you can store them out of sight.
If you prefer to have them on display, consider a “spice rack” type option or keeping them in clear glass vases on your countertop.
You can basically customize any storage solution to work for your Nespresso capsules.
The amount of caffeine will vary slightly depending on:
For espresso shots, the caffeine range falls between 60 and 150 milligrams. For lungo shots, it increases to 120 to 200 milligrams. Half caff pods will peak around 90 milligrams, while decaf contains no more than 12.
It’s worth knowing that caffeine’s half-life is five hours. This means if you drank one cup of regular strength coffee (~80 milligrams) five hours later, you’d still have ~40 milligrams of caffeine in your system.
Caffeine affects your central nervous system, those extra sensitive to caffeine should stick to half-caff or decaf whenever possible.
How much caffeine do the VertuoLine capsules contain?
https://www.nespresso.com/us/en/service-faq
Use Keurig K Cups or Coffee Pods? This Storage Hack’s For You
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/k-cup-storage-diy-hack-258547
How Long Does Caffeine Stay in Your System?
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-caffeine-last#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20American%20Academy,to%20half%20the%20original%20amount.
The Effects of Caffeine on Your Body
https://www.healthline.com/health/caffeine-effects-on-body
