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The Greatest Nespresso Pods of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

Straight to the Level

The most effective Nespresso pod is the Double Espresso Scuro. It brews a wealthy and balanced cup with notes of baking spice, darkish chocolate, and candy herbs. For a lighter roast, we additionally appreciated the single-origin Nespresso Colombia.

Espresso and wine are sometimes fancifully described. For espresso, widespread tasting notes embrace chocolate, caramel, fruit, and baking spice. These descriptors are supposed to be expressive and engaging—studying them ought to make you wish to take a sip. 

Sadly, they typically appear to scare individuals a bit. As an authorized sommelier, I’ve seen this occur numerous occasions. It makes me unhappy after I hear somebody shrug off a tasting word by claiming “I can’t style the distinction anyway.” You’ll be able to style it—I consider in you! The key is that variations are rather more obvious once you pattern a number of varieties aspect by aspect. It is a massive a part of skilled coaching, however it’s not the best way most of us drink our morning espresso (or night wine). 

Tasting numerous espresso is one of the simplest ways to find what you want. To assist get you began, I brewed 14 Nespresso pods for his or her Authentic and Vertuo machines (utilizing our favorite models of each).  

The Winners, at a Look


PHOTO: Nespresso

The Nespresso Scuro is balanced and flavorful. Darkish roast espresso can lean a bit of one-note—all you style is the bitter roast. This model retains wealthy particular person notes of fruit and chocolate. It makes a tasty espresso or espresso and it’s flavorful sufficient to yield a beautiful iced espresso or latte. It’s out there for each the Vertuo and Original Nespresso machines.

Nespresso Colombia

PHOTO: Nespresso

The Nespresso Colombia is made out of 100% Colombian Arabica espresso beans. It is a mild roast brew with delicate bitterness and sharp acidity. Nespresso recommends serving the Colombia as a espresso or espresso to understand its pink fruit bouquet and wine-like complexity.

Nespresso Vaniglia

PHOTO: Nespresso

The Nespresso Vaniglia was by far the very best of the flavored pods. It’s surprisingly refined—the espresso doesn’t style synthetic or overly candy. It blends nicely with milk for a latte or cappuccino.

Nespresso Fortado Decaffeinato Vertuo

PHOTO: Nepresso

That is my decide for individuals who keep away from caffeine. It had caramel notes and stood up nicely to a splash of milk.

The Exams

Critical Eats / Madeline Muzzi


  • Plain Brew Take a look at: I brewed a plain espresso or espresso with every pod to guage its scent and style. I took notes on the aroma, taste, and texture to assist me examine cups. 
  • Specialty Drink Take a look at: I examined Nespresso’s really helpful brewing fashion (latte, iced, espresso) for every of the top-performing pods, utilizing complete milk the place relevant. I took notes on the aroma, taste, and texture.

What We Discovered

Go Daring for Lattes and Iced Drinks 

Bolder Nespresso pods stood out higher when milk was added.

Critical Eats / Madeline Muzzi


When pairing wine with meals, sommeliers purpose to match depth. For instance, if you happen to drink a fragile Chablis alongside spicy barbecued ribs, the meals will overpower the style of the wine. I discovered {that a} related precept utilized to creating Nespresso’s espresso-like drinks. Medium roast brews are beautiful on their very own, however the taste of a daring darkish roast blends nicely with milk.   

If you happen to begin your morning with a latte or iced espresso, go for a darker choice. Roasting brings out espresso’s daring, smoky, and nutty flavors. These notes can stand as much as milk or ice with out being muted. Creamy milk additionally helps steadiness out the bitterness in bolder coffees. Nespresso recommends pods just like the Nocciola and Freddo Intenso for lattes. It additionally affords Vertuo pods just like the Forte and Leggero particularly designed for iced espresso. 

Use Nespresso’s Information 

Nespresso’s tasting (and depth) notes had been useful beginning factors.

Critical Eats / Ashley Rodriguez


Every pod has its personal profile web page on Nespresso’s web site. Nespresso offers tasting notes, brewing suggestions, and particular person scales for physique, bitterness, roast, and acidity. I didn’t at all times decide up on the precise tasting notes talked about by the corporate, however I did discover that I agreed with the general depth rating for every pod. As soon as you discover a couple of pods that you simply like, strive utilizing Nespresso’s web site to search out related brews. 

Know Your Machine: Vertuo vs. Authentic

The Authentic pods (left) and Vertuo pods (proper).

Critical Eats / Ashlee Redger


Nespresso makes two varieties of machines: the Authentic and Vertuo. The Authentic makes use of a high-pressure pump to drive heated water by means of the espresso pods and make espresso and employs the identical water temperature and quantity of stress for every pod. These machines deal with espresso or lungo espressos. A number of main espresso producers, together with Peet’s and Starbucks, make appropriate espresso pods. 

Vertuo machines are a bit of extra high-tech. Every Vertuo pod features a barcode. The machine scans this code and adjusts the brewing course of to enhance the espresso. Fairly than merely permitting water to drip by means of the grounds, the machine injects a small quantity of water into every pod and spins it whereas the espresso infuses. Vertuo machines could make espresso or espresso and the pods are proprietary.  

The Standards: What to Search for in a Nespresso Pod

Critical Eats / Madeline Muzzi


The most effective Nespresso coffees are easy and balanced with only a contact of bitterness. Search for a pod fashion that can work together with your favourite drink—bolder choices are higher suited to creamy and iced drinks. If you wish to strive a brand new espresso fashion, peruse the Nespresso web site’s tasting notes to search out pods with an identical depth. 

Our Favourite Nespresso Pods

Nespresso Double Espresso Scuro

PHOTO: Nespresso

What we appreciated: The Scuro is a well-balanced espresso. Nespresso charges Scuro pods three out of give on the roastiness scale. I discovered that the medium-dark roast added pleasurable richness and toastiness with out overpowering the espresso’s extra refined flavors. The mid-level depth makes this brew versatile—Nespresso recommends having fun with it as an espresso or iced espresso. Even chilled, loads of daring flavors come by means of. 

What we didn’t like: The Scuro is a mix of Robusta and Arabica espresso from Central America. There’s nothing flawed with blended espresso, however it may be more durable for producers to make sure consistent flavor in each batch they make. Some tasters discovered the Scuro too toasty. 

Key Specs

  • Tasting notes: Cacao, vanilla, chocolate
  • Really useful brew fashion: Espresso, double espresso, iced 

Critical Eats / Madeline Muzzi


Nespresso Colombia

PHOTO: Nespresso

What we appreciated: Colombia espresso pods are a part of Nespresso’s Grasp Crafted Single Origins line of 100% Arabica espresso beans sourced from Colombia. In my view, ingesting single-origin espresso is pleasurable even and not using a ton of background data—it’s a straightforward technique to respect the complexity and be taught a bit about totally different espresso areas. Nespresso charges the Colombia pods a one out of 5 on the roastiness scale. The sunshine roast preserves loads of the beans’ distinctive traits. When brewed, it has notes of pink berries and a wine-like complexity. 

What we didn’t like: Nespresso’s Colombia pods won’t be your best option for morning latte drinkers, as this delicate, fragrant espresso may be overpowered by milk. Gentle roast coffees have extra caffeine than their darker counterparts—I’ll allow you to determine if that’s a pink flag or an added perk.  

Key Specs

  • Tasting notes: Candied apple, pink berry, wine
  • Really useful brew fashion: Espresso, lungo, espresso 

Critical Eats / Madeline Muzzi


Nespresso Vaniglia

PHOTO: Nespresso

What we appreciated: This vanilla-flavored espresso is surprisingly refined. The Nespresso web site lists “pure vanilla aroma” and “different pure aromas” as flavoring brokers. When brewed, Vaniglia lacks the cloying sweetness and harsh synthetic edge present in some flavored coffees. Nespresso suggests ingesting Vaniglia espresso as a lungo or cappuccino, latte, or macchiato. Throughout testing, I discovered that this espresso paired properly with milk. Vaniglia lattes had been delicate, creamy, and calmly candy. 

What we didn’t like: Vaniglia pods are solely out there in espresso format—they aren’t appropriate with the Vertuo machine. 

Key Specs

  • Tasting notes: Vanilla, candy biscuit, cereal
  • Really useful brew fashion: Espresso, lungo, latte

Critical Eats / Madeline Muzzi


Nespresso Fortado Decaffeinato Vertuo

PHOTO: Nepresso

What we appreciated: The Nespresso Fortado mix is a strong choice for the caffeine-averse. It is a darkish roast with medium-high depth. It yields a satisfyingly strong cup of espresso with toasty caramel notes. Nespresso recommends serving the Fortado as a Gran Lungo, however I discovered that the flavour stood up nicely to a splash of milk.

What we didn’t like: Fortado Decaffeinato pods are solely out there in Vertuo format—they aren’t appropriate with the unique Nespresso machine. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a decaf espresso after dinner, this gained’t do the trick. 

Key Specs

  • Tasting notes: Cacao, oak, caramel 
  • Really useful brew fashion: Gran Lungo  

Critical Eats / Madeline Muzzi


The Competitors

  • Nespresso Ristretto: This darkish roast was overly bitter—it had a burnt end and a skinny mouthfeel. 
  • Nespresso Ice Forte: The Ice Forte had a pleasing fruit and pepper aroma and lingering bitter almond on the palate—a strong alternative for ice espresso devotees 
  • Nespresso Ice Leggero: This mix was pleasantly toasty and fruity however as soon as it was mixed with milk and ice it produced a particularly delicate drink. 
  • Nespresso Napoli: This was an intense darkish roast—creamier and extra balanced than the Ristretto however nonetheless a bit of too bitter for my style. 
  • Nespresso Sweet Vanilla: This flavored pod was overly candy and tasted synthetic. 
  • Nespresso Intenso: This was a strong and daring darkish espresso that labored nicely with milk however it was barely too bitter by itself. 
  • Nespresso Roasted Hazelnut: This pod yielded a cloyingly candy and artificial-tasting drink.  
  • Starbucks by Nespresso Blonde Roast: This woody blonde roast lacked complexity. 
  • Peet’s Coffee Crema Scura: Sadly, this was an intense darkish espresso with a robust bitter end and minimal depth. 

FAQs

How do you recycle Nespresso pods? 

Nespresso pods are made out of recyclable aluminum. You’ll be able to’t throw them into your private home recycling bin, however the firm affords a number of methods to return used pods. Capsules may be dropped off at a Nespresso retailer or shipped to a waste heart with a supplied recycling bag. Nespresso has additionally created a community of assortment factors for in-person returns—use its website to search out one close to you. 

How a lot caffeine is in a Nespresso pod?

Caffeine content material varies relying on the kind of bean, diploma of roast, and pod dimension. Nespresso espresso pods typically comprise between 70 to 150 mg of caffeine. Vertuo pods are barely bigger and vary from 170 to 200 mg.

Can you employ Nespresso pods twice?

No—Nespresso pods are single-use. Brewing an espresso or cup of espresso extracts a lot of the taste from the grounds. Reusing a pod would lead to a weak, flavorless cup. 

Why We’re the Specialists

  • Madeline Muzzi is an everyday Critical Eats contributor, reviewing kitchen gadgets like flatware and toaster ovens. 
  • As an authorized sommelier, Madeline is formally educated in deductive tasting. 
  • Madeline tasted 14 totally different Nespresso coffees a number of occasions to conduct this overview. 
  • We’ve additionally reviewed Nespresso coffee makers

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