Are there alternatives to Nespresso capsules?

Suppose you own a Nespresso machine and cannot afford Nespresso capsules daily. In that case, there is no need to worry because many alternatives available in the market can work the same as Nespresso capsules. But there are some factors that you need to keep in mind while buying these alternative capsules. Being aware that the prices of Nespresso capsules are increasing daily, it is not easy for every single person to afford these capsules daily.

Nowadays, coffee has become a necessity for every single person around the world so owning a Nespresso machine can be good for you. 

There are many cheap alternatives for the Nespresso capsules that are rich in taste and can work with your Nespresso machines. With a large and unique variety of capsules, Nespresso can sometimes taste weird,or you may not like its flavors. So, if you want capsules from some other brands that can taste much better, than they can be used easily with your Nespresso machine.

20 Best Nespresso alternatives

There are many alternatives for the Nespresso capsules that work almost the same as Nespresso ones and some capsules can even taste better than Nespresso capsules. Here are some best alternatives that I have shortlisted for you:

1. Variety pack from Peet’s coffee:

If you are a type of a person that wants 100% Arabica taste in their coffee then the Variety pack from Peet’s coffee shop can give you the best experience while tasting the same as Nespresso capsules. These variety packs are the easiest ones to make at home without any trouble with your coffee maker. These variety packs come in different types and tastes that can give you a soothing feel, just like Nespresso capsules. 

These variety packs come in ranges that include rich, creamy, intense, and mild tastes. Some of the packs you should try from Peet’s coffee shop are Nerissimo and Ristretto. Similarly, if you love to have a strong and bold feeling in your coffee, then the best possible pack is Crema Scura. It has a rich and bold taste having a high intensity of 9 in its pack.

One important thing to remember is that these variety packs can only work with your Nespresso Originalline machines. They will not work with Nespresso Vertuoline machines because they have a specific size or shape of pods you need to follow. Moreover, the Nespresso Vertuoline machine has a barcode technology that scans and verifies whether the pod is a real Nespresso pod or not.

2. Lavazza Blends:

If you love to feel caffeine in your coffee, then Lavazza espresso blends are the most suitable ones. One more advantage of Lavazza espresso blends is that they can give you a variety of tastes. Lavazza espresso blends come in different blends having mild and exceptionally high intensities of tastes. Both mild and bold coffee lovers can enjoy Lavazza espresso blends in their coffee cabinets. It can give you a range of 6 to 13 intensities of coffee. 

Lavazza espresso blends have chocolate and sweet flavor; they can also taste hard, depending on the choice you prefer while buying these blends. The most popular flavors of Lavazza espresso blends are Dark-roast Deciso and Legerro Lungo. Talking about the espressos, you can also try Rico Crema espresso, the most popular one. All these flavors are available on Amazon, and you can easily order them online.

3. Coffee capsules from an Amazon brand called Solimo Ristretto:

You might be surprised to see that an online shopping brand like Amazon also sells its coffee pods under a brand named Solimo Ristretto. Being known worldwide, you must give one chance to these capsules from Amazon and try how they taste. These coffee capsules from Amazon have a rich taste in them. If you prefer both Arabica and Robusta beans flavor in your coffee, then I believe these capsules will impress you with a single try. 

The official website says these coffee beans are planted by certified farmers using unique agricultural products to grow these beans. That is why these beans are different and safe to be used in your daily routine. These beans work efficiently with the Nespresso Original line machines. If you are an environmentally-friendly person, then these beans are going to be your favorite, as Amazon has a lot of projects with Rainforest Alliance.

4. Capsules from cafe LA Llave:

Keeping in mind all types of customers, the capsules from cafe LA Llave offer five unique flavors with various intensities. The uniqueness in flavors of these capsules makes them just like the Nespresso pods, which are also famous for their unique tastes. One more advantage of using capsules from café LA Llave is that they can fit easily in all Nespresso machines.

Capsules from café LA Llave have mild and bold coffee tastes depending on your choice. It offers flavors that give a soothing feel, such as Nuevo Mundo. If you are looking for a coffee that tastes, then LA Llave is the best option. These capsules from cafe LA Llave are comparatively cheap than the Nespresso pods but are rich in flavor, just like the Nespresso ones.

5. L’OR coffee pods:

The blends from L’OR are 100% Arabica. They come in various tastes, including both hard tastes. They have attractive packaging that attracts a lot of customers. These coffee capsules are grown by 100% certified farmers. If you are an eco-friendly person, it is a good option for you because these pods are made from aluminum that can be used later in the recycling process.

These L’OR coffee pods come in different varieties and packs, and you can buy any of them depending on your choice.

6. Cafe Bustelo pods:

Brazilian capsules from Cafe Bustelo are the best option if you love the sweet taste of your coffee. If you own a Nespresso Original line machine, these capsules from Cafe Bustelo will give the best feel, the same as Nespresso pods. These capsules have thick, rich layers that give your coffee a premium feel. The prices of these capsules from Cafe Bustelo are comparatively lower than the ones from Nespresso.

7. Colonna Coffee pods:

As mentioned above, due to the continuous rise in prices of Nespresso pods, many companies have started working on making capsules that give the same feel as the Nespresso pods. The capsules from Colonna Coffee are one of them, and they provide a large range of flavors you can use as an alternative to Nespresso pods. These coffee beans are grown in Africa in such a unique way that they offer a unique taste. These capsules from Colonna Coffee are the best combination of sweet and mild spice at the same time.

8. Bold Roast from Dunkin’ Espresso:

If you are looking for bold roasted coffee and can’t leave home, these roasts from Dunkin’ are the best option. These roasts focus on the customers that love their coffee’s hard, sweet, and salty taste simultaneously. So if you are interested in these roasts, they will save you a lot of time and money. 

Along with being easy to make, these roasts from Dunkin are compatible with Nespresso Originalline machines but you cannot use them in Nespresso Vertuoline machines because of their demand for certain sizes and shapes. Dunkin’ is one of the most trusted brands worldwide, selling bold roasted espressos, so you should not wait to buy these to enjoy the great coffee taste at home.

9. Bestpresso coffee capsules:

The bestpresso coffee capsules are also considered one of the best alternatives to Nespresso pods in many ways. The taste, price, and options make Bestpresso coffee capsules the best in the market for replacing Nespresso pods. These capsules range from $0.30 to $0.50, making them one of the best options for every kind of consumer.

Bestpresso coffee capsules are available in vanilla, sweet chocolate, and caramel flavors that are rich in taste. One of the good things about Bestpresso coffee capsules is that they are recyclable. The overall rating for the taste of Bestpresso coffee capsules is 9 out of 10, which is a perfect score in this price range. So if you are looking for a capsule that is reasonable in price as well as in quality, Bestpresso coffee capsules are the best choice.

10. Starbucks for Nespresso pods:

Keeping in mind the needs of their customers, Starbucks has collaborated with Nespresso to make capsules that taste just like Nespresso capsules. These capsules from Starbucks are easy to brew at home and can give you the same feeling as the original Nespresso pods. There is no doubt about the taste as Starbucks, in collaboration with Nespresso, officially makes them. The intensity of these coffee capsules ranges from 6 to 11. Some popular blends from Starbucks are House Blend, Caffe Verona, and Pike Place roast.

11. Coffee pods from Gourmet:

If you are looking for such capsules with no artificial flavors and are 100% natural, then coffee pods from Gourmet are the most suitable ones. These coffee pods from Gourmet come in different blends from Colombia, Brazil, and Vaniglia. All these coffee pods have a uniqueness in their taste. One interesting thing about these capsules is that the company offers a special 6-day return policy in case you don’t like them, you can send them back.

12. Espresso Lungo from Carte Noir:

Espresso Lungo from Carte Noir is 100% Arabica; these capsules are rated very high by French fans that love to have small cups of espresso. Each pack of these capsules has its unique taste. Keeping these capsules more on high intensity, most of the packs taste bold. These capsules are considered one of the best alternatives to the Nespresso pods. The most popular packs from Carte Noir are Corse, INtense, and Decaf.

13. Dark roast from HiLine:

If you are looking for a coffee that can taste bold and has a high concentration of caffeine in it then dark roast from HiLine is the best option for you. These capsules are compatible with almost every Nespresso machine, which is a plus point. Another good thing about HiLine is that the coffee beans are roasted just before they are delivered to their owners, which keeps it fresh for a long time. An interesting thing about HiLine coffee is its unique flavors such as Wall Street dark, hazelnut cupcakes, and pumpkin spice. So I am sure you will always have fun with these HiLine beans.

14. Illy Classico pods:

Illy Classico pods from Italy contain high Arabica concentrations. These pods are compatible with Nespresso Originalline machines. These capsules offer a huge range of sweet, orange, and caramel flavors. So If you like coffee that does not taste bold and love to keep it simple and plain, then there is a high chance that these capsules will be your favorite ones.

15. Gimoka coffee pods:

Gimoka coffee pods have a medium-intensity roast with a great percentage of Arabica. These pods are also cheaper than the Nespresso pods but still have similar tastes to Nespresso pods. These pods are usually not very rich in taste. Coffee pods from Gimoka have a lot of flavors and aromas. Many different pods look the same as Gimoka coffee pods. So, you should be careful before buying these pods.

16. Capsules from Amorcaffe Intenso:

Amorcaffe Intenso has a medium roast that you can buy on a budget. It is a combination of both Arabica and Robusta and has a mild aroma of caffeine in it. The percentage of Robusta is more than the Arabica, so it can be the best for you if you want to get refreshed by your coffee in the morning. The website of Amorcaffe Intenso has mentioned that they are thermoformed capsules that keep oxygen away from these capsules. That means the more the pods are away from the oxygen, more fresher they are.

17. Pods from Don Francisco’s Old Havana:

If you are looking for a Cuba coffee that can fit your budget and taste more like Nespresso pods, then Don Francisco’s Old Havana coffee is the best option for you available in the market. Don Francisco’s Old Havana coffee has a sour and intense nutty taste to it. Don Francisco’s Old Havana coffee has a medium roast.

Don Francisco’s Old Havana coffee is incompatible with the Nespresso Vertuoline machine but works perfectly with the Nespresso Originalline machine.

18. El Cubanito capsules:

One of the most popular Cuban coffee capsules, El Cubanito is available at an affordable price, tasting the same as Nespresso pods. This Cuban coffee will give you the same feeling you can get in Cuban coffee shops at home. The bold flavor of the El Cubanito capsule will simultaneously give you a sweet and bitter taste. So if you are looking for a refreshing coffee that can give you a bold, bitter, and sweet taste at the same time, then El Cubanito coffee can be a good option for you.

19. Gourmesso pods:

One of the cheapest capsules that can taste, just like Nespresso pods, are Gourmesso pods. Depending upon your choice, these pods come in different roasts that include light, mild, and bold aromas. The different varieties of these pods include strong vanilla and caramel flavors. The eco-friendly Gourmesso plants a tree whenever an order is placed on its website. So if you are looking for the most affordable, strong, and eco-friendly product in the market, Gourmesso is a good option. Different packs of Gourmesso pods have different prices, but the most expensive one only costs about $0.60, which is very affordable.

20. Hawaii Kona Coffee pods:

The coffee beans grown on Hawaii’s unique soil are one of the most popular coffee beans worldwide. The exciting thing about these pods is that they are roasted after your order is placed, which means the company offers fresh and soothing coffee. The Hawaii Kona coffee has an intense caramel flavor due to the place where they are grown. As mentioned on the website, these coffee beans come in 5 different forms. The company ensures that its customers keep engaged with them by offering different gift cards to their customers.

5 things to consider while buying a Nespresso alternative capsules

1. Compatible with the machine

The first thing you need to remember while buying the alternatives to Nespresso pods is that they should be compatible with the machines for which you are buying these pods. Some pods do not fit some Nespresso machines, mainly in the case of Nespresso Vertuoline machines.

2. Choose good quality pods

If you are buying alternatives for Nespresso pods, you must try to buy these pods from the well-known and famous brands mentioned above. The quality of the coffee depends entirely on the pods that you are buying. The local pods can not only affect the taste of your coffee but can also damage your coffee machines.

3. Pricing

One more vital thing to consider while buying these alternatives is that they must be cheap. As we know, the prices of Nespresso pods are sometimes exceptionally high, and most of us cannot afford these expensive pods daily. So, choosing a suitable cheap pod is also very important.

4. Eco-friendly

Try to buy more environmentally friendly pods because most companies use aluminum in their pods that can be recycled afterward. The percentage of coffee consumers is exceptionally high daily, so keeping the environment in mind is also necessary.

5. Brand position

If you are looking for alternatives to Nespresso pods, you must buy products from companies with a good reputation in the coffee market. Besides this, customer services and quality ratings are other factors that you should keep in mind while ordering your product.

Related: Caffeine content in Nespresso pods

Frequently Asked Questions

Are refillable Nespresso pods good?

Yes, refillable Nespresso pods are better than the ones manufactured by the companies, as refillable pods are more economical and environment-friendly.

Recommended guide: Nespresso Vertuo & Original Pod Sizes: Complete Guide 2023

Can I use Starbucks pods in Nespresso Vertuo?

Though Nespresso Vertuo follows a specific bar-code system and does not accept other capsules, Starbucks pods are designed to work with even Nespresso Vertuo machines.

Are Aldi Nespresso pods good?

Yes, Aldi pods are declared one of the best pods and have been tested with all aspects regarding taste, aroma, cost, texture, and a wide variety.

Also read: The Best Single-Serve Coffee Makers You Can Buy

Are Nespresso capsules safe?

Yes, Nespresso pods are safer than the other ones available in the market as Nespresso’s pods are made of aluminum which is less risky than the pods made of plastic.

Recommended guide: Best Nespresso Pods of 2023 – That tastes great

Why are Nespresso capsules so expensive?

The high cost of Nespresso capsules is due to their branding, which makes them one of the top capsules, and the fact that they are pre-measured to give you the best coffee makes them even more expensive.

Related: Best Nespresso Vertuo Capsules

Are there cheaper versions of Nespresso capsules?

Many third-party companies manufacture the Nespresso pods at cheaper rates, but the quality and compatibility are not assured.