Original And Alternative Compatible Capsules for Nespresso, Dolce Gusto. Plus Refillable Pods Overview.

I prepared detailed table for each capsule system: Nespresso, Dolce Gusto, Tassimo, Cremesso and Keurig. For each company there is a list of original flavours and overview of alternative capsules: refillable/reusable caps and third-party compatible pods.

1. Nespresso

Let’s start with capsules for the worlds most popular single serve espresso makers – Nespresso. It has 18% global market share according to Bloomberg and that’s why it has the biggest number of cheaper alternative capsules.

Alternative caps compatible with Nespresso machines are produced by many local companies all around the world. In most cases alternative capsules are cheaper compared to price of original Nespresso falvours. Nevertheless some brands produce more expansive pods because they claim to use more expansive speciality coffee.

Generally there are no problems or risks to your coffee maker if you use not original caps. However the most cheapest one could have some percent of defective capsules, which could leak or have wrong shape.

I will name few alternative capsule brands with decent quality for each market:

• In North America one can find Gourmeso (about $.49 per pod), Starbucks, Bestpresso, Artizan Coffee, Cap Mundo, Mixpresso. Pay attention to the words ‘Nespresso compatible’ becuase this brands also produces caps of other type.
• In Europe: Julius Meinl, CRU Cafe, Starbucks, Viaggio, Rene Variety, Mediflor, Abbantia, Capsul’in, Caffesso, Mixpresso.
• In Asia: Caffilord, Cafe Royal, Meseta.

There is a cheaper alternative – multiusable refiilable capsules. They are produced mainly in China and quite easy to use – just put ground coffee inside and close the capsule. After preparing coffee the reusable capsule could be use again, just wash it. But be careful – capsules, especially metal ones, could be very hot just after usage.

In my opinion, using reusable caps is not the best idea. You will need a decent coffee grinder to use them (it means grinder with real burrs inside that costs at least $120+). Also it’s almost impossible to properly tamp coffee inside the capsule without special equipment in your home kitchen. After all, using single serve machine with reusable caps spoils the initial idea of such machines, I mean ‘coffee with one touch and no mess around’ philosphy. As for me it’s kludge and it’s better and more comfortable to use classical manual pump espresso makers, which are designed for ground coffee usage. But it’s you who choose.

Most of reusable caps are manufacrued in China. So the best and cheapest way to buy them is Aliexpress. There are three types of Nespresso reusable pods:

NB! All above mentioned alternatives of Nespresso is for so called OriginalLine. It’s old good known Nespresso caps. In 2017 Nespresso launched new capsule type for US market called VertuoLine, which is designed to make both espresso and american coffee. The Virtuo’s moto is “Mug lovers this way”. There is still no alternatives or refillable caps for VirtuoLine since this system is patented. Update 2019: refillable/reausable VertuoLine capsules are now available on AliExpress: link.

Here is the table of original Nespresso caps (excluding limited edition series):

2. Dolce Gusto

Dolce Gusto single brew system is notable for drinks variety – besides black coffee and lattes/cappiccinos there are cold drinks and hot chocolate. However overall number of original drinks are small compared to Nespresso. Still, DG capsules are more widely sold, including private label capsules of major retailers like Auchan. And there are a lot of alternative non-official Dolce Gusto capsules that you can buy online or at shop nearby.

Another important characteristic of Dolce Gusto coffee makers is that they can brew coffee and milk based drinks (like cappiccino) in one touch. But the flip side is that powder milk and emulsifiers are used in Dolce Gusto caps to achieve that easiness. Also, for each of ‘milky’ drink you should use two caps (usually one – for basic espresso, and second – for milk foam). That’s why the price for such drinks doubles.

In my personal opinion Dolce Gusto original pods are not so tasty as Nespresso one.

Below I list all official Dolce Gusto flavors (as for June 2017). I mark with sign some of them, that indicates that capsule contents some ‘unnatural’ content like instant coffee (used basically in cold drinks) and powder milk:

Resuable/refillable Dolce Gusto capsules are less known, nevertheless they exist and are sold mainly online on Aliexpress. Chineese manufacturers made a lot of similiar caps. All of them are divided into three types: