Best Nespresso capsules, by community rating

58 capsules rated from published opinion, best first. Cafecito de Puerto Rico leads at 4.8 out of 5.

Each score is the mean of opinions read in full from public sources, counted once per author. A capsule appears only once at least five independent authors have been read, so a capsule missing from this list is one we have not gathered enough evidence about — not one that scored badly. Every excerpt links to where it was published.

58 capsules ranked

  1. Cafecito de Puerto Rico

    4.8/5 from 6 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 10 Price in United States: $2.00

    Summary of what people say: Cafecito de Puerto Rico for Vertuo is a bold double espresso that stays present in an iced latte and with milk. Drinkers describe it as rich, strong and not bitter, with a character that suits people who want a pronounced coffee.

    • Bold flavour that stays present with milk
    • A favourite double espresso for strong-coffee drinkers
  2. Toccanto

    4.7/5 from 32 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 5 Price in United States: not sold here

    Summary of what people say: Toccanto is widely enjoyed as a light, smooth espresso with noticeable berry or wine-like notes. It is especially popular with milk, ice or sweet additions, and many people call it a favourite. Some drinkers find it too mild, with the coffee or fruit character fading in milk, or do not find it fruity enough.

    • Light and smooth espresso
    • Berry or wine-like notes
    • Works well with milk, ice or sweet additions
    • When they took away toccanto I contacted them asking them not to take it away on their social media since it was one of my 2 favourites lol.

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    • I just tried a Toccanto and had to come back to let you know it’s delicious! One of my favourites so far I think.

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  3. Double Espresso Chiaro Decaffeinato

    4.7/5 from 6 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 8 Price in United States: $1.40

    Summary of what people say: Double Espresso Chiaro Decaffeinato is a rich decaf with a dark-but-not-burnt character. The cup can feel chocolatey and toasted, with malt-like depth, and it works well as a regular afternoon or evening coffee, including with frothed oat milk.

    • Rich, chocolatey and toasted character
    • Dark without a burnt impression
    • Works well in an afternoon or evening cup
  4. Ginseng Delight

    4.6/5 from 40 opinions

    Vertuo Price in United States: $1.50

    Summary of what people say: Ginseng Delight is a smooth, light and sweet coffee with caramel-like notes that works black, with milk or sugar, and over ice. The ginseng note can be subtle, and the light profile may not suit dark-roast drinkers.

    • Smooth, light and sweet with caramel-like notes
    • Works black, with milk or sugar, and over ice
  5. Costa Rica

    4.5/5 from 42 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 7 Price in United States: $1.45

    Summary of what people say: Costa Rica is widely liked as a smooth, clean and slightly sweet Gran Lungo. Many people call it a favourite and enjoy it black, over ice or with milk.

    • Smooth, clean and lightly sweet profile
    • Works well black, over ice or with milk
  6. Intenso

    4.5/5 from 34 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 9 Price in United States: $1.40

    Summary of what people say: Intenso is the strongest of the large Vertuo coffees and is often enjoyed black. Its pronounced profile suits people who prefer a bold cup.

    • The strongest of the large Vertuo coffees
    • An everyday cup people stay with
  7. NOLA Style Blend

    4.5/5 from 32 opinions

    Vertuo Price in United States: $1.55

    Summary of what people say: NOLA Style Blend is very strongly liked for its distinctive coffee-shop and New Orleans-style character. People often mention smoky or chicory-like notes and enjoy it over ice, with milk, sugar or syrup, while some find it bitter or cannot taste the chicory and some people did not like it at all.

    • Distinctive smoky or chicory-like character
    • Excellent for iced drinks and milk-based recipes
    • Often described as a favourite
  8. Ristretto Intenso

    4.5/5 from 8 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 12 Price in United States: $1.08

    Summary of what people say: Ristretto Intenso is a strong, short Vertuo coffee with a concentrated, expressive profile. It is often chosen as the closest Vertuo-style option to an Italian espresso, while its smooth character also works in hot lattes and with oat milk. The intensity is better suited to a small serving or a milk drink than to a…

    • Strong, concentrated short coffee
    • Smooth in milk drinks
    • A close Vertuo match for Italian-style espresso
    • I have the vertuo plus! One of my favorite pods also when it wants to come through 🤣

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    • I agree. I keep five on hand: Altissio, Il Caffe, Ristretto Intenso, Bianco Piccolo, and Voltesso. I throw Diavolitto in there sometimes. I pretty much rotate them every day.

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  9. Il Caffè

    4.4/5 from 30 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 11 Price in United States: $1.08

    Summary of what people say: Il Caffè is widely praised as a strong, roasted espresso with lasting crema and a good fit for milk drinks. It is a single espresso rather than a double, so a longer coffee may require two capsules or a different capsule.

    • Strong roasted espresso character
    • Works well in milk drinks
    • Often kept as a favourite
    • Scuro is also one of my favorites, especially for lattes! I haven’t tried Puerto Rico yet, but I also really love Il Caffe (and might even prefer it to Scuro, but unfortunately it’s only available…

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    • Intenso and half-caffeinato are the most delicious to me at any rate!

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  10. Bianco Piccolo

    4.4/5 from 20 opinions

    Vertuo Price in United States: not sold here

    Summary of what people say: Bianco Piccolo is mostly praised as a smooth, nutty espresso for iced lattes and milk drinks; many use two capsules for more power. Others find it acidic or not strong enough, and comparisons with Bianco Leggero are not one-to-one.

    • Smooth, nutty character that many prefer in espresso drinks
    • A frequent choice for iced lattes and milk recipes
    • Many people use it as a favorite or daily go-to
  11. Mexico

    4.3/5 from 42 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 7 Price in United States: $1.50

    Summary of what people say: Mexico is a large Vertuo coffee for a smooth, easy black cup that works well as an everyday drink. It is gentle rather than strong and can taste weak or watery in a large brew, so it suits people who do not need much intensity.

    • A smooth cup for drinking black
    • An everyday pod people do not tire of
  12. Double Espresso Dolce

    4.3/5 from 31 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 5 Price in United States: $1.35

    Summary of what people say: Dolce is the mild end of the double-espresso range, with a smooth, light and not especially sweet character despite its name. It works well as an everyday coffee and takes syrups or flavoured milks easily.

    • Smooth, with no bitterness to hide
    • Light enough to drink every day
    • Takes syrups and flavoured milks well
  13. Fortado

    4.3/5 from 31 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 8 Price in United States: $1.35

    Summary of what people say: Fortado is a dark, smoky gran lungo with real body that holds up in a large milky cup. The smokiness can read as bitter or rubbery, and the default volume may feel thin; it suits people who enjoy a pronounced profile.

    • Dark and smoky, with real body
    • A large capsule that can also work black
    • Holds up in a large milky cup
  14. El Salvador

    4.3/5 from 28 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 5 Price in United States: $1.50

    Summary of what people say: People often describe it as smooth, balanced and easy to drink black or in a large cup; some call it a favourite or a regular coffee. Some people find it weaker than expected or simply do not enjoy it.

    • Smooth and balanced for many people
    • Works black and in a large cup
    • Often described as a favourite or regular coffee
  15. Half Caffeinato

    4.3/5 from 12 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 5 Price in United States: $1.40

    Summary of what people say: Half Caffeinato is a mild, smooth Vertuo mug with a familiar, balanced coffee profile. It works well with milk, sugar or ice, but some cups come across as thin or watery and lack depth for people who prefer darker, richer coffee.

    • Smooth and balanced everyday profile
    • Works with milk, sugar or ice
    • Mild character for drinkers who prefer a gentler cup
  16. Stormio

    4.2/5 from 39 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 8 Price in United States: $1.40

    Summary of what people say: A dark, smoky Vertuo mug coffee that people name alongside Intenso and Odacio whenever the question is which pod makes the best large black cup.

    • Strong enough for a large black cup
    • Often kept in permanent rotation
  17. Vivida

    4.2/5 from 22 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 6 Price in United States: $1.55

    Summary of what people say: Vivida is strongly liked but not universal. Its sweet, cereal and fruity notes make it an easy everyday or morning coffee for some, while others find the cereal profile boring, the flavour strange or the stimulation too strong.

    • Sweet and cereal notes suit its fans
    • Often described as an everyday favourite or morning coffee
    • Fruity undertones and an easy-drinking character
  18. Arondio

    4.2/5 from 20 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 6 Price in United States: $1.35

    Summary of what people say: Arondio is widely liked as a smooth, mid-intensity Gran Lungo that works for a shorter coffee, often with milk or cream. Many call it a favorite or go-to, but some find it too weak, lacking sweetness with milk, or simply dislike it.

    • Smooth, mellow and easy to drink for many people
    • Useful Gran Lungo size and less diluted than a full mug coffee for some
    • Works black, with milk or cream, and can be brewed shorter
  19. Ethiopia

    4.2/5 from 11 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 4 Price in United States: $1.45

    Summary of what people say: Ethiopia-7017 has a light, floral or sweet character that suits people seeking a less heavy coffee. The gran-lungo format works for morning drinking and milk recipes, while the Vertuo version can taste more roasted and less impressive than the Original Line version.

    • Light, floral or sweet character
    • The gran-lungo format works for morning drinking and some milk recipes
    • Can be a reliable everyday choice for people who prefer lighter coffee
    • I am loving the Ethiopia that just came back in stock and the new Oatley double shot! I’m excited for the white chocolate strawberry that is coming out!

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    • espresso vertuo machine for a little more than a year. We tried multiple pods but decided that our favourite is ethiopia and have been consistently buying that. However, for a few weeks now ethiopia…

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  20. Samra Togetherness Blend

    4.2/5 from 11 opinions

    Vertuo Intensity 7 Price in United States: $1.45

    Summary of what people say: Samra Togetherness Blend is a creamy, easy-to-like Vertuo double espresso with a subtle spice and chicory character. The spice and chicory stay restrained rather than taking over, and the capsule works especially well over ice with milk, vanilla-caramel syrup and a little honey; its flavour may be too quiet for…

    • Creamy texture in iced milk drinks
    • Subtle spice and chicory character
    • Works with vanilla-caramel syrup and honey

Excerpts are quoted from public sources and belong to their authors. Follow the source link for full context.