The 10 Best Nespresso Vertuo Pods

best nespresso vertuo pods

Nespresso has come up with some very innovative ways to brew coffee over the years as it seems that there’s always something new to improve with their capsules and pods. Let’s take a closer look at the best Nespresso Vertuo Pods to see how different they are from capsules. You might be surprised at what we’ve been able to reveal.

Best Nespresso Vertuo Pods: Capsules Rated and Reviewed

Melozio

  • Size: 10 count (pack of 3)
  • Roast: Medium
  • Type of coffee: Brazilian Bourbon and Central American Arabica

If you’re totally new to Vertuo pods, this coffee is a good flavor to start with. It’s primarily Arabica beans with some Robusta sourced from South America. These pods come in two other types which offer a bigger caffeine boost and also a decaf version. On the flavor scale, it measures 6 out of 11 and is a medium roast coffee. It’s smooth with a bit of honey-sweet flavor and a slight malty aroma.

Voltesso

  • Size: 50 count
  • Roast: Light
  • Flavor notes: Sweet with biscuity notes
  • Type of coffee: South American Arabica

Here’s another great pick with beans from South America mixed with Arabica and Robusto with an overall mild roast. It still has a bright bite with a bit of kick to each cup brewed. The resulting coffee is rich and slightly sweet with a wine-like fruitiness. This does have a flavor profile that’s 4 out of 11 which is perfect for any morning coffee. If you like strong coffee that’s also a light roast, this flavor is perfect for you.

Mexico

  • Size: 20 count
  • Diet type: Vegetarian
  • Roast: Medium
  • Flavor notes: Woody and spicy

An excellent choice if you’re into single-origin coffee from Mexico. This is a Robusta and Arabica mix with spiced and incense notes. This medium roast coffee measures 7 out of 11 on the flavor scale, so it’ll be perfect for coffee with lots of milk. If you prefer iced coffee, this is the best choice to get great results. It’s also pretty high on the caffeine scale so it will pick you up when you need that morning perk.

Intenso

  • Size: 10 count (pack of 3)
  • Roast: Dark
  • Flavor notes: Caramel and brown sugar
  • Type of coffee: Guatemalan Robusta and Mexican and Latin America Arabica

If you like a bold and intense flavor that will send shivers down your spine, this dark roast blend is perfect. It comes with caffeine or decaf and is made from Robusta and various Arabica beans added. The flavor is a solid 9 out of 11 and contains rich flavors similar to caramel or brown sugar. It also can pair very nicely with milk to take off the edge this coffee has to offer!

Caramelizio

  • Size: 30 count
  • Roast: Medium
  • Flavor notes: Caramelized sugar and vanilla
  • Type of coffee: Brazil and Central America Arabica

For those who like a select sweetness that comes from a lighter roast, yet still has bright notes, this coffee is a must. The acidity of these Arabica-grown Brazilian and Central American beans does have an excellent bite with a satisfying sweetness. The intensity is just 6 out of 11 with nice hints of vanilla. It’s not a heavily caffeinated coffee as much as it’s meant for those who have a sweet tooth for flavored coffee.

Hazelino

  • Size: 30 count
  • Roast: Light
  • Flavor notes: Biscuit, almond, hazelnut

If you’re expecting Nutella in a cup, don’t let the hype fool you with this medium roast coffee. it does offer outstanding creaminess with a full-bodied cup of coffee made from a nutty blend of Arabic and Robusta beans. On the taste scale, this coffee is 6 out of 11 and has excellent opportunities for mixing with flavored milk. It’s certainly a sweet treat for those who like nutty coffee that can be dressed up further with sweetness.

Fortado

  • Size: 30 count
  • Roast: Dark
  • Flavor notes: Cocoa and oak wood hints
  • Type of coffee: Indian Robusta and South and Central America Arabica

When caffeine is high on your list for slapping you awake, this medium roast coffee is right up your alley. It’s a full-bodied coffee that is still a creative mix of Arabica and Robusta beans that’s the best of the best. On a flavor scale, this is 8 out of 11 for the taste that’s just as intense as the name suggests. There is only one other Vertuo flavor that is similar to this which includes the Diavolitto, but trust us- this one is better.

Vanizio

  • Size: 30 count
  • Roast: Dark
  • Flavor notes: Vanilla
  • Type of coffee: Brazilian and Central American Arabica

Before you jump to any conclusions, this is a dark roast coffee that is made from Arabica beans. It’s not a soft and sweet dream coffee but offers very smooth creamy flavors that give you just enough vanilla to get the idea across. This is right on the scale of 6 out of 11 for flavor with bright notes that hit your taste buds before the sweetness has a chance. It also has plenty of malty and wheat-like flavors in each sip.

Solelio

  • Size: 30 count
  • Roast: Light
  • Flavor notes: Red fruits
  • Type of coffee: Colombian and Kenyan Arabica

How about a light roast coffee that is made from Arabica beans collected in Kenya and Columbia? This creates a blend of fruity notes and red fruits that are very wine-like. It still has a lot of caffeine for being on the flavor scale of 2 out of 11. If you’re a true coffee lover that likes fruity bursts in your coffee rather than hard java vibes, this is a bright morning cup that you’ll enjoy every day.

Costa Rica

  • Size: 10 count
  • Roast: Medium

When you want a full-bodied blend that’s also a split roast blend, this is the best coffee to ask for when you want a single-origin coffee made from Arabica beans. They actually have two blends that include a medium and a medium-dark roast that is mixed to create an exciting combo. On the flavor scale, you get 7 out of 11 which delivers a mellow malty, and sweet coffee that’s dark and rich.

What are Nespresso Vertuo Pods?

If you like coffee that’s brewed in a pod rather than a capsule, then this is what Vertuo coffee pods have to offer. It’s not the same flavors for coffee that you’ll find with Nespresso capsules, which is what makes this separated brand- so different. Essentially, you have two lines of coffee that are offered for two totally different coffee machines. In total, there are about 40 different flavors within the Vertuo coffee line not including seasonal flavors.

Difference between Nespresso original capsules and Nespresso Vertuo Pods

It’s very easy to tell the difference between these two names. The original Nespresso capsules are cone-shaped and look just like those little plastic containers you would get at restaurants that serve half-n-half or creamer for coffee. The newer Vertuo pods are rounded butter tubs that look like little construction helmets. In a way, the Vertuo pods are highly artsy-looking but cannot be stacked so easily like capsules.

The main difference is that capsules and pods aren’t interchangeable for either of these coffee machines. You’ll have to buy a separate machine if you want to use the Vertuo pods.

Nespresso Vertuo Machines

There are two types of Vertuo machines that you can purchase. There is the Vertuo Next and then there is the Vertuo Plus. The only difference between these two is nearly identical aside from the fact that Vertuo Plus will allow a larger pod to be inserted into the machine. The original Vertuo Next does have a better color selection. Both models also feature the Centrifusion function that makes the coffee come out differently than capsule coffee.

Things to consider before you buy Nespresso Pods

Some things that you want to know aren’t always because Vertuo is a better brand. When it comes to the Nespresso capsule machines, here is what you’ll be happy to learn about the best Nespresso Vertuo Pods.

Arabica or Robusta?

Among the 40 different types of coffee that are found within the Nespresso Vertuo pods is a fine selection of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans. Some are of single origin whereas some are blended. You can also find combinations that mix beans to create new flavor profiles that haven’t been blended before. Some beans are even split blends that mix varied roasts to get complex flavors.

Mixing Arabica and Robusta beans helps to create a taste that helps balance select flavors but also has been a practice that goes back centuries. For the most part, mixing these two beans also helps keep the cost lower since Arabica beans are typically more expensive.

How strong do you like it?

The Vertuo coffee line features a taste scale that numbers from 1 to 11. The higher the number you’ll see will indicate that the coffee is stronger-tasting. Any coffee that you find isn’t always based on caffeine content, so be aware that flavor intensity is what you might expect from darker roasts rather than flavors that might be considered sweet. This intensity can also increase if you only prepare a certain kind of coffee when making a single espresso.

Size matters

There are many sizes of Veruo coffee pods that determine how strong your coffee is and how much coffee is stored inside each pod. You can find there are at least 5 size pods so you can set the machine to make select-sized coffee beverages. Between the two machines, you can store 10-20 capsules in the Vertuo pod drawer. If you get the Vertuo Plus, this will store 20 capsules which means you don’t have to refill it so often.

Cost of capsules

The cost of capsules will depend on where you buy your pods. If you buy these from supermarkets, you can save money from special promotional sales. Don’t expect that you’ll find a better price online. Then again, the origin and type of coffee that you get from Vertuo coffee pods will differ because of select blends and where the coffee comes from. Keep in mind that capsule and pod coffee is going to be pricy unless you make it yourself.

Variety is the spice of life

Who doesn’t like a good variety of coffee flavors from the biggest seller of capsule and pod coffee makers around? The one annoying problem is that Nespresso doesn’t make the same flavors for their capsule coffee and pod coffee brands. The difference you could say is like night and day. But for those looking for something different, the variety you’ll find from Vertuo has quite an advantage over the capsule flavors.

Do you like flavored coffee?

There are so many new exciting blends and seasonal flavors that Vertuo pods offer, that you might be tempted to collect as many as you can find. The special seasonal flavors are very hard to find when they are discontinued. You can still find plenty of these pods sold on private websites but be careful of added charges since it’s hard to find. Many of the general flavors of coffee from Vertuo can be flavored using syrups and dairy products.

What about specialty or single-origin coffee?

You aren’t going to pay through the nose for coffee that’s available and isn’t considered limited using modern production methods. Yet, you do have to consider that specialty coffee and single origin are going to have an added charge no matter what brand of coffee you buy. There are many blends that Vertuo is producing that include single-origin coffee. The location where this coffee comes from is chosen so it has great taste but obviously not a heavy price tag.

Specialty coffee in particular is blended so the flavor is present but the cost isn’t passed onto the consumer. Unlike blending specialty coffee at home, it’s easier to find a tasty blend by choosing the Vertuo pods instead.

Caring about the environment

Everyone is concerned about the environment these days, but what you might read on the internet is often more terrible than it happens to be. Wherever coffee beans are harvested, there will always be a select method for how they are grown and who is collecting them. If you decide to buy ethically sourced coffee beans, you’ll also pay a higher price. Nespresso has an excellent record for sourcing coffee beans that are always ethically sourced.

There isn’t much impact on how the environment is affected by making coffee though. The most ingenious part about the Nespresso Vertuo coffee pods is they can be recycled easily since they are made from materials that can be melted down again from recycling centers that reuse these spent coffee pods.

Caffeine content

Depending on the kind of coffee pods that you choose, not all coffee that you buy will tell you how much caffeine is inside your pod. A straight espresso will have more caffeine than a Lungo, so this is one aspect that you’ll have to decide how to regulate your caffeine intake. To get a good idea of the caffeine content in your Vertuo coffee pods is only a matter of checking the nutrition information on each coffee pod package.

Conclusion

Nespresso offers many different varieties of pods to choose from. Based on your taste, you could find that sweet pods are better for you, or if you prefer stronger coffee, you should definitely try the Intenso pods. I hope that this article helps you to choose the best pods for your personal taste. Let me know what are your favorite pods!


Giacomo is an Italian living in Shanghai since 2016. After working as a barista in Italy, he started to be more interested in the different types of coffee, beans, and the ways to prepare this ancient beverage. He founded Authority Coffee and he is currently on a mission to find the best coffee in China.