Hosts with a coffee grinder
If you’re making several espressos and can grind the beans, a 1 kg bag is worth considering. Check that your equipment can produce a grind suited to the way you want to prepare your coffee.
Which format is right for you?
Busy capsule machine users
If you’re serving cups one at a time during brunch, start by identifying your machine’s system. A Modo Mio capsules and capsules for Nespresso Original machines are not interchangeable.
Fans of rich flavour profiles
Depending on the product, Lavazza and illy descriptions mention notes of cocoa, wood, spices or dried fruit. These details are more useful when choosing the flavour you’re after than directly comparing intensity ratings from different scales.
What should you look for before buying?
Check which machine you have before comparing flavour profiles, then choose a pack size that suits the number of cups you plan to serve.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour in the cup | Read the listed flavour notes and ingredients; interpret the intensity rating within that particular range. | If I’m looking for a rich cup to go with brunch dishes, I want to choose the flavours I enjoy rather than the highest number. Around 40% of consumers prioritise this flavour profile. |
| Compatibility | Check whether your equipment uses beans, ground coffee or a specific capsule system. | If I want to serve coffee quickly without being left with unusable capsules, I need to know which system my machine uses. Compatibility comes first for around 30% of consumers. |
| Quantity | Match the number of cups you plan to serve to the contents of the pack or box. | When several guests want an espresso, I’d rather make sure there’s enough coffee without choosing an unnecessarily large pack. Serving quantity is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Caffeine | Don’t use the intensity rating alone to estimate the caffeine in each cup; ask guests whether they would prefer an alternative. | If some guests want to limit their caffeine intake, I don’t want to confuse a rich flavour with the amount of caffeine consumed. Around 10% of consumers put this consideration first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Treating the intensity rating as a universal measure
Lavazza, illy and Carte Noire products use different scales, including ratings out of 9, 10 or 13. A single number therefore isn’t enough to compare their flavours.
Compare the listed flavour notes and ingredients, then think about the preferences of the people you’ll be serving.
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Buying capsules before checking which machine you have
A Lavazza A Modo Mio capsule won’t work in place of one designed for Nespresso Original. Choosing the wrong system means the box won’t work with your machine.
Check your machine’s model and look for an explicit compatibility statement on the pack.
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Confusing a rich flavour with caffeine content
The intensity rating doesn’t tell you how much caffeine is in a cup. Anses notes that caffeine can disrupt sleep, and that its effects vary from person to person.
If your guests want to limit their caffeine intake, don’t rely on the word ‘intense’ alone. Consider offering a decaffeinated option too.
Brands to compare
Lavazza
Lavazza France offers 1 kg bags of Espresso Barista Intenso beans, as well as Intenso capsules for its A Modo Mio system.
- The brand lists notes of cocoa and wood for the beans, and cocoa and spices for the capsules.
- A Modo Mio capsules require a machine designed for that system.
illy
illy France offers a 250 g tin of Intenso ground coffee for espresso, described as 100% arabica.
- The brand describes notes of cocoa and dried fruit, with a rich finish.
- This ground coffee requires a machine that accepts this format; its intensity rating of 7/9 cannot be directly compared with other brands’ scales.
Carte Noire
Carte Noire offers Espresso Puissant beans in 1 kg bags, as well as Espresso Puissant capsules listed as compatible with Nespresso Original.
- The beans and capsules are designed for different types of equipment.
- For the beans, the Carrefour product page lists ‘100% Arabica’ in the ingredients but also mentions robusta in the description. If the blend matters to you, check the packaging.
Auchan
Auchan offers intense espresso capsules in a box of 20, with Nespresso compatibility listed on its product page.
- The product page specifies the format and recommends storing them away from heat and moisture.
- Before buying, check the precise compatibility statement for your machine model.
Plantation / Marque Repère (E.Leclerc)
E.Leclerc’s categories include ground coffee, capsules and soft coffee pods under these names.
- These formats make it easier to find an option that suits the equipment you use.
- Check the product page and packaging for details of the chosen product’s flavour profile and, for capsules, its exact compatibility.
Carrefour
Carrefour is a retailer featured here for its range, which includes Carte Noire Espresso Puissant beans.
- Its product page lists a 1 kg pack and an intensity rating of 11/13.
- The product page gives conflicting information about the coffee’s composition, so check the pack if you’re looking for a specific coffee species.
Capsules for different systems
These capsules are worth considering if you want to serve brunch coffee one cup at a time. First, choose capsules that work with your machine: Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and A Modo Mio are different systems.
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Starbucks Espresso Roast, 10 Nespresso capsules
If you’re preparing espressos one at a time, check that the compatibility information matches your machine exactly and that ten capsules will be enough for brunch.
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Gimoka Espresso Intenso Dolce Gusto, 16 capsules, 112 g
A portioned format to consider if your machine takes Dolce Gusto capsules. Check compatibility before choosing it for your guests.
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Gimoka Intenso Nespresso, 50 capsules, 275 g
This pack gives you enough for several rounds of individual servings. Check that it’s compatible with your machine’s exact system before choosing it.
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Gimoka Espresso Intenso Dolce Gusto, 30 capsules, 210 g
If you’re making several cups individually for brunch, this pack contains more capsules than Gimoka’s 16-capsule format. It requires a Dolce Gusto-compatible machine.
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Lavazza Intenso A Modo Mio, 36 capsules
Worth considering if you’re serving cups one at a time with an A Modo Mio machine. These capsules are not interchangeable with those for a Nespresso Original system.
Frequently asked questions
Will an ‘intense’ capsule work in every machine?
No: ‘intense’ describes the coffee, not the capsule’s compatibility. Check the system shown on the box and your machine’s model. A Modo Mio and Nespresso Original, for example, are not interchangeable.
Can you compare intensity ratings between brands directly?
No, they’re intended as a guide within each range, rather than a shared measure across brands. Lavazza France lists ratings of 9/10 for Espresso Barista Intenso and 13/13 for A Modo Mio Intenso, while illy France gives its Intenso ground coffee a rating of 7/9. Compare the flavour profiles and format too.
Beans or capsules for serving several espressos at brunch?
Beans are a good choice if you have a grinder and want to grind the coffee for each serving. Capsules let you serve individual portions, as long as you choose a compatible system and have enough capsules for the cups you want to make.
How should you store capsules after buying them?
Follow the instructions on the packaging. For its intense espresso capsules, Auchan recommends storing them away from heat and moisture; always follow the guidance for the product you buy.
Does a very rich flavour mean more caffeine per cup?
No, the flavour or intensity rating alone doesn’t tell you how much caffeine is in a cup. Anses notes that caffeine can disrupt sleep; if a guest wants to limit their intake, offer a decaffeinated option too.