To go with a light mid-morning snack, first choose a coffee that suits your machine, then look for a full-bodied or intense profile in that format. Intensity ratings vary between brands and don’t measure caffeine content. Check the tasting notes too, and if you’re keeping an eye on your caffeine intake, look at the product-specific information.
You’re looking for a cup with a bold flavour to go with a light snack. Lavazza describes Intenso as full-bodied, illy presents Forte with notes of toasted bread and dark chocolate, while Carte Noire offers several intense profiles. Each product does, however, require the right equipment.
Your machine determines which format to buy. Nespresso® Original, Lavazza A Modo Mio and illy Iperespresso capsules, as well as E.S.E. pods, are designed for different systems. Check the compatibility information for each product.
You enjoy a bold flavour but don’t want to rely on the aromatic intensity rating to gauge your caffeine intake. The Anses advises particular care for people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children and teenagers.
Start with the format your machine accepts, then choose a flavour profile. Don’t treat the intensity rating as a measure of caffeine content.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Full-bodied flavour | Read the tasting notes and compare intensity ratings only within the same range. | If I want a small, flavourful cup to go with my snack, descriptions such as full-bodied, roasted or spicy help me choose. Around 42% of consumers put this flavour profile first. |
| Compatible format | Check your machine’s exact system and the compatibility information on the product. | To make my espresso quickly with the machine I already own, I need the right type of capsule or pod. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Caffeine intake | Look for the caffeinated, half-caffeinated or decaffeinated label, and take your other daily sources into account. | When I’m keeping an eye on my caffeine intake, a flavour intensity rating alone isn’t enough to guide my choice. Around 25% of consumers put this precaution ahead of the other criteria. |
A Modo Mio, illy Iperespresso and Nespresso® Original are different systems, and E.S.E. pods also require compatible equipment. The flavour you’re looking for doesn’t make these formats interchangeable.
Check your machine’s exact system before choosing a product, and confirm compatibility on the packaging.
If you buy the wrong format, you may not be able to use it with your machine.
Lavazza’s 13/13, illy’s 9/9 and Auchan’s 10/12 ratings belong to their own ranges. They don’t prove that the coffees taste the same or contain comparable amounts of caffeine.
Use these ratings to compare products within the same range. When comparing different brands, read the tasting notes too.
Describing an espresso as very full-bodied doesn’t tell you how much caffeine is in the cup. The Anses recommends that certain people take particular care with their caffeine intake, especially those who are sensitive to it.
Check whether the product is caffeinated, half-caffeinated or decaffeinated, and take your other sources of caffeine into account.
Two capsule ranges to choose between, depending on your machine: A Modo Mio and capsules compatible with Nespresso® Original.
Forte is for owners of illy Iperespresso machines looking for a strong-roast, 100% Arabica coffee.
The brand offers full-bodied profiles in several formats, including capsules compatible with Nespresso® Original, whole-bean coffee and E.S.E. pods.
Carrefour Selection offers an Espresso Forte, rated 9 for intensity, in capsules compatible with Nespresso®, including a pack of 100 capsules.
E.Leclerc describes Plantation Espresso Forte as a pack of 10 aluminium capsules containing roasted and ground Arabica coffee.
Auchan offers Espresso Intense capsules compatible with Nespresso®, with an intensity rating of 10/12.
These products cover a range of machines and formats: A Modo Mio, Nespresso® Original and Dolce Gusto capsules, as well as whole-bean coffee. For your mid-morning break, start by finding the format that suits your machine.
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Worth considering if you own a Lavazza A Modo Mio machine and are looking for a short espresso with a full-bodied profile.
Lavazza gives Intenso an intensity rating of 13/13. Check your system before buying: A Modo Mio capsules are not the same as those in its range compatible with Nespresso® Original.
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One to consider for a Nespresso® Original machine if you’re looking for a ristretto with a bold flavour.
The product name gives an intensity rating of 12/13. Check compatibility with your exact machine model; this rating doesn’t tell you how much caffeine is in each cup.
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Worth a look if your machine accepts capsules compatible with Dolce Gusto and you’re after an espresso described as intense.
The pack contains 30 capsules. Check your machine’s system: don’t choose this format based on the word “espresso” alone.
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Another option to consider for a Nespresso® Original machine if you’re looking for a dark-roast espresso.
The pack contains 10 capsules. Check that they’re compatible with your machine; a dark roast doesn’t tell you how much caffeine is in the cup.
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Worth considering if you have the equipment to grind the beans and make a full-bodied espresso.
The product name gives an intensity rating of 12/13, and the pack contains 1 kg. Whole beans need to be prepared differently from single-serve capsules.
No. The intensity rating doesn’t measure the caffeine in a cup. Lavazza, illy and Auchan, for example, use different scales for their products. If your caffeine intake is a factor in your choice, check the information for the specific product.
No. Lavazza A Modo Mio capsules are designed for the A Modo Mio system, while illy states that its Forte Iperespresso capsules are designed exclusively for Iperespresso machines. For a Nespresso® Original machine, choose a product that explicitly states it’s compatible.
Whole-bean coffee lets you adjust the grind and preparation, provided you have a grinder or a suitable automatic machine. Capsules and pods come pre-portioned, so the adjustments you can make depend on the machine you use.
The Anses advises pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and teenagers, and people sensitive to the effects of caffeine to take particular care. If your personal circumstances mean you need to take precautions, don’t rely on a full-bodied flavour to judge your caffeine intake. Ask a healthcare professional for advice suited to you.