First, choose a format that works with your machine: ground coffee is suitable for a compatible coffee maker, while capsules and pods must match the system specified on your machine. For weekday mornings, a single-serve portion saves you having to measure out coffee for every cup. Ground coffee is still an option if you already use a filter coffee maker, stovetop coffee maker or compatible espresso machine, particularly when making several cups. Then consider what kind of drink you want and how you’ll dispose of the packaging.
The system name on your machine determines which capsules or pods to buy. Nespresso® Original, TASSIMO, A Modo Mio and Malongo 1,2,3 Spresso® are distinct formats, as specified by the respective brands.
If you make a long coffee or several cups, check which drink each product is designed for. Ground coffee, a lungo and a pod for long coffee each require a different machine or preparation method.
If waste management is important to you, check what the portions are made from and how they should be disposed of in your area. ADEME distinguishes, in particular, between recycling aluminium or plastic capsules and composting options for certain paper capsules.
Choose it if: you already use a filter coffee maker, stovetop coffee maker or compatible espresso machine, particularly if you’re making several cups.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to measure out the coffee and clean your equipment; a bag of ground coffee won’t fit into a capsule machine.
Choose them if: you own a compatible machine and prefer to make a cup without measuring out ground coffee.
Bear in mind: each system has its own format, and every portion leaves you with packaging to deal with.
For weekday breakfasts, check compatibility before choosing between long coffee, espresso or another drink. The intensity shown on the pack doesn’t tell you how large the cup will be.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | Check the exact system name on your machine, then look for the same format on the pack. For example, Carte Noire capsules for Nespresso® Original won’t work with Vertuo machines, according to Carte Noire. | If I already have a machine, I want to avoid buying a format I can’t use with it. Around 31% of consumers say compatibility is their top priority. |
| Morning routine | Count all the steps involved: measuring out coffee or inserting a portion, heating, then cleaning. A capsule saves you measuring by hand, but you’ll still need to maintain the machine. | Before I leave, I’d rather keep the steps involved in making my usual cup to a minimum. Around 31% of consumers say ease of preparation is their main priority. |
| Type of drink | Look for espresso, lungo, long coffee or a milk-based drink, depending on the product and your machine. Check the intensity separately from the type of drink. | A small espresso wouldn’t replace the long coffee I want with breakfast. Around 19% of consumers would put their preferred type of drink first. |
| Waste and recycling | Check what the portions are made from and follow your local recycling guidance. For paper capsules, ADEME says composting depends on the solution actually available nearby. | If I use a portion every morning, I want to know how to dispose of its packaging or choose a pack size that suits how much I use. Around 19% of consumers say this is their main concern. |
The fact that a capsule contains ground coffee doesn’t mean you can use a bag of ground coffee directly in a capsule machine.
For a filter coffee maker, stovetop coffee maker or compatible espresso machine, choose ground coffee intended for that type of equipment. For a single-serve machine, look for the exact system it accepts.
Nespresso® Original and Vertuo, TASSIMO, A Modo Mio and Malongo 1,2,3 Spresso® are not interchangeable names. A pack in the wrong format won’t work in your machine.
Before choosing a drink, compare the compatibility information on the packaging with the system name on your machine.
Lavazza describes its A Modo Mio capsules as designed for industrial composting. That doesn’t mean they’re suitable for home composting. ADEME also says that composting certain paper capsules depends on the facilities available nearby.
Check the material, the instructions on the pack and the local facilities available before putting a portion in your food waste.
An intensity rating tells you neither whether a capsule is compatible nor how large the drink will be. Espresso and long coffee suit different preferences.
First check the machine system and the type of drink listed. If both suit your needs, then compare the intensity.
The same brand may offer several formats, but that doesn’t mean its capsules work with every machine. Carrefour and E.Leclerc are retailers where you can compare coffee categories, rather than capsule systems.
Carte Noire offers ground coffee and capsules for Nespresso® Original, including espresso, lungo, ristretto and decaffeinated varieties.
The Jacobs range featured by TASSIMO includes T-DISCs for black coffee and milk-based coffee drinks.
Lavazza offers ground coffee, A Modo Mio capsules and capsules described as compatible with Nespresso® Original.
Malongo offers ground coffee, whole beans and 1,2,3 Spresso® pods for its compatible espresso machines.
Carrefour lists ground coffee separately from pods and capsules in its product categories.
E.Leclerc DRIVE offers ground coffee, capsules compatible with Nespresso® or Dolce Gusto® and Senseo® or TASSIMO pods, among other products.
This selection includes T-DISCs for TASSIMO machines, Lavazza A Modo Mio capsules and ground coffee for a compatible coffee maker. Before choosing, start with your machine and the type of drink you want: these formats aren’t interchangeable.
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Worth considering if you own a TASSIMO machine and prefer long coffee to espresso.
Box of 16 T-DISCs; this format is designed for the TASSIMO system.
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A breakfast option to consider if your machine uses the TASSIMO system.
Pack of two boxes, each containing 16 capsules. If you’re specifically looking for long coffee, check the type of drink stated on the pack.
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For anyone with a Lavazza A Modo Mio machine who is looking for a lungo coffee.
Box of 16 capsules. The A Modo Mio format must match your machine.
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For a TASSIMO machine and anyone who prefers espresso to a large cup.
Pack of two boxes, each containing 16 TASSIMO-format capsules.
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Worth considering if you make your breakfast coffee with a coffee maker that uses ground coffee, rather than a capsule machine.
250 g tin. Check that the grind is suitable for your machine before buying.
No, not directly: a capsule or pod machine uses portions that match its system. For ground coffee in a bag, use a suitable coffee maker or espresso machine, and check its instructions for the required grind.
Compare the exact system name on your machine with the compatibility information on the pack. According to Carte Noire, its capsules for Nespresso® Original aren’t suitable for Vertuo; TASSIMO T-DISCs and Lavazza A Modo Mio capsules also belong to their own machine ranges.
Look for a product described as long coffee, lungo or another drink that suits your cup, then check it’s compatible with your machine. You can also use ground coffee to make a large cup with a suitable coffee maker; an intensity rating alone won’t tell you the volume.
ADEME says to put aluminium or plastic capsules in the recycling bin, bag or container for packaging. For paper capsules, home composting or food waste collection depends on the facilities available nearby; check your local authority’s guidance too.