Travellers with access to a Dolce Gusto machine
You can use a capsule in a lounge, accommodation or arrival venue with a suitable machine. Check that you’ll have access to one before relying on this drink as part of your meal.
Who are these capsules for?
Travellers keeping an eye on sugars and allergens
Recipes and serving sizes vary between products. Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for your chosen product to find out what the drink contains.
Travellers with a connection or destination to check
If you’re taking the capsules with you, check the rules for your airline and route. For departures from France, the French Civil Aviation Authority notes that airlines may impose additional restrictions. Its general guidance does not cover the destination’s health and customs rules.
What should you check before buying?
Start by considering where you’ll prepare the drink. If you can’t access a compatible machine, choosing between capsule recipes won’t solve the problem of what to have at the airport.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Machine compatibility | Check that the machine you can access uses the Dolce Gusto system, and make sure you have enough capsules for your needs. | If I’m planning to make my drink when I arrive, my capsules need to work with the machine there. Around 42% of consumers rank compatibility as their top priority. |
| Planning your journey | Find out where you can prepare the drink, and check the rules for your airline, connections and destination. | Before packing the capsules, I want to know whether I can take them with me and use them. This is the main priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and labelling | Check the allergens and sugars per prepared serving, taking note of the stated serving volume. | When choosing a recipe, I first need to know what’s in it and how much sugar is in my drink. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Buying capsules before finding a machine
The NESQUIK, BANANIA and GIMOKA products featured here are designed for a Dolce Gusto-compatible machine, not for direct preparation in a cup.
Check where you’ll prepare your drink. If you only have access to hot water, choose a product labelled as instant or buy a drink prepared on the spot instead.
Without a machine, you risk carrying the capsules with you but being unable to use them during your journey.
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Assuming Nutri-Score labelling is compulsory
The French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that Nutri-Score labelling is voluntary in France. Whether it appears on the pack or not, you should still read the label.
Compare the nutritional information for the prepared serving, and check the ingredients and allergens.
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Assuming cabin baggage rules are the same everywhere
The general guidance from the French Civil Aviation Authority for departures from France does not mean the capsules are permitted by every airline, on every connection or at every destination.
Check the rules for each stage of your journey before putting the capsules in your cabin baggage.
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Choosing on flavour alone
The BANANIA recipe contains milk and barley malt extract containing gluten. NESQUIK contains milk and may contain soya. The product information for classic GIMOKA hot chocolate lists milk.
Check the information on the packaging of the product you buy before consuming it.
Brands to know in this format
NESQUIK
The NESQUIK range for NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto includes a box of 16 capsules. Auchan states that each capsule makes a 150 ml drink for this product.
- The NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto website lists 8.2 g of sugars per serving and provides an ingredients list.
- The recipe contains whole milk powder and may contain soya; it requires a suitable machine.
BANANIA
BANANIA offers a box of 12 capsules compatible with Nescafé Dolce Gusto, featuring a recipe that combines cocoa, cereals, banana and honey.
- BANANIA lists 9.6 g of sugars per 120 ml serving. Check this alongside the corresponding drink volume.
- The recipe contains milk and barley malt extract containing gluten; the capsules need to be used with a dedicated machine.
GIMOKA
The Joybuy listing for GIMOKA hot chocolate shows a box of 16 capsules with a total weight of 224 g, compatible with Dolce Gusto machines.
- This seller listing states that this product contains 17.7% cocoa and 8.3 g of sugars per serving.
- The listing identifies milk as an allergen. Check the information on the packaging of the product you receive.
Capsules available on Joybuy
These hot chocolate capsules are for travellers who have access to a Dolce Gusto-compatible machine where they’ll be preparing their drink. GIMOKA white chocolate is a separate variety from classic GIMOKA hot chocolate, so check the recipe you’re interested in before buying.
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GIMOKA Dolce Gusto White Hot Chocolate, 16 capsules, 192 g
Consider this if you’re looking for a white chocolate option and have access to a Dolce Gusto-compatible machine. Check the volume made per capsule, as well as the ingredients and allergens listed on the packaging.
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GIMOKA Dolce Gusto Hot Chocolate, 16 capsules, 224 g
For making hot chocolate with a Dolce Gusto-compatible machine. The Joybuy seller listing states that it contains 17.7% cocoa and 8.3 g of sugars per serving, and includes milk. Check the volume of the prepared drink on the packaging.
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BANANIA Nescafé Dolce Gusto Cocoa Capsules, 12 capsules, 192 g
For travellers with access to a Nescafé Dolce Gusto-compatible machine who want to try the BANANIA recipe. The brand lists 9.6 g of sugars per 120 ml serving; the recipe contains milk and barley malt containing gluten.
Frequently asked questions
Can I prepare these capsules with just hot water?
No. The NESQUIK and BANANIA capsules described here need to be used in a Dolce Gusto-compatible machine. A kettle or hot water dispenser is not a substitute for this machine.
Does Nutri-Score have to appear on capsules sold in France?
No, displaying it is voluntary in France, as stated by the French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control. Whether or not a Nutri-Score appears, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the product you choose.
Does the tax on sugary drinks tell you how much sugar is in a capsule?
No. To find out the sugar content, read the product’s nutritional information, including the grams of sugars per prepared serving. The guidance from the French Official Bulletin of Public Finances – Tax does not establish that capsules sold as a powdered preparation are subject to this levy.
Which allergens should I check for in these products?
Check the label for the exact product. The BANANIA and NESQUIK recipes described here contain milk; BANANIA contains barley malt with gluten, and NESQUIK may contain soya. The Joybuy listing for classic GIMOKA hot chocolate also states that it contains milk.