Cyclists with a Dolce Gusto machine
If you already own a machine, check its exact system before choosing between a single capsule and a drink made using separate chocolate and milk capsules.
Who is this choice for?
Cyclists who keep an eye on portion sizes
For a drink enjoyed before or after a ride, the sugar and energy content per cup is more useful for comparison than a figure per 100 g of powder alone.
Shoppers who check the Nutri-Score
The logo can be a useful additional guide. To choose your drink, you should also check the nutritional information, ingredients and amount prepared.
What should you check?
Start by checking that the capsules are compatible with your machine and how many are needed per drink. Then compare the nutritional values on the same basis, without assuming these drinks have a sports nutrition role that their ingredients don’t demonstrate.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is this useful for? |
|---|---|---|
| Machine and preparation | The system stated on the box and the number of capsules used per drink. | If I already have a machine, I want to avoid buying an incompatible format and find out whether each cup needs one or two capsules. Around 42% of consumers prioritise compatibility and preparation. |
| Sugar and portion size | Sugar and energy per prepared serving; if these aren’t given, check the unit used and the amount actually served. | To account for a hot chocolate enjoyed before or after a ride, I need to know what’s in my cup, not just what’s in 100 g of powder. The amount of sugar per drink is the top criterion for around 33% of consumers. |
| Use around cycling | The ingredients and serving size, without treating a chocolate drink as a sports drink. | I’m looking for a drink to enjoy before or after cycling, without assuming it meets my needs during the ride. This distinction matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
Common misconceptions to avoid
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Assuming Dolce Gusto capsules work in all pod machines
NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto France states that the official capsules it lists are for Dolce Gusto Original machines. Compatibility with this system doesn’t mean a capsule will work with other pod machines.
Check the exact system used by your machine and compare it with the compatibility information on the product you’re considering.
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Comparing sugar per 100 g directly with sugar per cup
NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto France lists 8.2 g of sugar per serving for Nesquik, while the Banania listing published by Auchan France gives 72 g per 100 g. These figures don’t describe the same amount consumed.
Compare like-for-like portions or volumes. If the weight of powder or serving volume isn’t provided, check the packaging before comparing cups.
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Treating Nutri-Score as a requirement or a sports nutrition plan
According to Santé publique France, displaying Nutri-Score is voluntary. On its own, the logo doesn’t tell you how much you’re drinking or whether a capsule is suitable for use during a cycle ride.
Check the nutritional information, ingredients and prepared serving size too.
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Assuming every capsule is covered by the ‘soda tax’
The text published by Légifrance applies to drinks and liquid drink preparations under the conditions it sets out. On its own, it doesn’t mean that a capsule containing a powdered preparation is automatically treated as one of these products.
Only use tax classification as a criterion if it has been established for the specific product.
Brands to know
NESQUIK / NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto
The official chocolate capsule is available in formats including a box of 16 capsules for the Dolce Gusto Original system.
- NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto France lists 70 kcal and 8.2 g of sugar per serving for this product.
- The stated compatibility is for Dolce Gusto Original machines.
Banania
A cocoa-based preparation in capsules compatible with Nescafé Dolce Gusto, sold in a box of 12 capsules according to the listing published by Auchan France.
- The listing describes the recipe and recommends setting the machine to level 4.
- The 72 g of sugar listed by Auchan France is per 100 g of product, not per prepared cup.
Auchan
A product containing 8 chocolate capsules and 8 milk capsules to make a drink compatible with Dolce Gusto machines.
- The two capsule types are separate, so you can check the ingredients of each individually.
- You’ll need two capsules per drink. The figure of 8 g of sugar per 100 ml published by Auchan France needs to be considered alongside the serving volume to work out the amount per cup.
Columbus
A white hot chocolate product in a box of 12 capsules compatible with Dolce Gusto, described on an Auchan France product listing.
- The listing provides nutritional information for a stated amount of prepared drink.
- The white chocolate recipe shouldn’t be confused with the cocoa-based preparations featured here.
Capsules available on Joybuy
These products are hot chocolate or cocoa drink capsules listed as compatible with Dolce Gusto. If you’re choosing one for a break around a cycle ride, check your machine’s system and the prepared serving size first.
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GIMOKA white hot chocolate for Dolce Gusto, 16 capsules, 192 g
Consider this for a white chocolate drink made with a compatible machine. Check compatibility with your exact model and the serving volume before comparing the values per cup.
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GIMOKA hot chocolate for Dolce Gusto, 16 capsules, 224 g
For a chocolate drink made in a compatible capsule machine. Before working out the sugar per cup, check the nutritional information for this specific product and the volume of drink it makes.
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Banania Nescafé Dolce Gusto, 12 capsules, 192 g
For anyone looking for a Banania cocoa drink to make with a compatible machine. Check the serving size and volume on the packaging before comparing sugar per drink.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nutri-Score compulsory on hot chocolate capsules?
No. Santé publique France says that displaying it is voluntary in France. Whether or not it appears on the packaging, check the nutritional information and ingredients for the product you’re interested in.
Why doesn’t the sugar per 100 g tell me the sugar per cup?
Because the amount of powder used to make a cup isn’t necessarily 100 g. To compare prepared drinks, look for a figure per serving or check the amount of product used and the volume actually served.
Will these capsules work in all pod machines?
No. The products featured are listed as compatible with Dolce Gusto or Dolce Gusto Original; that doesn’t prove they’ll work with other systems. Compare the compatibility information on each box with the exact model of your machine.
Can a hot chocolate capsule replace a sports drink on a long ride?
Its ingredients don’t show that it can. Choosing a chocolate drink for a break doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether it meets your needs in relation to the length of your ride, nutrition or hydration.