For a meeting coffee break, first choose a format that works with the machine: an intense capsule is no use if it belongs to a different system. To get the bold profile you’re looking for, check the roast and tasting notes next. Intensity ratings vary between brands, so they don’t tell you how much caffeine a coffee contains.
If you’re serving several espressos during a meeting, the machine’s system determines which capsules you can use. The Carte Noire and Auchan products featured here are listed as compatible with Nespresso® Original and Dolce Gusto respectively.
If roasted, smoky or spicy notes matter more to you than an intensity rating, the tasting notes can help you choose between products that work with your machine.
Intensity alone doesn’t tell you how much caffeine a coffee contains. It’s also worth checking how to dispose of the product after use: Lavazza says its Espresso Italiano Intenso pods aren’t suitable for home composting.
Check which machine is in the room before choosing between capsules, soft pods, ground coffee and beans. Once you’ve settled on a format, compare the flavour profile and the quantity you’ll need for the meeting.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Machine compatibility | Check the exact system: Nespresso® Original, Dolce Gusto or a machine that takes soft pods, ground coffee or beans. | If I’m shopping for a room that already has a machine, I mainly want to avoid buying portions we can’t use. Around 36% of consumers put compatibility first. |
| Bold flavour profile | Read the roast information and tasting notes, and compare intensity ratings with care, as the scales vary. | I’m looking for roasted or smoky notes rather than choosing based on the intensity rating alone. Around 29% of consumers prioritise flavour in this way. |
| Serving and quantity | Check the number of capsules or pods, or the weight of the ground coffee or beans, based on how many cups you’re planning to serve. | I want a pack size that suits the number of coffees we’ll be making, so I can serve everyone without interrupting the break. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this kind of planning. |
| Caffeine and disposal | Don’t use the intensity rating to estimate caffeine. For pods, also check the product’s disposal instructions and local collection options. | I want to consider my caffeine intake or know where to dispose of the portions after the meeting. Around 14% of consumers put these considerations first. |
The Carte Noire Espresso Intense N°9 capsule is listed as compatible with Nespresso® Original, while the Auchan Espresso Intense product mentioned here is compatible with Dolce Gusto. Their intensity ratings don’t make the two systems interchangeable.
Before you shop, check the machine model, then confirm the compatibility information on the exact pack you’re buying.
A box made for a different system won’t work in the room’s machine.
According to the Nespresso glossary, intensity describes factors such as the roast, body and bitterness. It doesn’t directly measure caffeine content, and intensity scales aren’t consistent between brands.
For a bold flavour, read the tasting notes as well as the rating. If caffeine matters to you, check the product information rather than relying on its intensity.
Lavazza says its Espresso Italiano Intenso pods shouldn’t be put in home compost.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the product you’ve bought and check your local collection options.
An option for machines that take soft pods, with Espresso Italiano Intenso.
A ground coffee option for a suitable espresso machine.
Two distinct formats to consider: Espresso Intense N°9 capsules and Espresso Puissant beans.
A supermarket option in Carrefour Selection capsules, listed as compatible with Nespresso.
An Espresso Intense capsule option for a Dolce Gusto machine.
Capsules to consider from E.Leclerc’s Plantation and Bio Village ranges.
These Joybuy products are for capsule machines, provided you choose a system that works with the meeting room’s machine. Also compare the number of capsules with the number of coffees you plan to serve. Soft pods, ground coffee and beans all require different equipment.
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Make espressos to order, provided the meeting room’s machine takes Dolce Gusto capsules.
Box of 16 capsules, 112 g. Check the machine system before buying.
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Serve individual portions when the machine takes the Nespresso system specified for these capsules.
Pack of 100 capsules, 550 g. Check the exact compatibility details on the packaging.
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Plan to serve individual coffees during a meeting, provided the machine takes the system specified.
Pack of 100 capsules, 540 g; stated intensity 10/13. This rating doesn’t directly indicate caffeine content.
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Prepare individual portions if the machine’s system matches the stated compatibility.
Box of 10 capsules. Allow for the number of boxes you’ll need based on how many cups you’re serving.
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For a Nespresso® Original machine: Carte Noire lists its Espresso Intense N°9 product as compatible.
Box of 10 aluminium capsules. Check that the compatibility information appears on the packaging of the product you buy.
No: an intensity rating alone can’t tell you how much caffeine a coffee contains. The Nespresso glossary describes intensity in terms of sensory characteristics such as roast, body and bitterness. If caffeine matters to you, check the product information.
Check the machine’s exact system before you shop, then look for it on the pack. Carte Noire lists Espresso Intense N°9 as compatible with Nespresso® Original, while the Auchan Espresso Intense product mentioned here is listed as compatible with Dolce Gusto.
No: Lavazza says this product shouldn’t be put in home compost. Follow the product instructions and check local collection options.
Don’t choose a capsule based on its intensity rating alone: it can’t tell you how much caffeine you’ll consume. Anses notes that caffeine’s effects on sleep vary from person to person; also take account of any other caffeinated drinks you consume.