People with a capsule coffee machine
To make a coffee between revision sessions, start by checking the exact system your machine uses. Nespresso® Original does not mean it will work with Vertuo, Dolce Gusto or Malongo 1,2,3 Spresso.
Who are these formats for?
People who want to choose their own ground coffee
If you want to choose your own coffee, use a coffee maker designed for ground coffee or a refillable capsule that’s stated to be compatible with your machine. You’ll need to fill and clean it yourself.
People who drink coffee later in the day
If your revision sessions run late, look for decaffeinated or half-caffeinated options rather than assuming the stated intensity tells you how much caffeine they contain. Anses recommends taking your caffeine intake throughout the day into account.
What should you check before buying?
Your machine determines which formats you can use. Then choose between the convenience of a ready-to-use dose and the extra steps involved in using ground coffee.
Ready-to-use Nespresso® Original capsules
Worth considering: if your machine uses this system and you don’t want to fill a capsule between sessions.
Bear in mind: you’re limited to the coffee recipes available in this format, and compatibility with one system doesn’t automatically mean it will work with others.
Refillable capsule and ground coffee
Worth considering: if the refillable model suits your machine and you want to fill it with your chosen ground coffee.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to fill, close and clean the capsule. Malongo says its Caps’me capsules work with Nespresso® machines, except Vertuo.
Malongo 1,2,3 Spresso pods
Worth considering: if you own a Malongo 1,2,3 Spresso machine or coffee maker.
Bear in mind: these pods are made for this system and won’t work as a substitute for Nespresso® or Dolce Gusto capsules.
Ground coffee without a capsule
Worth considering: if your coffee maker takes ground coffee directly and you’d rather prepare your own dose.
Bear in mind: ground coffee on its own won’t fit into a capsule machine. Preparation and cleaning depend on the equipment you use.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | Check the exact system your machine uses and the product’s compatibility information, particularly whether it’s for Original or Vertuo. | If my machine is already on my desk, I want to use the format I buy without mixing up two systems. Around 36% of consumers rank compatibility as their top priority. |
| Quantity | Check how many doses are included and choose a pack size you expect to use during your revision sessions. | For just a few breaks, I’d rather choose a pack that suits my consumption than buy a large one I won’t finish. Around 29% of consumers put quantity first. |
| Caffeine | Look for decaffeinated or half-caffeinated versions, and factor in any other caffeinated drinks you have during the day. | When I’m revising late, I want to choose my coffee without relying on the intensity shown on the box alone. Around 21% of consumers prioritise managing their caffeine intake above other factors. |
| Preparation and cleaning | For a refillable capsule, check which lids you’ll need, as well as how to fill and clean it and whether it’s compatible. | I’m happy to fill and clean a capsule to use my chosen ground coffee rather than always reaching for a ready-to-use dose. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this freedom of choice. |
Format mistakes to avoid
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Relying on the word ‘capsule’ alone
Capsules compatible with Nespresso® Original, refillable models labelled ‘except Vertuo’ and Malongo 1,2,3 Spresso pods all have different machine compatibility requirements.
Make a note of your machine model before you shop, then check it against the compatibility information on the product.
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Confusing intensity with caffeine content
The stated intensity describes a coffee recipe; on its own, it doesn’t tell you how much caffeine you’ll consume throughout the day.
For a late break, check whether the product is available in a decaffeinated or half-caffeinated version, and remember to include your other caffeinated drinks in your daily total.
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Forgetting to clean a refillable capsule
Using your own ground coffee means filling and closing the capsule, then cleaning it after use. A ready-to-use capsule doesn’t require these steps.
Before choosing a model for your machine, check which accessories are included and which lids you’ll need.
Malongo’s Caps’me capsules require separate lids.
Brands and ranges to know
Carte Noire
Carte Noire’s range of capsules compatible with Nespresso® Original includes decaffeinated and half-caffeinated options.
- Carte Noire offers a decaffeinated capsule and a half-caffeinated blend combining decaffeinated and regular coffee.
- Nespresso® Original compatibility does not mean the capsules will work with a Vertuo machine or another system.
Lavazza
Lavazza offers capsules compatible with Nespresso® Original, as well as products for other systems.
- You can look for options for Nespresso® Original, including the decaffeinated products listed by Lavazza.
- Check the specific product: Lavazza formats are not interchangeable.
Malongo
Malongo has separate pods for 1,2,3 Spresso and Caps’me refillable capsules for using ground coffee.
- Caps’me capsules let you fill a dose with your chosen ground coffee, provided they’re compatible with your machine.
- Malongo’s 1,2,3 Spresso pods are made for that system. The company says Caps’me works with Nespresso® machines except Vertuo, and requires separate lids.
Carrefour Sélection / Carrefour Extra
Carrefour France lists capsules under its own brands among the products compatible with Nespresso®.
- The products listed include a range of pack sizes and coffee profiles.
- Check the compatibility and pack size of the product you choose when shopping.
Plantation (Marque Repère, E.Leclerc)
E.Leclerc’s selection of Marque Repère pods and capsules includes several different ways to prepare coffee.
- E.Leclerc lists Plantation aluminium capsules among its products.
- A range may include different formats, but that doesn’t mean they’ll all work with the same machine.
Joybuy products for your breaks
This selection includes capsules to check against your machine’s system, as well as ground coffee for use with suitable equipment. For a late break, check the caffeine information on the specific product you choose.
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KIMBO Nespresso, intensity 10/13, 100 capsules × 2
Worth considering for regular breaks if your machine accepts the stated Nespresso® product. Check the exact system before you buy.
The pack contains two packs of 100 capsules. An intensity of 10/13 doesn’t tell you how much caffeine they contain.
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STARBUCKS Espresso Roast Nespresso, 10 capsules
A pack of 10 capsules could be a good choice if you’re looking for a smaller pack for your breaks. Check that the stated compatibility matches your machine’s system.
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Lavazza Classico, capsules compatible with Nespresso, 30 capsules
This pack of 30 capsules is for anyone who wants to make several coffees with a machine that matches the stated compatibility. Check the exact machine range.
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L'OR Profondo, capsules compatible with Nespresso, 40 capsules
Worth a look if you’d rather use a pack of capsules than measure out ground coffee. Before buying, check which Nespresso® machine range this product works with, particularly whether it’s for Original or Vertuo.
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L'OR Intense, 100% Arabica ground coffee, 250 g
Worth considering if you have equipment designed for ground coffee: this isn’t a capsule you can pop straight into a machine. The stated intensity is 7, but that doesn’t tell you how much caffeine it contains.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put ground coffee straight into a capsule machine?
Not unless you have a device designed for it. Use a coffee maker that takes ground coffee or a refillable capsule explicitly stated to be compatible with your machine. Malongo, for example, says its Caps’me capsules work with Nespresso® machines except Vertuo.
Will a capsule compatible with Nespresso® also work with a Vertuo machine?
Don’t assume so: compatibility with Nespresso® Original doesn’t automatically extend to Vertuo. Check the exact range of your machine and look for it on the packaging of the product you choose.
How should I choose coffee for a late revision break?
Check whether a format compatible with your machine is available in a decaffeinated or half-caffeinated version, then take your other caffeinated drinks during the day into account. The intensity shown on a pack isn’t enough to determine your caffeine intake.