Capsules for Nespresso: the best, the good and the not so good

Although there are no official figures in this regard, according to some people linked to this industry, there are currently around one hundred thousand homes or offices in Chile where a Nespresso coffee machine is used daily. At first everyone used capsules of the same brand —since there were no other alternatives— but little by little other options began to appear, cheaper than others but not always with similar attributes. To identify the differences, here is a review of some of the most popular coffee capsules on the market.

To Caesar what is Caesar’s. Nespresso brand capsules are obviously the ones that work best in their machines. They fit perfectly and the coffee maker closes on them without any extra effort. They also produce fewer drips than the alternatives and drop perfectly into the reservoir when it’s time to put in a new one.

As for their variety, they have a very wide stock, literally for all tastes, with different intensities and flavors, as well as decaffeinated alternatives. Finally, they are made of recyclable aluminum and have a collection system for used capsules, both in stores and at home, which currently has no competition. But of course you can’t have everything in life and they are a bit more expensive than alternative capsules.

This Italian giant of the coffee industry also did not want to stay out of the capsule sector for Nespresso, and in a short time it achieved a more than decent penetration, mainly in the supermarket area.

They have different varieties, with different degrees of intensity and they also have decaffeinated options. In summary, a limited offer but which responds rather well. And the best, at a good price.

The classic Caribe brand, responsible for several traditional coffee shops in the center of Santiago —and which for many years was one of the few brands of non-instant ground coffee available on the national market—, has now ventured with these capsules which come in different varieties, classified by origin and intensity. They have to be the best on the market in terms of value for money. They also have a very interesting distribution network, since they can be found in small neighborhood shops, but also in warehouses and even at greengrocers.

Another big and famous long-time Italian coffee company that wasn’t far behind in the capsule business is Neapolitan Kimbo, which offers a small selection of coffees in this format, basically categorized by their strength. At a good price, they are among the good capsules that can be found on the market.

Different types of coffee roasted in Chile, with different origins, varieties and intensities: this is what this brand of alternative capsules offers. From what I tried, nothing caught my eye; too much acidity in its flavor and on occasion I have come across capsules that do not fit well in the machine or that do not work properly, letting little water through. I emphasize that its material is biodegradable and compostable, which is no less for our times. They also have a collection service for capsules, packaging and coffee grounds in Santiago, Viña and Concepción.

Famous for its coffees in Argentina and then in Chile, this Trans-Andean brand has also entered the world of alternative capsules. Very present in retail and small businesses, my experiences with some of its strains have not been the best. Lots of bitterness and maybe even a defective capsule.

Its vending machines are in a good part of town and there aren’t a few restaurants that offer it. Their coffee bags are also present in supermarkets and other points of sale, and they could not be absent from the capsule format, which can be purchased in traditional stores and also online. They are biodegradable and compostable, and come in different varieties classified mainly by origin.

This real craze of “taking a ride on Nespresso” has come so far that reusable capsules have even been invented. They are usually made of aluminum and contain nothing inside. In other words, for every coffee you want to make, you have to fill that capsule with the ground bean you have at home and then load the Nespresso. The result? Obviously this will depend on the coffee used, the amount we put in it and the pressure we exert when filling the capsule.

The whole process, yes, is a bit dirty and time-consuming, which ends up sabotaging some of the main attributes of these machines: their cleanliness and speed. In my humble opinion, these capsules are not worth buying.

I won’t tell you which capsules to buy, but what is worth buying and using at least twice a year is this Nespresso descaling kit. It contains two sachets and with just one – following the instructions – we can easily clean our coffee maker from the ubiquitous and troublesome salts that our drinking water brings.

*Prices for products in this item are updated as of April 19, 2022. Values ​​and availability may change.