Hot or not? Nespresso tuning with reusable capsules

Pod coffee: quick, convenient, and usually just about “okay.” But is the aluminium waste starting to get on your nerves? Or perhaps you’re dreaming of barista-quality specialty coffee but aren’t quite ready to invest in a portafilter machine. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get much more out of your Nespresso machine!

Your Nespresso machine can do more, lots more. With flavors like Ciocattino, Vanilla Éclair, and Peru Organic, there’s already a decent coffee selection for the most discerning palates. But if you want to take your coffee experience to the next level, here’s a tip: switch to reusable capsules. That way, not only are you cutting down on all that aluminum and plastic waste, but also have more freedom to experiment with coffee like a barista and create new flavor dimensions. Just like wine, coffee has its own little science behind it – one you can explore both deliberately and playfully. During our visit to coffee machine tuner rb.crafts, we learned that ground coffee loses about 60% of its flavor within the first 20 minutes. With reusable capsules, you can choose your favorite coffee and use freshly ground beans, preserving its natural flavors,from walnut to citrus, in all their glory. Plus, you can play around with factors like coffee quantity, grind size, and tamping. But more on this later.

This article is part of our Coffee Special, full of product tests, exciting insights and some valuable new perspectives on coffee. Curious? Then click here!

What sustainable alternatives to Nespresso capsules are available on the market?

While single-use coffee capsules might be practical, they often leave a bitter aftertaste,especially when it comes to our environmental consciousness. But there’s an easy solution: reusable capsules. Not only can they help reduce waste, but also transform your machine into a tool for personalized coffee experiences while saving you a fair amount of money in the process. After all, very few coffee varieties are more expensive than Nespresso capsules.

One reusable option is Mahona’s stainless steel capsule. It costs around 20 euros, features a screw cap, and can be used endlessly. It has a high-quality feel and sleek design, making a great first impression straight out of the box. The hot water from the Nespresso machine passes through fine holes – no need for puncturing like with traditional aluminum capsules. The fine holes integrated into the lid are designed to produce a foamy crema. Stainless steel is popular in kitchens, but there are two things to keep in mind with a stainless steel coffee capsule: due to the material, some heat is drawn from the hot water, which could affect the brewing temperature slightly. Additionally, stainless steel retains much more heat compared to plastic or conventional single-use aluminum capsules, meaning that the capsule is scorching hot when you fish it out of the machine’s container after brewing. So you’re better off waiting a little before removing the capsule for cleaning!

Another alternative are the Bluecup capsules, made from reusable plastic capsules – though they rely on a less sustainable single-use aluminum lid. These capsules come with a special seal that makes refilling easier. While these still produce some waste, it’s significantly less than single-use capsules.

How much do reusable capsules improve the taste of coffee from Nespresso machines?

Reusable capsules give you the freedom to brew coffee to your liking. With the right beans and a quality grinder, you can adjust the grind size and coffee strength to perfectly match your preferences. Your machine delivers the precise amount of water, while you can use a tamper to ensure the optimal pressure. And for those who want to go the extra mile, you can manually pre-infuse the coffee with a few drops of water before sealing the capsule – because, why not? After all, the flavors develop even better with a more even saturation of the coffee puck– and we’re not here to do things halfway.

However, using them requires a bit of dexterity and willingness to experiment. Capsule manufacturers recommend about 4 grams of coffee per capsule, but what happens if you add more? Our short answer: you’ll be embarking on a three day bender! We brewed countless capsules and kept testing until we couldn’t sleep anymore – and we made some interesting discoveries: Nespresso state that they fill their capsules with 5 to 6 grams of coffee – a quantity that influences not only the flavor but also the coffee-to-water ratio. Using less coffee means the result is closer to a filter coffee. This is where grind size comes into play: The finer the grind, the more densely you can pack the capsule – leading us to the concept of tamping. By properly compressing the grounds, you can optimize extraction. But be careful: if you overdo it with the amount of coffee or press it too much, your De’Longhi Nespresso machine might refuse to brew – the right balance is key!

Like with anything new, it’s worth taking some time to get familiar with your latest purchase and with the method itself. Because one thing is clear: what you can do right, you can also do wrong… Similar to a manual espresso machine, like the La Marzocco Linea Mini R, where the operation and coffee preparation matter more than the machine itself. Oh, and let’s be honest: taste-wise, Nespresso’s specialty alternative is still far from a well-made espresso from a manual machine – we did a direct comparison both within our team and during a blind tasting at our booth at Eurobike, using the exact same beans. The feedback from participants can be summed up briefly: the consistency and volume are noticeably stronger, and the flavors are more distinct and intense. But hey – it would be unrealistic to expect a McDonald’s-burger-flipper to suddenly become a haute-cuisine-chef.

What are the ongoing costs for reusable Nespresso capsules? And at what point does it pay off using them?

Ka-ching! A kilo of Nespresso coffee in capsules currently costs around € 87. In comparison, specialty coffee from boutique roasteries comes in at around € 30 per kilogram, while commercial Lavazza charge about € 13. This makes reusable capsules ideal for coffee lovers who also want to keep an eye on their budget. They pay off quickly – especially if you drink coffee regularly or in large quantities. While a Nespresso capsule costs about € 0.50 each, stainless steel capsules are a one-time purchase of around €20 each. Then there’s the cost of the coffee, which varies between €0.10 and €0.20 per serving depending on the variety. For those serious about their coffee, investing in a high-quality hand grinder like the € 229 Comandante is a great option. And the costs? The more coffee you drink, the quicker the investment pays off. If you drink one coffee per day, you’ll break even after about two years – with two cups a day, even after just one year.

Fancy some fiddling? – The best refillable coffee capsules for Nespresso

Cheaper, more eco-friendly, and tastier – so where’s the catch? Unfortunately, there is one: filling reusable capsules is a real patience test, unless you have a fetish for fiddly things. The ground coffee tends to spill easily – almost guaranteed – unless you’re a Zen garden master. Whether you make a mess or not, grinding, filling, and sealing the capsule can easily take 1 to 2 minutes. For comparison’s sake: not only is a manual espresso machine faster to use but also cleaner. If you’re using refillable capsules for the sake of flavor, pre-filling several capsules isn’t an option either, as the coffee grounds would lose valuable aroma over time.

Now back to the fiddling: if you think that the cleaning bit gets easier after brewing, we’ve got bad news. Stainless steel capsules, in particular, can be tricky to handle. You’ll need to fish them out of the waste compartment, which is a challenge due to the heat, and opening them can be just as tough if you overfill them. The reason? The wet coffee expands, increasing in volume and keeping the capsule tightly sealed. Once open, you’ll likely need a spoon to empty it out. After that, you’ll need to rinse the capsule under a tap, which is more time-consuming than it sounds.

Still, there’s no limit to experimenting. Some tinkerers might find it helpful to use a simple, small funnel for filling. Reusable plastic capsules are a bit easier to handle: While you still have to retrieve them from the waste compartment, they don’t get as hot and are easier to open. Cleaning them is similar to the stainless steel variant, but not necessarily any better.

Conclusion: do you really need reusable capsules?

For true coffee enjoyment with your capsule machine, reusable capsules are definitely a plus – they allow you to extract more flavor and feel like a barista, experimenting with various factors and parameters. Not only does this bring more taste but also a fresh breath of air and hands-on approach to your Nespresso routine. However, the fiddly process of filling and cleaning shouldn’t be disregarded – and it might be too much for many! That’s especially if you like the simplicity of the Nespresso routine – pop in a capsule, press a button, enjoy your coffee. An alternative to the capsule chaos could still be the classic Italian moka machine, like the Bialetti or modern interpretations like the 9Barista espresso machine. If you want to consume your coffee more sustainably and reduce waste, reusable capsules are a worthwhile Nespresso alternative.

Words & Photos: Jan Fock, Robin Schmitt