Rating of the best coffee capsule brands for 2022

What are they?

First, let's figure out what capsules are and what they are. They are small cups with a lid containing roasted, ground and pressed coffee. They are made from different materials:

1. Made of aluminum. Quite popular capsules made from aluminum foil by most manufacturers. Foil protects the resulting drink well from the effects of metal. Such packaging is often used for repeated brewing of coffee, the so-called reusable capsules.

2. Plastic or polymer products, environmentally friendly.

3. Combined, using polymer materials, aluminum foil and cellulose.
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How is capsule coffee brewed?

Coffee capsules for a coffee machine must be equipped with a sealed lid. In the device they are located in a special compartment between two filters, where they are pierced in a special way on both sides. Then, on one side, hot water is supplied to the capsule under high pressure, and on the other side, ready-made coffee is poured. If the capsules are disposable, they are usually thrown away immediately after use. If the products are reusable, they can be reused.

Capsule-type devices are distinguished by fast coffee preparation and automatic process. You just need to insert the selected capsule into the special compartment of the coffee machine and press the start button.

After this, the following usually happens:

1. The capsule goes inside the machine and is pierced on both sides.
2. Then hot water, about 10-20 bar, enters one of the resulting holes under high pressure.
3. From the opposite hole comes rich, well-brewed coffee, which is then poured into the cup.

Pros and cons of the product for coffee machines

There are many advantages to using this coffee:

1. Preservation of freshness and unique aroma due to the container.
2. It's easy and simple to prepare the drink.
3. Cooking takes little time, no more than 2 minutes.
4. Capsule coffee makers are inexpensive and easy to use.

Making coffee from capsules
Cons:

1. Expensive for the consumer.
2. Special containers are selected for a specific coffee machine, which complicates the process.

In general, capsules are chosen by many people, despite the cost. It's convenient and the taste remains rich. Drink connoisseurs are willing to overpay for a good and worthwhile product.

Coffee capsules are produced by several brands - Tassimo, Illy, L'Or.

Advantages of capsules

Benefits of brewing coffee using capsules.

1. In the first place, of course, is the quality of the drink, since the coffee inside them is all the same grind. The machine maintains the appropriate dosage and heating temperature of the water, which improves the taste of the drink.
2. Brewing this coffee is easy and simple. You just need to place the capsule in a special compartment and indicate the necessary parameters for its preparation.
3. There is no need to clean them after use; you can simply throw them away.
4. The entire process is virtually silent.
5. The prepared drink retains the taste of fresh ground coffee, since the “cups” are distinguished by their tightness.

When choosing capsules, you need to pay attention to their brand; it is advisable that they be from the same company as the coffee machine.

Supermarkets often hold presentations of coffee drinks from different manufacturers, where you can try different flavors for free and decide for yourself which manufacturer’s range you like best.

Capsules come in different types. Their tightness helps preserve the aroma and taste of coffee for a long time, and the amount of coffee powder in them always depends on the specific recipe of the drink. The proportions are usually designed in such a way that one capsule is intended for one serving of coffee.

Manufacturers are now producing capsule products containing not only coffee drinks, but also cocoa, hot chocolate, and elite varieties of tea.

Important points

Well-known capsule manufacturers are paying attention in 2022 not only to the shape, size of the package, and quality of sealing. They strictly monitor the contents of such containers:

• monosort of grains or blend;
• degree of roasting;
• grinding technology;
• loading volume (6-9 g);
• tempering (tamping force).

When filling reusable containers yourself, it is very difficult to repeat all this. For example, if you add less coffee, you may end up with just colored water. The body of the drink will no longer be dense enough, and the taste – rich.

Problems will also begin with the foam: it will rise weakly or not appear at all. You don’t even have to think about the creamy texture. And if you consider that the grind is not of the best quality, then such an espresso or latte can be safely poured into the sink.

The next nuance is the compatibility of the capsules with a specific coffee machine. The fact is that most coffee containers are made for certain brands of machines and capsule systems. Each package of capsule coffee must indicate which units it is suitable for.

They do not provide that instead of “native” disposable blocks you will use reusable ones. Accordingly, technical services do not undertake warranty repairs of breakdowns caused by the use of “wrong” capsules.

Interesting moment! To prepare cappuccino and latte, separate capsules with coffee (espresso) and powdered milk are provided - they are packaged in a box. You need to load both containers into the machine to get a soft drink. But if you prefer to add fresh milk instead of powdered milk, then you can only load the coffee container.

The best capsule manufacturers

The top five market leaders include global producers of the best varieties of coffee, each of which has its own characteristics.

Nespresso

A well-known Swiss brand of coffee makers and coffee machines from the Nestle corporation, which also produces popular brands of Nesquik instant coffee and cocoa for children. The production of ready-made capsules began more than thirty years ago, and today the company offers 16 different combinations. Caffeine concentration is rated on a ten-point scale. The best samples are distinguished by a balanced grind size, since large granules have a weak aroma, and too small ones have an increased density that is difficult to brew.

The basis of the offer is classic Arabica, some blends are supplemented with the Rabusta variety:

• 7 varieties of “espresso” for a small cup of 40 ml, one of which is Italian ristretto, rated at a solid 10 points in terms of strength;
• “lungo” 110 ml, milder taste with reduced concentration;
• “espresso” of three pureorgin varieties, composed of Arabica beans collected in Colombia, South India and Brazil.

Containers made of branded food-grade plastic and a foil lid, which does not need to be opened before placing in the machine, are packed in 10 pieces and cost 320 rubles.

DolceGusto

A budget version from a subsidiary of Nescafe, offering more affordable coffee capsules. The main difference is the reduction in powder weight to 6 grams, which makes the drink less rich. The container is made of similar food-grade plastic.

There are more than 20 varieties of grain mixtures on the Russian market, including rare varieties with Arabica from Brazil, as well as the largest 300 ml portion in the “Preludio” series.

The kits include 16 capsules at a price of 380/420 rubles. DolceGusto capsules fit Krups or Delonghi models and offer flavors:

• 10 options of natural “espresso”;
• "espresso" without caffeine;
• regular coffee with milk;
• cappuccino;
• six types of latte, with two capsules;
• hot chocolate with different syrups (mocha, caramel, chocolate).

Tassimo

The French development with recognizable packaging in the form of rectangular bags with a flat tablet was made for various coffee machines, but after 2015 the brand was bought by the Bosch corporation, and the main flow of capsules began to be produced for German models.

A special feature of the product is the presence of a readable code on the packaging, according to which the coffee maker automatically switches on the preparation time and water dosage.

The density of the coffee powder is much lower than that of competitors, and the capsule weighs 9 g.

The line contains:

• three types of black coffee;
• cocoa;
• coffee with milk, including latte macchiato in a large mug (300 ml);
• hot chocolate;
• accompanying drinks (tea or hot milk).

The cost does not exceed the offer from Nestlé’s main competitor - 16 tablets are sold for 360 rubles.

Squesito

A young Italian company, which was created in 2005, and has been present on the Russian market for more than 10 years. She relied on mixing blends from Brazil, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Asia without adding flavorings or milk powder. The capsules are made of aluminum and bio-soluble plastic, so they can be called environmentally friendly.

The six-gram capsules contain an all-Robusta variant that delivers the highest concentration of caffeine with a bitter aftertaste. The price per unit reaches 35 rubles. Basic set includes:

• black coffee in four blends;
• decaffeinated coffee;
• hot chocolate.

An additional advantage is that it is compatible not only with branded coffee makers, but also with models from Philips.

Lavazza

The oldest Italian brand with more than a century of history (in 2016 it bought out the French CarteNoir and a number of European companies) brought the traditions of Italian coffee with dense, high brown foam to the Russian market. Food grade plastic capsules contain 7.5 g of coffee. The company offers six espresso options and different black coffee blends. The beans are supplied from Colombia, Brazil, Uganda, Costa Rica and other areas where the coffee tree grows.

The average cost of one serving is about 28 rubles.

Comparison table of characteristics

What are the benefits of reusable capsules?

Whatever you say, portion preparation of any coffee drink is very convenient. Using empty capsules for coffee machines, you can fill them in advance with the desired amount of coffee, sugar, milk and seal them with foil. The latter always comes complete with products from Dolce Gusto, Cremesso, Nespresso and Tassimo.

These capsules allow you to experiment with flavors and different recipes for coffee drinks. With them you can save significantly by using, for example, coffee powder purchased by weight, which is much cheaper. How long such capsule products last depends on the frequency of their use - on average, 30-35 cups.

Coffee capsules should usually be the same brand as the coffee machine. There are cases of their compatibility with different devices. This is usually indicated in the instructions for the device. You should not purchase capsules for a coffee maker in specialized stores, as there is a possibility of buying analogues counterfeited to resemble the original. In this case, your coffee device may be damaged.

Coffeduck

Popular plastic containers costing about RUB 150 each, suitable for Nespresso machines. When purchasing, it is enough to follow a simple rule: if the device was released before 2010, then a brown container will do. If the machine is newer, then the black container will fit perfectly on the tray.

Capsulin

The French manufacturer offers 100 plastic tanks for 500 rubles, including a dispenser and self-adhesive foil lids. The practicality of this solution lies in the possibility of using containers in all coffee machines up to 20 times.

MyCap

A more expensive type of capsules (10 pieces and 40 caps for 900 rubles) due to the special design of the sides, which gives good tension to the foil, and holes in the bottom. These features improve the quality and aroma of the drink even when prepared independently.

Emohome

High-quality reusable cups for Nespresso machines manufactured after 2010. The coffee mixture is protected from air and light by the silicone ring that comes included.

Tassimo

Capsules for repeated use of this brand are mainly produced by the Chinese market. They can be purchased through an order on Aliexpress. But the quality of plastic cups with a disposable lid will be very mediocre.

Selection rules

Buyers who regularly purchase capsules prefer refillable samples. Since weekly expenses for your favorite drink can be significantly reduced. However, no one can guarantee the high quality of coffee made with non-original capsules. However, let’s consider the basic rules for choosing such products:

1. Brand . Manufacturers recommend purchasing capsules of the same name with your coffee machine. This combination enhances the quality of the drink, making it unforgettable and bright.
2. Packing . It is more profitable to purchase a set of capsules, since it contains 6-16 pieces of the coveted cups.
3. Price . You can't skimp on good coffee. Any barista who knows a lot about a properly brewed drink will confirm this. Therefore, do not rush to the low price when purchasing.