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These Nespresso compatible capsules won’t end up in landfill – brew, anyone?
Led by Nespresso, capsule systems revolutionised domestic coffee drinking. Espresso was once a messy, expensive and time-consuming process – even the smallest machines took up lots of counter space.
Nespresso changed all of that. Suddenly you could have a decent espresso in your own home for a fraction of the price of one in a shop in minutes.
However, convenience came at a price. Strong and light, aluminium was the perfect material to make capsules out of, and could be transported all over the world, retaining the flavour of the ground coffee inside. The downside was the environmental impact.
Although aluminium is recyclable in theory, in practice many coffee capsules end up in landfill, where they can take hundreds of years to break down.
At first, Nespresso’s system was protected by patents that prevented other manufacturers from making capsules for their system. But after a ruling in 2013, the field opened up to third parties. At the same time, advances in materials meant you could have a more eco-friendly capsule without compromising on the quality of your drink.
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There are now hundreds of capsules compatible with the original Nespresso machines, which are compostable, biodegradable, and reusable. And, Nespresso themselves have introduced a new range, the Vertuo, protected by a new patent system. But which of these new eco-friendly capsules is the best?
We tested them as espresso and lungo drinks, with milk and without, to bring you the list below. There is now an eco-friendly capsule for every taste, so convenience needn’t mean unnecessary waste. Prices are listed for single-purchases, but most suppliers also offer a subscription service.
For many years compostable pods have struggled to keep up with aluminium ones in terms of keeping the ground coffee fresh. Nespresso’s infrastructure and technology meant their best capsules were hard for independents to compete with. In recent years, however, the tide has started to turn.
Compostable pods now offer a coffee experience almost indistinguishable from the aluminium pods, although they are still not quite there. Real coffee heads should try Colonna’s nuguo honey gesha pods – they’re made by one of the leading experts and its hard to argue with quality and knowledge like that.
Unfortunately, Colonna’s pods are currently unavailable to buy owing to being a limited edition. So, we’d instead recommend turning to Roar Gill, which are the best entry-point for compostable pods and a great all-rounder.
For the latest discounts on coffee and other food and drink offers, try the links below:
Why not pour your cuppa joe into our best reusable coffee cups that aren’t adding to the landfill?