Reusable, recyclable and compostable coffee pods

If you're looking for a way to reduce the waste from your daily coffee routine, it could be worth swapping over to reusable or compostable pods – or simply recycling your used aluminium pods.

Here we highlight what you need to know about each of the options, so you can decide which suits your budget, circumstances and level of commitment.

Best pod coffee machines – explore our Best Buy recommendations.

Reusable (refillable) coffee pods

At a glance: these reduce the number of pods you power through per week, plus you'll be able to use any ground coffee you like.

Individually packed, pre-filled coffee pods used in capsule machines are convenient – they can be filled with ground coffee, used with your capsule machine, then cleaned out for reuse. However, their packaging can be tricky to recycle and, in some cases, not recyclable at all.

Reusable coffee capsules are usually made of plastic, stainless steel, or sometimes silicone. They're designed to work with popular coffee pod systems, and will only work with that specific brand of pod machine.

You can buy refillable pods for Nespresso and Dolce Gusto machines. Prices range from around £3-30 per reusable capsule. Plastic capsules tend to be cheaper than metal ones.

Reusable coffee pods tested by Which?

We tried four pods for Nespresso machines (as this is the most popular type) and one that works with Dolce Gusto machines. Our shortlist featured a mix of plastic and stainless steel models, with differing designs. Some had a reusable lid, while others used disposable stickers instead.

For each pod, we checked how easy it was to fill, seal, use and clean. We used the same type of ground coffee for each, so we could compare how well it turned out using the different pods. We also asked our panel of coffee-tasting experts to blind-taste espresso made with each capsule.

After testing each of the reusable pods, we found that:

• All of the reusable coffee capsules were fairly simple to use, although some were a little trickier to seal than others, and one was especially difficult to clean.
• Some of the metal pods were very hot after extraction, although most advise you to leave the pod for a few minutes before removing it.
• Our panel didn’t think any of the capsules produced particularly good coffee. It tended to be thinner and less well-rounded. The Lictin and WayCap pods made especially poor brews.

Overall, we thought the SealPod capsules made the best coffee, but they still have disposable parts you need to keep buying, and are more expensive in the first place. The plastic Alchemy pods made decent coffee, so these could be a good alternative.

Our verdict

If you're looking for an alternative to single-use pods, reusable capsules could be worth considering. However, they’re not as straightforward to use as disposable ones, so you might need time to get used to them. The pressure you apply when tamping (compressing) the coffee grounds, along with the pressure of the water passing through, can impact the final result – so finding the optimal setup might require some trial and error.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that the time you spend filling, emptying and cleaning these pods somewhat negates the convenience of using pods in the first place. And if you have a favourite Nespresso or Dolce Gusto coffee, you won’t be able to get hold of this for your refillable pods either.

Best travel mugs and reusable coffee cups – our tests reveal the best travel mugs and reusable coffee cups from Bodum, Thermos, Stanley and more. 

Recyclable coffee pods

At a glance: single-serve capsules that aim to offer convenience while reducing environmental impact.

Regular single-serve coffee pods are made from plastic or aluminium. Unfortunately, these materials can take up to 500 years to decompose in a landfill.

As a result, the coffee industry has evolved in an effort to make it easier for consumers to recycle them.

Big-name brands including Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and Illy offer pods made of materials they claim are recyclable or biodegradable, though we've not tested the viability of these in practice.

They have also backed various schemes aimed at making recycling less fiddly.

Here’s a closer look at how the brands compare:

Podback: Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and Tassimo pod recycling

At a glance: the owners of the UK’s three biggest coffee pod brands have joined forces to establish a nationwide recycling scheme for single-serve pods.

Launched in 2021, Podback is a coffee pod recycling scheme that aims to provide customers with simple and easy ways to recycle their pods.

The not-for-profit organisation was created by Nestlé and Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE). As a team, these big-name brands also own Nespresso, Nescafé Dolce Gusto, Tassimo, L'OR and Starbucks at Home.

You can recycle used coffee pods through Podback in a few different ways, including:

• At a recycling centre – no bag is needed and you can simply tip your pods loose into the containers.
• Using in-store drop off – Podback bags are accepted at supermarkets and coffee shops around the UK. Aldi customers, for example, can scan a QR code in-store in the coffee pod aisle to request a free Podback recycling bag. Asda joined the scheme in 2025, which means customers can drop Podback bags at a toYou parcel returns service in-store.
• Using the local council's Podback service – the Podback website says you'll receive a bag by post. Once you have filled your bag, tie the handles and put it out for collection.

We recommend using the Podback Recycle Checker to find nearby locations where you can recycle your pods. The tool also lets you check whether a Podback household collection service is available in your local authority area and provides information on how to get your free recycling bags.

To see which coffee machines our experts recommend, browse our Dolce Gusto coffee machine reviews and Tassimo coffee machine reviews.

Nespresso pod recycling

If you're a Nespresso customer, you can request a free pod recycling bag from the Nespresso website. The brand's capsules are made from aluminium.

Fill your bag with used capsules and then return them using one of the following methods:

• Doorstep collection – a partnership with Royal Mail means you can have your used pods collected at home. You can have up to three bags per booking. Visit the brand's Recycle with Nespresso page and enter your details to get started.
• In-store drop off – used capsules can be dropped off at Nespresso Boutiques and Royal Mail collection points across the country. Note that you can also get a recycling bag from any Nespresso Boutique.

Consult our Nespresso coffee machine reviews to see which models are Which? Best Buys.

Lavazza Eco Caps pod recycling

Lavazza offers a range of compostable coffee pods known as Eco Caps. Once you're done enjoying your espresso, you can dispose of these pods in your food waste bin – provided your local council accepts compostable packaging. These pods are then sent to an industrial composting facility, where they break down and are turned into nutrient-rich compost.

If you don't have access to food waste bins, you can use the Lavazza Eco Caps Free Composting Programme, which is managed through Terracycle.

Lavazza Eco Caps can be disposed of by leaving them at a public drop-off location during designated hours (there's an interactive map on the website) or by setting up your own public drop-off location. All Lavazza EcoCaps compatible with Lavazza A Modo Mio coffee machines are accepted.

However, the following waste is not accepted:

• All Lavazza capsules which are not EcoCaps compatible with Lavazza A Modo Mio coffee machines
• Cardboard boxes or plastic packaging containing coffee capsules
• Any other brand of beverage capsules
• Coffee bags

Browse all of our Lavazza coffee machine reviews.

Dualit pod recycling

Technically, you can recycle Dualit’s plastic NX pods in your usual collection if you dismantle, empty and clean them out. However, not all local authorities are equipped to process small, mixed-material items, so it’s best to check with your council.

Dualit also sells a range of compostable pods and a pack of 50 typically costs around £17. These need to be composted industrially using your local council’s food waste collection scheme (if available in your area).

Read our Dualit coffee machine reviews.

Compostable coffee pods

At a glance: the materials used to make compostable pods are permeable, so keep your collection in an airtight container that's in a cool, dry place.

If several people at home are keen coffee drinkers, you could be getting through four or more pods per day, so being able to compost your used pods could cut down on your household waste.

You can deal with the waste via one of two methods:

• Industrial composting – these pods need additional heat, air or water to break down, and need to go in kerbside food collection bins (if available in your area).
• Home compost heap – compostable pods will break down on your home compost heap at a similar rate to other organic matter.

Compostable pods aren't yet available for all the pod systems. Here's how the brands compare:

Compostable vs biodegradable: what’s the difference?

In order for a product to be compostable, it has to meet a specific EU standard (EN 13432). This includes various requirements, one is that after 12 weeks at least 90% of the product should have disintegrated enough to fit through a 2mm sieve.

Biodegradable materials disintegrate in soil, air and water over time. But there's no set timeline for this term, so a biodegradable material could take many years to break down.

How to store compostable pods

Check the manufacturer's instructions for details on where to store your pods, as this differs by brand.

Lavazza told us to keep them safe in a 'cool, dry place'. Blue Goose also suggested somewhere dry, adding that 'a tin or jar is perfect, or a bowl next to your coffee machine'. Dualit told us not to remove its compostable pods from its white bags until it's time to use them – this will help to maintain optimum freshness.

Read more about recycling plastics

Are there any eco-friendly alternatives to capsule machines?

Pod machines are undeniably tempting. They make it quick and easy to make a consistently good brew, without worrying about measuring and preparing your coffee correctly.

But it's worth considering the alternatives, as with a little bit of practice, they can quickly make tasty coffee and you can sidestep the accompanying eco guilt. Take a closer look at:

• Bean-to-cup coffee machines – these can be pricey, but they grind coffee on demand and make your drink for you.
• Ground coffee or pump espresso machines – these use ground coffee you measure out and pat down, ready for extraction.

See our guide to the best bean-to-cup coffee machines and the best espresso machines for our Best Buy picks.