Best Nespresso-compatible pods for 2020

These pods produced a rich, full-bodied espresso that was smooth and creamy, with a dark coffee flavour and notes of caramel. The chocolate sweetness balanced the fruity acidity well. One expert described it as a ‘very good all-round espresso coffee’.

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This coffee had a pleasing, nutty aroma, and an excellent crema (the layer of creamy froth on top of the espresso). It was soft and light, and had a nice fruity flavour with a milk chocolate sweetness, although it's best enjoyed black - adding milk washed out the flavour a bit.

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Our panel were big fans of this coffee’s fruity flavour, which had hints of red wine. They thought its nice bright acidity balanced the sweetness well and its aftertaste drew praise all round. The thin, pale crema was a little disappointing though.

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This smooth, rich coffee had a lovely dark gold colour and a pleasant, balanced flavour. However, some members of the panel picked up a slightly woody taste.

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This coffee had a good thick crema and an intense, slightly sour taste with fruity sweetness. Some of the experts found it a little bitter though. It wasn’t rated as well when combined with milk, so it’s one that’s best to drink black.

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Our tasting panel were impressed with the appearance of this coffee, praising its rich colour and full crema. It was full-bodied, with a dark, slightly bitter, flavour.

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Smooth-bodied and sharp in flavour, this coffee had dark fruit notes, but lacked sweetness. The aftertaste was a little too harsh for some of our judges.

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This coffee had a pleasingly thick crema and a rich aroma, although its intense flavour was a little bitter.

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This coffee had a rich, full crema and a smooth mouthfeel. Some experts liked the flavour, while others thought it was bitter, with one expert describing it as ‘ashy’.

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This coffee lacked character - our panel described it as plain and ordinary, although it improved when milk was added. It was heavy with a dull edge, and fruity acidity.

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This coffee had a very thin crema. It lacked body and became watery when combined with milk. The panel weren’t big fans of the flavour, with one expert complaining it was quite sharp.

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Our tasting panel classed this as a medium-strength coffee. It had a good crema, but it failed to impress on the flavour front and lacked sweetness. The judges also noted a thin mouthfeel.

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The crema on this espresso broke down quickly and its woody flavour notes and thin mouthfeel disappointed our panel. One expert said it lacked character.

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A weak aroma, thin mouthfeel and bitter flavour made this our joint lowest scorer. It didn’t improve much when adding milk, with some experts saying the milk made it taste bland.

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This coffee received low scores from our experts, placing it firmly at the bottom of the table. It was thin, flat and lacking character. Some members of the panel thought it became even more washed out when milk was added.

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This is a strong, full-bodied coffee with some complexity of flavour and a mild sweetness. It’s robust and may not be for all tastes, but milk adds roundness. One expert praised its pleasantly rich flavour with notes of dark chocolate. Another commended the lovely aroma and crema.

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This toasty, flavoursome coffee has a good crema that reforms after stirring. One expert picked up notes of malted biscuit and a hint of Brazil nut, while another complimented this coffee on the smooth, rich aftertaste. The flavour is softened, but not lost with the addition of milk.

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Fruity acidity, a toasty aroma and a pleasing sweetness characterise this milder coffee, which is typical of the region it’s from. One expert praised the lingering aftertaste but some experts thought adding milk could overshadow the sweetness, so this might be best served black.

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These biodegradable coffee capsules split the panel: most enjoyed the delicate nutty aroma, but one expert felt the coffee was over-roasted and lacking sweetness.

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Our tasting panel thought this Fairtrade coffee had a good rounded flavour that improved with milk. The sweetness of the coffee, which is finished with a golden crema, helps to balance the tangy tannins.

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Our tasting panel noted a mildly acidic taste with a malty sweetness but a feeble crema. One expert loved this coffee but most scored it just above average.

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This light coffee has subtle undertones of dark berry fruits, but a fairly weak crema. Our tasting panel agreed that it would make a good breakfast coffee.

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Our tasting panel class this as a medium-strength coffee that's best as an espresso. It loses flavour as it cools or when you add milk. The crema is weak.

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All experts on our tasting panel agreed this milder coffee was best served black. It has a juicy acidity to it, with a hint of spice on the nose.

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This coffee has a pale crema and you'll pick up on notes of blackberry when you take your first sip. Milk adds a hint of biscuit flavour.

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Most of the expert tasting panel agreed this fairtrade coffee tastes better with milk. It has an almond-like flavour paired with good crema.

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These compostable coffee pods have a smoky, woody aroma. The dark roasted flavour is improved with milk. You'll notice a lingering aftertaste.

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There's an excellent sweetness to these coffee pods, but some taste testers felt them lacking a rich, full flavour. These pods have a high acidity and agreeable aftertaste.

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This mild coffee has a slight sweetness to it. One taster described the flavour and aroma as 'Marmite-y' while another noticed a peanut-like aftertaste.

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