Single Serve Capsule Reviews

Evaluated as espresso produced as a “ristretto” 25ml (.85-ounce) shot using a Nespresso capsule espresso brewer with whole milk heated using a conventional steam wand. Crisply sweet, floral-toned. Lilac, plum, almond, cocoa nib, lemon verbena in aroma and small cup. Silky-smooth mouthfeel; crisp finish with notes of cocoa nib and lemon verbena. In cappuccino format, cocoa notes are further elevated and sweet herb notes provide bright ballast.

Evaluated as espresso produced as a “ristretto” 25ml (.85-ounce) shot using a Nespresso capsule espresso brewer with whole milk heated using a conventional steam wand. Sweet-toned, chocolaty, nut-driven. Cashew, baking chocolate, hazelnut brittle, marjoram, brown sugar in aroma and small cup. Sweetly nut-toned finish with hints of baking chocolate and marjoram. In cappuccino-scaled milk, sweet herb notes subside and chocolate and cashew take center stage.

Evaluated as espresso produced as a “ristretto” 25ml (.85-ounce) shot using a Nespresso capsule espresso brewer with whole milk heated using a conventional steam wand. Delicately sweet, citrus-toned. Tangerine zest, cocoa nib, jasmine, almond, cherry blossom in aroma and small cup. Crisp, silky mouthfeel; cocoa-toned, citrusy finish. In three parts milk, cocoa notes move forward while tangerine falls back to a supporting role.

Evaluated as espresso produced as a “ristretto” 25ml (.85-ounce) shot using a Nespresso capsule espresso brewer with whole milk heated using a conventional steam wand. Crisply chocolaty, sweet-toned. Baking chocolate, orange zest, almond, rhododendron, fresh-cut oak in aroma and small cup. Satiny-smooth mouthfeel; gently drying, cocoa-toned finish. In three parts, milk, crisply sweet and chocolaty with pleasing rhododendron notes.

Evaluated as espresso produced as a “ristretto” 25ml (.85-ounce) shot using a Nespresso capsule espresso brewer with whole milk heated using a conventional steam wand. Rich-toned, floral- and fruit-driven. Jasmine, apricot, almond, baking chocolate, cedar in aroma and small cup. Delicately viscous mouthfeel; crisp finish centered around chocolate and almond notes. The milk shot is boldly pleasing, chocolate-laden and richly floral.

Evaluated at a steeping time of 6 minutes. This beverage is composed of coffee that has essentially been toasted but not roasted. Toasted grain, cocoa nib, hints of raw cashew and limelike citrus in aroma and cup. Sweet, woody/grainy structure with a hint of bitterness but no acidy sensation whatsoever. The mouthfeel is thin and tea-like but silky in texture. Grain and nut fade in the finish, though a woody sweetness lasts.

Sweetly caramelly and briskly cocoa-toned. Dark caramel, baking chocolate, fresh-cut fir, raisin, hints of pear and carnation in aroma and cup. Crisply bittersweet in structure, with backgrounded acidity. Smooth but lean mouthfeel. Dry chocolate and raisin dominate in a sweet but gently bitter-leaning finish.

Evaluated as espresso produced as a “ristretto” 25ml (.85-ounce) shot using a Nespresso capsule espresso brewer with whole milk heated using a conventional steam wand. Richly aromatic, floral and balanced. Jasmine, orange zest, baking chocolate, pear, cedar in aroma and small cup. Silky-smooth mouthfeel. Crisp finish leads with notes of jasmine and orange zest, with undertones of baking chocolate throughout. Chocolate notes deepen in three parts milk, as do sweet florals.

Evaluated as espresso produced as a ristretto 25ml (.85-ounce) shot using a Nespresso capsule espresso brewer with whole milk heated using a conventional steam wand. Delicate, floral-toned. Honeysuckle, white peach, lime zest, cocoa nib, cedar in aroma and small cup. Silky, buoyant mouthfeel. The elegant finish centers around notes of honeysuckle and lime zest, with cocoa nib lingering into the long. Cappuccino-scaled milk further amplifies floral and chocolate tones.

Evaluated as espresso produced as a ristretto 25ml (.85-ounce) shot using a Nespresso capsule espresso brewer with whole milk heated using a conventional steam wand. Distinctly chocolaty, gently and sweetly bright. Baker’s chocolate, sweet lemon zest, almond, rhododendron-like flowers, maple wood in aroma and small cup. Feathery, lightly buoyant mouthfeel; flavor consolidates but rings on in a balanced finish. Crisply sweet in three parts milk: sweet lemon and chocolate, floral hints.

Evaluated as espresso produced as a ristretto 25ml (.85-ounce) shot using a Nespresso capsule espresso brewer with whole milk heated using a conventional steam wand. Sweetly bright, intricate, original. Peach, sandalwood, lemon tart, baker’s chocolate, rhododendron-like flowers in aroma and small cup. Delicately plump in mouthfeel; long, resonant, peach- and lemon-saturated finish. Remains crisply tart in three parts milk, with flavor consolidating around a subtle, elegant dry chocolate.

Evaluated as espresso produced as a ristretto 25ml (.85-ounce) shot using a Nespresso capsule espresso brewer with whole milk heated using a conventional steam wand. Crisp, very sweet, delicately seductive. Cocoa, raisin, roasted cashew nut, sweet alyssum flowers in aroma and small cup. Light and velvety in mouthfeel; flavor consolidates but lingers in a persistent, balanced finish. Quiet but superb in three parts milk: flowers and cocoa come forward pleasingly.

(As brewed in a Keurig 2.0 K500 Series single-serve brewing device at a 6-ounce serving size.) Richly sweet, caramel-toned. Cocoa powder, caramel, oak, date, freesia in aroma and cup. Soft, round structure with mild acidity; very satiny, viscous mouthfeel. The caramel-toned finish centers around cocoa notes with spicy florals peeking through.

Evaluated as espresso produced as a ristretto 25ml (.85-ounce) shot using a Nespresso capsule espresso brewer with whole milk heated using a conventional steam wand. Delicate, savory-sweet. Fresh-cut cedar, a hint of chocolate, orange zest, lily-like flowers in aroma and small cup. Lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Chocolate and cedar linger in a gently drying finish. A lightly-stated, slightly savory chocolate dominates in three parts milk.

Evaluated as espresso. Lean, chocolaty, roast-toned. Dark chocolate, salted caramel, lily-like flowers, fresh-cut fir in aroma and small cup. Light, smooth body. The gently drying, bittersweet finish is chocolate- and fir-toned. Caramel and floral notes resurface in three parts milk.

(As brewed in a Keurig 2.0 K500 Series single-serve brewing device at a 6-ounce serving size). Delicately intricate, subtly sweet. Meyer lemon zest, myrrh, roasted cacao nib, jasmine in aroma and cup. Sweetly brisk acidity; satiny mouthfeel. Meyer lemon zest and jasmine predominate in a crisp, delicate finish.

(As brewed in a Keurig 2.0 K500 Series single-serve brewing device at a 6-ounce serving size). Rich and sweetly tart. Butterscotch, red currant, cedar, narcissus-like flowers in aroma and cup. Tart yet balanced acidity; buoyant, lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates and a pleasing spearmint note surfaces in the sweet, resonant finish.

(As brewed in a Keurig 2.0 K500 Series single-serve brewing device at a 6-ounce serving size). Crisply sweet, caramelly. Malt, burnt caramel, almond, lily-like flowers, cherry in aroma and cup. Balanced, gently brisk acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. The richly drying short finish consolidates around caramel and almond in the long.

(As brewed in a Keurig 2.0 K500 Series single-serve brewing device at a 6-ounce serving size). Richly sweet and spicy. Cocoa, molasses, lily, cedar in aroma and cup. Balanced, brisk acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. The richly drying finish is carried by cocoa notes and hints of lily.

(As brewed in a Keurig 2.0 K500 Series single-serve brewing device at a 6-ounce serving size). Crisp and sweet. Candied walnut, lantana-like flowers, vanilla paste and fresh-cut fir in aroma and cup. Crisply bright acidity; light, silky mouthfeel. Walnut and lantana sustain in a sweet-toned, richly drying finish.