Nespresso Capsules: what are the best blends?

By coffeemaniac 19 November 2012

If you’ve recently purchased a Nespresso coffee machine or planning to buy one, you may be asking yourself the question: “What are the best Nespresso capsules for Latte? Cappuccino? Espresso?” Have a look at the Nespresso capsules range and Nespresso’s suggestions for which type of coffee best fits each blend.

Nespresso Capsules

Nespresso Ristretto

nespresso capsules - ristretto POWERFUL AND CONTRASTING:
A blend of South American and East African Arabicas, with a touch of Robusta, roasted separately to create the subtle fruity note of this full-bodied, intense espresso.

Intensity: 10

Cup size: Ristretto (25ml), Espresso (40ml), Milk Recipe

Aromatic profile: Intensely roasted

  • Origin
    Composed of some of the best South American Arabicas from sources such as Colombia and Brazil, Ristretto also contains the great, lightly acidic East African Arabicas and a touch of Robusta for added zing.
  • Roasting
    The beans are roasted slowly and separately to obtain an original bouquet bringing together acidic, fruity, and roasted notes. Its finely ground texture creates an Italian-style coffee: intense, with a rich flavour and full body.
  • Aromatic profile
    Strong roasted notes softened by notes of chocolate. A subtle contrast between strength and bitterness, acidic and fruity notes.

Nespresso Arpeggio

nespresso capsules - arpeggio INTENSE AND CREAMY:
A dark roast of pure South and Central American Arabicas, Arpeggio has a strong character and intense body, enhanced by cocoa notes.

Intensity: 9

Cup size: Ristretto (25ml), Espresso (40ml), Milk Recipe

Aromatic profile: Cocoa

  • Origin
    A selection of the best South and Central American Arabicas, with fruity or malted profiles, characteristic of Costa Rican coffees.
  • Roasting
    Arpeggio is roasted intensely to bring out the characteristics of each origin. Its full body develops from the fine grinding of the beans.
  • Aromatic profile
    Intense, grilled notes alongside subtle cocoa notes and woody hints.

Nespresso Roma

nespresso capsules - roma FULL AND BALANCED:
The balance of lightly roasted South and Central American Arabicas with Robusta, gives Roma sweet and woody notes and a full, lasting taste on the palate.

Intensity: 8

Cup size: Ristretto (25ml), Espresso (40ml)

Aromatic profile: Woody

  • Origin
    Cultivated at high altitude, the Central American Arabicas bring finesse, whilst the Brazilian Arabicas and Robustas provide body and a lingering taste on the palate.
  • Roasting
    Light roasting and fine grinding bring finesse to the blend and create a short espresso, which is not too strong.
  • Aromatic profile
    Roasted and woody notes are revealed through the light roasting of intensely flavoured beans from different origins.

Nespresso Livanto

nespresso capsules - livanto ROUND AND BALANCED:
A pure Arabica from South and Central America, Livanto is a well-balanced espresso characterised by roasted caramalised notes.

Intensity: 6

Cup size: Espresso (40ml)

Aromatic profile: Cereal

  • Origin
    This blend is composed of the most prestigious Central and South American Arabicas, found in Costa Rica and Colombia and is cultivated according to traditional methods to preserve their malted and fruity profiles.
  • Roasting
    A medium roasting, accentuates malted notes, whilst fruity notes evolve to create a complex and delicate caramelised bouquet.
  • Aromatic profile
    A round and balanced profile, typical of freshly roasted coffee results in a combination of cereal, malted and caramelised notes as well as fine fruity notes.

Nespresso Capriccio

nespresso capsules - capriccio RICH AND DISTINCTIVE:
Blending South American Arabicas with a touch of Robusta, Capriccio is an espresso with a rich aroma and a strong typical cereal note.

Intensity: 5

Cup size: Espresso (40ml)

Aromatic profile: Cereal

  • Origin
    The presence of South American Arabicas grown at high altitude gives this blend a light acidity, which is balanced with the perfect amount of Brazilian Arabica and a touch of Robusta.
  • Roasting
    The light roasting of this blend creates a rich character and preserves a light acidity.
  • Aromatic profile
    A typical cereal note balanced with a light acidity.

Nespresso Volutto

nespresso capsules - volutto SWEET AND FRUITY:
A pure and lightly roasted Arabica from South America, Volluto reveals sweet and biscuity flavours, reinforced by a little acidity and a fruity note.

Intensity: 4

Cup size: Espresso (40ml)

Aromatic profile: Cereal

  • Origin
    The Brazilian and Colombian Arabicas that go into making Volluto come from small plantations that produce very high quality coffee. They are grown in respect of the environment and local traditions.
  • Roasting
    A light roasting preserves the cereal note of the Brazilian Arabica and the fresh and fruity note of the Colombian coffee.
  • Aromatic profile
    Quite present and diverse: fruity notes harmoniously balanced with sweet and biscuity notes.

Nespresso Cosi

nespresso capsules - cosi LIGHT AND LEMONY:
Pure, lightly roasted East African, Central and South American Arabicas make Cosi a light-bodied espresso with refreshing citrus notes.

Intensity: 3

Cup size: Espresso (40ml)

Aromatic profile: Citrus

  • Origin
    A combination of the finest Arabicas from East Africa gives this blend a characteristic lemon note harmonised by the lightness and sweetness of Arabicas from Central and South America.
  • Roasting
    A light roasting, perfectly executed by the Nespresso Master Roasters, enhances the fragile citrus note of Cosi. This Grand Cru provides an outstanding freshness and lightness.
  • Aromatic profile
    A citrus note with strong hints of lemon. This rare and refreshing character is supported by a light body.

Nespresso Dulsão do Brasil

nespresso capsules - dulsão do brasil SWEET AND SMOOTH:
A pure Arabica coffee, Dulsão do Brasil is a delicate blend of red and yellow Bourbon beans from Brazil. Its satiny smooth, elegantly balanced flavor is enhanced with a note of delicately toasted grain.

Intensity: 4

Cup size: Espresso (40ml)

Aromatic profile: Honey

  • Origin
    Delicate and distinguished, the red and yellow Bourbons coffees come from the high altitude plantations of southern Brazil. Hand-picked, the beans are dried in the sun with their mucilage, the nourishing pulp that surrounds it, to add more sweetness to the coffee.
  • Roasting
    Some of the coffee is lightly roasted to bring out its sweet notes whilst the remaining part undergoes a longer roast to balance the blend.
  • Aromatic profile
    Sweet notes of honey and maple syrup dominate, on a base of malted cereal.

Nespresso Rosabaya de Colombia

nespresso capsules - rosabaya de colombia FRUITY AND BALANCED:
This blend of fine, individually roasted Colombian Arabicas, develops a subtle acidity with typical red fruit and winey notes.

Intensity: 6

Cup size: Espresso (40ml), Milk Recipe

Aromatic profile: Winey

  • Origin
    The varieties that make up this “Pure Origin” Espresso are cultivated by small coffee growers in the highest region of Colombia. Hand-picked and treated with the wet method to intensify its aromas, the coffee is then dried in parchment and transferred to the Paramo de Letras region, where the cold, dry climate preserves it.
  • Roasting
    Split roasting of the different varieties allows the fruity and acidic notes to come to the fore, whilst adding body.
  • Aromatic profile
    Notes of red fruit, reminiscent of wine: blackcurrants, cranberries, and redcurrants.

Nespresso Indriya from India

nespresso capsules - indriya from india POWERFUL AND SPICY:
Indriya from India is the noble marriage of Arabicas with a hint of Robusta from southern India. It is a full-bodied espresso, which has a distinct personality with notes of spices.

Intensity: 10

Cup size: Ristretto (25ml), Espresso (40ml), Milk Recipe

Aromatic profile: Spicy

  • Origin
    The Arabica and Robusta chosen for this blend grow in southern India, in the shade of large trees that also provide shelter for pepper and spice growing. Grown on high altitude plantations, the Robusta we use is a very pure coffee, very intense and slightly bitter. Only absolutely perfect beans, which have passed a rigorous selection process, are used for Indriya from India.
  • Roasting
    The Arabica is lightly roasted, to preserve its subtle aromas. In contrast, the Robusta is well roasted to reveal its intensity and develop a full body. Very fine grinding supports the body and enhances the flavour.
  • Aromatic profile
    Cocoa and dry plant notes, as well as a spicy bouquet reminiscent of cloves, pepper and nutmeg.

Nespresso Linizio Lungo

nespresso capsules - linizio lungo Linizio Lungo is the ideal Grand Cru for your morning ritual. A smooth and well-rounded blend with rich notes that will gradually awaken your senses.

Intensity: 4

Cup size: Lungo (110ml)

Aromatic profile: Cereal

  • Origin
    Arabicas from Bresil and Colombia that go into making Linizio Lungo are handpicked. Treated differently, the Brazil Bourbon beans are washed, then depulped, and dried in the sun with their mucilage; the Arabica from Colombia on the other hand will be fermented with its mucilage and washed afterwards.
  • Roasting
    The split roasting reveals the specificities of each origin. On one hand, longer roasting yields a darker bean that reveals the malted cereal notes of the Bourbon beans. On the other hand, shorter roasting of the Arabica from Colombia yields lighter beans and highlights the softer notes reminding of sugar cane, specific to its region of origin.
  • Aromatic profile
    Malted cereal notes on a sweet base in reminding of sugar cane.

Nespresso Vivalto Lungo

nespresso capsules - vivalto lungo COMPLEX AND BALANCED:
Vivalto Lungo is a balanced coffee made from a complex blend of separately roasted South American and East African Arabicas, combining roasted and subtle floral notes.

Intensity: 4

Cup size: Lungo (110ml)

Aromatic profile: Flowery

  • Origin
    A complex and contrasting blend. The South American Arabicas, grown at high altitude, bring a light acidity, the Ethiopian Arabica adds its floral touch, and the “Cerrado” coffee from Brazil reinforces the character and develops the bitterness.
  • Roasting
    Separate roasting brings out the characters of the different origins. The grinding of the beans results in a coffee best enjoyed in a large cup.
  • Aromatic profile
    The perfect mix of several origins results in a rich and complex character: roasted, lightly woody, sweet cereal and subtle floral notes.

Nespresso Fortissio Lungo

nespresso capsules - fortissio lungo RICH AND INTENSE:
Made from Central and South American Arabicas with just a hint of Robusta, Fortissio Lungo is an intense full-bodied blend with bitterness, which develops notes of dark roasted beans.

Intensity: 7

Cup size: Lungo (110ml), Milk Recipe

Aromatic profile: Intensely roasted

  • Origin
    A fine and balanced base of Central and South American Arabicas accentuated with a dash of Robusta to bring body and character.
  • Roasting
    Intense split roasting reinforces the character of its different origins and develops its intensity, body and bitterness.
  • Aromatic profile
    A full body and bitter base supports the aroma of intensely roasted beans, along with woody notes, and the typical cereal note that comes from the Robusta.

Nespresso Decaffeinato Lungo

nespresso capsules - decaffeinato lungo LIGHT AND FULL-FLAVOURED:
The slow roasting of this blend of South American Arabicas with a touch of Robusta gives Decaffeinato Lungo a smooth, creamy body and roasted cereal flavour.

Intensity: 3

Cup size: Lungo (110ml)

Aromatic profile: Cereal

  • Origin
    This is a carefully selected blend of the finest Brazilian and Colombian Arabicas with a touch of Robusta.
  • Roasting
    Slow and sustained to enhance grilled notes.
  • Aromatic profile
    Strong roasted notes.

Nespresso Decaffeinato

nespresso capsules - decaffeinato FRUITY AND DELICATE:
A blend of South American Arabicas reinforced with just a touch of Robusta is lightly roasted to reveal an aroma of red fruit.

Intensity: 2

Cup size: Espresso (40ml)

Aromatic profile: Winey

  • Origin
    An elegant and precise blend combining several South American Arabicas, Colombian Arabica for a fruity note, and a touch of Robusta.
  • Roasting
    A short, light roasting accentuates the fruity and refreshing character of Decaffeinato. The grinding process is adjusted to obtain a coffee that’s light yet distinctive.
  • Aromatic profile
    Hints of red fruit, typical of certain wines, softened by notes of dried fruits, coffee beans and a “milky-buttery” note.

Nespresso Decaffeinato Intenso

nespresso capsules - decaffeinato intenso DENSE AND POWERFUL:
Dark roasted South American Arabicas with a touch of Robusta bring out the subtle cocoa and roasted cereal notes of this full-bodied decaffeinated espresso.

Intensity: 7

Cup size: Espresso (40ml), Milk Recipe

Aromatic profile: Cocoa

  • Origin
    A selection of South American Arabicas enhanced with a touch of Robusta adds a rich and intense flavour to the coffee.
  • Roasting
    A short and intense roasting develops its toasted notes and reinforces its body.
  • Aromatic profile
    Grilled and chocolate notes with an intense body. A very rich aroma is noticeable in both the “crema” and the coffee.

 
Please comment on your experience as to the different coffee blends offered by Nespresso.

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Categories: Coffee Capsules, Nespresso® Capsules

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