For hundreds of years now coffee has been our favorite beverage, guaranteed to give us that extra boost during those sleepy morning hours or hard-working afternoons. It’s estimated that more than two billion cups of coffee are consumed daily, with numbers still unbelievably still on the rise.
From way back in the 16th century to today, coffee has gone through a number of innovative changes, reaching a point where it’s available in numerous varieties to suit your palate whilst being easier to prepare and consume.
Just look at recent coffee history, and you’ll see how the invention of instant coffee caused an explosion in the popularity of this much-loved, aromatic, and caffeinated beverage.
But instant coffee isn’t the only revolution for our favorite beverage to go through since its genesis. The single-serve coffee pod invention led by the food industry giant, Nestlé in 1986, along with the release of their Nespresso coffee machine, was just as important.
Today we will be taking a closer look at the caffeine content of Nespresso pods and comparing it to the caffeine content of competitor products, as well as the classic French press and drip coffee.
How Much Caffeine Is In Different Nespresso Pods?
When it comes to choosing coffee pods, one of the most important aspects people pay attention to is the caffeine content in a single serving.
Generally speaking, the different blends used for making coffee pods contain between 50 and 100 mg of caffeine per cup. Here is a short overview of how much caffeine is in a Nespresso pod depending on its variety:
Nespresso Vertuo Pods
When it comes to flavor, blend, and cup size, the Vertuo Line offers customers a wide variety of choices.
Thanks to a new barcode technology, the Vertuo machine recognizes the used pod variety and brews each cup perfectly.
- Single Espresso Capsules – most Single Espresso flavors will have around 60 mg of caffeine per pod. Of course, the exact amount is hard to determine because of the slight varieties in each batch.
- Double Espresso – Double Espresso pods are double-loaded with caffeine, and you can expect your beverage to contain 120-200 mg of caffeine, depending on the flavor of the pod.
- Coffee – The Coffee lineup offers you a wide variety of blends and flavors, with caffeine content ranging from 130 to 200 mg per cup.
- Gran Lungo – Gran Lungo pods make a larger cup of coffee compared to Espresso-sized pods, and your cup will have about the same caffeine content as a Double Espresso – 120 to 200 mg.
- Alto XL – The previously discontinued Alto XL line is back and stronger than ever, bringing you up to 350 mg of caffeine per brewed pod.
- Vertuo Decaf – Nespresso uses both water and carbon dioxide decaffeination methods for producing decaf coffee and can guarantee each pod contains only between 3-6 mg of caffeine.
Nespresso Original Line
The Nespresso Original Line uses a different pod shape and contains less coffee compared to the Vertuo pods.
On average, you will find that Original Line pods contain 5 grams of coffee per pod, with Vertuos containing around 7 grams of coffee per pod. Because of that size difference, the amount of caffeine in an Original Line pod is lower than a Vertuo pod, offering between 50-65 mg of caffeine per pod.
How Does Coffee Bean Type Impact Nespresso Caffeine?
As most coffee lovers know, determining how much caffeine is in a Nespresso pod depends almost entirely on the blend used for filling the pod. Nestlé uses two varieties of delicious coffee for their products: Arabica and Robusta.
Role of Coffee Bean Type in Nespresso Pods
Arabica is the more common and enjoyed variety, giving the coffee a refined and complex, acidic flavor. Using Robusta for brewing often gives coffee a harsher, burnt flavor.
Robusta beans have a naturally higher caffeine content compared to Arabica, so you’ll find that pods made with only Robusta-type coffee will have a higher caffeine content. Nestlé uses a variety of beans from different origins across the globe to give their customers a wide choice of bursting flavors and intensities.
Arabica vs. Robusta Coffee Beans in Nespresso
- All the pods made by Nestlé come with a detailed description of the blend used. Some varieties, like Solelio, Cosi, and Giornio, are made using only Arabica blends, giving them light and fruity profiles and a low caffeine content.
- You’ll find that Kazaar, Intenso, and Diavolitto are made of an Arabica-Robusta blend, balancing the fruity and acidic flavor with the burnt, intense flavor of Robusta.
- Those who seek the highest caffeine content in their cup should try Robusta Uganda, made with 100% Robusta beans.
Effect of Coffee Roasting on Caffeine Levels
One of the main factors in your varieties of coffee tasting differently comes down to the roasting before further processing. You might find when drinking that the same variety of coffee will taste incredibly different depending on its roast level.
Lightly roasted coffee has a fruity taste compared to the intense flavor of the dark roast. So finding the roast level that is perfect for you is vital to your coffee consumption enjoyment.
You might be surprised to learn that the roasting process does not cause any changes to the caffeine content of the coffee bean. However, dark roasted beans weigh less than those lightly roasted due to the mass loss during this process.
Using the same amount of light versus dark roasted coffee beans will cause no difference in the caffeine count of your beverage, but you will no doubt notice a considerable difference in taste.
Intensity Vs. Caffeine In Nespresso Pod
Nespresso pods are rated on a numerical intensity scale ranging from 3-12. These levels are based on the degree of roasting, bitterness, and concentration of the coffee.
Usually, light roasts receive a low-intensity rating of 3-6, whereas dark roasts receive a higher 8-12 rating. Keep in mind that this number does not represent the caffeine content of the Nespresso pod. How much caffeine is in a Nespresso pod depends almost entirely on the coffee variety.
Nespresso Pods Caffeine Content Chart
We have compared the caffeine content of the Original and Vertuo line based on the pod types. As you can see, there is a definite difference between the Original and Vertuo coffee lines.
Those who prefer a weaker cup may prefer the Original Pods, whereas those who crave a real caffeine boost may go for the Vertuo.
| Pod Type: Vertuo | Coffee Size | Caffeine Content |
| Decaffeinato | 1.35 oz/40 ml | 6-12 mg |
| Espresso | 1.35 oz/40 ml | 85-150 mg |
| Americano | 5 oz/150 ml | 135-200 mg |
| Coffee | 7.77 oz/230 ml | 70-165 mg |
| Alto | 14 oz/420 ml | 200 mg |
| Pod Type: Original | Coffee Size | Caffeine Content |
| Decaffeinato | 1.35 oz/40 ml | 3-6 mg |
| Espresso | 1.35 oz/40 ml | 60 mg |
| Intenso | 1.35 oz/40 ml | 60-125 mg |
| Lungo | 3.7 oz/110 ml | 80 mg |
Caffeine Amounts – Nespresso Vs. Regular Coffee Vs. Other Drinks
The Nespresso coffee is the perfect choice for those seeking a quick caffeine boost – a wide variety of coffee types are available in the 1.35 oz size, making it super easy to re-energize in the middle of your workday.
Here’s how Nespresso compares to other popular caffeinated beverages:
- Nespresso espresso – 60-150 mg/cup, based on the pod variety
- Red Bull – 110 mg/can
- Brewed coffee – 100 mg/cup
- Coke Zero – 34 mg/can
- Green tea – 20 mg/cup
Considering the size options and how much caffeine is in a Nespresso pod, it’s a real bang for your buck. Constantly releasing new and exciting varieties to satisfy customer demand is the key reason why Nespresso reigns supreme as the king of the capsule coffee market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nespresso coffee high in caffeine?
Nespresso offers a variety of coffee pods, ranging from decaffeinated coffee to strong, caffeine-filled blends, helping you choose an option that works best depending on your health or other personal preferences.
All decaffeinated coffee varieties contain 3-12 mg of caffeine per serving, whereas Alto-sized pods can offer you up to 200 mg of caffeine per serving.
Which Nespresso capsule has the most caffeine?
Both the Original and Vertuo line offer a powerful booster for those who need it.
The Original line offers you a Robusta-heavy Kazaar, containing 125 mg in an espresso-sized serving. This dark-roasted and bitter variety gives you everything you need to stay awake, even on the most exhausting days. Kazaar is rated with a 12 on the intensity scale.
Vertuo one-ups the Kazaar by offering you Diavolitto, a little devil in a coffee pod, with around 150 mg of caffeine in a serving. This Arabica-Robusta blend is rated 11 on the intensity scale and is described as chocolatey, smooth, and low-acidity.
How much caffeine is in Nespresso espresso vs coffee?
Nespresso espressos contain way more caffeine per volume of drink compared to your traditional coffee. Nespresso Coffee-line pods can give you the same amount of caffeine as an espresso shot – 60-150 mg – in a larger mug, perfect to sip on and enjoy for a longer period of time.
How much caffeine is in a 40ml Nespresso pod?
A coffee pod used for 40 ml or 1.35 oz sized drinks can contain 3-150 mg of caffeine. The reasoning for this is due to Nespresso making their decaffeinated coffees available in 40 ml sizes. The caffeine content of non-decaf options ranges from 30-150 mg per pod.
Conclusion
Nespresso is still the market leader for coffee-pod products thanks to its innovative thinking and an extensive array of constantly changing seasonal flavors to choose from.
Their coffee pods offer something for everyone, no matter their preference, whether it be a quick boost or a relaxing, smooth blend to take your time sipping on. They have established their position on the market with a strong lineup of classic blends, with many becoming household favorites.
Even though competitors desperately try to emulate their success, Nespresso’s 14 billion annual capsule sales are incredibly hard to beat.
