Nespresso is considered the most popular capsule coffee solution worldwide, and the original line is their most widely adopted range. We wanted to find exactly how much caffeine is in a Nespresso pod so we could best replicate the character with our Green Pods.
This seemed like a simple question at first, however quickly became more complicated as we tried to dissect exactly what is contained in each cup of Nespresso coffee.
In this article, we’ll share what we found, and cover every detail of the amount of caffeine in these coffee pods.
Why Listen To Us? Well, because we KNOW coffee! In fact, we make our own coffee, coffee machine cleaners, and reusable capsules which we've sold to over 41 countries. Our team ouf experts include Tristan (an engineer), Claire (a food writer) and Richy (a barista). So, whether you're looking for a recipe or repair guide, we've got you covered 💚
Table of Contents
So How Much Caffeine Is In A Nespresso Pod?
On average a Nespresso original capsule contains 73mg of Caffeine. The lowest caffeine capsule is the Cosi at 59mg, and the highest caffeine capsule is the Kazaar at 142mg. In general, the lungo capsules have slightly more caffeine than the espresso or ristretto. Vertuo capsules contain more caffeine and the largest Alto capsules have up to 195mg of caffeine.
| Caffeine Content (mg) | Nespresso Original Capsules | Nespresso Vertuo Capsules |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest | 59mg (Cosi) | 70mg (Half Caffeinato) |
| Average | 73mg | 138mg |
| Highest | 142mg (Kazaar) | 195mg (Intenso) |
Check Out: Our Nespresso Pod Wall Charts 👀
⛔ Stop guessing which Nespresso flavor you want to drink
⛔ Not sure about the difference in flavor, caffeine levels, and coffee origin?
🟢 Let your family and friends choose from the full Nespresso Menu instead!
*On sale for a limited time*
Learn More Get on etsyWhat Exactly Are Nespresso Pods?
Nespresso Coffee Capsules are single-serve aluminum coffee pods made to use in the range of Nespresso brand-name or compatible coffee machines.
There are now two types of pods: OriginalLine and Vertuoline, which contain different amounts of coffee and therefore different amounts of caffeine. We’ve looked into both types of pod to find out exactly how much caffeine is in each one
There are around 35 different Nespresso capsule varieties to choose from in their OriginalLine and as well as 13 varieties in their Vertuoline.
To start with, let’s clear up a common point of confusion. Nespresso describes the flavor of their coffee using a term called Intensity. The numbers generally range from a rating of 1-11. But don’t be confused, this intensity rating by no means determines its caffeine.
What Does Nespresso Mean By ‘Intensity’?
This one tends to confuse most people, and it’s not as obvious as it seems. Some are convinced it refers to the strength of flavor, and others think it’s the amount of caffeine. The answer? It’s both!
The intensity of the coffee is influenced by 2 factors, the roast of the coffee and the ratio of Robusta coffee to Arabica coffee.
Arabica coffee is lighter flavored and contains less caffeine. Robusta coffee, on the other hand, has a more intense flavor, is stronger, and contains more caffeine. The longer (or ‘darker’) the coffee is roasted also plays a part as roasting for longer destroys the caffeine.
This means you can have a dark roasted Arabica like the Nespresso Roma with an intensity of 8 and relatively low caffeine content and then have a medium roasted Robusta with a huge amount of caffeine like the Nespresso Kazaar.
Read More: In this article, we explain exactly how Nespresso defines their “Intensity Rating”.
Nespresso OriginalLine Caffeine Content.
So, how much caffeine is there in a standard Nespresso Pod? Each standard capsule contains exactly 5 grams of coffee which deliver 60-75mg of caffeine per pour. Each Nespresso Lungo Capsule contains 5.5 grams of coffee with a caffeine content of around 80-140mg.
We’ve found the values of caffeine content from the Nespresso website, and put them into the table below, sorted from strongest to weakest.
Nespresso Original – Ispirazione Italiana Caffeine:
The following table shows the caffeine content and intensity rating for the base range of Nespresso original capsules.
Read More: Looking to buy a Nespresso machine? We’ve shared our thoughts on the best one in this article.
| Ispirazione Italiana & Espresso | Intensity | Caffeine Content |
|---|---|---|
| Palermo Kazaar | 12 | 142mg |
| Napoli | 13 | 109mg |
| Envivo Lungo | 9 | 99mg |
| Indriva | 10 | 94mg |
| Fortissio Lungo | 8 | 85mg |
| Dulsoa | 4 | 84mg |
| Ristretto | 10 | 83mg |
| Arpeggio (Most popular flavor) | 9 | 83mg |
| Dharkan | 11 | 82mg |
| Vivalto Lungo | 4 | 77mg |
| Venezia | 8 | 77mg |
| Ristretto Italiano | 10 | 75mg |
| Roma | 8 | 73mg |
| Rosabaya | 6 | 73mg |
| Volluto | 4 | 72mg |
| Bukeela | 3 | 72mg |
| Linizio Lungo | 4 | 72mg |
| Capriccio | 5 | 70mg |
| Genova Livanto | 6 | 64mg |
| Firenze Arpeggio | 9 | 63mg |
| Cosi (lowest caffeine) | 4 | 59mg |
Nespresso Original – Ispirazione Italiana Caffeine:
The following table shows the caffeine content and intensity rating for the ‘Ispirazione Italiana’ range of Nespresso original capsules.
| Ispirazione Italiana | Caffeine Content | Intentity |
|---|---|---|
| Kazaar | 142mg | 12 |
| Napoli | 109mg | 13 |
| Livanto | 64mg | 6 |
| Roma | 73mg | 8 |
| Arpeggio | 83mg | 9 |
| Ristretto | 75mg | 10 |
| Venezia | 77mg | 8 |
Nespresso Original – World Explorations Caffeine:
The following table shows the caffeine content and intensity rating for the ‘World Explorations’ range of Nespresso original capsules.
| World Explorations | Caffeine Content | Intentity |
|---|---|---|
| Rio De Janiro Espresso | 77mg | 9 |
| Istanbul Espresso | 85mg | 8 |
| Paris Espresso | 75mg | 6 |
| Maimi Espresso | 85mg | 9 |
| Cape Town Envivo | 99mg | 9 |
| Shanghi | 82mg | 5 |
| Stockholm Fortissio | 80mg | 8 |
| Vienna Linizio | 75mg | 6 |
| Tokyo Vivalto | 82mg | 6 |
| Buenos Aires | 104mg | 4 |
Nespresso Original – Barista Creations Caffeine:
The following table shows the caffeine content and intensity rating for the ‘Barista Creations’ range of Nespresso original capsules.
[Updated 2023]
| Barista Creations | Caffeine Content |
|---|---|
| Filter Style Intense | 60mg |
| Filter Style Mild | 60mg |
| Vaniglia | 71mg |
| Caramello | 62mg |
| Cioccolatino | 72mg |
| Nocciola | 62mg |
| Freddo Intenso | 57mg |
| Freddo Delicato | 72mg |
| Corto | 103mg |
| Scuro | 73mg |
| Chiaro | 49mg |
Nespresso Original: Master Origins Caffeine:
The following table shows the caffeine content and intensity rating for the ‘Master Origins’ range of Nespresso original capsules.
| Master Origins | Caffeine Content | Intensity |
|---|---|---|
| Nicaragua | 65mg | 5 |
| India | 55mg | 11 |
| Indonesia | 72mg | 8 |
| Colombia | 64mg | 6 |
| Nicaragua La Cumplida Refinada | 57mg | 5 |
| Ethiopia | 65mg | 4 |
Nespresso Original – Decaffeinato Caffeine:
Now, obviously, the decaf (or decaffeinato) versions contain no caffeine. But I thought I’d still include them as for one, they do still have a tiny amount of caffeine left over from the decaffeination process.
and two, I wanted to make this a complete resource of all current Nespresso flavors.
| Type | Caffeine Content | Intensity |
|---|---|---|
| Volluto Decaffeinato | ~2mg | 4 |
| Ristretto Decaffeinato | ~2mg | 10 |
| Arpeggio Decaffeinato | ~2mg | 9 |
TLDR; Nespresso OriginalLine Caffeine Summary
As you can see, the Kazaar blend comes out on top with approximately 142mg of caffeine per capsule. Whereas the humble Cosi trails in last place at 59mg of caffeine per espresso shot.
Nespresso VertuoLine caffeine content.
Nespresso VertuoLine capsules are larger and can only be used with a Nespresso VertuoLine Machine. They contain more ground coffee per capsule than OriginalLine does and come in a variety of sizes. The machine uses a special barcode on the lip of the pod to recognize what capsule has been inserted and then dispenses the correct amount of water accordingly. Pretty clever huh?
- VertuoLine Espresso – 40ml / 1.35oz
- VertuoLine Double Espresso – 80ml / 2.7oz
- VertuoLine Gran Lungo – 150ml / 5oz
- VertuoLine Coffee (mug) – 230ml / 8oz
- VertuoLine Alto – 414ml / 14oz
So how much caffeine is in these nespresso pods?
Just like for the OriginalLine Pods, factors such as the ratio of Arabica to Robusta Coffee, as well as the distinct bean variations will affect the final caffeine content.
In the market, you will be able to find around 35 different types of varieties in Nespresso capsules in Nespresso OriginalLine. There are currently 13 different varieties of capsules in Nespresso Vertuoline. We’ve listed their specified caffeine content in the tables below.
Read More: Looking to buy a Vertuo machine? We’ve shared our thoughts on the best one in this article.
Nespresso VertuoLine: Espresso Pods Capsules (40ml):
The following table shows the caffeine content and intensity rating for the ‘Espresso’ range of Vertuo capsules.
| Type | Intensity | Caffeine Content |
|---|---|---|
| Voltesso | 4 | 85mg |
| Altissio | 9 | 85mg |
| Diavolitto | 11 | 150mg |
Nespresso VertuoLine Gran Lungo Capsules (150ml):
The following table shows the caffeine content and intensity rating for the ‘Gran Lungo’ range of Vertuo capsules.
| Type | Intensity | Caffeine Content |
|---|---|---|
| Aflorazio | 4 | 135mg |
| Arondio | 6 | 135mg |
| Fortado | 8 | 200mg |
Nespresso VertuoLine Mug / Coffee Capsules (230ml):
The following table shows the caffeine content and intensity rating for the ‘Coffee’ or ‘Mug’ range of Vertuo capsules.
| Type | Intensity | Caffeine Content |
|---|---|---|
| Solelio | 2 | ~165mg |
| Giornio | 4 | ~165mg |
| Elvazio | 4 | ~165mg |
| Half Caffeinato | 5 | 70mg |
| Melozio | 6 | ~165mg |
| Hazelino | 6 | ~165mg |
| Caramelizio | 6 | ~165mg |
| Vanizio | 6 | ~165mg |
| Odacio | 7 | ~165mg |
| Stormio | 8 | ~165mg |
| Intenso | 9 | ~165mg |
Nespresso VertuoLine Alto Capsules (414ml):
The following table shows the caffeine content and intensity rating for the Alto range of Vertuo capsules.
| Type | Intensity | Caffeine Content |
|---|---|---|
| Dolce | 4 | 190mg |
| Intenso | 7 | 190mg |
*For brevity, decaffeinated variations of Nespresso capsules have been omitted from this table.
What About The Pour Size? Espresso vs. lungo.
The Nespresso OriginalLine range has 2 distinct families, the standard Espresso capsules, and the nearly identical in size Lungo capsule. To complement this, most Nespresso machines have 2 buttons (often shown as a single cup or a double cup icon) to dispense the correct amount of water. But what exactly is the difference?
Most of us are familiar with espresso. It forms the base of most of the barista drinks we know and love; such as the Cappuccino, Flat White, and Latte.
However, a lungo is slightly different. It is a longer coffee which more popular in European countries. The coffee is still extracted in the same way as and espresso shot, however, a lungo is designed to fill up more of your cup. What this means is that on the whole they can be a little milder but still maintains the same flavor and intensity.
Now with a longer extraction comes more chance for that precious caffeine to be extracted. Even though the majority of the caffeine comes through in the first 40mls, we typically get an extra ~20% caffeine in a lungo pour.
What are the key differences between Espresso and Lungo?
- The default pour size of Espresso is 40mls
- The default pour size of Lungo (long) is 110mls.
- The average caffeine range is 60-80 mg for Espresso and 75-95 mg for Lungo.
So can I make a lungo using a Nespresso espresso capsule?
You shouldn’t really make an espresso using a lungo capsule or vice versa. The coffee blends and their respective flavors are put together specifically with the extraction time in mind. Extracting an espresso capsule super slowly and with more water will just result in a weak, over-extracted espresso that won’t taste like it is intended. Similarly, it would be impossible to extract the full flavors of a lungo capsule by extracting under higher pressure and for a shorter period of time.
Check Out: Our Nespresso Pod Wall Charts 👀
⛔ Stop guessing which Nespresso flavor you want to drink
⛔ Not sure about the difference in flavor, caffeine levels, and coffee origin?
🟢 Let your family and friends choose from the full Nespresso Menu instead!
*On sale for a limited time*
Learn More Get on etsyTo Sum Things Up:
There is a common misnomer when it comes to the caffeine content of espresso where many people believe that the Intensity number quoted is a measure of the caffeine.
In fact, the 2 main contributors to the caffeine content of your Nespresso pod is the ratio of Robusta to arabica coffee and the darkness of the roast. On top of this, extracting for longer will pull more caffeine out of the pod, but will change the flavor profile of your coffee.
The values of a typical Nespresso pod can vary by over double, from 60mg to 140mg. This means if you’re caffeine-sensitive, you can know which pods to avoid, and if you are a caffeine lover, you know how to get the best bang for your buck.
We’ll for sure be stocking up on the Nespresso Kazaar from now on, as this has by far the highest caffeine content for the price!! You can grab a pack of 40pods from amazon for about $32.
- INTENSE & SYRUPY: This Nespresso coffee blends two Robustas from Brazil & Guatemala and a separately roasted Arabica from South America to create coffee of exceptional intensity
We hope you’ve enjoyed all these details on Nespresso caffeine content, and the choice is a little easier next time you reach for your morning coffee.
Related Posts
Is Dolce Gusto Compatible With Nespresso (Our Hack!)
Dolce Gusto and Nespresso offer a variety of coffee capsules for an excellent brew. But, [...]
Dolce Gusto Nespresso Adaptor (Try This Hack!)
Have you ever found yourself staring longingly at a tempting Nespresso pod, wishing you could [...]
Why is The Light on My Nespresso Vertuo Machine Blinking? (Fixed!)
If you own a Nespresso machine, you may wonder, “Why is the light on my [...]
Nespresso Vertuo Next Review (What We REALLY Think?)
Disclaimer: We paid for this machine with our own money (We had to test our [...]
