Nespresso Ristretto Decaffeinato Review

The Ristretto Italiano Decaffeinato is one of the four decaf options in the OriginalLine range. It leans on the success of the regular Ristretto capsules, and then strips away to caffeine to make a delicious ristretto you can enjoy any time of the day or night.

Ristretto Decaffeinato is a blend of Arabica and Robusta. The Arabica, like most Nespresso coffees comes from Brazil, which is blended with Colombian and African Robusta.

Here’s our review of the Nespresso Ristretto Decaffeinato and everything you need to know about this coffee capsule.

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Green Pods ristretto decaffeinato Review

Intensity

Nespresso rate all their capsules with an ‘Intensity Rating’. This number goes from from 1 to 13 and is based on a combination of it’s flavour, bitterness, acidity and roast. Ristretto Decaffeinato scores 10.

Value

At roughly $0.70 USD each, they are on the cheaper end for genuine OriginalLine Nespresso capsules. There are however much cheaper 3rd party options that fit the OriginalLine machines which is a better value option than using the genuine pods.

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The Green Pods Nespresso Ristretto Decaffeinito Caffiene Rating

Caffeine

Ristretto Decaffeinato is a decaf coffee, meaning the coffee has been processed to remove as much of the caffeine as possible. Note: Its never possible to remove all the caffeine, so most manufacturers guarantee that there’s less than 2mg.

Read our full caffeine comparison here.

Calories

The Ristretto Decaffeinato contains around 0.6 Kilo-Calories.

Weight

The pods weights 6.2 grams when new.

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Coffee Content

Each capsule contains around 5 grams of coffee

Material

The Nespresso Ristretto Decaffeinato capsule is made of 8081 aluminum with a food safe laquer coating. Recently all Nespresso capsules are made from at least 80% recycled metal.

Beverage Size

The Ristretto Decaffeinato is designed for either a Ristretto or Espresso shot. This means you can expect 25ml/0.85oz – 40ml/1.35oz of coffee from your capsules.

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Origin

The Nespresso Ristretto Decaffeinato contains a blend of coffees: Brazillian Arabica and Robusta from Africa and Colombia.

sustainability

Nespresso capsules can be recycled via the Nespresso recyling program.

Jump to sustainability.

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Extraction Method

This capsule uses 14 bar of high pressure hot water to produce espresso coffee. This is the same process used by cafes.

Our take on the Ristretto Decaffeinato?

The Nespresso OriginalLine Ristretto Italiano Decaffeinato is a full on, intense coffee that makes you forget you’re drinking a decaf.

This pod is designed to be a Ristretto, which means you stop the espresso shot short after only 20ml has been extracted. Nespresso do say that you can drink it as an espresso too if you wish.

It’s rich in roasted notes and much more full and round tasting that many other Nespresso options. This is a full on coffee experience in a very small sip.

The Ristretto Decaffeinato is a very thick and intense coffee. Behind a deep roast there are some floral notes and a little perfume..

Pros of the Ristretto decaffeinato:

We think this is the best decaf offering in the Nespresso range. When made as a true ristretto we find the body and flavour come through while the bitterness that some people associate with a decaf is nowhere to be found.

Cons of the Ristretto decaffeinato:

Making a ristretto is a bit fiddly for our liking. Most Nespresso machines don’t have a dedicated ristretto option, so having the patience and practice to stop the machine at just the right time detracts a little from the simplicity that Nespresso is meant to provide.

CHARACTERISTICS

ROAST

Ristretto Decaffeinato is dark / very-dark roast coffee.

Flavour

This capsule has a full on roast and body, yet not too much bitterness. Balanced.

AROMA

There’s really not much to smell here. Burnt notes and a little smoke.

body

Weirdly enough, the { almost tastes creamy. It is thick, viscous, and full of coffee solids.

acidity

This is a very low acidity coffee

bitterness

{ is probably the most bitter coffee in the OriginaLine range. We give it a 4/5 in bitterness.

Beverage Options

Ristretto Decaffeinato is designed to be exreacted as a Ristretto / Espresso shot. It’s full body and intense flavor means this shot is absolutly packed with flavor. We recommend the Ristretto Decaffeinato is enjoyed in the following beverages:

Machiato

Extract an espresso shot from your Ristretto Decaf capsule. Froth a small amount of milk and pour very slowly against the rim of the cup. Finish by spooning a small amount of froth to the centre of the espresso to mark the crema.

Machiato Ristretto

Extract a ristretto shot from your Kazaar capsule by stopping the extraction after only 20ml has been extracted. Froth a small amount of milk and pour very slowly against the rim of the cup. Finish by spooning a small amount of froth to the centre of the espresso to mark the crema.

Ristretto Long Black

In a tulip cup extract a ristretto shot from your Ristretto capsule (Press the button again to stop extraction after 20ml has come out). Top up with hot water. You can get hot water by running your machine without a capsule, or by boiling the kettle and letting it stand for a minute before adding it to the coffee.

Decaf Magic

A double ristretto with a splash of milk. Use 2 Ristretto Decaffeinato capsules to pull a double ristretto (~40ml) into a latte glass. Fill to 3/4 with foamed milk to create a short latte.

Food Pairings

We’d reccommend something sweet to balance out the bitterness and bold flavours of Ristretto Decaffeinato. This is a great morning tea coffee, so grab a bikkie or pastry and enjoy.

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SUSTAINABILITY

Are they recyclable?

Yes! All Nespresso pods are recyclable through the Nespresso recycling program.

What are the capsules made from?

Nespresso pods are made a specific aluminium alloy known as 8081. They are then coated with a thin film of plastic and an epoxy varnish to stop the metal from oxidising.

Recycling Nespresso pods

We’re actually quite impressed by the lengths Nespresso has gone to implement its recycling program on a global scale. In most countries, Nespresso offers dedicated recycling bags, which you can return full of your used pods to drop-off points at Nespresso stores, post shops, supermarkets, and even florists.

To date, Nespresso has become one of few brands to demonstrate its commitment to environmental concerns. While most major manufacturers continue to produce disposable plastic coffee capsules, the latest Nespresso capsules are made from 100% recyclable metal.

Accessing Nespresso’s recycling locations worldwide

Nespresso has put in place a recycling programme for its aluminium Nespresso and Vertuoline capsules in 44 countries.

Out of these 44 countries enrolled in the program, consumers can dispose of the capsules in their recycling bins in 6 of them. In 15 countries they can ship them off back to Nespresso through the postal system for free. For the 23 other countries, there are 122,287 collection points worldwide where you can drop off the used capsules.

Read our NZ recycling guide here.

Sustainability Score

Nespresso OriginalLine capsules score a 2.5/5 for being able to be recycled. They loose points for still being a single use product, and not being able to be biodegradable or compostable.

Recyclable	Yes
Biodegradable	No
Commercially Compostable	No
Biodegradable	No

HOW TO BUY

our TWO favorite Options:

Nespresso sell the Ristretto Decaffeinato in many different size packs, as well as in variety boxes. We’ve found these capsules are slightly cheaper on Amazon, so have linked them here (right) for your convenience.

Note: prices fluctuate often so check the lates price before buying.

decaf variety pack

$32.99

30 Capsules

$1.10 Per Pod

The Green Pods Nespresso arpeggio decaffeinato 30 Decaf Pack 1

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50 pack

$35.05

50 Capsules

$0.70 Per Pod

The Green Pods Nespresso ristretto decaffeinato 50 Pack

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FAQ

If you have any questions about the Nespresso Ristretto Decaffeinato, we’re here to help. We’re passionate about all things coffee and coffee pods. Here’s the answers to a few questions we’ve been asked, or had to figure out for ourselves!

The Green Pods Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ristretto and the Ristretto Decaffeinato the same thing?

No. These are the exact same blend of delicious coffee, except the latter has has the caffeine removed. There is a slight difference in taste.

How do I extract ristretto with my machine?

Simply start an espresso extraction like normal, but press the button again to stop the process after 15-20 seconds, or after only 20ml has been extracted.

Where is the cheapest place to buy Ristretto Decaffeinato?

Nespresso pods are usually the same price no matter how many you buy. That being said, you can sometimes find them slightly cheaper on Amazon. Check the links above.

What does the intensity rating go to?

Nespresso’s Intensity rating operates on a scale from 1 to 13. Why? We don’t know.

Read up on intensity ratings here.

OUR REUSABLE ALTERNATIVES

Here at The Green Pods, we specialise in reusable stainless steel capsules to replace the single use ones used in coffee machine like this one.

Our Reusable Nespresso pods fit almost all Nespresso OriginalLine machines. We recommend a starter pack with includes a weighted tamper, scoop and brush.

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