Nespresso Intenso Review And Key Info (Read Before Buying)

Since getting a vertuo machine, and trying this new style of Nespresso capsule I’ve been enjoying them a lot.

Much more than the classic original pods in fact.

I Recently ordered a sleeve of each of the main Vertuo flavors to see which ones i liked the most . if it lives up to its name.

In this post, I’ll share my experience with the Intenso, what I liked and didn’t like about it, and how it compares to other Nespresso Vertuo flavors. 

Nespresso Intenso Key Characteristics

Coffee origin

Intenso is made from a blend of two types of coffee beans: Guatemalan Robusta and Latin American Arabica. The Robusta beans are washed and sun-dried, which gives them a smooth and clean taste. The Arabica beans are sourced from Mexico and other countries in Central and South America, and they add hints of acidity and sweetness to the blend. This duo results in a complex yet balanced flavor profile.

Intenso flavor characteristics

The coffee is intense and has a strong and bold flavor with woody, peppery, and chocolatey notes. Because it’s a dark roast, your palate will easily pick up on its intensity and richness. It’s full-bodied with a slight bitterness.

Intensity

The intensity of the Nespresso Intenso is 9, making it one of the strongest coffees in the VertuoLine range. It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted because it does pack a punch and flavor that will wake you up in no time.

Nespresso Intenso caffeine content

This coffee contains a high caffeine level, with a content of 195 mg per capsule. This is mainly because Nespresso uses Robusta beans, which have more caffeine than Arabica beans.

Nespresso Intenso calories

If you’re looking for guilt-free indulgence, then Intenso is worth adding to your pantry. The coffee contains about 2 kcal per capsule. 

Pour size

Similar to most Vertuoline coffees, Intenso’s pour size is 7.77 oz / 230 ml, enough to produce a decent amount of joe to enjoy for longer.

Compatibility

The Nespresso Intenso is only compatible with the Nespresso VertuoLine machines.

Our Review of the Intenso

I popped the Intenso capsule into the Vertuo brewing chamber and here are my impressions. 

Intenso taste

As the name suggests, Intenso is strong and bold and the taste matches the aroma. On the first sip, I noticed the complex and balanced flavor profile that combines woody, peppery, and chocolatey notes, which my palates seemed to like. The sensation ended with a lingering caramel taste and a slight bitterness that added some edge to the coffee. To see how it pairs with additives, I brewed a second cup and added a splash of milk. This heightened the caramel notes and cut through the intensity while maintaining the robust flavor, which I pleasantly enjoyed.

Acidity

While the coffee is all-round intense, I appreciate that it has low to medium acidity, around 1. It has a smooth and mellow taste that did not irritate my palate. And I felt the beautiful combination of the two bean varieties come to the fore. The Arabica adds an element of sweetness and fruitiness to the blend, while the coffee’s dark roasted nature reduces the acidity of the beans, creating caramelization that adds some sweetness and smoothness to the coffee. 

Roast and bitterness

Being a dark roast, I found that it has a deep and robust color, aroma, flavor, and body of the coffee. It has an overall pleasant smokiness and character, but it’s also not overly bitter. The first sip stimulates the taste buds, but it mellows down to a more smooth and balanced aftertaste. 

Crema

Immediately after brewing, I was greeted by a thick, rich, golden-brown crema that looked inviting. When I took a sip, I was impressed by the satisfying velvet mouthfeel. 

What we like about the Intenso

• It has a strong, bold, and balanced flavor profile
• High caffeine content is suitable for those days when I need a boost of energy that lasts for hours
• Its low-calorie count makes it a guilt-free indulgence 
• Thick velvety crema

What we don’t like about the Intenso

• There’s nothing not to like

Intenso Compared To Other Flavors

The Nespresso Intenso is one of the many flavors in the Nespresso VertuoLine range, and it has some similarities and differences with other flavors. Here are some comparisons between the Nespresso Intenso and other flavors:

Intenso vs. Odacio

	Intenso	Odacio
Origin	Guatemalan Robusta and Latin American Arabica	East African and Nicaraguan Arabica
Flavor characteristics	Deep and dense, with woody and spicy notes	Bold and lively, with floral and fruity notes
Intensity	9	7
Caffeine content	195 mg	170 mg
Pour size	7.77 oz (230 ml)	7.77 oz (230 ml)
Calorie count	2	2.4
Compatibility	Vertuoline	Vertuoline

Intenso vs. Melozio

	Intenso	Melozio
Origin	Guatemalan Robusta and Latin American Arabica	Brazilian and Central American Arabica
Flavor characteristics	Deep and dense, with woody and spicy notes	Smooth and balanced with honeyed biscuit and cereal notes
Intensity	9	6
Caffeine content	195 mg	170 mg
Pour size	7.77 oz (230 ml)	7.77 oz (230 ml)
Calorie count	2	2.4
Compatibility	Vertuoline	Vertuoline

Intenso vs. Stormio

Here’s a side-by-side comparrison of the Intenso and Stormio flavors.

I personally prefer the Intenso. Even though it’s meant to be ‘intense’ I find it less bitter than the stormio. I also find the flavor comes through a little better where the Stormio tastes kind of burnt?

Here’s a table summarising the key attributes of each:

	Intenso	Stormio
Origin	Guatemalan Robusta and Latin American Arabica	Central American
Flavor characteristics	Deep and dense, with woody and spicy notes	Rich and strong with spicy and woody notes
Intensity	9	8
Caffeine content	195 mg	170 mg
Pour size	7.77 oz (230 ml)	7.77 oz (230ml)
Calorie count	2	2.4
Compatibility	Vertuoline	Vertuoline

Nespresso Intenso: Frequently Asked Questions