It’s a known fact:
Nespresso is one of the biggest coffee brands in the world.
And while you may be among the many people enjoying their products, I’m sure – at some point – you’ve wondered…
“How much caffeine is in this Nespresso pod?”
Well, you are not alone – many have been asking the same.
And:
In keeping with CoffeeHolli’s goal to keep all coffeeholics well-informed, we’ve prepared this in-depth post on Nespresso pod’s caffeine content.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Table of Contents
Basic Facts About Nespresso Capsules
Nespresso Caffeine Levels
Typically:
Nespresso pods (either Vertuo or Original) contain a certain amount of finely roasted, ground coffee beans (Arabica or Robusta).
Naturally, the pods have different levels of caffeine owing to the fact that Arabica beans have less caffeine than Robusta.
So:
If you want less caffeine in your cup of joe, consider going for Arabica coffee pods. But if you want that extra caffeine energy, Robusta pods are for you.
Also, there are Nespresso pods that blend both Arabica and Robusta grounds.
These pods fall somewhere between Robusta’s ample caffeine levels and Arabica’s sweet and fruity flavors.
Nespresso Coffee Pod Sizes
Get this:
The type of coffee beans isn’t the only determining factor of caffeine content in Nespresso pods. The sizes of the pods also count.
Now:
For Nespresso’s Original Line, there are three sizes, namely…
- Ristretto (small)
- Espresso (medium)
- Lungo (large)
As indicated above, Lungo is the largest of all OriginalLine coffee pods.
Thus, it has the highest amount of caffeine. It is followed by the medium-sized Espresso and the Ristretto, which is the smallest.
What about the Vertuo pods?
They come in five main sizes, namely:
- Espresso
- Double Espresso
- GranLungo
- Mug/Coffee
- Carafe
The Double Espresso and GranLungo are bigger variations of the espresso and lungo sizes.
However, if you want to prepare more coffee, you’ll need a much bigger size like the Mug/Coffee or Carafe sizes.
Nespresso Intensity Scale
Make no mistake:
The intensity scale on Nespresso capsules doesn’t tell the caffeine content. This is a common misconception among Nespresso owners.
Instead, it reveals the degree of roasting, bitterness, and body of the coffee. This is usually between 1 to 13.
Thus:
If a coffee pod has a higher intensity rating, the resulting drink will be more bitter, heavier, and more flavorful.
Got it?
Now that we know all about Nespresso pod types, let’s delve into today’s core issue – the caffeine content tables.
The Caffeine Content in Nespresso Pods
Each Nespresso pod contains Arabica, Robusta, or both grounds – with Robusta having almost twice the amount of caffeine. The pods also come in different sizes. Unlike the different grounds and sizes, you can’t tell the caffeine content from the Nespresso intensity scale. However, the caffeine content tables for Original and VertuoLine pods below provide better information.
Nespresso Original Line Caffeine Content Summary Table
Original Pod
Size
Coffee Grams
Caffeine Content
Intensity
Aromatic Profile

Lungo
5.6
104
7
Sweet/Caramel/Popcorn

Lungo
5.7
110
10
Intense and Roasted

Espresso
5
70
5
Cereals

Espresso
5.3
62
6
Caramel

Ristretto
4.8
49
5
Creamy Caramel and Sweet

Espresso
5
62
6
Dark Chocolate

Espresso
5.7
64
6
Fruity and Winey

Espresso
5.8
103
11
Spicey

Espresso
5
59
4
Cereals and Fruity

Espresso
5.7
65
4
Fruity and Winey

Espresso
5.8
72
6
Fruity

Espresso
4.8
56
9
Cereal and Woody

Espresso
7
129
13
Cereal and Intensely roasted

Espresso
5.5
103
11
Spicy

Espresso
5.7
72
8
Woody

Espresso
5.6
85
8
Fruit and Almond

Espresso
5.3
64
6
Caramel

Espresso
5.6
85
9
Pepper and Tobacco

Espresso
5.7
109
13
Woody and Spicy

Espresso
5
65
5
Sweet
Honey

Ristretto
6
113
12
Woody and Spicy

Espresso
5.6
75
6
Cereal and Biscuit

Espresso
5.8
50-60
6
Fruity Vegetables

Espresso
5.5
75
9
Herbal and Spicy

Ristretto
5.7
75
10
Intensely Roasted and Fruity

Ristretto
5.7
2
10
Intensely Roasted and Hint of Fruity

Ristretto
5
63
8
Woody and Cereals

Espresso
5.5
73
8
Intense

Lungo
5.6
82
5
Orange, Peachy, and Fruity

Lungo
6
80
8
Sweet Cereal and Malted

Lungo
5.8
82
6
Floral and Hint of Fruit

Eclair
Espresso
5
62
6
Vanilla

Lungo
5.5
75
6
Malted Cereal and Sweet

Espresso
5
64
4
Cereals and Fruity

Espresso
5
1.7
4
Cereals and Fruity
As shown in the table:
IL Caffe (129 mg) and Palermo Kazaar (113 mg) have the highest caffeine content amongst all Nespresso OriginalLine pods.
Other high caffeinated pods include Cape Town Envivo Lungo (110 mg), Napoli (109 mg) and Buenos Aires (104 mg).
Thus, these pods are the best choice for those who love strong java.
In contrast:
Firenze Decaffeinato (2 mg), Ristretto Decaffeinato (2 mg), and Volluto Decaffeinato (1.7 mg) are decaf pods with minimal caffeine.
These coffee pods have little to no impact if you’re caffeine-sensitive. Thus, making them ideal for decaf lovers.
Got it?
Nespresso VertuoLine Caffeine Content Summary Table
VertuoLine Pod
Size
Coffee Grams
Caffeine Content
Intensity
Aromatic Profile

Espresso
7
108
9
Full-bodied and Creamy

Espresso
7
4
9
Cereal and Roasted

Gran Lungo
10
150
6
Cereal and Mild

Double Espresso
10.2
105
N/A
Cereal, Caramel, and Biscuit

Mug
12.5
160
N/A
Dark
Roasted

Double Espresso
10
140
N/A
Sweet
Biscuit

Espresso
6.2
75
N/A
Caramel and Biscuit

Double Espresso
10
165
10
Intense Cocoa

Mug
12.5
159
6
Caramel Flavored

Mug
12.5
160
6
Dark Chocolate Flavored

Mug
12.5
165
5
Fruity and Winey

Gran Lungo
10.5
140
7
Cereal and Mild

Espresso
7
144
11
Highly Intense and Powerful

Double Espresso
10
135
8
Dense and Mild

Double Espresso
9.5
133
5
Cereal and Malt

Double Espresso
10
150
11
Dark and Bold

Mug
12.5
150
5
Cereal and Fruity

Gran Lungo
9.5
119
4
Flowery and Berry

Mug
12.5
150
6
Almond and Vanilla

Mug
12.5
150
6
Woody and Spicy

Mug
12.5
150
7
Juicy, Sweet, and Pastry

Gran Lungo
10
195
8
Intense and Full-bodied

Gran Lungo
10
7
8
Roasted and Woody

Mug
12.5
150
N/A
Gingerbread

Mug
12.5
83
5
Sweet and Velvety

Mug
12.5
170
6
Hazelnut-Flavored

Coffee
12.5
165
6
Cereal, Woody, and Peppery

Double Espresso
10
165
6
Toasted Cereal and Fruity

Espresso
7
152
11
Cereal and Spicy

Gran Lungo
10
120
6
Floral and Cereal

Mug
12.5
195
9
Deep and Dense

Mug
12.5
170
6
Biscuit and Cereal

Mug
12.5
200
6
Biscuit and Cereal

Mug
12.5
11
6
Cereal and Honey

Mug
12.5
190
7
Intense and Spiced

Mug
12.5
170
7
Bold and Lively

Espresso
6.2
110
6
Cereal, Liquorice, and Spicy

Espresso
7.2
85
6
Toasted sweet cereal and Fruity

Espresso
12.5
170
5
Rich and Strong

Mug
12.5
200
8
Spicy and Woody

Mug
12.5
133
2
Fruity and Light-bodied

Espresso
6.2
84
5
Candied Fruit and Pineapple

Mug
12.5
166
6
Vanilla Flavored

Espresso
5.2
64
4
Light and Sweet
As expected:
The table shows that VertuoLine pods have more caffeine than Original pods, as they are typically bigger.
And:
The most caffeinated VertuoLine pods include the Melozio Boost and Stormio Boost with 200 mg each. As their names imply, these pods are the boosted versions of the Melozio and Stormio pods.
Other pods with heavy doses of caffeine include Fortado (195 mg), Intenso (195 mg), and Mexico (190 mg).
Are you a decaf fan or caffeine-sensitive?
If yes, you have a few VertuoLine pods to choose from. These include Altissio Decaffeinato, Fortado Decaffeinato, and Melozio Decaffeinato.
They all have less than 12 mg of caffeine.
Conclusion
Obviously:
People love coffee for different reasons. While many drink it for its stimulating kick, there are those who take it for fun and enjoyment.
And that’s why it’s always important to know how much caffeine is in your coffee pods.
Anyway:
If you’re a fan of Nespresso, the information above contains everything you need to know to get your next best cup of joe; including the facts that:
- Nespresso pods contain either Arabica or Robusta coffee grounds, or both
- Robusta beans contain more caffeine than Arabica
- The bigger the pods, the more caffeine they have
- Nespresso intensity scale shows the degree of the coffee’s roasting, bitterness, and body. It has nothing to do with the caffeine content
With that in mind:
I hope this post has been helpful. If you have any questions or contributions, please leave a comment below.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. This is mainly because of the amount of Robusta used, as it has twice as much caffeine as Arabica. The size of the pod is also a factor, as bigger pods tend to have more caffeine.
The caffeine content of Nespresso capsules varies. Most Original capsules have between 40 to 130 mg, while most VertuoLine pods have between 60 to 200 mg.
Palermo Kazaar has the highest caffeine content amongst all Nespresso capsule flavors. For a small-sized ristretto, there is as much as 113 mg of caffeine.
The Nespresso pods with high caffeine content are Melozio Boost and Stormio Boost. They each have 200 mg of caffeine. Other pods with high caffeine content are Fortado (195 mg), Intenso (195 mg), and Mexico (190 mg).
Melozio Boost and Stormio Boost (200mg) are the most caffeinated Vertuo capsules. They were formerly in the form of alto-sized drinks, but got discontinued.