ITALIANO ESPRESSO (60 capsules) Lavica Dark Roast Nespresso Compatible Coffee Capsules

The Lavica (Nespresso style) capsules worked fine in my machine, if anything, they felt a little bit looser in the chamber that you slide them into. No negative effect that I know of. The coffee itself is quite strong. Typically, one expects espresso to taste strong. The standard Nespresso coffee product is smoother, giving it the feeling of a higher quality. However, the Lavica product tastes exactly the way espresso tasted when I was in Italy. I can't describe it exactly, but drinking this coffee took me back to Italy in my mind's eye almost immediately. Its quite authentic.Found Lavica as a good alternative to the standard capsules. Doing some quick math, Nespresso 40USD for 50 capsules = 80 cents each. Lavica 30USD for 60 capsules = 50 cents each. With my new Nespresso machine and my espresso consumption going up, this purchase made a lot of sense. I know that you can order Nespresso capsules for 70 cents each from the Nespresso site, however, once you add in shipping, it costs nearly the same as the Amazon Nespresso (about 80 cents per capsule). Lavica is the best current deal (to flavor ratio) on the market.

The packaging on this product is very nice, each little pod comes in a sealed pouch. I am not sure why this is necessary but I guess if you are going to drop one in your purse, it's nice to know there is an added protection from puncture. This added security system doesn't make me like this coffee more, though. For an Italian Espresso, it is weak and watered down. I haven't yet tried using two of the pods for the designated amount of water, but you get my point. There is nothing that tastes like expresso, more like a half a cup of coffee from a drive-thru fast food place.

Since I read reviews saying the capsules didn't work, I'll first say it's smooth as long as you let them tilt a bit downward toward the back before you pull the handle. (Also, I noted that some of the people who complained were talking about non-Nespresso machines.) But I don't find the flavor very intense compared to some of the Nespresso capsules I've tried. Don't think I'll order again.

So disappointed when I received this today - I thought I would try an alternative to Nespresso branded coffee (which I generally like, but hate to feel locked in to one supplier) and thought that Lavica might be a good 'other option'. The first pod we tried (in a Nespresso coffee maker on Lungo setting) came out really very watery, no better than a poor/mediocre Keurig. I then tried another pod on Espresso setting and the foil didn't get punctured, so no coffee and a bit of a mess :-( I then tried another pod on Espresso setting and that worked ok, but still, the flavor was only ok. Like so many other reviewers, I guess I'll be back to Nespresso as the only source of good pods.

I tried highline coffee before this. I decided to give this a try since it was cheap for a ton of them. It works just fine in my machine and has no problems dispensing. Its definitely Italian and bitter.... NOT smooth. If you like traditional bitter Italian espresso than this will make you happy. I was hoping for it to be a little smoother than it was but I got what I paid for so I am happy with it.

The coffee is great and the only thing I'm not fond of is the inefficiency of the packaging - which takes up a lot of space. It's worth it, however. I had read the coffee comes out slower than the Nespresso pods, but I didn't find that to be true with this particular shipment. I will continue to order.

I will only ever order Nespresso capsules after this. It's not that the coffee isn't good, it's that these capsules just don't work. I have a brand new Inissia Nespresso machine, and you'll have to punch these capsules (I had to use a tack) on both sides before they'll yield any coffee at all. The problem is that, without the proper amount of pressure buildup, there is no crema, and when you punch these capsules, the pressure is apparently not distributed correctly to generate the rich foam you get with Nespresso capsules. I'm incredibly disappointed.

Almost as good as nespresso capsules. Lots of good flavor.