Lavazza Lavazza Ristretto Noble Dark Roast Coffee Capsules Compatible with Nespresso Original Machines, Ristretto, 10 Count (Pack of 6)

I’ve been drinking LaVazza and Illy for years. If you’re familiar with Illy, you know the grounds are super fine and can take a decent mid-range (under $2000) espresso maker down fast. So I switched to LaVazza. Each coffee has a distinct flavor. Once you switch to Italian coffees, well.... there really is no looking back. So, after years of one espresso machine after another, I finally bought a Nespresso Pixie and an electric Frother. Best decision I’ve ever made. It’s simpler, easier and in my opinion makes a better home espresso. Is it as good as an Italian National barista with a machine worth tens of thousands of dollars? No. Is it close? Surprisingly, yes. I bought the Nespresso dark roast variety pack. Found myself disappointed in the flavors, although mixing flavors for double shots seems to help a little. I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied with anything but a Italian coffee. So, despite some negative Amazon reviews, I decided to try the LaVazza capsules. Great decision. For one, the LaVazza capsules work fine in my Pixie OriginalLine Machine. The LaVazza capsules provide a tiny bit more espresso and definitely form more crema. Now, the Nespresso capsules produce a beautiful crema too, but the LaVazza just do a little better. And the flavor of the LaVazza capsules is wonderful. Far superior. I’m in heaven. I never thought I’d ever get espresso and cappuccino this great at home. It has cured me of my expensive Starbucks habit. Actually, this kicks Starbucks’ ass. (The Starbucks in-house espresso is bitter and stale, and more often than not, because their machines aren’t serviced enough, they produce little crema.) The bonus, too, is that the LaVazza capsules are cheaper than the Nespresso capsules. I do have a few tips. If you like your cappuccino hot, not warm, make sure you prime your machine by pulling a couple of shots of hot water before you pull your espresso shots. I froth my milk in an electric frother, which for me doesn’t warm the milk enough. So I warm cream on the stove top. I can control how hot that gets. I use the froth from the frother and the crème from the stovetop. Because the Nespresso machine and frother are easier/faster than a true espresso machine, this isn’t as much of a pain in the butt as it sounds. All in all, I HIGHLY recommend trying the LaVazza capsules. So much flavor!

This is actually my first review ever! I felt compelled to write because after ordering this product in a pack based on my familiarity with Lavazza coffees (I grew up consuming French, Swiss and Italian brands), I ended up reading reviews further and it really made me nervous I had made a mistake! Many comments were negative - watery coffee, lousy capsule construction, and the pack being non-returnable. Well none of that has been true for us! The capsules work ideally and without any issues whatsoever. We use a C101 Essenza. I can compare this coffee with Nespresso's Drakhan, which I ordered in tandem, and it's a bit less intense (11 vs 10 intensity rating however). I would agree that this particular item is not well suited for the larger volume (I have 2 settings on our unit) and find the larger volume to make it too "soft"....more like a drip coffee taste/flavor. But the short setting is excellent and ideal for making a great espresso/Petit Cafe! Smooth foam, good flavor with decent bite and aromas. Great price point. I really recommend!

I love my Nespresso Original Line and drink - well, way too much coffee. As any Nespresso owner can tell you, in the US the pods run about USD$.70 each. That's more than double the rate in Europe. That translates into $1.50 for each cup of coffee. I'm not complaining. The quality is pretty outstanding, right? I thought I'd try a few of the less spendy alternatives and I've always liked Lavazza's coffees. These pods come in at about .50 each, which is a bit less than Nespresso. The packaging, as you'd expect, is all aluminum. There's a hint more darkness and woodiness to the roast, which personally I like a great deal. There's less crema so this is more a regular coffee than the foamy Nespresso style. The flavor is intense and rich. There's no bitterness on the tongue and the aftertaste is remarkably pleasant. Even cold in the cup, there is no bitterness in the coffee. The excellent quality of the roast, which is a medium dark, is consistent and provides a uniquely smooth experience. This is one superior cup of coffee.

If you like the flavor of Lavazza brand coffees these capsules are for you. For my taste the intensity ratings are off a bit off. The Deciso would be more of an 8 and the Armonico would be more of a 6. That is not a complaint, just an observation. When I am in the mood for a strong coffee flavor I brew my own. For a fast espresso, these are great. The reason I gave four and not five stars is due to the capsules not fitting into the machine as well as the Nespresso branded capsules. At times these get caught and keep the machine from closing properly. This appears to come from the plastic used in the Lavazza capsules being almost flimsy unlike the aluminum of the Nespresso brand. For the price I will keep purchasing the Lavazza capsules. If your coffee cravings change day to day I do recommend the Lavazza Nespresso Compatible Capsules Variety Pack. You get a good variation in flavors to cover most taste.

We have been drinking the Nespresso-style Lavazza espresso Maestro Ristretto #12 for well over a year. It is bold without being bitter, balanced and nuanced. In other words, it tastes like a good European espresso. And the price is quite attractive compared to Nespesso capsules, a savings of about 50% in the spring of 2025

These coffee capsules are not worthy of the iconic Lavazza name and long tradition of brewing coffee in Turin with rich body and a unique balanced intensity between Arabica and Robusta beans. Clearly, whoever owns this capsule business is trying to capitalize on Lavazza’s reputation, but selling a substandard coffee. Won’t buy it again.

Excellent coffee for my espresso

Expiry date 28 Feb 2021 was not notified at purchase, far too short for box of 6 x 10 capsules !!