Bestpresso Researched
Bestpresso Original-compatible Variety, 120 ct
The cheapest way to run an Original machine — 120 compatible capsules, six blends, about 32 cents each.
BudgetHeavy drinkers
$38.99Read review →Buy
Nespresso Researched
Nespresso Vertuo Intenso, 30 ct
Nespresso's best-selling dark Vertuo mug coffee, 30 count at $1.40 — the default Vertuo coffee pod.
Black-coffee Vertuo owners
7.9
BrewSift Score
Good
$42
Approximate — verify the latest price
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Should you buy it?
Buy it if
- Black-coffee Vertuo owners
- The standard Vertuo dark mug coffee
- Full 7.7 oz pour
- Nespresso recycling
Skip it if
- $1.40 a capsule
- Vertuo only
Not for you? Consider the Bestpresso Bestpresso Original-compatible Variety, 120 ct — or see all nespresso capsules .
The verdict
Intenso is the 7.7 oz mug-size dark roast most Vertuo owners settle on. Full-bodied, a little smoky, built for black coffee. The 30-count is the standard box; there is no bulk discount on Vertuo.
BrewSift Score breakdown
Scored across the dimensions that matter for nespresso pods. The overall is a weighted average — see the formula.
Cup quality8.8
Value per capsule7.0
Blend variety5.5
Machine compatibility9.5
Capsule recycling8.5
Pros & cons
What we like
- The standard Vertuo dark mug coffee
- Full 7.7 oz pour
- Nespresso recycling
Watch-outs
- $1.40 a capsule
- Vertuo only
Specifications
- System
- Nespresso Vertuo
- Pods per box
- 30
- Price per pod (at check)
- $1.40
- Roast
- Dark
- Pod material
- Aluminum — Nespresso recycling program
Complete your setup
The gear that pairs with the Nespresso Vertuo Intenso, 30 ct to make a complete, working setup.
The machine these fit
Nespresso
Vertuo Plus
Pods are system-specific — this is the brewer we rank that takes this box.
$103Buy
Froth the milk
Nespresso
Aeroccino4
A standalone frother adds café-style milk foam for lattes and cappuccinos without a steam wand.
$119Buy
Serve it right
Bodum
Pavina Double Wall Glasses (Set of 2, 12oz)
The right cup — a warmed demitasse for espresso, double-wall glass for milk drinks — is a small, satisfying finish to a good setup.
$41Buy
Alternatives to consider
All nespresso capsules
Lavazza Researched
Lavazza Original-compatible Variety, 60 ct
The best-tasting Original capsule by most accounts that isn't Nespresso's own — Lavazza's four-blend box at about 50 cents.
Espresso drinkersOriginal machines
$29.98Read review →Buy
Café La Llave Researched
Café La Llave Original-compatible Dark, 80 ct
A Cuban-style dark espresso in an 80-count aluminum box at about 55 cents — the bulk dark-roast pick.
Dark roastBulk buyers
$43.99Read review →Buy
Starbucks Researched
Starbucks by Nespresso Original Variety, 50 ct
Starbucks' licensed Original capsules, five blends across roasts, about 57 cents each — the sampler with the Starbucks taste.
Starbucks regularsVariety seekers
$28.35Read review →Buy
Starbucks Researched
Starbucks by Nespresso Original, Pike Place, 50 ct
Pike Place as a lungo-style Original capsule, 50 count at about 57 cents — the Starbucks medium in your machine.
Starbucks regularsLonger coffees
$28.5Read review →Buy