Last Updated on September 13, 2021 by John Moretti
Lavazza is known as one of the most popular names in the coffee industry. Luckily for you, you can get a good Lavazza coffee because they make delicious coffee pods that you can use for your capsule coffee machine. That said, here are the best Lavazza coffee pods that I believe you will also love:
- Best Overall For Nespresso: Deciso Espresso Dark Roast
- Best Dark Roast For Nespresso: Espresso Ristretto
- Best Light Roast For Nespresso: Leggero Lungo
- Best Nespresso Lavazza Pod For Balance: Armonico Dark Roast
- Best Overall For Keurig: Espresso Italiano
- Best Dark Roast For Keurig: Espresso Intenso
- Best Light Roast For Keurig: Gran Aroma
- Best Keurig Lavazza For Balance: Classico
- Best Lavazza BLUE Capsule: Espresso Rotondo
Best Overall For Nespresso: Deciso Espresso Dark Roast
- Machine Compatibility: Nespresso OriginalLine
- What I like: Gives you that delectable dark coffee flavor that you just can’t resist. Very distinct taste with hints of cocoa and a bit of sweetness from notes of caramel. Woodsy flavor completes the overall appeal. Very affordable.
- What I don’t like: Not really good for those who can’t handle intense coffee.
If you are like me in the sense that you can’t resist a good dark roast that comes with the intensity that can zap your senses, you will love Lavazza’s Deciso Espresso Dark Roast. This coffee pod is my favorite when it comes to Lavazza’s lineup of pods, as it comes with a delicious espresso flavor that is oozing with different dark flavors to complete your day early in the morning.
The one thing that I love about this pod is that it is not shy about giving you a tasty and very bold dark coffee with hints of cocoa. But, of course, this also comes with a woodsy flavor that goes well with its dark taste. And you may even taste a bit of caramel behind its dark flavors.
Of course, I love that it comes with a good intensity level of 10, which should cover what most people want from their dark coffee. It is perfectly intense for those who want to keep themselves awake but not too intense for those who can’t handle the jitters of coffee pods with an intensity that’s higher than 10.
Best Dark Roast For Nespresso: Espresso Ristretto
- Machine Compatibility: Nespresso OriginalLine
- What I like: Amazingly dark and very bold with its full-bodied flavor. Has profound hints of chocolate and caramel to complete its dark flavor. Very intense and can instantly jolt your senses early in the morning.
- What I don’t like: Very intense and might be too intense for casual coffee drinkers.
When it comes to dark coffee compatible with Nespresso machines, Lavazza’s Espresso Ristretto hits all of the right notes. That’s because it’s bold, dark, strong, and very intense. And that’s the kind of combination I really like in my dark coffee.
As you take a sip out of this espresso, you will instantly notice how bold the dark flavors are. It tastes more like cocoa because of that strong bitter flavor complemented by caramel hints from the burnt beans. But, of course, I also like the fact that it comes with a dark and dense crema that is perfect for any kind of espresso.
But the cream of the crop for me when it comes to Espresso Ristretto is its intensity level of 11. While some people can’t handle a very intense coffee, I like mine to be strong enough to wake my senses up first thing in the morning so that I can be productive early on. It simply is intense enough to make you think you can take the entire world on.
Best Light Roast For Nespresso: Leggero Lungo
- Machine Compatibility: Nespresso OriginalLine
- What I like: Allows you to take things easy because of how light and smooth its taste is. Comes with the acidity and fruitiness of coffee pods that are on the lighter side.
- What I don’t like: Lacks the intensity of a good cup of espresso.
There are some people who may want to take things a bit easy, especially if they want to drink coffee during an afternoon or evening break. That’s where Leggero Lungo comes in to give you a very delicious coffee pod that won’t surprise you with its boldness and caffeine kick.
What I really like about this coffee pod is its smoothness. It comes off quite light to the point that you can easily sip it without reacting to the bitterness that usually comes with coffee. Instead, it is more on the fruity and floral side, and that is something that you will truly enjoy if you want a lighter coffee that’s perfect for an afternoon break.
Because of how light this coffee pod is, you might want to use it for a good iced coffee, especially if you want your coffee light, sweet, and velvety. Still, you can drink it as a shot of espresso but don’t expect it to give you that caffeine kick that you can get from stronger espressos.
Best Nespresso Lavazza Pod For Balance: Armonico Dark Roast
- Machine Compatibility: Nespresso OriginalLine
- What I like: Comes with the perfect balance of bitterness and a bit of notes of caramel. Its intensity is just right for those who can’t handle too much caffeine.
- What I don’t like: Its flavor is on the darker side, which might not appeal to light coffee lovers out there.
One of the most balanced drinks you can get from Lavazza for your Nespresso machine is the Armonico Dark Roast. This coffee pod isn’t the darkest in terms of its flavor, and that’s why I feel like it has a good balance when it comes to its overall taste profile.
The one thing that struck me the most in this coffee is that it comes with a good combination of boldness and creaminess and sweetness. It has notes of cereal on top of the bold dark flavors that it comes with. While it isn’t light or medium in terms of its roast profile, it does give you hints of what you want from a good medium roast because of the cereal notes.
Meanwhile, its intensity level is just right for those who want an everyday coffee that could wake them up. At a level of 8, it is intense enough to wake you up but not to the point where you can get jittery. As such, it works as a capable early-morning coffee for most people.
Best Overall For Keurig: Espresso Italiano
- Machine compatibility: Keurig
- What I like: Gives you a good experience of what an Italian espresso should be. Very aromatic scent that comes with a good and intense flavor that you would want from your espresso.
- What I don’t like: Doesn’t stand out on a single quality.
If you own a Keurig machine, there is nothing better for your everyday coffee than the Lavazza Espresso Italiano. It simply is the best when it comes to its overall appeal as it gives you that good Italian coffee flavor and the amazing aroma that comes with 100% Arabica beans.
As a fan of dark roasts myself, I really like how this coffee brings out a good and tasty dark flavor that isn’t very intense but is good enough for most people. It has a bold and intense flavor that anyone can love from a good cup of espresso. Of course, its aroma is the cream of the crop because it gives you good aromatic notes of cocoa and caramel.
Espresso Italiano is perfectly intense in a way that it can help keep you up in the morning without all of those jitters. This means that it can be a good everyday coffee that you can drink if you want to wake up to a nice shot of espresso.
Best Dark Roast For Keurig: Espresso Intenso
- Machine compatibility: Keurig
- What I like: Very intense flavors that are bold and distinct. It has a full-bodied taste that is full of different aromas that are very tantalizing to the senses. Great for keeping you up during a hectic day.
- What I don’t like: Not the best for those who can’t handle intense coffee.
One of the best dark roasts you could ever have for your Keurig system is Lavazza’s Espresso Intenso. The name says it all as this coffee is actually very intense to the point that you will instantly feel the intensity in the first sip.
The moment you sip a cup of this coffee, the different flavors dance in your tongue with the fullness and boldness of a dark roast. It is amazingly bold and very full-bodied, all while carrying tantalizing scents such as butter and caramel in its aroma. Its aroma is actually pretty pleasant despite being an intense cup of coffee.
Of course, it should be a good choice for those who don’t want to feel groggy early in the morning because of how intense it is. A shot of his coffee pod can be enough to keep you on your feet early on so that you can take on the day feeling fresh and energized.
Best Light Roast For Keurig: Gran Aroma
- Machine compatibility: Keurig
- What I like: Very aromatic especially with the notes of citrus and chocolate in its floral aroma. Very light on your taste buds especially with an intensity level that is lower than most.
- What I don’t like: May lack the intensity that some people look for in their coffee.
For those who fancy a lighter taste in their coffee, especially if they can’t handle the bitterness of a darker roast, Gran Aroma is a good choice. And I stress the fact that this is a good choice because its aroma is simply one of the best you can ever get from a light roast.
While brewing this pod, I instantly notice that amazing floral notes are coming from its aroma. In addition, its aroma is tantalizingly fruity. It comes with a hint of chocolate to make the entire coffee something you want to be excited about even as it is still brewing.
Of course, because this is a light roast, it should go down smoothly through your taste buds. It also comes with a taste that goes well with the velvety richness of milk for that iced coffee. Gran Aroma also doesn’t have that intense taste and kick, and this should be great if you want a simple afternoon coffee break.
Best Keurig Lavazza For Balance: Classico
- Machine compatibility: Keurig
- What I like: Gives you that classic coffee taste. It is a medium roast that’s perfectly balanced in terms of what it offers in its flavor profile. The hint of dried fruit is a surprising kicker.
- What I don’t like: A bit of a tweener and isn’t the most impressive if you are looking for a pod that stands out.
If you are someone who wants a good cup of coffee, Classico comes in to give you that experience. After all, you can’t beat the classics, and that is why Classico is a good choice as it gives you that classic cup of coffee that’s perfectly balanced and has everything you need.
As a medium roast, Classico is a blend of two worlds because it gives you that nice roasted taste that is somewhat bitter yet still comes with the fruitiness of a good light roast. In fact, I like how it comes with a hint of dried fruit in its taste.
Classico also isn’t that intense, yet it isn’t light as well. It just hits the right notes perfectly if you want a good cup of coffee that doesn’t really stand out in one aspect but is still delicious and well-suited for any occasion.
Best Lavazza BLUE Capsule: Espresso Rotondo
- Machine compatibility: Lavazza BLUE
- What I like: Very balanced and gives you the best of both worlds. Full-bodied taste with a bit of velvety twist that makes it great for a good latte or cappuccino.
- What I don’t like: Works only with Lavazza BLUE machines.
If you do have a Lavazza BLUE machine, the one espresso pod that I would like to recommend is the Espresso Rotondo, especially because of how well-balanced it is. When I say balanced, what I mean to say is that it comes with a good taste profile that suits most coffee drinkers out there.
Espresso Rotondo is full-bodied and bold but still comes with that rich and velvety flavor that you would want from a good cup of coffee. As such, it is perfect as a single shot of espresso or as a latte or cappuccino that goes perfectly well with the velvety creaminess of the milk.
In terms of its intensity, it also hits the right notes for any coffee drinker because it is not too intense, and it isn’t light as well. It seems to be on the middle side of things but leans more towards bolder and darker flavors.
What To Look For When Buying A Lavazza Coffee Pod
Machine compatibility
Lavazza coffee pods cater to three brands of machines: Nespresso. Keurig, and Lavazza BLUE. As such, you have to make sure that you own one of these brands when you are looking for a good Lavazza coffee pod. Of course, you need to make sure that the Lavazza coffee pod you are buying is actually compatible with either Nespresso or Keurig because you can’t use one for the other. And let’s not forget that Lavazza BLUE only works with BLUE pods.
Intensity level
A good Lavazza coffee should have the intensity level you are looking for. Intensity can mean many things, but it usually boils down to the overall kick and experience that you get from the coffee. Some intense coffee pods tend to give you that energizing coffee kick, while some of the least intense are on the lighter side in terms of their taste and effects. At the end of the day, the intensity level is something you should look out for when choosing a good Lavazza coffee pod.
Roast
The roast level usually walks hand in hand with the intensity level of a good Lavazza coffee because the roast level is directly proportional to the intensity level. In most cases, the higher the roast level, the more intense the coffee is in terms of effects and flavor. In addition, of course, the roast level should indicate the kind of taste you want from your coffee, as darker roasts tend to be more bitter and chocolate-like in comparison to lighter roasts that have a floral and acidic taste. Then again, I think you should go for a medium roast if you can’t decide which roast you want for yourself.
FAQs
Are Lavazza Pods Compatible With Both Nespresso And Keurig?
Lavazza sells pods that cater to Nespresso and Keurig machines. But if you are asking whether you can use Nespresso pods with Keurig machines and vice versa, then the answer is no. This is because the Nespresso pods that Lavazza sells are only compatible with Nespresso machines in the same way Lavazza K cups are compatible only with Keurig systems. That means that you have to make sure that you buy the right pods for your machine.
Can You Use Lavazza Nespresso Pods For VertuoLine Machines?
As of this writing, Lavazza Nespresso pods are only compatible with OriginalLine machines and not VertuoLine machines. That means that if you want to buy Lavazza pods, you need to have an OriginalLine machine.
Are Lavazza Pods Expensive?
No, Lavazza pods are not expensive. In fact, Lavazza pods are some of the most affordable ones you can find on the market, as you will rarely pay a dollar for one pod. Some Lavazza pods will even retail for half a dollar, depending on the variety and the machine compatibility. Nevertheless, you can be sure that you won’t have to pay a lot of money for high-quality Lavazza Nespresso pods or Keurig K cups.
