I’m forever in search of the best coffee pods to improve my coffee experience at home. Armed with my new Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee machine, it was only logical that I should try the various coffee pods compatible with it.
This is the first product review I’m going to share with you about a Nespresso-compatible coffee pod called Il Caffè.
Il Caffè Nespresso Vertuo is a coffee capsule that promises to deliver a strong and intense blend of Vietnamese, Indonesian Robustas, and Colombian Arabica beans. But does it live up to the hype?
Keep reading if you want to know how Il Caffè is turning around my world!
I’ll share authentic facts about the intensity of this coffee and what makes it the darling of espresso connoisseurs.
What is Nespresso Vertuo Il Caffè?
Nespresso Vertuo Il Caffè is an espresso coffee blend capsule used to brew coffee beverages with a Nespresso Vertuo coffee machine. It is a unique blend of dark-roasted Vietnamese and Indonesian Robusta beans, combined with washed Arabica beans from Colombia. The beans are carefully selected and roasted to create a bold and intense flavor profile.
Each capsule of Il Caffè is best used to brew a 1.35 oz (40 ml) shot of espresso. Nespresso Vertuo Il Caffè pods are available in a sleeve containing 10 capsules.
Nespresso Vertuo machines use a unique centrifugal brewing system to extract the coffee. This system ensures that each cup of Il Caffè coffee is rich, smooth, and full-bodied, with a thick and creamy crema on top.
Nespresso Il Caffè coffee is packaged in recyclable aluminum capsules, which are designed to preserve the freshness and flavor of the coffee. Each capsule contains 7 grams of roast and ground coffee, which is the perfect amount for a single shot of espresso.
Nespresso Il Caffè Flavor Profile
Nespresso Vertuo Il Caffè is a coffee blend designed for espresso drinkers who crave a bold and robust flavor, much like the classic Italian coffee. When I first tasted this coffee I noticed intense notes of roasted cereals and cocoa with a subtle nutty and woody undertone.
Robusta beans from Vietnam and Indonesia are married to Arabica beans from Colombia to create this blend.
The Robusta beans are given a darker roast while the Arabica beans are lightly roasted longer. Consequently, the lighter roast level of the Arabica beans perfectly balances strength and smoothness, making Il Caffè an ideal choice for espresso lovers with its rich, full-bodied mouthfeel and velvety smooth texture.
This is a strong and intense coffee with a powerful and bold flavor. It also has a slightly bitter taste that is well-balanced with the other flavors.
The acidity of this coffee is low, which means that it has a smooth and mellow finish and the taste lingers on your palate for a while after you have finished your cup.
Nespresso Il Caffè Caffeine Content
One espresso coffee made with a Nespresso Il Caffè capsule contains about 152 milligrams of caffeine. This is quite a lot considering it’s all packed in one small espresso shot!
As a comparison, a regular 8–ounce cup of coffee has about 100 milligrams of coffee.
After enjoying my first shot of Il Caffè on an empty stomach, it only took a few minutes to feel my energy levels starting to go up. I was about to go for a morning jog and this energy boost really made me want to put my sneakers on and start running.
Nespresso Il Caffè Features
Each type of Nespresso Vertuo capsule has many features, and some of them are marked in the packaging. However, it can sometimes be a bit unclear what all of these characteristics mean. Below I will explain each one to you so that you can better understand what this coffee is all about.
The prominent features of Nespresso Vertuo Il Caffè are the following:
Origin
Washed Robusta beans from Vietnam and Indonesia are used to make this powerful espresso blend. The bold and smooth pungency is offset by washed Arabica beans from Colombia to create a subtly sweet but powerful taste.
Bitterness
As Nespresso Il Caffè has been made with espresso lovers in mind, you can expect some bitterness. The 4 out of 5 bitterness rating of Nespresso Il Caffè indicates that it has a strong and bitter taste.
So if you prefer a milder coffee, this may not be the best choice for you.
Acidity
The acidity level in Nespresso Il Caffè is low at 1 out of 5, meaning you will hardly taste the acidity that comes from the light-roasted Arabica beans. The slight acidity is masked by the intensity of the Robusta beans.
The low acidity level of this coffee might make it a good choice for people who have stomach issues. I have a sensitive stomach and have been suffering from acid reflux but didn’t have any problems after drinking it.
Roast Level
The roast level of Nespresso Il Caffè is 4 out of 5. The Robusta beans are dark-roasted to bring out the full flavor and taste profile. The Arabica beans are roasted lightly for longer to retain some acidity and subtle earthy notes.
Overall, I can say that Il Caffè is a dark roast coffee, which gives it a strong and bold flavor.
Body
Nespresso Il Caffè scores a perfect 5/5 in terms of body. The dark roast of the Robusta beans ensures your cup has a full body with strong and bitter flavors and a thick crema.
Il Caffè really has a smooth and velvety texture that lingers on your tongue.
Intensity
On the intensity scale, Nespresso Il Caffè has a score of 11 out of 13. The coffee’s high-intensity level comes mainly from the use of dark-roasted Robusta beans in the blend.
Il Caffè is perfect for anyone who enjoys a strong and bold coffee!
The intensity of coffee depends on the ratio of coffee beans and water, the strength of the roast, its body, and bitterness. Coffees with the least intensity fall between a score of 1 to 5, while those walking the middle ground score 6 to 8. The strongest coffees score 9 to 13.
Finish
The Nespresso Il Caffè has a smooth, velvety, and rich finish. The bitterness of the cup lingers long after your cup is gone.
Portion Size
Nespresso Il Caffè is best served in a 1.35 oz (40 ml) size, which equals one regular espresso shot.
If you want a whole mug of strong coffee check out Nespresso Intenso coffee pods.
Price
The price of the coffee pod is $0.98 per pod or $9.80 per sleeve in the US. This is a typical price for espresso-type Vertuo coffee pods. Note that the price varies according to country.
Nespresso Vertuo Il Caffè Review: Should You Buy It?
Il Caffè Nespresso Vertuo is not for the faint-hearted! Only those who really love strong Italian espresso can appreciate the intensity of this coffee.
I enjoyed my Il Caffè espresso shot but it’s not something I would have every morning. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a more mellow cup and then I will choose another type of coffee.
So if you’re not used to having an intensely bitter cup of coffee then this is not for you. However, you can add milk to your coffee for a sweeter and milder taste.
Or, you can also try some other Nespresso variants like the Altissio or Double Espresso Chiaro which offer a bit milder coffee experience.
Keep your eyes peeled on this space if you want to read more Nespresso Vertuo coffee pod reviews. There will be many more to come!