Since the process of preparing coffee in a single-serve coffee maker is so effortless, it tempts us to go overboard with the number of cups we’re having.
Therefore, if you’re a Nespresso owner, it’s good to be aware of the caffeine content per pod.
According to the FDA, a healthy individual shouldn’t consume more than 400 mg of caffeine per day.
Knowing how much of this energizing substance there is in your Vertuo or Original Nespresso capsule, would make it easier for you to monitor the amount of caffeine you’re consuming.
So let’s dive in!
How much caffeine is in a Nespresso pod?
To be fair, it’s impossible to be precise when discussing the caffeine content in Nespresso pods.
This applies to all types of coffee – espresso, filter brew, drip coffee, or, say, cold brew.
The amount of caffeine in a cup would always vary depending on the preparation method, the type of coffee beans, and other variables, such as extraction time, water temperature, etc.
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For example, Robusta coffee beans contain twice as much caffeine as Arabica beans.
So if a Nespresso pod contains a higher amount of Robusta beans in its ground coffee blend, it will give you a stronger caffeine kick.
The caffeine strength of a Original or Vertuo serving would also depend on the type of capsule, the amount of coffee it contains, and how much water passes through the grounds.
With that being said, here’s an estimate of how much caffeine a Nespresso pod contains:
- Most Original Nespresso pods contain between 60 milligrams and 80 milligrams of caffeine. Still, some capsules, like Kazaar and Napoli are made with the stronger Robusta coffee in their blend. This explains why their caffeine content exceeds 100 milligrams per pod.
- The decaf Original Nespresso pods contain 2 mg to 4 mg of caffeine per serving, while the Vertuo decaffeinated capsules – 4 milligrams to 7 milligrams.
- Vertuo espresso (1.35 oz / 40 ml) pods contain 100 mg of caffeine on average. Depending on the blend, their caffeine content varies from 60 mg to 150 mg.
- Nespresso Vertuo double espresso (2.7 oz / 80 ml) capsules contain 130 mg to 165 mg of caffeine per serving.
- The caffeine content of Vertuoline gran lungo capsules (5 oz / 150 ml) varies between 120 mg and 195 mg (140 mg on average).
- The mug-type Nespresso coffee pods (7.77 oz / 230 ml) have a higher caffeine content of between 150 milligrams and 200 milligrams.
- The carafe/pour-over capsules contain from 230 to 260 milligrams of caffeine per 18 oz. (530 ml) serving.
As you see the amount of caffeine varies within a relatively wide range, depending on the type of the Nespresso pod.
The more coffee it holds – the more caffeine. The higher the volume of the serving – the stronger kick you’ll get.
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To make things even clearer, here’s a summary chart of the caffeine content of Nespresso Vertuo pods:
| Type | Ground coffee weight | Serving Size | Caffeine content range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 5 grams to 7 grams | 1.35 oz / 40 ml | 60 mg to 150 mg |
| Double Espresso | 9.5 grams to 12.5 grams | 2.7 oz / 80 ml | 130 mg to 165 mg |
| Gran Lungo | 9.5 grams to 10.5 grams | 5 oz./ 150 ml | 120 mg to 195 mg (average: 140 mg) |
| Mug | 12.5 grams | 7.77 oz / 230 ml | 150 milligrams to 200 milligrams |
| Carafe | 17 grams | 18 oz / 530 ml | 230 mg to 260 mg |
| Decaf | – | – | 4 mg to 7 mg of caffeine per pod |
And here’s a Nespresso Original caffeine content chart:
| Type | Ground coffee weight | Caffeine content range |
|---|---|---|
| Original Line | 5 grams to 6 grams | 60 milligrams to 120 milligrams, but most Original Nespresso capsules contain around 80 mg of caffeine |
| Original Decaf | 5 grams to 6 grams | 1 mg – 2 mg |
You can’t actually get this type of extraction with a Nespresso single-serve machine. So don’t be surprised if your cup of Nespresso coffee doesn’t match the mouthfeel and crema of a shot that’s pulled in a coffee shop.
If you want to learn more about espresso, ristretto, and lungo, as well as what sets this Italian drinks apart from other coffee beverages, you can check out the following posts:
Nespresso pods caffeine content chart
In the following chart, you will find an approximate estimation of the caffeine content in different types of Nespresso pods:
| Name | Type | Recommended Serving size | Caffeine Content (mg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melozio | Vertuo | 7.77 (230 ml) | 200 milligrams |
| Double Espresso Chiaro | Vertuo | 2.7 oz/80 ml | 100 mg – 120 mg |
| Altissio | Vertuo | 1.35 oz / 40 ml | 80 mg – 100 mg |
| Altissio Decaf | Vertuo | 1.35 oz / 40 ml | 4 mg – 6 mg |
| Stormio | Vertuo | 7.77 oz / 230 ml | 170 mg |
| Stormio Boost | Vertuo | 7.77 oz / 230 ml | 200 mg |
| Double Espresso Scuro | Vertuo | 2.7 oz / 80 ml | 150 mg |
| Bianco Forte | Vertuo | 7.77 oz / 230 ml | 140 mg – 160 mg |
| Napoli | Original | 0.85 oz (25 ml) / 1.35 oz (40 ml) | 100 mg – 110 mg |
| Odacio | Vertuo | 7.77 oz / 230 ml | 160 mg – 170 mg |
| Ice Forte | Vertuo | 7.77 oz / 230 ml | 150 mg – 165 mg |
| Il Caffe | Vertuo | 1.35 oz / 40 ml | 145 mg – 155 mg |
| Voltesso | Vertuo | 1.35 oz / 40 ml | 60 mg – 80 mg |
| Cocoa Truffle | Original | 0.85 oz (25 ml) / 1.35 oz (40 ml) | 60 mg – 70 mg |
| Scuro | Original | 1.35 oz / 40 ml | 65 mg – 75 mg |
| Freddo Delicato | Original | 1.35 oz (40 ml) | 65 mg – 75 mg |
| Freddo Intenso | Original | 1.35 oz / 40 ml | 55 mg – 65 mg |
| Vanilla Èclair | Original | 0.85 oz (25 ml) / 1.35 oz (40 ml) | 60 mg – 70 mg |
| Venezia | Original | 1.35 oz / 40 ml | 70 mg – 80 mg |
| Volluto | Original | 1.35 oz (40 ml) | 60 mg – 70 mg |
| Volluto Decaf | Original | 1.35 oz / 40 ml | 1.5 mg to 2 mg |
| Shanghai Lungo | Original | 3.7 oz (110 ml) | 75 mg – 85 mg |
| Vienna Linizio Lungo | Original | 3.7 oz (110 ml) | 70 mg – 80 mg |
| Roma | Original | 0.85 oz (25 ml) / 1.35 oz (40 ml) | 60 mg – 70 mg |
| Pour-over Style Intense | Vertuo | 18 oz (530 ml) | 230 mg – 235 mg |
| Pour-over Style Mild | Vertuo | 18 oz (530 ml) | 250 mg – 260 mg |
| Fortado | Vertuo | 5 oz / 150 ml | 180 mg – 195 mg |
| Fortado Decaffeinato | Vertuo | 5 oz / 150 ml | 6 mg – 7 mg |
| Half-caffeinato | Vertuo | 7.77 oz / 230 ml | 75 mg – 85 mg |
| Cosi | Original | 1.35 oz / 40 ml | 55 mg – 65 mg |
| Inizio | Vertuo | 5 oz / 150 ml | 115 mg – 125 mg |
| Kazaar | Original | 0.85 oz (25 ml) / 1.35 oz (40 ml) | 110 mg – 120 mg |
| Buenos Aires Lungo | Original | 5 oz / 150 ml | 100 mg – 105 mg |
| Mexico | Vertuo | 7.77 oz / 230 ml | 100 mg – 110 mg |
The table doesn’t display the caffeine content of all Original and Vertuoline Nespresso pods.
Nevertheless, by looking at it you can get a much better idea of how strong your cup of coffee is.
Keep in mind that the Nespresso intensity chart, displayed on the pod’s package, won’t tell you a lot about the caffeine content.
This characteristic is mostly used to give you a better understanding of the flavor and mouthfeel.
For example, a Mexico Vertuo pod has intensity score of 7 and contains around 190 milligrams of caffeine, while the Altissio has intensity 9, but it contains 100 mg – 110 mg of caffeine.
This may be because the former has Robusta in its blend. The fact that the Mexico serving is higher in volume (7.77 oz / 230 ml) also plays a role.
Overall, it’s safe to say that if a certain capsule contains Robusta, then it would most probably result in a cup that is stronger in terms of caffeine.
Moreover – the higher the volume of your coffee drink, the higher the caffeine content. After all, since more hot water passes through the grounds, more caffeine gets extracted.
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I hope that you found this post helpful. If there are any further questions, leave them in the comment box below.