Nescafe Dolce Gusto Americano Intenso vs Nescafe Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso

The verdict

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Americano Intenso and Nescafe Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso score the same, 6.9 out of 10, so the choice is what each is better at rather than which is better.

Who each one suits

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Americano Intenso

A 100% Arabica mug coffee at under half what Vertuo charges

Scores higher on what is in the capsule.

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso

Seven grams of coffee a pod, which is more than any Nespresso capsule

Scores higher on sourcing & certification.

How they score, criterion by criterion

Both are scored the same way against the rest of their category, from what their makers publish. The weight is how much each criterion moves the total. How the score works

CriterionWeightNescafe Dolce Gusto Americano IntensoNescafe Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso
What Is In The Capsule26%8.57.5
Cost Per Cup, and Per Kilo22%5.05.0
Recycling & Disposal18%5.05.0
System, Range & Availability18%8.28.2
Sourcing & Certification16%6.68.4

What each one costs

Price$7$7

Where they differ

Every specification the two makers publish differently. Everything they match on is in the full table below.

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Americano IntensoNescafe Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso
Best forA 100% Arabica mug coffee at under half what Vertuo chargesSeven grams of coffee a pod, which is more than any Nespresso capsule
Coffee per capsule8.3 g7 g
Cup size230 ml40 ml
Intensity8 on Dolce Gusto's own scale7 on Dolce Gusto's own scale
Origin—Colombia, Vietnam
Roast Level—Medium
Origin structure—Arabica and Robusta blend
Tasting NotesRoasted, spicy and woody with liquorice, black cherry and red fruitliquorice and nutty notes

Pros and cons

From each full review, written from the same published facts as the scores above.

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Americano Intenso
  • +100% Arabica, stated, at a price where blends with Robusta are normal
  • +About 42 cents for a 230ml mug, against $1.40 for the equivalent Vertuo capsule
  • +Detailed tasting notes: roasted, spicy and woody with liquorice, black cherry and red fruit
  • +Brews a full mug with nothing to set
  • −Converted from a UK price at a static rate
  • −No dose in grams for this pod, unlike its own Espresso Intenso sibling
  • −Plastic pods on a TerraCycle collection scheme
  • −No origin countries named
Full Nescafe Dolce Gusto Americano Intenso review →
Nescafe Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso
  • +Seven grams of coffee per pod, published on the nutrition panel, against 5.0g in a standard Nespresso Original capsule
  • +About 42 cents a cup, the cheapest capsule in this catalogue
  • +Origins named as Colombia and Vietnam, with the Arabica-Robusta split stated
  • +Real tasting detail: red berry, liquorice and nutty notes on a medium roast
  • −Converted from a UK price at a static rate; Nestle does not sell direct to the US
  • −Dolce Gusto pods are plastic, and recycling runs through TerraCycle rather than a kerbside bin
  • −The system is closed: no third party makes Dolce Gusto pods
  • −Intensity 7 is on Dolce Gusto's own scale and means nothing against Nespresso's
Full Nescafe Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso review →

Every specification, side by side

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Americano IntensoNescafe Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso
Price
Price$7$7
Who it suits
Best forA 100% Arabica mug coffee at under half what Vertuo chargesSeven grams of coffee a pod, which is more than any Nespresso capsule
Specifications
Box price6.79 USD6.79 USD
Coffee per capsule8.3 g7 g
FitsDolce GustoDolce Gusto
Capsule MaterialPlastic, recycled through Podback as a plastic podPlastic, recycled through Podback as a plastic pod
Capsule SystemNescafe Dolce GustoNescafe Dolce Gusto
Capsules per box1616
Cup size230 ml40 ml
FlavouredNot flavouredNot flavoured
Intensity8 on Dolce Gusto's own scale7 on Dolce Gusto's own scale
Decaffeinated✕✕
Origin—Colombia, Vietnam
Price Is Converted✓✓
Take-back schemeTerraCycle collection, which Dolce Gusto operates with themTerraCycle collection, which Dolce Gusto operates with them
Roast Level—Medium
Roaster NamedNescafeNescafe
Origin structure—Arabica and Robusta blend
Tasting NotesRoasted, spicy and woody with liquorice, black cherry and red fruitliquorice and nutty notes
Third-party compatible✕✕

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Americano Intenso vs Nescafe Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso: common questions

Which is better, Nescafe Dolce Gusto Americano Intenso or Nescafe Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso?

Both score 6.9 out of 10 on the specifications their makers publish, so neither is ahead overall. Nescafe Dolce Gusto Americano Intenso leads on what is in the capsule, and Nescafe Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso on sourcing & certification.

Is Nescafe Dolce Gusto Americano Intenso or Nescafe Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso cheaper?

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Americano Intenso starts at $7, and Nescafe Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso at $7.

Who is Nescafe Dolce Gusto Americano Intenso for?

A 100% Arabica mug coffee at under half what Vertuo charges

Who is Nescafe Dolce Gusto Espresso Intenso for?

Seven grams of coffee a pod, which is more than any Nespresso capsule