Medium intensity coffee pods

Medium intensity covers capsules rated 6 to 8 on their own maker's scale, and it is where most of every range sits. These are medium to medium-dark roasts with enough body to hold up under milk and enough acidity left to be pleasant black, which is why capsule makers put so many of their best sellers here.

The band that has to do two jobs

A capsule at this level is expected to work as a black espresso in the morning and under milk as a flat white or cappuccino in the afternoon. Too light and it vanishes in milk; too dark and it is harsh on its own. It sits where a medium roast bag of beans sits, for the same reason: it is the compromise that suits the most people, and in a shared kitchen that is a strength rather than a lack of character.

Three systems share these numbers

Capsules from Nespresso Original, Nespresso Vertuo and Dolce Gusto all appear in this band, and they do not share one scale. Nespresso's two lines use Nespresso's ratings; Dolce Gusto rates its pods on a scale of its own. So use the number to compare capsules within a system, and use the system to decide which capsules you can buy at all.

Cup size changes what medium tastes like

On Vertuo, a medium capsule such as Nespresso Vertuo Melozio makes a mug, spun and long, and drinks like a smooth filter coffee. On the Original line the same number describes an espresso or a lungo, which is far more concentrated. Before comparing two medium capsules, check they make the same size of drink, because the size changes the taste more than a point on the scale does.

Where single origins tend to sit

Single-origin capsules often land in this band, Nespresso's Master Origin Colombia among them. Origin character is easier to taste at a medium roast than at a dark one, so if you want a capsule that tastes of a place rather than of the roast, look here before the strong end.

Choosing within the band

Start in the middle and move by taste. If a medium capsule tastes flat or sour to you, try the top of the band or step up to strong pods; if it tastes bitter black, move toward mild pods. For milk drinks the upper end of this band is usually the sweet spot. Decaffeinated capsules sit here too, and our best decaf coffee guide covers the wider choice.