Dolce Gusto machines and pods

Dolce Gusto is Nestle's second capsule system, sold under the Nescafe name alongside Nespresso, and it is aimed at a different kitchen. Where Nespresso is built around espresso, Dolce Gusto is built around variety: black coffee, espresso, milk drinks, hot chocolate and iced drinks, all from pods, on machines that cost less than most capsule brewers.

Pressure, then a drinks menu

The machines use a high-pressure pump, so a Dolce Gusto espresso such as the Espresso Intenso is a short pressurised shot rather than a dripped coffee. The capsules are larger than Nespresso's, and each one prints a recommended water level that you set on the machine's lever or dial. Pour more than the capsule intends and you get a weaker, more bitter cup, the same limit every capsule has.

Milk drinks usually take two capsules

A cappuccino or latte macchiato normally uses one capsule of milk and one of coffee, brewed in turn into the same glass. The milk capsule holds milk powder, which the machine dissolves and froths under pressure. It is quick and leaves nothing to clean, and it tastes sweeter and less fresh than steamed milk. A few newer drinks combine both in one pod. Either way a milk drink costs more than it looks, because it is two pods rather than one, and what a pod costs per cup shows how that adds up.

A closed range, and a newer line to check for

Nestle makes nearly every Dolce Gusto pod you will find, including the Starbucks-branded ones, so the choice and the price are set by one company, and the maker supports no refillable option. That is the same position as Nespresso Vertuo and the opposite of K-Cup. There is also a newer Neo line with its own pods that do not fit the classic machines, so check which one a machine belongs to before buying pods for it. Open against closed pod systems covers the long-run effect of a closed range.

Intensity is on its own scale

Dolce Gusto pods carry an intensity number, and it belongs to Dolce Gusto's scale, not Nespresso's. A 7 here and a 7 on a Nespresso box are separate judgements, so compare within a system only. Our medium intensity pods page groups them with that in mind.

Who it is for, and who it is not for

It suits a household that wants an inexpensive machine, a wide drinks menu that includes hot chocolate and iced coffee, and no milk parts to clean. It is a poor fit for anyone who drinks espresso seriously or wants fresh milk, where Nespresso Original with a milk frother does the job better and costs less per cup over time.