What is Cosi?
The mildest espresso capsule in Nespresso's Original range.
Nespresso describes it as pure Arabicas from Africa and Latin America with mild toasted cereal and fruity notes, rated 4 on its own scale.
$9.00 for a sleeve of ten, 90 cents a capsule, poured at 40ml.
Which machines does it fit?
Nespresso Original machines, and the many third-party machines built for Original capsules.
Original is the open half of Nespresso. The patents expired, so De'Longhi, Breville and others build machines that take these capsules, other roasters make compatible ones, and refillable pods exist. That competition is what puts a floor under what a cup costs for as long as you own the machine.
It will not fit a Vertuo. Those capsules are larger and carry a barcode the machine reads to set the pour, and the two systems share a brand and nothing else.
What is in the capsule
Pure Arabica from two continents, roasted light, rated 4.
Pure Arabica is worth noting because it is stated. Robusta is common in capsules for crema and caffeine, and several capsules in this range use it; Cosi says it does not.
The published panel is bitterness 2 of 5, roastiness 2 of 5, acidity 3 and body 3. Nothing in that is trying to dominate the cup, which is the point of it.
Origins are given as Africa and Latin America, which is two continents rather than a country. The dose is published: 50g for the sleeve of ten, so 5.0g a capsule and $180 a kilo.
What a cup costs
90 cents a pod, sleeves of ten only.
The same as every other Original espresso in this group, and the cheapest capsule Nespresso sells.
It is still roughly forty percent more than the cheapest K-Cup on this site, which comes in boxes of a hundred and twenty.
What happens to the capsule afterwards
Aluminium, returned through Nespresso's mail-back scheme rather than your kerbside bin.
Free collection bags from Nespresso, handed in at a UPS drop-off point or a boutique. It is funded and it works if you use it.
The distinction worth keeping is between a scheme you join and a bin already emptied at your door. Aluminium is endlessly recyclable in principle; this capsule is recycled only if you post it back.
Cosi vs Volluto
The two mildest capsules Nespresso sells for Original, and the choice is sweetness against savouriness.
Volluto is rated 4 with acidity 4 of 5 and sweet biscuit notes from Brazilian and Colombian Arabicas. Cosi is also rated 4 but sits at acidity 3, with toasted cereal and fruit from African and Latin American Arabicas.
Volluto names two countries where Cosi names two continents, and Volluto has a decaf version where Cosi does not. For a first sleeve, Volluto is the safer buy on disclosure alone.
Is Cosi worth it?
As a mild everyday capsule, yes. As the only capsule you own, it will start to feel thin.
Its virtue is that nothing about it is difficult, and at 90 cents it costs no more than the intense ones. Pure Arabica and named origins are more than several of its neighbours offer.
The limit is real though. At intensity 4 there is not much to it, and if you take milk you will not find the coffee.
Who should buy it (and who should not)
Original owners who like mild black coffee, and anybody buying a first sleeve.
Buy it if strong espresso is not what you are after, or if you are working out where on the scale you sit and want to start low.
Do not buy it for milk drinks. Do not buy it if you want a capsule with a distinctive character, because it is deliberately the opposite.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cosi the mildest Nespresso capsule?
It is the mildest in the Original espresso range at intensity 4, alongside Volluto which shares that rating. Nespresso's lungo capsules are milder again in the cup because they are diluted further.
Does it contain Robusta?
No. Nespresso states pure Arabicas for this capsule, which is worth noting because several capsules in the same range use Robusta for crema and caffeine.
Will it work in a milk drink?
Not well. At intensity 4 with bitterness and roastiness both 2 of 5, milk will cover it. Firenze Arpeggio at 9 is the capsule in this range built for that job.
Where does the coffee come from?
Africa and Latin America, which Nespresso names on the page. No individual country is given.
Is there a decaf Cosi?
No. Nespresso's Original decafs are Volluto Decaffeinato, Ristretto Italiano Decaffeinato and Firenze Arpeggio Decaffeinato.
