Nespresso Original Capsules

Nespresso made espresso a one-button job. A sealed capsule holds a single dose of ground coffee; the machine pierces it and forces hot water through it under pressure, and an espresso-style coffee runs into the cup in under a minute. The Original system is the first Nespresso format, invented by Nestlé engineer Éric Favre and launched in 1986. Here’s how it works and how to get the most from it.

The short version

• A sealed capsule of ground coffee, pierced by the machine.
• Hot water under pressure, like a small espresso machine.
• Espresso or lungo at the press of a button.
• Invented by Éric Favre; the first capsules went on sale in 1986.
• Better coffee: fresh water, a warm cup, the right cup size and regular descaling.

How does a Nespresso Original machine work?

1. The capsule is sealed, so the coffee is protected from air, with air trapped inside.
2. The machine pierces it when you close the lever.
3. Hot water is forced through the coffee under pressure.
4. It comes out frothy, like a small espresso.

The capsule does the dosing and the “tamping”; the machine controls the water. That’s why it’s so consistent. Nespresso gives three cup sizes, from 25 ml to 110 ml, and extraction at up to 19 bar.

How do you use a Nespresso machine, step by step?

1. Fill the tank with fresh, cold water and switch it on.
2. Warm your cup, or run a little water through without a capsule.
3. Insert a capsule and close the lever.
4. Press the button for an espresso or a lungo, as the capsule suggests.
5. Drink it fresh, and lift the lever to eject the capsule.

How do I get better coffee from a Nespresso?

• Fresh water: empty and refill the tank rather than letting water sit for days.
• A warm cup: a cold cup cools a small coffee fast.
• The right size: each capsule is designed for a particular cup size, so use it at that size.
• Descale regularly, as the machine’s instructions say, especially in a hard-water area.
• For milk drinks, use a capsule designed for milk, and froth the milk separately.

A short history of Nespresso

• 1975: Éric Favre, a Nestlé engineer, visits a busy espresso bar near the Pantheon in Rome and notices the barista pumping the lever several times before releasing the coffee, which works more air into it.
• 1976: sources date Favre’s first patent for the capsule system to this year.
• 1984: Nestlé tests two machine models in Switzerland, Italy and Japan, according to House of Switzerland.
• 1986: after years of resistance from Nestlé’s management, who expected people to stick with instant, the first Nespresso capsules go on sale, aimed at first at bars, hotels and offices. Wikipedia lists Switzerland, France, Italy and Japan as the first markets.
• 1988: Nespresso repositions itself for the high-end home market.
• 1991: Favre leaves Nestlé and launches his own capsule system without aluminium.
• 2014: Nespresso adds the Vertuo system, with spinning, barcoded capsules.

Nespresso vs other single-serve coffee

	Nespresso Original	Nespresso Vertuo	K-Cup
How it brews	Pressure through a sealed capsule	Spins the capsule, reads a barcode	Water through a filter pod
Typical coffee	Espresso and lungo, 25–110 ml	Espresso to large mugs	Filter-style mugs
Capsule	Aluminium, small	Aluminium, dome-shaped	Plastic cup with a filter

General guidance only. Follow the maker’s instructions for use, cleaning and descaling, and check local rules for recycling used capsules.

Nespresso vs other methods

• Nespresso Vertuo: Nespresso’s spinning, barcoded system.
• Espresso: the café shot Nespresso imitates.
• ESE pods: paper espresso pods for compatible machines.
• K-Cup: single-serve filter coffee pods.

Explore every machine method in the machine chapter.