Bestpresso Review: Affordable Alternative to Nespresso and Keurig Coffee Pods
It is easy to confound Bestpresso with Nespresso. Similar name, after all. But the two companies are unrelated and while one is a Swiss giant being on the market for decades, Bestpresso was established only in 2013. It quickly expanded though, becoming one of the largest producers of single serve coffee in the world.
Today Bestpresso produces coffee both in pods for Keurig and Nespresso original line machines (the most popular line) and ground coffee. The difference with Nespresso is that it is the maker of the machines in which the Bestpresso pods work. Same for Keurig, with the K-cups format being used by Bestpresso to brew in Keurig machines.
While both Nespresso and Keurig have their own line of coffee pods to brew in their machines. Bestpresso is a good affordable alternative to them, but not because of a lack in quality.
What Are The Flavors?
Bestpresso coffee pod line is made of 12 different blends, much like Nespresso’s own. The line goes from intense, strong coffee, to light blends, including a decaffeinate pod and a couple of single origins.
Nespresso Flavors
Bestpresso has a lot of choices for any coffee fan. We have a short review of each pod, so you can get an idea of what they are and taste like.
Intenso
Among the most popular Bestpresso pods, the Intenso one is a blend for a pure, all-encompassing tasting experience.
Ristretto
Ristretto works great in typically Italian, very short shot of coffee, for a concentrated and brief cup.
Lungo
At the moment when you need a larger amount of coffee, the Lungo pod is the ideal choice. It contains coffee that has been selected to maintain the intensity and flavors even when brewed in a large mug.
Verona
The Verona pod, as you can guess from the Italian name, is an Italian-inspired, high intensity blend, full of Arabica beans.
Arabica
As it is the Arabica blend. A citrusy, sweet and high quality pod containing only Arabica coffee.
Brazil
2 single origin pods are also present in the Bestpresso line for Nespresso machines: Brazil and Colombia. You can expect both to be sweet, smooth and well-balanced.
Decaffeinato
Decaffeinato is for those coffee lovers that can’t drink normally caffeinated coffee, while retaining all the flavors you’d expect by a good coffee pod.
Espresso Variety
Those looking for the classic espresso experience will choose the Espresso pod. It’s a balanced, chocolatey and flowery blend, perfect for brewing as an espresso.
Last but not least, the Nespresso’s line from Bestpresso has a series of capsules with selected coffee inside to make cups of coffee with a specific, dominating, flavor.
They are the Vanilla, Chocolate and Caramel. All clearly matching the similar offering from Nespresso and having, respectively, an intense vanilla, chocolate and caramel flavor.
Keurig Flavors
Bestpresso not only has a line of coffee capsules for Nespresso original line machines. Keurig owners haven’t been neglected!
The Bestpresso line for Keurig is not as vast as for Nespresso, but all the types of roasts are available in Keurig-compatible pods. From the light Breakfast Blend, to the classic, strong, Italian Roast, a range of intermediate pods can be bought as alternatives to the original K-cups of Keurig.
Donut Shop and Colombian Roast are medium roasted, sweet and pleasant, while the darker Costa Rican and French Roast are for those wanting a stronger coffee experience.
The roasting levels are more prominent in the Keurig compatible pods compared with the Nespresso ones, as the Keurig machines are more geared towards a large, diverse, output while Nespresso’s focus is on shorter, and stronger, espresso based coffee drinks.
Which Coffee Makers Are Compatible?
Whether you own a Keurig or a Nespresso machine, one of the most important questions when buying compatible pods, from Bestpresso or any other company, is:
“Will they work on my machine?”
Bestpresso made sure to test their pods with all the Nespresso original line machines, as with the K-cup brewers and the new Keurig 2.0 machines. If you own any of these, Bestpresso pods should brew flawlessly!
Bestpresso doesn’t offer pods for the Vertuoline machines from Nespresso. Make sure you don’t erroneously buy any of the Bestpresso pods if you own such a machine as they’re incompatible.
Pros
Once sure that Bestpresso pods can work in your machine, it’s obvious to wonder why you should choose them over the official ones, whether they be Nespresso’s or Keurig’s.
First of all, Bestpresso adds more choice. Every pod is different from any other, containing different coffee from different roasteries around the world, in different ratios. No pod tastes like another, so it’s a good idea to also try the Bestpresso ones in order to, potentially, discover your new favorite.
If that isn’t reason enough, Bestpresso coffee is fully Rainforest Alliance certified, which guarantees that good practices in sustainable forestry, agriculture and tourism are kept in practice when cultivating and harvesting it.
Moreover, Bestpresso offers a 60 day satisfaction guarantee, that allows you to contact Bestpresso for a refund if you’re not fully satisfied with their coffee. More than likely it won’t happen but it’s comforting to know there’s such a possibility!
Cons
It’s not all pros, of course. As with any product, there are a few cons and the Bestpresso pods aren’t an exception.
The most common complaint is that Bestpresso pods, while rated as quite intense, the difference is nominal compared to the Nespresso pods. This may be due to how the pods are manufactured and the way the machine brews coffee with them.
Another reason may be the due to a different, and lower, intensity rating used by Bestpresso compared with Nespresso. It is worth trying starting from the most intense Bestpresso pods, to know whether this is true or not for you. It may well be that the intensity of the Bestpresso coffee is right for you instead.
Who should buy it?
Bestpresso is popular and widespread for a reason. Their pods are high quality and they offer a choice large enough to accommodate most tastes. It’s very probable that at least one of their pods will meet your desires.
Honestly, unless you’re incredibly picky, we think it’ll be difficult not to find one that you won’t like out of any of the Bestpresso pods at all. Price-wise, they are also competitive in respect to the, many other companies producing coffee pods compatible with Nespresso and Keurig machines. Both coffee experts and new users of the single serve coffee machines may find something of their liking in Bestpresso’s offering!