Coffee capsules are generally weaker in flavour than an espresso from your local coffee shop - this is simply due to the smaller capacity, literally resulting in less coffee. A cafe espresso is brewed using around 11 grams, whilst capsules can range from 5 to 5.8 grams. And unfortunately, while refillable capsules are one of the most environmentally sustainable and affordable coffee pod options on the market, their capacity can be even smaller, as the products are specially designed to be shorter to ensure no damage occurs to the appliance they are used in.
So, if you prefer a stronger-tasting cup of joe, but want to use your Nespresso machine and reusable coffee capsules, we've compiled our top tips below to help you perfect your brew method. 
Start with the machine itself.
Water pressure / pump malfunction, mould build up, frequently full drip tray? It's well and truly time for a spring clean. Make sure your coffee capsule machine has been recently cleaned, descaled and is in optimum working condition. “Descaling” is the act of stripping calcium and lime deposits from your machine’s surfaces, assisting the pump to create a pressure build-up that produces a lovely crema to top your brew. If you want to ensure your coffee machine is producing the best flavour and an optimal brew pressure, it should be cleaned once a week and descaled once every three months. Cleaning your coffee machine not only extends it's life, but also ensures the quality of the coffee you brew.
Tip: Don't - Use vinegar! Vinegar doesn't remove coffee oils the way a professionally formulated coffee machine cleaner does. Do - Use a cleaning solution that will remove oils, stains and break down grime.
Invest in some real, fresh coffee.
Nespresso® state that they use 95% Arabicas and 5% Robustas in their Grands Crus capsules. To replicate this flavour intensity, you might like to try a similar blend. We recommend a strong dark roast, or Italian-style roast to achieve a stronger tasting brew. And remember - fresh is best. Head to your local roaster or cafe to chat about their available blends.
Tip: After some coffee recommendations? Check out our new House Blend, ground specifically for use with your capsules! We also asked our customers for their favourites. Here are some of the top tips for a great go-to blend - Veneziano Forza, Gigante Black Silk, Genovese Super Brazil, Merlo Forza 5.1, Bellissimo Ultimo, Botero Brass, Dimattina Espresso Bar, ONA The Hitman, Mocopan Profondo, Niccolo House Blend, Niccolo Decaf, Industry One Stone Hammer Blend, L'or Espresso Onyx. Have any other suggestions? Contact us or add it to the comments section below!
Use the right grind.
For the majority of our reusable pods, we recommend asking your local cafe or roaster to grind the beans to "Moka Pot" for optimal results. If using Capsi or our Dolce Gusto® / Caffitaly® / K-Fee® lines, "Espresso" grind is best. If you grind at home, using a burr grinder will help you achieve a better brew (blade grinders can create too much dust). Ensure your capsule is tamped firmly, and filled to the top. Head to our article on grind size for a more detailed look at how this effects your brew results.
Tip: A grind that is too fine can be a common cause of a slow extraction. We suggest experimenting with pressure - pack the coffee more loosely with minimal tamp, or simply fill and apply the Sticker Lid. At the other end of the scale, if your grind size is too coarse you may experience watery coffee, we suggest applying more pressure when tamping.
Pick your pod.
Not all pods are equal! Ensure you are using the right capsule for your needs. Want to go eco but retain a very high brew quality? Bluecup capsules are for you. If sustainability is your number one priority, we suggest WayCap, however for an intense coffee we generally suggest 2 pods per brew with the WayCap system. And for something in between, our SealPod capsules are the perfect all-rounder.
Use the right lid/filter.
SealPod and WayCap users might improve their brew by experimenting with their capsule lid. When using SealPod, the Espresso Lid is best for producing a richer coffee and crema. And WayCap users can simply experiment with the interchangeable Steel Filters (each one suited to a particular grind size) - for a very fine grind use a filter with more slots, and for a coarse grind a filter with minimal slots is best.
Tip: If using WayCap, make sure to use only one filter at a time.
Double-brew it (and double your pleasure)!
Finally, to achieve a lovely, intense coffee, a generally foolproof method is simply to brew double ristretto style: Use two capsules and brew 2 x short shots (approx 25mL). The other bonus of brewing this way? Being a shorter extraction, a ristretto will actually extract less acidity from the coffee, resulting in a less bitter tasting cuppa.
Note: Brewing a lungo? Keep an eye for "blonding". Blonding is the colour transition of a pour from dark brown to a light, uniform pale blond. This normally occurs in the last third of the pull and is a signal to end the pour. This overly-blond portion of the brew is thin, nearly flavourless, and if allowed to continue will dilute the body and taste characteristics of a shot. We recommend a standard espresso shot when using refillable capsules.
Didn't find what you were looking for? If you're using WayCap checkout their useful tips video here, head to our FAQ section, or feel free to contact us via email or Facebook Messenger!
Crema Joe •
Great – thanks Trish! We’ll be launching our Caffitaly line within the next month or so!
Trish •
Hi there,
We will be interested in the Caffitaly options so have signed up for the newsletter!
Crema Joe •
Hi Marty, thanks for your comment! We currently stock standard-line Nespresso compatibles & Dolce Gusto compatibles. We will be launching new lines soon however (Aldi & Caffitaly are up next!) so please feel free to sign up to our mailing list so we can keep you in the loop with new developments! Crema Joe team
Marty •
Will any of the of the reusable pods work with the new nespresso vertuo coffee and espresso makers. Typically the pods have barcode readers so I am not sure any of these will work but would love to try them!.
Crema Joe •
Hi Gavin, not a problem – we’ve sent you an email with instruction to reset the password to your account :) The Crema Joe team