Instant Energy: Which Espresso Flavor is Worth a Shot?

My family’s Nespresso instant espresso machine. To its left, two separate containers for caffeinated and decaffeinated pods. This espresso machine alone has been able to support my family’s massive espresso consumption for upwards of 5 years. 

Photo Credits: Isaac James 

Isaac James, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn

The morning cup of coffee is a ritual in which most Americans take great pleasure. Waking up, brewing a cup, and revelling in the bitter flavor as you prepare for your day is an experience like no other. These days, you can get your morning fix of coffee faster than ever through instant coffee pods. Simply pop a pod into the machine, make sure it has water, and you’ll get a warm cup. Espresso pods, in particular, are a great way to get your morning caffeine in. The smaller, concentrated portions of espresso make for an acquired taste, but after a few years of conditioning, I find that I wholeheartedly enjoy the experience. My family’s espresso machine has served us incredibly well, somehow surviving some 6 or more cups of espresso between us every day for the past 5 years. Because of how much espresso I’ve consumed over the years, I’ve been able to identify huge differences in the level of enjoyment I get from different flavors. Some flavors are smooth and complement the bitterness of the espresso, while others let the bitterness take too much reign.  

Two flavors have served me better than any others over the years, and those two are the Nespresso brand ‘Vaniglia’ and ‘Caramello.’ Starting with Vaniglia, the Nespresso website describes the flavor as “classic vanilla flavor combined with sweet biscuit and cereal notes.” While the description sounds like it would be sweet and indulgent, the pods themself don’t contain any sugar or other additives, so any element of sweetness is extremely subtle. The flavor strikes a perfect balance between the harsh bitterness of espresso and the subtle sweet notes of vanilla. Vaniglia is my go-to whenever we have it at the house. Whenever I have a shot of Vagnilia, I know I’ll be starting my day off on a good note. 

Caramello serves as the perfect counterpart to Vaniglia, and when I have both, I like to alternate between the two flavors daily. Nespresso describes the flavor as “classic caramel flavor combined with sweet biscuit and nutty notes.” Caramello provides much of the same experience as Vaniglia, only losing out slightly due to my general preference for the vanilla flavor. 

Unfortunately, Caramello and Vaniglia aren’t flavors that I always have in the house. In those times of need, I find that there is one pod that serves as an ‘old reliable’ of sorts: ‘Starbucks Espresso Roast.’ Despite being a collaboration between Starbucks and Nespresso, the pod is inherently nothing special. It’s a standard, dark roast blend with a strong, bitter flavor. Despite its lack of standout qualities, Espresso Roast serves as the perfect daily blend. It’s consistent, good quality, and it covers all cylinders without the need for anything fancy. Espresso Roast definitely isn’t for everyone, though. The pod is rated at intensity 11, so the transition to such a dark roast can be jarring the first time around. As it has grown on me, I have learned to really appreciate the bitterness, and I feel as though the flavor really is comforting in its own strange way. One of the especially great things about Espresso Roast is the existence of its decaf variety. Having a decaf alternative means that no matter the time of day, I can pop a pod in the machine and enjoy a nice, comforting cup of a familiar flavor. 

Now that we have the best flavors out of the way, it's time to take a look at the not-so-spectacular of the bunch. Up first is Nespresso’s ‘Venezia’ flavor. While it sounds like a great flavor, evoking Italian coffee culture, it was the kind of experience that left a sour taste in my mouth. While it actually has an intensity rating of only 8, something about the flavor feels excessively strong in flavor. Other lackluster pods by Nespresso include pumpkin spice (a real letdown), as well as a good number of the country-themed flavors (Colombia, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, etc.) 

Unfortunately, one pod has to take the title of being the worst, which is a title that I’d give to the Good and Gather brand ‘Sweet Creme’ flavor. While I first went into trying this flavor with high expectations, expecting it to be a potential alternative to Vagnilia or Caramelo, the flavor was very disappointing. The most fitting word I can find to describe the flavor is simply “off.” It’s not sweet, it’s almost more sour than anything else. It’s the kind of flavor that might leave you scrunching your face. Despite my criticisms, espresso is espresso, and I have little doubt that someone out there can appreciate Sweet Creme for what it is. 

Espresso is an experience that varies wildly. What I’ve found through my years of trying different instant espresso flavors is that finding a reliable set of pods you know will always hit the spot is your best bet. For me, those flavors ended up being Vaniglia, Caramelo, and Espresso Roast. While these ended up being my favorites, I recommend that anyone looking to get into espresso try a multitude of different kinds and find their set of flavors.