I’ve been getting several emails asking about Nespresso’s Decaf capsules. So I decided to put all the questions together in this post to help everyone out. If you have a question that hasn’t been answered, feel free to contact me by clicking here.
Nespresso Decaffeinato Means Decaf
Nespresso calls their decaf pods ‘Decaffeinato’. Whether it’s a Vertuo pod or an Original espresso pod, if it’s labeled with that word, it means it is decaf.
Another clue for a decaf pod is the red dot or ring. Vertuo pods are marked with a red ring around the rim of the pod.
On Nespresso Original Decaf pods, you’ll notice there’s a red dot at the bottom where the capsules get punctured.
The package of both types of coffee pods will have the word DECAFFEINATO on it. And you’ll also see a red Nespresso logo instead of black.
“Melozio Decaffeinato” is the best choice for a decaf Vertuo pod
Melozio is a 7.7 oz coffee pod known for its medium roast, smooth, and overall balanced taste. It’s enjoyed on black or mixed with milk or creamer for a richer taste.
There are two versions of Vertuo Melozio. To identify the decaf melozio pod, you have to see the red ring around the rim of the pod.
As for the package of decaf Melozio, the Nespresso logo will be red, and the name on the package will say “Melozio Decaffeinato”
Fortado is strong and decaffianted
Fortado is a 5 oz Gran Lungo Vertuo pod. This is one of the strongest-tasting Vertuo pods. Luckily, for anyone who wants a strong taste without caffeine, Fortado is available in decaf.
Make sure you get the ‘Fortado Decaffeinato’ with the red Nespresso logo on the package.
Altissio Decaffeinato is the perfect decaf espresso
For a decaf shot of espresso, you’ll love the Altissio Decaffeinato. It’s a bold espresso blend without the caffeine jitters! Perfect on its own or as the base of your latte or cappuccino.
Side note: While Starbucks makes Vertuo pods, as of the time of writing, there are no Decaf Vertuo pods produced by Starbucks.
Caffeine Content in Vertuo Decaffeinato Pods
While decaf coffee is supposed to have no caffeine at all, the truth is still has some traces of it.
The caffeine content in Melozio Decaffeinato is 11mg per serving. Alttissio Decaffeinato has 4 mg of caffeine per serving and Fortado Decaffeinato has 7 mg of caffeine per serving. (sourced from Nespresso Taiwan)
If you want to know the caffeine content of other Nespresso pods for a comparison, have a look at my Nespresso Capsule Caffeine Content Chart which contains the caffeine content of most OriginalLine and Vertuo pods.
The Process Nespresso Uses to Decaffeinate Coffee Pods
To extract the caffeine from the coffee, Nespresso uses what’s known as the ‘Swiss Water’ process.
Swiss Water is a chemical-free decaffeination process that involves washing the green coffee beans with water before roasting.
Here’s a quote from Nespresso on this subject:
Green coffee grains are soaked in hot water in order to dissolve the caffeine. The decaffeinated beans are then dried while active carbon is used to absorb the caffeine from the water. The dried beans are soaked again in the water now free of caffeine. This process is repeated until the beans are 99.9% caffeine free. Finally, the green coffee beans are dried, roasted and then ground.
What Decaffeinato Coffee Pods Taste Like
Because Nespresso uses the Swiss Water process, which does not involve any chemicals to take the caffeine out of the coffee, you’ll hardly notice any difference in taste between the decaf and caffeinated coffees.
Some users have noticed that decaf coffee pods are slightly less acidic than regular coffee. But personally speaking, I was not able to spot a difference in taste or quality between decaf and non-decaf Nespresso pods.
