Dolce Gusto
The Nescafé Dolce Gusto is a coffee capsule system from Nestlé. The machines are produced by hardware manufacturers Arno from Næver, Krups and De'Longhi.
Devices
Melody series
The first series of 2006 consisted of the models KP2000, KP2006 and KP2002, all of them operating in a standard pressure of 14 bar. The device itself consists of a water tank, an internal water pump and an electric heater. The dispenser is in the top, where a lever lowers a plate with a single needle on the capsule holder.The machines debuted a proprietary capsule system called smart capsule, with 8 g each, and could prepare hot or cold beverages — the heating is done internally, but for cold beverages the water has to be manually chilled in the water tank with ice.
In late 2008, Nestlè launched a new series, KP21xx/Melody2, with new colors and some other improvements:
- 15 bar pressure
- Power-saving automatic switch-off
- Partially chromed parts
- Wider drip collector
- Magnetic capsule holder
Circolo, Piccolo and Fontana
In mid-2009 Nestlé added the Circolo series to the line. This machine, as the name suggests, sports a rounded design, with the same technical specifications of the Melody2 devices, but with a LED light in the water tank.In September 2010, the previous two series were supplemented by three more. Besides the Creativa mentioned above, there is the Piccolo, aimed to customers with limited space, as it is smaller, with a 600 ml water tank. Other than that, it is technically identical to the Melody2 machines.
Similarly, the Fontana has the same underpinnings, but with a design reminiscent of a water tap.
The devices work, depending on the series, with 14 or 15 bar pressure.
Similar systems
In contrast to Nespresso system, which is also made by Nestlé and has Krups as one of the major hardware vendors, the Dolce Gusto capsules are freely available in stores — with Nespresso you can only buy it either online or in special Nespresso stores.Capsules
Each pack contains 16 capsules. These are sufficient for 8 or 16 cups, depending of the type of beverage. In almost all beverages with milk, two capsules are needed: one capsule with milk powder and other with the other ingredient. The amount of time of preparation for each one varies.Inside each package there is a code number printed, the so-called pleasure points system. These can be redeemed at the online Dolce Gusto shop. There are also coffee and tea equipment.
Varieties
The variety of flavors varies by territory. The following list provides information on the varieties available currently listed by territory :| Name | Intensity | Main Water | Milk Water | Availability | Notes |
| Ristretto | 8 | 1 | - | AE, AR, AU, BE, BG, CH, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GR, HU, IE, IT, JO, KW, NL, NO, NZ, PL, PT, QA, RU, SA, SE, SK, TH, TW, UA, UK | |
| Ristretto Ardenza | 11 | 1 | - | AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IT, KR, MT, MY, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SE, SG, SK, TW, UK, ZA | |
| Espresso | 5 | 2 | - | AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CZ, DE, DK, DO, EC, ES, FI, FR, HU, IE, IT, JO, JP, KR, KW, KZ, LB, MA, MX, MY, NI, NL, NO, NZ, PE, PH, PK, PL, PT, RO, RU, QA, SA, SE, SG, SK, UA, TH, TW, UK, US, UY | |
| Espresso Decaffeinato | 5 | 2 | - | AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CH, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IT, KR, MT, MX, NI, NL, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SE, SK, HK, UA, UK | |
| Barista | 9 | 1 | - | AT, BE, BG, BR, CH, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IL, IT, LT, LV, MT, MX, NI, NL, NO, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SE, SK, UA, UK | |
| Bonka | Espresso | 8 | 1 | - | ES | A coffee brand by Nestlé |
| Buondi| | 8 | 1 | - | BG, CH, CZ, DE, GR, HU, IT, PT, SK, TH, UA | A coffee brand by Nestlé |
| Espresso Intenso | 7 | 2 | - | AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, GT, HK, HN, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IT, JP, KR, LT, LV, MT, MX, MY, NI, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PL, PT, PY, RO, RS, RU, SE, SG, SI, TH, TR, TW, UA, UK, US, UY, VN, ZA | |
| Espresso Intenso Decaffeinato | 7 | 2 | - | DE, ES, IT | |
| Espresso Macchiato | - | 3 | - | AR, AT, BE, BG, BR, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IT, KZ, LT, LV, MT, MX, MY, NI, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SE, SG, SK, UK, UY | |
| Espresso Macchiato Decaffeinato | - | 3 | - | AT, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GR, HU, IE, IT, NL, NO, PL, RO, SE, UK | |
| Espresso Caramel | 7 | 2 | - | AT, BE, CH, CL, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HU, IT, KR, LT, LV, NL, NO, PL, PT, RU, SE, SK, TW, UK, UY | |
| Yunnan Espresso | 7 | 2 | - | AT, BE, CH, CR, CZ, DK, ES, FI, FR, GT, HN, IT, NL, NO, PA, PL, PT, RU, SE, SK | Limited edition FINISH |
| Dallmayr Crema D'Oro | 7 | 5 | - | AT, DE, DK, FI, NO, SE | |
| Dallmayr Prodomo | 5 | 5 | - | AT, CH, DE, DK, FI, NO, SE | |
| Sical | 7 | 1 | - | IT, PT | A coffee brand by Nestlé |
| Americano / House Blend | 4 | 7 | - | AR, AU, BE, CA, CL, CO, CR, CZ, DK, EC, FI, FR, GR, GT, HN, IE, IT, KR, KZ, MX, NI, NO, NZ, PA, PL, RU, SE, SK, TH, TR, TW, UK, US, UY, VE, ZA | |
| Americano Intenso | 6 | 7 | - | EC, KR, UK | Worldwide exclusive launch |
| Caffè Buongiorno / Matinal | 9 | 4 | - | BR | Traditional Brazilian coffee |
| Lungo / Regular Blend | 6 | 4 | - | AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CN, CZ, DE, DK, DO, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IT, JP, KR, KZ, LT, LV, MA, MX, MY, NI, NL, NO, NZ, PE, PH, PL, PT, PY, RO, RS, RU, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, TW, UA, UK, US, UY | |
| Lungo Decaffeinato / Regular Blend Decaffeinato | 6 | 4 | - | AT, BE, CA, CH, CL, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GR, IE, IT, JP, KR, MX, NI, NL, NO, RO, SE, TW, UK, US, ZA | |
| Lungo Intenso / Roast Blend | 9 | 4 | - | AT, BE, BG, CZ, DE, DK, FI, FR, IE, IT, JP, KR, MX, NI, NL, NO, PL, RO, SE, SK, TW, UK | |
| Lungo Mild | 3 | 4 | - | AT, BE, BG, CH, DE, DK, FI, IE, JP, NL, NO, PL, RO, SE, UK | |
| N'Yumba Lungo | 7 | 4 | - | AT, BE, BG, CH, CZ, DK, FI, IE, IT, KR, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, SE, SG, SK, UK | 100% Rwandan arabica. Limited edition. FINISH |
| Grande / Medium Roast /Caffè Aroma | 5 | 7 | - | AT, BE, BG, CA, CH, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, FI, FR, GR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LV, MT, MX, NI, NL, NO, PL, PT, RU, SE, SK, TW, UA, UK | |
| Grande Intenso / Dark Roast | 9 | 7 | - | BE, CA, CH, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, HK, FI, FR, GR, ID, IE, IL, IT, KR, LT, LV, MT, MY, NL, NO, PE, PH, PL, RU, SE, SG, SK, TW, UA, UK, US, VN | |
| Grande Mild / Morning Blend | 3 | 7 | - | AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, FI, IE, IT, JP, KR, NL, NO, SE, UK, US | |
| Zoégas Dark Temptation | 7 | 6 | - | DK, FI, NO, SE | A Swedish company acquired by Nestlé. A high percentage of the beans are from Kenya's highlands. FINISH |
| Zoégas Intenzo | 8 | 6 | - | DK, FI, NO, SE | Consists primarily of selected beans from Central America's hillsides. |
| Zoégas Mollbergs | 6 | 6 | - | DK, FI, NO, SE | Extremely high proportion of Arabica from Kenya's highlands. |
| Zoégas Skånerost | 6 | 6 | - | DK, FI, NO, SE | 100% Arabica. East Africa, Brazil and highlands in Central America beans blend. |
| Iced Coffee Blend | - | 3 | - | JP, KR | Iced |
| Café Au Lait | - | 6 | - | AR, AT, AU, BE, BR, CH, CZ, CL, DE, DK, DO, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HK, HR, ID, IE, IL, IT, KR, LT, LV, MA, MX, MY, NI, NL, NO, NZ, PL, PT, PY, RO, RU, SE, SG, SK, TH, UA, UK, UY, VN, ZA | |
| Café Au Lait Decaffeinato | - | 6 | - | ES | |
| Latte Macchiato | - | 2 | 5 | AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BR, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CZ, DE, DK, DO, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, GT, ID, HN, HR, HU, IE, IT, JP, KR, LT, LV, MT, MX, MY, NI, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PK, PL, PT, PY, RS, RO, RU, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, TW, UA, UK, US, VE, ZA | |
| Latte Macchiato Light | - | 2 | 5 | AR, AT, BG, CH, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, HU, IE, IT, HK, NL, NO, NZ, PE, SE, SK, UK, US, UY | |
| Latte Macchiato Unsweetened | - | 2 | 5 | AT, CH, CL, CZ, DE, DK, FI, GR, HU, IE, KZ, NL, NO, PL, RO, SE, SK, TW, UK, UY | |
| Latte Macchiato Caramel | - | 2 | 5 | AE, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HU, ID, IE, IT, JO, KR, KW, LT, LV, MA, MT, MX, MY, NI, NL, NO, NZ, PE, PL, PT, QA, RO, RU, SA, SE, SG, SK, TR, TW, UA, UK, US, ZA | |
| Latte Macchiato Vanilla | - | 2 | 5 | AR, AT, BE, BR, CA, CH, CL, CZ, DE, DK, EC, ES, FI, FR, GR, HU,IE, IT, MT, MX, MY, NI, NL, NO, PH, PL, RO, RU, SE, SG, SI, SK, TW, UK, US, UY, ZA | |
| Ricoré Latte | - | 6 | - | FR | A brand name of a coffee/chicory mix by Nestlé. |
| Cappuccino | - | 1 | 6 | AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CZ, DE, DK, DO, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, GT, HK, HN, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IT, JO, JP, KR, KW, KZ, LB, LT, LV, MA, MT, MX, MY, NI, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PK, PL, PT, PY, QA, RO, RU, SI, RS, SA, SE, SG, SK, TH, TR, TW, UA, UK, US, UY, VE, VN, ZA | |
| Soy Cappuccino | - | 2 | BR, DE, DK, FI, NO, PT, SE | Soy milk | |
| Cappuccino Light | - | 1 | 6 | AU, BE, CH, CL, CO, CR, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GT, HK, HN, IE, IT, KR, MT, MX, NI, NL, NO, PA, PY, RO, RU, SE, SK, UK, US, ZA | |
| Cappuccino Ice | - | 3 | 3 | AE, AT, BE, BG, CH, CO, CR, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, GR, GT, HK, HN, HU, IE, IT, JO, JP, KR, KW, LB, MT, MX, NI, NL, NO, PA, PH, PL, PT, QA, RU, SA, SE, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, UK, US, ZA | Iced |
| Freddo Cappuccino | - | 3 | 3 | DE, DK, FI, GR, NO, RO, SE, SG, TW | Iced FINISH |
| Chococino / Chocoletto | - | 3 | 3 | AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, GT, HK, HN, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IT, JO, JP, KR, KW, LB, LT, LV, MA, MT, MX, MY, NI, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PK, PL, PT, PY, QA, RO, RU, SA, SE, SG, SI, SK, TR, TW, UA, UK, US, UY, VN, ZA | Hot chocolate |
| Chococino Caramel | - | 3 | 3 | AR, AT, BE, BR, CH, CZ, CL, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR. HU, IE, IT, LT, LV, MA, MX, NI, NL, NO, PL, PT, RU, SE, SK, TW, UK, UY | Hot chocolate |
| Mocha | - | 3 | 3 | AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CH, CL, CO, CR, CZ, DE, DK, DO, EC, ES, FI, FR, GR, GT, HK, HN, HU, ID, IE, IT, KR, KZ, MT, MX, MY, NI, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RU, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TW, UA, UK, US, UY, VE, ZA | |
| Milo | - | 3 | 3 | CO, ID, MY, PE, PH, SG, ZA | A brand name of chocolate malt drink by Nestlé. FINISH |
| Nescau | - | 4 | - | BR | Hot chocolate. A cocoa brand by Nestlé |
| Nesquik | - | 5 | - | AT, BE, BG, CH, CO, CZ, DE, DK, DO, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, IT, KR, KZ, LT, LV, MT, MX, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RU, SE, SI, SK, UA | Hot chocolate. A cocoa brand by Nestlé. Different drink as Nescau/Nescao |
| Nestea Lemon | - | 7 | - | AR, BE, BR, CH, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GR, HU, IE, IT, NL, NO, PL, PT, SE, SK, UK, UY | Iced. An ice tea brand by Nestlé |
| Nestea Peach | - | 7 | - | AE, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CH, DK, ES, FI, FR, GR, HK, ID, IE, IT, KR, MT, NL, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, SE, SG, TW, UA, UK, US, ZA | Iced |
| Citrus Honey Black Tea | - | 6 | - | BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, IT, NL, NO, PL, PT, SE | |
| Macaron Green Tea | - | 6 | - | BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, HU, IT, NL, NO, PL, PT, SE, TH | |
| Uji Matcha | - | 3 | - | JP | Uji green tea |
| Marrakesh Style Tea | - | 6 | - | AE, AT, BE, BR, CH, CL, CO, CR, CZ, DE, DK, DO, EC, ES, FI, FR, GR, GT, HN, IE, IT, JO, KW, MT, MX, NI, NL, NO, PA, PT, RO, SE, SK, QA, SA, UK | |
| Tea Latte | - | 3 | 3 | AT, BE, CH, CN, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, HK, IE, IT, JP, KR, MT, MY, NL, NO, SE, SG, TW, UK, ZA | |
| Chai Tea Latte | - | 3 | 3 | AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CR, CZ, DE, DK, DO, EC, ES, FI, FR, GR, GT, HN, HU, IE, IT, JO, JP, KW, KZ, MT, MX, MY, NI, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, QA, RO, RU, SA, SE, SG, SK, TR, TW, UA, UK, US, UY, ZA | |
| Preludio | - | ||||
| Preludio Intenso | - | CL | |||
| Essenza Di Moka | - | CL | |||
| Catuài Do Cerrado / Espresso Do Brazil | - | PE | |||
| Café Au Lait Décaffeinated | - | ||||
| Café Au Lait Intenso | - | EC | |||
| Lungo Colombia Sierra Nevada Bio | - | BE, ES, FR | |||
| Espresso Péru Cajamarca Bio | - | BE, CL, ES, FR | |||
| Espresso Honduras Bio | - | BE, CL, ES, FR | |||
| Koi Matcha | - | JP | |||
| Cappuccino Intenso | - | BE, DE, PT | |||
| Espresso Generoso | - | FR, BE, DE | |||
| Flat White | - | AU, NZ | |||
| Mochaccino Canela | - | BR | |||
| Incarom Latte | - | CH | |||
| Americano Rich Aroma | - | KR | |||
| Café Au Lait Mild- Rich Aroma | - | JP, TH | |||
| Milk Tea | - | JP | 1 Pod. Different from Tea Latte 2 Pods | ||
| Americano Chiapas Mexico Bio | - | MX | |||
| Espresso Napoli | - | BE, BG, IT, PT | |||
| Espresso Milano | - | IT | |||
| Espresso Roma | - | IT | |||
| Latte Macchiato Amaretto | - | UK, DE | |||
| Caffé Ginseng | - | IT, CH, PT | |||
| Latte Macchiato Guatemala Bio | - | FR | |||
| Cold Brew Coffee | - | 6 | DE, JP, UK | ||
| Iced Café au lait | - | JP | |||
| Americano Smooth Morning | 4 | XL | UK | ||
| Americano Bold Morning | 8 | XL | UK | ||
| Café Con Leche Délicato | 5 | ES |
Criticism
The pod and coffee capsule system draw some criticism due to the lock-in effect. This means that the low cost of acquisition for each coffee machine is illusory, since the costs of the capsules for it exceeds that of conventional coffee — sometimes several times — and can cost more than the machine itself in a short time span unless a refillable capsule is used. A further disadvantage is the increased amount of waste due to the disposable nature of the Nescafé capsules, although in some countries recycling programs exist.A trial recycling scheme has been operating in the UK during 2019 but has drawn criticism in social media channels. The scheme is only limited to purchases done from the Online Dolce Gusto shop, through receipt of a special pink 'return' bag'. High Street purchases, on any other official Dolce Gusto purchase through other online retailers are also excluded.https://www.dolce-gusto.co.uk/recycle