Guide · Nespresso Original
Best decaf Nespresso pods: Original and Vertuo decaf options compared
Decaf capsules for Nespresso Original machines from L'Or, Starbucks, Costa, Lavazza and Morrisons, compared on price per pod and style, checked 3 Oct 2026.
If you own a Nespresso machine and want to cut back on caffeine, the good news is that decaf capsules are easy to find in UK supermarkets. The catch is that almost all of them are for Original machines. We’ve compared six decaf capsules that the retailers list as Nespresso Original-compatible, on price per pod and the style each brand describes, and explained what Vertuo owners can do. We haven’t tested this in person. Our picks are based on the retailers’ product pages and UK prices checked on 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
Best decaf Nespresso pods UK: the short answer
Buy L’Or Ristretto Decaf in the 20-capsule box if price matters most. It’s £5.50 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026, about 28p a pod, with an intensity of 9 as listed.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who prefers a mild, long coffee. A ristretto is a short, strong style.
Get Starbucks by Nespresso Decaf Espresso Roast for a darker roast to go with milk. Check price at Morrisons. Morrisons lists it at intensity 11, 100% Arabica, and says it’s designed for lattes and cappuccinos.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who drinks decaf black and wants something mild. Morrisons lists it at intensity 11.
Choose Morrisons The Best Fair Trade Decaff if you want a milder, Fairtrade option. It’s £3.25 for 10 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026, about 33p a pod, described as a mild/medium roast.
Who it isn’t for: fans of strong, dark espresso.
Skip the pricier 10-packs unless you want variety. The L’Or Espresso Ristretto Decaf 10-pack is £4.25 at Morrisons and Lavazza Decaf is £4.99 for 10 at Currys (both checked 3 Oct 2026), which works out much dearer per pod than the 20-capsule L’Or box.
Who it isn’t for: anyone choosing on price per cup.
Original vs Vertuo: which decaf pods fit?
Nespresso makes two systems that don’t share pods. Original machines, like the Nespresso CitiZ and Essenza Mini, take small capsules, and lots of other brands make compatible ones. Vertuo machines, like the Vertuo Next, read a barcode on Nespresso’s own dome-shaped pods, so you’re limited to Nespresso’s range. Morrisons says plainly that its The Best pods don’t suit Vertuo, professional or built-in machines.
So for a Vertuo, any decaf has to come from Nespresso itself. Its website blocked our check on 3 Oct 2026, so we can’t list which decaf Vertuo pods it currently sells or quote prices. Nespresso’s own site or boutiques are the place to look.
Our Vertuo vs Original guide covers the systems in more depth.
Who it isn’t for: if you’re choosing a machine and drink a lot of decaf, the wider choice of decaf capsules is a point in Original’s favour.
Which decaf works best in milk drinks?
Milk softens coffee, so for lattes and cappuccinos a darker, more intense pod usually holds up better. Going by the brands’ own descriptions:
- Starbucks by Nespresso Decaf Espresso Roast is described as a dark roast at intensity 11 and suggested for lattes and cappuccinos.
- L’Or Ristretto Decaf is listed at intensity 9, a short, strong style.
- Morrisons The Best Decaff is described as mild/medium, better on its own.
- Costa Decaf suggests the lungo (110ml) setting, a longer cup.
For tips on milk drinks at home, see our guide to making a latte at home.
Price per pod and multi-buys
Decaf capsules are often on multi-buy at supermarkets. On 3 Oct 2026, Morrisons had a multi-buy on the 10-capsule L’Or Espresso Ristretto Decaf, so check price at Morrisons. Prices change often, so compare the per-pod price rather than the pack price.
Caffeine facts, from the official source
Decaf has most of its caffeine removed but isn’t caffeine-free. For general guidance on caffeine, the European Food Safety Authority’s caffeine page sets out the intakes it considers of no safety concern for healthy adults. Our guide to how much caffeine is in decaf coffee explains more. For personal health questions, speak to your GP or pharmacist.
Recycling Nespresso decaf pods
Several of these are listed as aluminium capsules, including L’Or, Lavazza and Morrisons The Best. Podback says aluminium pods, including Nespresso and Nespresso-compatible pods, go in a white Podback bag for supermarket drop-off, or loose in the right container at council recycling centres that take them. Check each pack for what its capsule is made of.
Downsides
- Vertuo owners have little choice. And we couldn’t check Nespresso’s own prices.
- No process details. None of the listings we checked said how the coffee was decaffeinated.
- Prices change. Supermarket pod prices move often, so check price at Morrisons on the day.
Where to go next
- Best decaf coffee pods for every system
- Nespresso Vertuo vs Original
- Nespresso CitiZ review
- Capsule coffee
FAQ
Are there decaf pods for Nespresso Vertuo? Vertuo machines only take Nespresso’s own Vertuo pods. Its site blocked our check, so we can’t confirm which decaf options it currently sells or their prices.
What’s the cheapest decaf Nespresso Original pod? Of those we checked, L’Or Ristretto Decaf 20 capsules, at £5.50 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026, about 28p a pod.
Which decaf Nespresso pod is best for lattes? A darker, more intense pod such as Starbucks by Nespresso Decaf Espresso Roast, which its listing suggests for lattes.
Can you recycle decaf capsules? Yes, in the same way as regular aluminium capsules, through Podback.
Where can you buy these? L’Or Ristretto Decaf 20 at Morrisons, Starbucks by Nespresso Decaf at Morrisons, Morrisons The Best Decaff Pods, Costa Decaf Capsules at Morrisons, L’Or Espresso Ristretto Decaf 10 at Morrisons and Lavazza Decaf Pods at Currys.