CafePod review: the UK Nespresso-compatible pod brand, explained

This CafePod review looks at the London-founded brand’s aluminium pods for Nespresso Original machines: who makes them, the 10 blends, the decaf options, what they cost per pod, and how to recycle them. We haven’t tested this in person. Our verdict is based on CafePod’s own product, story and FAQ pages, and UK prices checked on 3 Oct 2026. We couldn’t check independent owner reviews for this page, so we haven’t summarised them. Read how we compare.

CafePod review: the short answer

Buy CafePod if you like strong coffee and want a strength number on every pod. Its 36-pod packs are £17.29 at CafePod, checked 3 Oct 2026, about 48p a pod.

Who it isn’t for: anyone choosing on price. Supermarket compatibles from L’OR and Starbucks were 25p to 26p a pod in bulk packs, checked 3 Oct 2026, in our guide to the best Nespresso pods.

Choose CafePod’s decafs if you want decaf pods made with the CO2 method. CafePod says its decafs are CO2 decaffeinated, with no solvents.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who needs pods for a Vertuo machine.

Skip CafePod if you’d rather pick up pods with your weekly shop. We didn’t find CafePod at Sainsbury’s or Morrisons on 3 Oct 2026.

What it costs right now

All prices were checked on 3 Oct 2026, direct from CafePod:

• 10-pack, any blend: £4.95 at CafePod, checked 3 Oct 2026, 49.5p a pod. See Daily Grind at CafePod
• 36-pod packs: £17.29 at CafePod, checked 3 Oct 2026, for Supercharger Espresso, Brunch Blend, Intense Roast or Decaf Brunch Blend. See Supercharger Espresso 36 at CafePod
• Supercharger Espresso 40-pod pack: £19.21 at CafePod, checked 3 Oct 2026.
• Variety Coffee Bundle: £38.80 for 80 pods at CafePod, checked 3 Oct 2026. See the Variety Bundle at CafePod
• Ultimate Bundle: £49.50 for 100 pods at CafePod, checked 3 Oct 2026, one 10-pack of each of the 10 blends. See the Ultimate Bundle at CafePod

CafePod’s site said delivery is free on orders over £35, or over £25 on subscription, checked 3 Oct 2026. It also advertised 20% off subscription orders with no exit fees. Terms like that can change, so check at checkout.

Because the price per pod barely changes between pack sizes, the main saving is the subscription discount, not buying in bulk.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who only wants a 10-pack now and then; delivery costs will add a lot to a small order.

Who makes CafePod?

CafePod’s story page says it was founded in London in 2011 by Peter Grainger and Brent Hadfield, and that its coffee is blended and roasted in small batches in North Lincolnshire. It also sells beans, ground coffee and brewing kit, but pods are its main range.

Who it isn’t for: anyone looking for a supermarket brand they can find in store.

The CafePod range and strength numbers

CafePod lists 10 pod blends, each with a strength number from 8 to 12:

• Strength 12: Smoky Joe and Supercharger Espresso (espresso).
• Strength 11: Black Velvet (lungo) and Decaf Supercharger Espresso (espresso).
• Strength 9: Brunch Blend and Intense Roast (lungo).
• Strength 8: Daily Grind (lungo), You’re So Vanilla and Call Me Caramel (espresso), and Decaf Brunch Blend (lungo).

CafePod says blends up to strength 9 are all arabica, and from 10 it adds robusta. Its tasting notes include granola, toasted nuts and caramel for Daily Grind, and brownie, chestnut and spice for Supercharger Espresso. CafePod’s FAQ says its products contain only coffee and that “nutty” is a tasting note, not an ingredient.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants light, fruity single-farm coffees; this range leans strong.

Which machines do CafePod pods fit?

CafePod’s FAQ says its pods fit Nespresso Original machines and other machines that take Original-style pods, with one exception: Nespresso’s Maestria range. It says they don’t fit Nespresso Vertuo, Dolce Gusto, Lavazza or Tassimo machines.

Our guide to Nespresso Vertuo vs Original explains how to tell the systems apart, and our Nespresso CitiZ review covers an Original machine.

Who it isn’t for: Vertuo owners.

How to recycle CafePod pods

CafePod says its pods are aluminium and recyclable. Its advice is to tip out the grounds, give the pod a quick rinse and put it in with your metal recycling, but check your council takes small items. CafePod says its pod cartons are recyclable too.

If your council doesn’t take small aluminium items, Podback runs drop-off and collection services for pods. Its Recycle Checker asks for your pod brand and postcode, so use it to see whether CafePod pods are covered where you live (Podback FAQs).

Downsides

• Price per pod. About 48p to 50p, roughly double the cheapest supermarket compatibles we’ve compared.
• Online only, as far as we found. No CafePod at Sainsbury’s or Morrisons on 3 Oct 2026.
• Delivery threshold. One-off orders under £35 paid for delivery, checked 3 Oct 2026.
• Recycling depends on your council. Kerbside collection of small aluminium items varies.

Where to go next

For pod coffee in general, read our capsule coffee guide. For pods that can go in a home compost heap, see our Grind pods review.

Independent taste test: T3 included CafePod blends in a taste test of 25 Nespresso-compatible pods. We haven’t summarised its findings here.

FAQ

Do CafePod pods fit Vertuo machines? No. CafePod says they fit Nespresso Original machines, but not Vertuo or Maestria.

Does CafePod make decaf pods? Yes: Decaf Brunch Blend and Decaf Supercharger Espresso, both CO2 decaffeinated, according to CafePod.

Can you buy CafePod in supermarkets? We didn’t find it at Sainsbury’s or Morrisons on 3 Oct 2026. It’s sold direct from CafePod.

Are CafePod pods recyclable? Yes. CafePod says they’re aluminium and can go in metal recycling where your council accepts small items.

Related

• L'OR pods vs Nespresso: compatibility, price and where to buy
• Starbucks Nespresso pods: the UK Starbucks by Nespresso range explained
• Costa coffee pods: which Costa pods fit Tassimo, Nespresso and Dolce Gusto
• Grind pods review: what you get, compatibility and compostability