Guide · Dolce Gusto
Starbucks Dolce Gusto pods: every type in the UK range, and which to buy
The Starbucks by Nescafé Dolce Gusto range sold in the UK, which drinks use one pod and which use two, prices at Sainsbury's and Morrisons checked 3 Oct 2026, and how to recycle the pods.
Starbucks Dolce Gusto pods are made by Nescafé for Dolce Gusto machines, and the first thing to know is that some drinks use one pod and some use two. Below we explain the UK range, which drinks come in one pod, what each works out at per drink, and how to recycle them. We haven’t tested this in person. This guide is based on Starbucks at Home’s UK website, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons listings, Podback’s guidance, and prices checked on 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
Quick answer: Starbucks at Home’s UK site lists 13 Starbucks by Nescafé Dolce Gusto drinks in three roasts: Blonde, Medium and Dark. The black coffees use one pod per drink; most milky drinks, such as the macchiatos and White Mocha, use two (a coffee pod and a milk pod). The Caffè Latte is a one-pod milky drink. They only fit Dolce Gusto machines.
Starbucks Dolce Gusto pods: the short answer
Buy Americano House Blend or Colombia Espresso for the lowest cost per cup. Each is £3.50 for 12 pods at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026, about 29p a drink, because each drink uses one pod.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a milky drink; these are black coffee.
Buy Caffè Latte if you want milk without a second pod. Sainsbury’s lists it as whole milk powder with soluble coffee and sugar, so each pod makes a whole drink. It’s £3.50 for 12 at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a sugar-free latte; check the ingredients on the box.
Buy the macchiatos and White Mocha for a coffee-shop-style treat, but expect to pay about twice as much per drink, because a box of 12 pods makes six drinks.
Which machines do Starbucks Dolce Gusto pods fit?
These pods are made for Nescafé Dolce Gusto machines. They won’t fit Nespresso, Tassimo or other pod systems. Starbucks at Home’s FAQ recommends using only Starbucks by Nescafé Dolce Gusto or Nescafé Dolce Gusto pods in Dolce Gusto machines.
If you own a Nespresso Original machine instead, Starbucks sells a separate range, covered in our guide to Starbucks Nespresso pods. For a Dolce Gusto machine that runs these pods, see our Dolce Gusto Genio S Plus review. To compare the three big pod systems, see our guide to Tassimo vs Dolce Gusto vs Nespresso.
Who it isn’t for: anyone choosing a pod machine for Starbucks coffee alone; both Dolce Gusto and Nespresso Original have Starbucks ranges.
One-pod and two-pod drinks
Starbucks at Home’s FAQ says each Starbucks Dolce Gusto drink needs one or two pods. Milky drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos usually use two pods, one of which contains the milk. Espressos and Americanos don’t come with milk.
To tell the pods apart, Starbucks at Home says to look at the base of the pod:
- White base: a milk pod.
- Black or dark brown base: a coffee pod.
The top of the pod names the drink. The bars printed on each pod show how much water or milk the drink needs. On automatic Dolce Gusto machines, Starbucks at Home says you set the machine’s volume selector to match the number of bars on the pod. You don’t remove the lid: the machine pierces the pod.
The Caffè Latte is an exception among the milky drinks: Sainsbury’s lists it as whole milk powder with soluble coffee and sugar, sold as 12 pods with no separate milk pods.
Who it isn’t for: if you want full control over strength and milk, a pod machine of any kind will feel limiting.
The UK Starbucks Dolce Gusto range
Starbucks at Home’s UK site listed these Starbucks by Nescafé Dolce Gusto drinks on 3 Oct 2026, grouped by roast:
- Starbucks Blonde Roast: Blonde Espresso Roast, Veranda Blend, Madagascar Vanilla Macchiato and Caffè Latte.
- Medium Roast: House Blend, Colombia, Cappuccino, Caramel Macchiato, Latte Macchiato and Espresso Roast.
- Dark Roast: Hazelnut Macchiato, White Mocha and a seasonal Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Supermarkets carry a smaller selection. Sainsbury’s had Americano House Blend, Caffè Latte, Caramel Macchiato, Colombia Espresso, Madagascar Vanilla Macchiato, White Mocha, Hazelnut Macchiato and a limited-edition Pumpkin Spice Latte on 3 Oct 2026.
Starbucks at Home says its most popular pods are also sold at Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Co-op and Ocado, as well as through the Nescafé Dolce Gusto webshop. We only checked Sainsbury’s and Morrisons prices.
What Starbucks Dolce Gusto pods cost
All prices were checked on 3 Oct 2026:
- Sainsbury’s: most Starbucks Dolce Gusto boxes were £3.50 at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026, including Americano House Blend, Caffè Latte, Caramel Macchiato and White Mocha. See Caramel Macchiato at Sainsbury’s
- Pumpkin Spice Latte: £4.75 for 12 pods at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026, a limited edition. See Pumpkin Spice Latte at Sainsbury’s
- Morrisons: For Caramel Macchiato, check price at Morrisons. See Caramel Macchiato at Morrisons
- Morrisons Pumpkin Spice Latte: Check price at Morrisons. See Pumpkin Spice Latte at Morrisons
- Morrisons Vanilla Macchiato: £4.50 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026.
So the same box can cost a pound more depending on where you buy. For two-pod drinks, £3.50 a box works out at about 58p a drink, checked 3 Oct 2026.
How to recycle Starbucks Dolce Gusto pods
Dolce Gusto pods are plastic, so they can’t go in the white bags used for aluminium pods. Podback says plastic pods, including Nescafé Dolce Gusto, need a green Podback bag, and that a drop-off bag usually holds about 50 Dolce Gusto pods (Podback FAQs). Podback’s Recycle Checker asks for your machine, pod brand and postcode, then shows your options.
Who it isn’t for: if you’d rather not store and post used pods, a pod system may not suit you at all.
Downsides and things to know
- Two-pod drinks cost more. Six drinks from a 12-pod box doubles the price per cup.
- Prices move. Supermarket pod prices change often, so check price at Sainsbury’s and Morrisons on the day.
- Sugar in some drinks. The Caffè Latte lists sugar among its ingredients, so check the box.
- Dolce Gusto only. These pods won’t fit Nespresso or Tassimo machines. Our capsule coffee guide covers the other systems.
Types of Starbucks Dolce Gusto pods
| Drink | Roast (Starbucks at Home) | Type | Pods per drink |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blonde Espresso Roast | Blonde | Black | One |
| Veranda Blend | Blonde | Black | One |
| Madagascar Vanilla Macchiato | Blonde | Milky | Two |
| Caffè Latte | Blonde | Milky (milk powder in the pod) | One |
| House Blend (Americano) | Medium | Black | One |
| Colombia (Espresso) | Medium | Black | One |
| Espresso Roast | Medium | Black | One |
| Cappuccino | Medium | Milky | Usually two; check the box |
| Caramel Macchiato | Medium | Milky | Two |
| Latte Macchiato | Medium | Milky | Usually two; check the box |
| Hazelnut Macchiato | Dark | Milky | Two |
| White Mocha | Dark | Milky | Two |
| Pumpkin Spice Latte (seasonal) | Dark | Milky | Check the box |
Range from Starbucks at Home’s UK site, 3 Oct 2026. Pods per drink from Starbucks at Home’s FAQ and Sainsbury’s listings; a white-based pod is the milk pod.
FAQ
How many Starbucks Dolce Gusto pods do you need per drink? One or two. Black coffees use one pod, and milky drinks like the macchiatos use two, except the Caffè Latte, which is a single pod.
Which pod is the milk pod? Starbucks at Home says milk pods have a white base, and coffee pods a black or dark brown base.
Do Starbucks Dolce Gusto pods fit Nespresso machines? No. Starbucks sells a separate range for Nespresso Original machines.
Can you recycle Starbucks Dolce Gusto pods? Yes, through Podback, using a green bag for plastic pods.
What types of Starbucks Dolce Gusto pods are there? Starbucks at Home’s UK site lists Blonde Roast drinks (Blonde Espresso Roast, Veranda Blend, Madagascar Vanilla Macchiato, Caffè Latte), Medium Roast drinks (House Blend, Colombia, Cappuccino, Caramel Macchiato, Latte Macchiato, Espresso Roast) and Dark Roast drinks (Hazelnut Macchiato, White Mocha and a seasonal Pumpkin Spice Latte).
Which Starbucks Dolce Gusto pods are cheapest per cup? The one-pod drinks. Americano House Blend, Colombia Espresso and Caffè Latte were each £3.50 for 12 pods at Sainsbury’s on 3 Oct 2026, about 29p a drink.
Where can you buy Starbucks Dolce Gusto pods? We found them at Sainsbury’s and Morrisons. Starbucks at Home says its most popular pods are also sold at Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Co-op and Ocado, and through the Nescafé Dolce Gusto webshop.