Lavazza Tabli: Coffee Tablets Beat Nespresso on Taste

What is the Lavazza Tabli?

The Tabli is a single-serve espresso machine that uses pressed coffee tablets—called tabs—instead of capsules. Each tab contains exactly one dose of ground coffee, so there's no weighing, no mess, and no plastic or metal pod to recycle.

Lavazza debuted the Tabli system months before Keurig announced its own shift to coffee tablets, making it an early mover in what now looks like a post-pod era. The tabs are simply compressed ground coffee, wrapped in minimal packaging. After brewing, the machine drops the used tab into a bin, where it stays intact—no soggy grounds to scrape out.

The machine itself is a sleek countertop unit available in graphite black, sand white, and walnut brown. Four buttons on top handle power, single shot, double shot, and lungo. A sliding panel reveals the brew chamber, and warning lights tell you when the bin is full, the water tank needs filling, or descaling is due. It connects to a phone app via Bluetooth for customization and remote brewing.

How does it compare to Nespresso on price and taste?

The Tabli costs $129 / £199, and tabs are cheaper per cup than Nespresso capsules. More importantly, the coffee tastes better—fresher and richer than any pod machine tested.

In the US, a four-pack of tab boxes costs $48, which works out to $1 per drink. Nespresso Vertuo capsules run $1.40 to $1.60 each, so the savings add up quickly. In the UK, a box of 12 tabs is £5.89 (about 49p per drink), and an eight-box multipack brings it down to 42p. Bundles with the Lavazza MilkEasy frother and several boxes of tabs offer further savings.

TechRadar's reviewer, who has tested many coffee machines, said the Tabli produced a better-tasting brew than any capsule system they'd tried. The tabs are sealed tightly enough to stay fresh, and the machine extracts a rich, espresso-like shot. The app adds customization—you can adjust shot length and strength—but the core appeal is the flavor and the lack of waste.

One caveat: Google Home connectivity didn't work during testing, so you can't start a brew with a smart speaker. The app itself works well, but it's a minor blemish on an otherwise polished experience.

The bigger picture: coffee pods are on the way out

Keurig's recent announcement that it will phase out K-Cups in favor of coffee tablets confirms a shift that Lavazza anticipated. The Tabli is part of a broader move toward less wasteful single-serve coffee.

For years, the convenience of pods came with an environmental cost: billions of capsules end up in landfill because recycling programs are inconvenient or unavailable. Compressed coffee tabs solve that by eliminating the pod entirely. The used tab can go straight into compost or trash without separating materials.

Lavazza isn't alone. Keurig's move signals that the biggest players see tablets as the future. For consumers, that means more choice and likely more competition on price. The Tabli is already competitive, and as rivals enter the space, the economics should only improve.

Availability and pricing

The Lavazza Tabli is available now in the US for $129 and in the UK for £199. It is not yet available in Australia, though pricing there is expected to be between AU$190 and AU$380 when it launches. Bundles with the MilkEasy frother and tabs are also offered in both markets.

Tab pricing varies: in the US, a four-pack of boxes (48 tabs) costs $48; in the UK, a box of 12 tabs is £5.89, or £40 for eight boxes. Prices may change, so check Lavazza's official store for current offers.

The Lavazza Tabli proves that convenience and sustainability can coexist. With better taste than capsule machines and a lower cost per cup, it's a strong choice for anyone looking to cut plastic waste without giving up quick espresso. Just don't expect the smart home integration to work flawlessly yet.