Pike Place Roast

The variety pack arrived on time and was packaged securely. All pods were compatible with the Nespresso Original Line machine. The assortment offers a good range of espresso flavors and intensities. Each pod brewed smoothly with a consistent crema. Flavor profiles were balanced without tasting burnt or overly bitter. It is convenient to have multiple options in one package. The pods worked reliably with no issues during brewing. This pack is useful for trying different blends or serving guests. Taste preferences may vary depending on individual flavor expectations. Overall, this is a dependable and enjoyable espresso variety pack.

Even though these Starbucks by Nespresso Blonde Roast Espresso Pods are made for Nespresso Original machines, I’ve been using them with my Ninja Barista and they’ve been flawless. The flavor profile is exactly what you expect from Starbucks Blonde — smooth, lightly roasted, and just the right amount of sweetness without bitterness. It’s the kind of espresso that doesn’t overpower milk-based drinks but still holds its character in an iced latte or macchiato. The extraction is clean, the crema comes out golden, and the aroma fills the room like a café. It’s not as punchy as a dark roast, but that’s the charm — it’s mellow, approachable, and versatile. I’ve tried other pods for the Ninja setup, and these consistently taste fresher and smoother. Pros: • Perfectly balanced flavor — mild but flavorful • Works surprisingly well with the Ninja Barista system • Consistent extraction and good crema • Great value for the 50-count pack Cons: • Might be too light for people who prefer a strong, bitter espresso • Price fluctuates a bit Bottom Line: If you want a smooth, easy-drinking espresso that won’t overwhelm your morning latte, this is a reliable go-to. Not just for Nespresso users — my Ninja setup handles these like a pro.

We switched from the official Nespresso capsules to these and immediately started a subscription because they're that good. If you’re someone who doesn’t want flavored or sweetened coffee, this variety pack is perfect — clean, strong, consistent espresso. The quality is honestly on par with Nespresso but far more affordable, and they work seamlessly with our machine. No pressure issues, no leaks, no weird tastes. If you prefer straightforward, non-flavored espresso, this is an excellent staple.

tl;dr For anyone wondering if this is a good substitute for the Nespresso version, I'd say "Yes, IF you want a stronger coffee taste." I was actually happy with this difference since the Nespresso one always seemed kind of mild taste-wise. Still a good coffee taste, but not what I would call "bold" or "strong." I wouldn't even need to add sugar with these, just some heavy cream and it was good to go. Not saying that I don't like the Nespresso Caramello - I love it for what it is, and if I ever want a milder espresso to start my day, or if I want to cut back on sugar, that'll be my top choice - but so many times I'd smell my husband brewing up some Folger's Black Silk in the afternoon and be like "Ohhhh that smells so good!" since the Nespresso one never fully satisfied that craving. But I don't do afternoon coffee, just an espresso in the morning, so that craving for some stronger coffee taste was never fulfilled. Enter the Starbucks caramel flavored espresso pods. The fit was perfect with my Ninja - Espresso & Coffee Barista System ( Model CFN602 if anyone is hunting for that information) and as soon as I got it brewing, I could smell the bold, rich coffee that I had been craving. The taste is great, like strong coffee with a little caramel kick, and who am I to argue with a cheaper price tag? (As of writing: .90 per Nespresso; .57 per Starbucks.) In my opinion, unless you're specifically looking for a milder coffee taste, this one is the winner.

The coffee tastes great. And was at a great price. Came well packaged too. My only complaint is the use by date is Jan 10, 2026 and I received the 50 pods on Jan 1st, 2026.

This is a winner. Here you get to have 5 different sleeves of Starbucks Nespresso Originalline. The only flavor it's missing is the Dark Roast Espresso. Below I share my thoughts on each sleeve, in both the espresso and lungo shots from a Nespresso Citiz machine. STARBUCKS NESPRESSO ORIGINALLINE PODS 1- Blonde Espresso Roast, Intensity 6, 53 g, 1.86 oz >>I tried as an espresso, it’s strong, with character and lots of caffeine. Good taste too. >>I tried as a lungo, naturally more water creates a smoother taste, but it still has good character for lungo size and caffeine is felt. 2- Pike Place – Lungo – Intensity 7 – 53 g, 1.86 oz >>I tried as lungo. It tastes like brewed coffee, instead of espresso. It tastes good with strong caffeine, and totally drinkable, but other options are better for espresso taste such as Blonde Espresso Roast, or Dark Espresso Roast. >>I tried as an espresso and it’s delicious. Not too strong, not too acidic, good flavor. 3- Café Verona – Ristretto - Intensity 10 - 55 g, 1.94 oz >>I tried as an espresso and it’s quite satisfying. It does say Ristretto (less water, or a shorter pull than espresso) on the sleeve, hence should be best as espresso. >>I tried lungo as well. It’s another mellow and smooth but flavorful experience. Obviously added water makes it much smoother. 4- House Blend – Lungo, Intensity 8, 57 g, 2.01 oz This capsule, along with Dark Roast Espresso and Columbia pack the most amount of coffee grounds. 57 grams or 2.01 oz. >>I tried as lungo, Although it says Lungo on the sleeve, it’s rather bland. It tastes more like coffee than expresso or lungo. I’d call it mellow, and smooth. >>I tried as an espresso, it doesn’t remind you of a espresso shot, but a short and strong coffee shot, with good flavor and caffeine is felt. 5- Columbia – Medium Roast Intensity 7 – 57 g, 2.01 oz >>I tried as lungo and it’s quite nice. It’s doesn’t come across as too strong nor with high caffeine. Perfectly drinkable as lungo. Does take like coffee and not espresso. >>I tried as an espresso. It comes alive as espresso, it is a bit bitter, moderate caffeine, but delicious. 6- Dark Roast Espresso, Intensity 11 – 57 g, 2.01 oz (this is not part of the sampler above) This is the strongest Nespresso pod I have tried in the lungo size. It’s the best if you like a nice kick. >>I tried in espresso size, and it’s quite strong, almost overkill in this size. Better in lungo size.

Great tast if u like Carmel highly recommend coffee

I've bought this product before and all was good which is why I'm giving it 4 stars. However, this shipment had all of the Starbucks ten packs arriving damaged. Torn or crush boxes and dented capsules inside. I think they will work so I'm keeping them. The annoying thing is that the two main boxes they came in had no damage, so at some point someone packaged damaged product packages on purpose.