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Nespresso Ispirazione Roma Original Capsules (espresso/ristretto)
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Nespresso

Ispirazione Roma Original Capsules (espresso/ristretto)

A cheap, punchy Original-line espresso with woody, cereal notes and bright acidity; great in milk, divisive straight.

7.0
Fair

Coffee Reviews score

See the breakdown →

Community

—/10

Roast
Medium
Origin
Blend · 2 origins
Caffeine
Regular
Price per serving
$0.90 / cup
  • Cereal
  • Earthy
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Last reviewed October 17, 2026 by the Coffee Reviews editors · How we score

A cheap, punchy Original-line espresso with woody, cereal notes and bright acidity; great in milk, divisive straight.

Roma is part of Nespresso's Ispirazione Italiana range for Original-line machines, an Arabica and Robusta blend mostly from Brazil and Mexico, brewed as a 0.85 oz ristretto or 1.35 oz espresso. Nespresso rates it intensity 8, with noticeable acidity (4 of 5) and woody, cereal notes from a light roast and fine grind. At 90 cents a capsule it is a good base for mochas and lattes, but several tasters find it harsh or bitter as a straight shot.

Best for

  • Lattes, cappuccinos and mochas
  • Original-line owners on a budget
  • Drinkers who like a strong, punchy shot

What we like

  • Low price per shot for a Nespresso-made capsule
  • Bold enough to hold up in lattes and mochas
  • Ristretto or espresso sizes
  • Made in Switzerland in protective-atmosphere capsules

Watch-outs

  • Sharp acidity and bitterness put off some straight-espresso drinkers
  • Original-line machines only
  • Some editorial tasters rank it near the bottom of Nespresso's range

Flavor profile

What it tastes like.

FruityFloralSweetNutty & CocoaSpiceRoastedGreen & EarthyFermentedCreamyBerryStone FruitCitrusTropicalOrchard & VineDried FruitBlossomTea-likeBrown SugarCaramelizedVanilla & ConfectionNuttyCocoaWarm SpicePungentToast & GrainSmoky & DeepVegetal & UmamiHerbalEarthy & WoodyWineyBoozyFermentedDairy & ButteryBlackberryRaspberryBlueberryStrawberryBlackcurrantCranberryPeachApricotCherryPlumNectarineLemonLimeOrangeGrapefruitTangerineBergamotMangoPineapplePassion FruitPapayaLycheeGuavaGreen AppleRed ApplePearWhite GrapeRed GrapeMelonRaisinPruneFigDateJasmineRoseOrange BlossomHoneysuckleLavenderElderflowerBlack TeaEarl GreyChamomileHibiscusOolongBrown SugarMolassesMaple SyrupPanelaCaramelToffeeButterscotchHoneyVanillaMarshmallowNougatMarzipanCotton CandyAlmondHazelnutPeanutWalnutPecanPistachioCoconutMilk ChocolateDark ChocolateCocoa PowderCacao NibBrownieCinnamonCloveNutmegCardamomStar AniseGingerBlack PepperLicoriceToastMaltGraham CrackerBiscuitCerealSmokyTobaccoRoastyBurnt SugarUmamiFresh GrassSeaweedSweet PeaSpinachMintSageBasilLemongrassEarthyMushroomCedarForest FloorRed WineWhite WinePortWhiskeyRumBrandyFermented FruitKombuchaYogurtButterSweet CreamCondensed MilkOat MilkFruityFloralSweetSpiceRoastedCreamyBlackberryRaspberryBlueberryStrawberryBlackcurrantCranberryPeachApricotCherryPlumNectarineLemonLimeOrangeGrapefruitTangerineBergamotMangoPineapplePassion FruitPapayaLycheeGuavaGreen AppleRed ApplePearWhite GrapeRed GrapeMelonRaisinPruneFigDateJasmineRoseOrange BlossomHoneysuckleLavenderElderflowerBlack TeaEarl GreyChamomileHibiscusOolongBrown SugarMolassesMaple SyrupPanelaCaramelToffeeButterscotchHoneyVanillaMarshmallowNougatMarzipanCotton CandyAlmondHazelnutPeanutWalnutPecanPistachioCoconutMilk ChocolateDark ChocolateCocoa PowderCacao NibBrownieCinnamonCloveNutmegCardamomStar AniseGingerBlack PepperLicoriceToastMaltGraham CrackerBiscuitCerealSmokyTobaccoRoastyBurnt SugarUmamiFresh GrassSeaweedSweet PeaSpinachMintSageBasilLemongrassEarthyMushroomCedarForest FloorRed WineWhite WinePortWhiskeyRumBrandyFermented FruitKombuchaYogurtButterSweet CreamCondensed MilkOat Milk

In the roaster’s words

“An elegant balance between roasting strength, deep woody and cereal notes and fine acidity.”

  • Cereal
  • Earthy
acidity
body
sweetness
bitterness
LightMediumDark

How it scored

The breakdown.

7.0Fair

Cup score out of 10, weighted across five factors.

  • Flavor & cup quality30%6.6

    Strong and woody with cereal notes and sharp acidity; praised as a mocha or latte base but called harsh or bitter as a straight shot by several tasters.

  • Quality & freshness20%7.3

    About 5 g of coffee per sealed aluminum capsule, packed in a protective atmosphere and made in Switzerland.

  • Value20%8.3

    $0.90 per shot, low for a Nespresso-made capsule and well below Vertuo pod prices such as Melozio's $1.40.

  • Sourcing & transparency15%6.0

    Nespresso discloses the blend (Arabica and Robusta) and main origins (Brazil and Mexico) but not farms or certifications.

  • Community love15%6.8

    Has loyal fans and positive creator videos, but lands near the bottom of several editorial rankings.

Creator video reviews

Watch it in action.

1 positive

Independent creators, verified with YouTube and TikTok. We don’t pay for reviews and creators don’t pay us.

What people are saying

From the forums.

Verbatim from Reddit, forums and long-term owner write-ups — linked so you can read the full thread.

“Ispirazione Roma offers a middle ground, not too strong or weak”
Courtney BrandtTasting Table · 2024-05
“I found this to be tremendously bitter when I tried it”
AyomariTasting Table · 2024-08
“I particularly like the Roma blend.”
yoz-yHacker News · 2017-12

Details

The particulars.

Origin
🇧🇷 Brazil · 🇲🇽 Mexico
Species
Arabica-robusta
Format
Nespresso Original
Caffeine
Regular
Ingredients
Roast and ground coffee
Best brewed as
Pod machine, Espresso, Lattes & milk drinks
Typical price
$9.00 for 10 capsules (1 sleeve) (checked October 2026)
Servings
$0.90 per capsule; each capsule holds about 5 g of coffee (50 g per sleeve of 10) for one ristretto or espresso
Official product page

Community

Member tasting notes & discussion.

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0 member ratings

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Discussion

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FAQ

Good questions.

What size does Roma brew?

Roma is listed for ristretto (0.85 fl oz) and espresso (1.35 fl oz) on Original-line machines.

Is Roma an Arabica coffee?

No. Nespresso describes Roma as an Arabica and Robusta blend, with most of its beans from Brazil and Mexico.

How strong is Ispirazione Roma?

Nespresso rates it intensity 8, with acidity of 4 and bitterness of 3 on its 5-point scales, from a light roast and fine grind.

Sources (6)
  1. nespresso.com/us/en/order/capsules/original/ispirazione-roma-coffee-capsule
  2. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nespresso
  3. tastingtable.com/1575261/best-nespresso-pod-mocha/
  4. tastingtable.com/1654025/worst-nespresso-pods/
  5. tastingtable.com/1937106/nespresso-pods-ranked/
  6. news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15898397

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7.0

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Ispirazione Roma Original Capsules (espresso/ristretto)

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