- Lavazza Tabli capsules are made entirely from compressed ground coffee.
- A Tabli coffee maker is now available in the US for the first time
- Packaging is minimal, although there is a thin layer of plastic film on the box.
Capsule coffee makers from brands like Nespresso and Keurig are a huge time saver, allowing you to make fresh espresso in a minute without the hassle of weighing and grinding anything yourself.
When you’re done, everything will be neatly contained within a capsule and you won’t have to worry about any mess. The downside is the pods, which can be complicated to recycle, requiring dedicated facilities to separate the materials and process them properly. Now the Italian brand Lavazza has a solution: capsules made entirely with compressed ground coffee, which work the same as conventional single-dose capsules but without individual packaging.
Lavazza Tabli capsules launched in Europe last year, but are now available in the United States for the first time, along with a new Tabli coffee maker. Each compressed coffee tablet is concave in shape and expands upon contact with the hot water inside the machine. The used pills are placed in a container after preparation.
The Tabli format is protected by 15 patents, so you will not be able to buy coffee pods from any other brand, although this is the case with most coffee pods. Lavazza offers five blends at launch, giving you a reasonable number of options (Super Crema, Espresso, Double Espresso, Lungo and Decaf). Hopefully, more options will be available before long.
Tidier brewing
Less packaging has other benefits too; It means that each Tabli tab must weigh less than its counterpart wrapped in foil or plastic and therefore less energy is required to transport them. Without the need to manufacture a package for each, the eyelashes should also be more energy efficient in their production.
However, it’s worth keeping in mind that the Tabli system is not completely plastic-free. Although each coffee pod is unwrapped, they are sold in a box made of cardboard with a layer of plastic film. The same goes for all the coffee capsules I’ve used, and it’s particularly necessary for otherwise unwrapped capsules (ground coffee oxidizes quickly, which breaks down the flavor compounds). but it’s something to keep in mind anyway.
If you want plastic-free coffee, your best bet is a refill store that sells locally roasted coffee beans that you can buy in your own container. However, that won’t be an option for many people, and if you can’t buy unpackaged beans, Tabli might be the best option.
The Tabli package (which includes the coffee maker, a milk frother, a selection of 60 pods, and a pair of tongs to handle the capsules so you don’t handle them directly if you’re brewing for a guest) will soon be available for pre-order for $99.99 directly from Lavazza and will begin shipping in August.
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