Tea capsules for Nespresso OriginalLine: a quick guide
You need to know about tea capsules for coffee machines
OriginalLine or VertuoLine?
Nespresso uses more than one capsule system, and they don't mix. For home machines, the two most popular are OriginalLine and VertuoLine, and there are also professional machines with their own capsules. OriginalLine uses small capsules. VertuoLine uses larger, dome-shaped capsules with a barcode on the rim. Our tea pods are compatible with OriginalLine only and won't work in VertuoLine or any other Nespresso system. Not sure which one you own? Look at the capsules you usually buy or at the model name on your machine, and write to us if you'd like a second opinion.
Picking a flavor
Black, English Breakfast and Earl Grey are the classic morning teas. Green and jasmine green are lighter. Hibiscus and peppermint are for a change of pace, and there are decaf versions of black, Earl Grey and green, plus a decaf variety pack. If you can't decide, the variety pack is an easy place to start.
How to brew tea in your Nespresso OriginalLine machine
Tea isn't coffee, and the short espresso cycle your machine runs for coffee is over before tea has had time to brew. For these tea pods, we recommend a brew time of 30 to 45 seconds. Start closer to 30 seconds, and go toward 45 if you like your cup stronger.
Most OriginalLine machines have two cup-size buttons, usually espresso and lungo. Here are two ways to get a longer brew:
Program a tea button. Keep the lungo button as it is and set the other button to run for 30 to 45 seconds. That gives you a dedicated tea button, and your coffee settings stay untouched. How you program a button differs from model to model, so follow the instructions in your machine's manual.
Or press the button a second time. When the cycle finishes, press the button again to keep the water running through the pod. Only do this if your manual says your machine allows it, and make sure there is enough water in the tank.
Before you try either method, check your machine's manual. Not every model can be reprogrammed or run twice in a row, and we can't tell you what yours supports.
A couple of habits help. If the machine just made coffee, run a rinse cycle with plain water first so no coffee flavor carries over into your tea. And descale your machine now and then, as the manufacturer recommends.