18 Jun 2026 Espresso tablets take aim at pods
Lavazza is shaking up the single‑serve coffee market with its new espresso tablets – a more sustainable alternative to pods – just launched in the US market…
Italian coffee giant Lavazza has unveiled Tablì, a brewing system that uses compressed coffee tablets instead of traditional pods.
Unlike plastic or aluminium capsules, these tablets are made of 100% coffee — no binders, coatings or gelatin — and work exclusively with Lavazza’s new Tablì machine. At launch, five varieties are available: espresso, double espresso, decaf, super crema and lungo.
The system was developed after Lavazza acquired start‑up Caffemotive in 2020. After five years of R&D, 15 patents, and a new production facility in Gattinara, Italy, the company is betting that consumers will embrace the tablets as a cleaner, greener alternative to pods.
Sustainability as a differentiator
Pod waste has long been a sore point in the single‑serve category. Keurig’s K‑cups, though technically recyclable, have faced criticism and even regulatory penalties over misleading claims. Nespresso’s aluminium pods are easier to recycle but still require special collection schemes.
Lavazza’s pitch is simple: no pod, no waste.
This sustainability angle is timely. Consumers are increasingly scrutinising packaging, and regulators are tightening rules around recyclability. For drinks businesses, the lesson is clear: eco‑friendly innovation isn’t optional — it’s a competitive necessity.
The US market push
The US coffee pod market was valued at $22.5 billion in 2024, rising to $23.89 billion in 2025 according to a 2025 industry ranking report (ReportPrime.com).
This makes pods/capsules one of the largest and most profitable segments of the US coffee category.
Lavazza’s US expansion is central to this launch. In 2025, its North American revenue jumped 26.9%, and CEO Antonio Baravalle has set a target of building a €1-billion business in the US.
The Tablì system is priced at $99.99 for a bundle including the machine, a 60‑count variety pack and a milk frother, available for pre‑order now.
While Lavazza doesn’t expect to dethrone Keurig or Nespresso, it wants to carve out its own niche. Keurig still holds about 50% of the US pod market, with Nespresso at around 7%. Lavazza already sells K‑cups through a partnership with Keurig, but Tablì is its chance to stand apart.
Keurig is already preparing its own plastic‑free K‑Rounds, while Nespresso continues to push aluminium recycling schemes.
The single‑serve coffee market is entering a new phase where sustainability and convenience must coexist, with innovation in format and eco‑credentials likely to define the sector winners of the next decade.
Source: CNBC