- Lavazza Tabli capsules are made exclusively from compressed ground coffee
- A Tabli coffee maker is now available in the US for the first time
- The packaging is minimal, although there is a thin layer of plastic film on the box
Capsule coffee machines from brands like Nespresso and Keurig are a huge time saver, letting you brew fresh espresso in a minute flat without the hassle of weighing and grinding yourself.
When you’re done, everything is neatly contained in a pod, and there’s no clutter to worry about. The downside is the pods can be difficult to recycle and require dedicated facilities to separate the materials and process them properly. Now the Italian brand Lavazza has a solution: capsules made entirely from compressed ground coffee, which work like conventional pods, but without individual packaging.
Lavazza Tabli capsules were launched in Europe last year, but now they are available in the US for the first time, along with a new Tabli coffee maker. Each compressed coffee tablet has a concave shape and expands on contact with hot water inside the machine. Used tabs are deposited in a container after brewing.
The tabli format is protected by 15 patents, so you won’t be able to buy your coffee tabs from other brands, although this is the case with most coffee pods. Lavazza offers five blends at launch, giving you a fair choice (Super Crema, Espresso, Double Espresso, Lungo and Decaf). Hopefully there will be more options before long.
Cleaner brewing
Smaller packaging also has other benefits; this means that each Tabli tab must weigh less than its foil or plastic-wrapped counterpart, and therefore less energy is required to transport them. Without the need to manufacture a package for each one, the tabs should also be more energy efficient to produce.
However, it is worth remembering that the Tabli system is not completely plastic-free. Although each coffee tab is unwrapped, they are sold in a box made of cardboard with a layer of plastic film. The same applies to all coffee pods I’ve used, and it’s especially necessary for otherwise unwrapped pods (ground coffee oxidizes quickly, which breaks down the flavors). but it is still something to be aware of.
If you want plastic-free coffee, your best option is a refill shop 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 fully unpackaged beans, Tabli might be the next best thing.
The Tabli bundle (which includes the coffee maker, a milk frother, a selection of 60 spouts, and tweezers to handle the pods so you don’t handle them directly if you’re brewing for a guest) will soon be available for pre-order for $99.99 direct from Lavazza, and will begin shipping in August.
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