How the calculation works
Price per kg = price ÷ (capsules × grams per capsule ÷ 1,000); price per capsule = price ÷ capsules
A worked example
100 compatible capsules at €19.99 with 5.2 g of coffee each hold 520 g of coffee: €38.44 per kg, or €0.20 a capsule. A kilo of good beans costs a third to a half of that.
Why a kilo price for capsules
A price per capsule only compares capsules of one system. The price per kilo of the coffee inside compares a capsule with a bag of beans, and an Original Line capsule (about 5 g) with a Vertuo capsule (7 to 17 g).
Where to find the coffee per capsule
Many boxes print the net weight of the coffee: divide it by the number of capsules. Some state the grams per capsule directly. A weight far above 20 g a capsule includes the packaging and is not the coffee.
Common questions
How much coffee is in a Nespresso capsule?
An Original Line capsule holds about 5 to 6 g of ground coffee; compatible capsules often state 5 to 5.5 g. Vertuo capsules hold more, from about 5 g for an espresso to 17 g for the largest cup.
Are capsules more expensive than beans?
Per kilo of coffee, usually: a capsule at €0.20 with 5.2 g of coffee is about €38 per kg, while whole beans often cost €10 to €20 per kg. The capsule buys convenience and portioning.
What about milk capsules?
Milk drinks such as a latte macchiato pair a coffee capsule with a milk capsule. Only the coffee capsules hold coffee; a kilo price over both would understate it.
Method: arithmetic from the label values you enter. Reviewed .