Compare coffee pods in New Zealand at Canstar Blue. Nespresso, Nescafe and Starbucks were compared on Overall Satisfaction, Aroma, Packaging, Taste, Texture/Consistency, Variety/Range and Value for Money.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Nespresso is the favourite tipple of more than just George Clooney! The coffee pods are the No.1 choice of Kiwi coffee lovers, who have awarded Nespresso Canstar Blue’s 2024 Award for Most Satisfied Customers | Coffee Pods.
Our review compares coffee pods on customer satisfaction, so you can discover what other Kiwis think about our compared coffee pod brands before you go ahead and make a purchase. Think of it like asking hundreds of your closest friends and family which coffee pod brand they think is best.
Canstar Blue surveyed 237 Kiwis who had bought coffee pods to use at home in the past three months and asked for their feedback on the coffee they bought.
Respondents rate their satisfaction with their coffee pods brands from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:
The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall Satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall Satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.
Find more information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.
NespressoNespresso pioneered the pod coffee machine, and remains a global leader in great-tasting pod coffee capsules, endorsed by Hollywood stars such as George Clooney. Nespresso’s pursuit of coffee excellence is reflected in the near-perfect set of scores it receives from Kiwi coffee drinkers in our award ratings. It scores 5 Stars in every ratings category except one, earning its lowest score – still a great 4-Star seal of approval – for Value for Money. However, this is understandable, due to Nespresso’s exclusivity and higher price points.
Nespresso’s coffee pod range offers a huge selection of different flavours and styles. It often features seasonal and limited editions, and pods come packaged in distinctive capsule designs. However, Nespresso capsules are not available through supermarkets and are only sold through Nespresso directly, either online or in Nespresso Boutiques. The full Nespresso range is available online here.
NescaféNespresso’s sister coffee brand earns strong ratings from its legions of drinkers. It scores 4-Star ratings across all categories, except for Value for Money, for which it earns an extemporary 5 Stars. This is understandable, as Nescafé pods are more readily available, and feature on supermarket shelves.
Nescafé is a brand synonymous with coffee. As well as coffee pods, its range of products includes instant coffees, flavoured instant coffees and flavoured latte and cappuccino drink powders.
StarbucksAcross all of our award categories, Starbucks earns a solid set of 3-Star ratings. However, while 3 Stars is not a top rating, neither is it a measure of dissatisfaction. Rather, it shows that Starbucks coffee capsule customers are happy with the value and flavour delivered by their choice of pod coffee.
Starbucks has to be the best-known global coffeeshop brand. Although it sells whole beans in its stores, Starbucks’ products available in supermarkets are limited to an instant coffee and a range of coffee capsules for use in Nespresso machines.
Not all brands in the market qualify for our ratings (based on minimum survey sample size), but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering. Here are more brands to check out before making a purchase decision.
CountdownThe supermarket chain’s own brand coffee includes a range of fresh and ground coffee beans of different intensity roasts. Countdown also sells instant coffees, flavoured milky coffee powders and coffee capsules, all at budget-friendly prices.
Jed’s Coffee CoJed’s Coffee Co is a homegrown brand that has expanded its range considerably over the past few years, since it became part of the Dutch company Jacobs Douwe Egberts, which also owns Hummingbird coffee, the winner of our Best-Rated Coffee Beans Award.
Just like Jed’s whole beans, its pod coffees come in four strength levels: ranging from 3 (Strong), for a full, rich roast, to X (Extreme) for coffee that really packs a punch!
L’OrL’Or is a coffee brand that is owned by Jacobs Douwe Egberts, one of the world’s largest coffee companies, which also owns the Moccona brand, as well as Jed’s and Hummingbird. In New Zealand, L’Or sells a range of different intensity roast and flavoured coffee capsule for use in Nespresso coffee machines.
Coffee tastes are very personal. Some like their coffee milky and sweet, others short, black and bitter. But whether you’re a latte or an instant lover, one thing is paramount, the flavour of the coffee.
Just over a third of respondents in our survey (36%) are faithful to one brand, which corresponds to the biggest factor influencing their choice of outstanding coffee: taste, cited by 33% of our coffee consumers.
Oddly, aroma sits close to the bottom of the list of influencing factors, along with Packaging. Although that’s probably to do with the fact that all coffee smells great!
Here’s the full rundown of what the consumers in our survey say are the main things they consider when rating their coffee picks:
Espresso is simply a shot of coffee, with no extra water added. To make an espresso, shoot boiling water under high pressure through finely-ground coffee beans and then pour into a tiny cup. The strong coffees are the purest coffee experience you can get, and while not for everyone, they can be a truly singular experience when you find a good brew.
This is simply a shot of espresso coffee with extra added hot water. The coffee style is said to originate from US soldiers in Italy during WWII.
A long black is made by pouring a double shot of espresso over hot water. This method retains the coffee’s crema (distinctive creamy head), which is lost if you add hot water to an espresso.
Lungo is Italian for long, and a Lungo is a shot of espresso that’s been pulled for longer – had more water pushed through the coffee grounds over a longer time period. It results in a more dilute, milder tasting coffee, yet with more caffeine and a slightly more bitter taste.
Possibly the most popular coffee in New Zealand. A flat white is made by pouring velvety steamed milk over a shot of espresso, with minimal froth.
Popular worldwide, though less so here thanks to our preference for flat whites, lattes consist of steamed milk and a small layer of milk froth. It’s like a flat white, only with a little more volume on top.
The frothiest and foamiest of the milky coffee triumvirate, the cappuccino is possibly the most popular type of coffee in the world. A cappuccino consists of three layers: equal parts espresso, steamed milk and foam.
Here in NZ, we tend to use a double-shot of espresso as the basis of all our coffee beverages. So our cappuccinos tend to have a little more kick than cappuccinos elsewhere.
A macchiato is a shot of espresso that is topped off with foamed milk dashed directly into the cup. Although it’s similar to a cappuccino, it’s usually stronger, as there’s no hot milk added. And it’s also smaller, usually served in an espresso-sized cup.
A mocha is just a latte with added chocolate powder or syrup, sometimes topped with whipped cream. If anything, this is a good entry-level coffee – existing in the world between children’s hot chocolates and adult café lattes.
About the author of this pageThis report was written by Canstar’s Editor, Bruce Pitchers. Bruce has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in the UK and Australasia, including ACP, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. Prior to Canstar, he worked as a freelancer, including for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority, and for real estate companies on both sides of the Tasman.
Use an espresso machine: 39%
Stick to one coffee brand: 36%
Buy the coffee that’s on special: 33%
Use a plunger: 31%
Have stopped buying takeout coffees to save money: 29%
Use non-dairy milks: 17%
Buy fair trade coffee: 15%
Use a stovetop espresso pot: 12%
Buy organic coffee: 10%
Buy the cheapest coffee brand due to high grocery costs: 13%
Canstar Blue surveyed 5108 New Zealand consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers who who had bought coffee beans to brew at home in the past three months. In this case, 237 New Zealanders. Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criterion.
The past winners from Canstar Blue’s Coffee ratings:
What is Clubcard?
Clubcard is a loyalty program offered by the supermarket chain New World. It allows customers to earn either Flybuys, New World Dollars or Airpoints Dollars when shopping instore and online.
Clubcard members are eligible …
– Read more
Do you know your soy milk from your flaxseed milk? Here is a guide to the different types of milk in your supermarket.
– Read more
What is Everyday Rewards?
Everyday Rewards is a loyalty program offered by the supermarket chain Woolworths. It allows customers to accumulate points on their purchases at Woolworths stores, when refueling at BP, using an ASB rewards …
What is a milk frother?
As the name suggests, a milk frother is a nifty gadget used to froth milk, typically to add to coffees and specialty drinks, such as frappés and even cocktails. It works …
Author: Michael Lund
Want to save money on groceries? Canstar has some great tips to provide relief at the check-out:
How to Save Money on Groceries
1. Make a weekly meal plan
One of the best ways to save …
– Read more