Lavazza Tabli coffee tablet system launches in UK after US debut
Lavazza's Tabli coffee maker, which uses tablets made entirely of ground coffee instead of capsules, is now available in the UK after a July US launch. It costs $139.99 in the US and £199 in the UK, with tabs priced from about 42p per drink.
The Tabli is designed to reduce the waste left by capsule machines. Each coffee tablet contains the exact amount of coffee needed for one serving, so users do not need to weigh grounds or clean up loose coffee. Used tablets drop into a container behind the drip tray. The grounds are dry to the touch and sit in a basket, allowing the user to tip them into a food waste caddy and pour away water left after the machine rinses itself. The tablets come in card boxes and are held in molded paper trays, similar to egg cartons. A thin plastic film covers the top of the tray to keep out moisture, while the rest of the packaging can be recycled in regular household waste, according to TechRadar.
TechRadar said coffee capsules are quick and convenient but leave substantial waste. It noted that some capsules, such as Nespresso pods, are made entirely from aluminum and are supported by Nestlé's recycling program, while other brands use a combination of metal and plastic that is harder to process. Even recyclable capsules require resources to handle, and some waste will end up in landfill, the review said.
The Tabli machine measures 12.9 by 6.5 by 15.4 inches, or 327 by 165 by 390 millimeters, in height, width and depth. It has a 1.3-quart, or 1.2-liter, water tank at the back and is available in black, white and walnut brown. Three soft-touch buttons on top select single, double or lungo drinks. The upper section slides open to reveal the brewing basket for inserting a coffee tablet. A removable drip tray allows the machine to be used with espresso cups or larger mugs. The Tabli does not include a steam wand, so anyone who wants a cappuccino or another milk-based drink will need a separate milk frother, TechRadar said.
The coffee tablets are priced at £5.89 for a box of 12 in the UK, or about 49p per drink. A multipack of eight boxes costs £40, bringing the cost to 42p per drink. The tabs are given a strength score on a scale of 1 to 13, and six types are currently available. There are no elaborate flavors like those offered by Nespresso or Tassimo; all Tabli tabs are made from compressed coffee with no additives, according to the review.
TechRadar said it tried two Tabli varieties, Qualità Rossa and Qualità Oro, and both produced a smooth-tasting, easy-drinking espresso without the astringent taste it associates with most coffee tabs. It said it was interested to see how they compare with Espresso Ristretto, which has a higher intensity score of 12 out of 13 and is expected to have a punchier flavor. The review also noted that the Tabli is not Lavazza's first attempt to change home coffee-making. Last year, the company released the Lavazza Assoluta, an espresso machine that lets users try different beans without manually optimizing grind size and temperature. Users install Lavazza's mobile app, scan the barcode on a bag of coffee, and the machine adjusts its own settings, according to the review.