Lavazza does have a capsule system: LAVAZZA BLU.

The coffee is quite good: Can, bag, ESE pods, or capsule.

I also take a HANDPRESSO expresso maker (checked baggage) when flying to remote areas, which uses the ESE pods. Looks like a small bicycle pump, and the European kit comes with the pump, thermos, cups, napkins, spares, and coffee pods. Finding hot water is not that hard, but if you pull over for a shot, passersby may stop to help you, thinking you had a flat tire.

LAVAZZA BLUE link (English)

http://www.lavazza.com/corporate/en/products/home/blue/

They have the Lavazza capsule machines in the rooms at the Peninsula Tokyo, and they are pretty good - better than Nespresso, IMO.

I do agree - I find their coffee well-rounded, versus the Nespresso's very harsh/strong/direct punch...

Isn't that like having the government confiscate your private property? Isn't that why the US has been blockading Cuba for all these years? Patents are property rights and why shouldn't the owner be the only one to decide how to exercise those rights during a period protected by law? There are many other capsule systems so what's the problem?

Nespresso
 

We have been Nespresso convertees now for 4 years.
Ever since we were dining in private with Tetsuya and at the end of the evening Tets made a Nespresso for us. At first I was gobsmacked that one of the worlds best chefs resorted to a Nespresso machine.

Untill we tried it...brilliant had the ristretto, perfect. no mess no fuss.
Raced out and bought a machine the next day. no more coffee grains to clean up and perfect coffee every time. The right crema everything.
My personal favourite is the Ristretto and the Rosebaya. ummmmm yumo!!:)

Darned if any sensible person can figure out why Cuba is still being, theoretically, isolated.

As for patent licensing, just suppose IBM or Intel could freeze all other electronics makers out using patents. Or, suppose, J&J refused to allow your local hospital to use some patented item which would save your life--unless you paid fifty mil to J&J for something that cost a dollar?

Anyhow, your opinion is not the law. Our laws do allow for mandatory licensing--and this has proven to be better than no such licensing.

Anyhow, and sort of back on topic--the Big N (I do believe by far the biggest food marketer in the world) does have market power to exclude competition which it is evidently doing with its coffee machines.

By the way, had coffee at Peet's this morning. Much better than out of the capsule.

Unfortunately the Lavazza capsulles won't fit in the Delonghi Nespresso :( But maybe when my (still new) Delonghi breaks down I'll change it for a Lavazza...

Though Nespresso isn't bad the Lavazza coffee is still better :)

This thread has certainly sparked interest with the coffee suppliers.

When I looked today there were at least 7 new North American coffee-related sponsors, advertising. Nice to have choices.

anyone got any more info on the new (non-Nestle) capsule suppliers?

A little search turned up some interesting sites.

Refill your capsules: http://www.instructables.com/id/Reus...and-easy-and-/

Fill these capsules with your choice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZFpwsjTARA

Buy Nexpod from Switzerland: http://www.nexpod.com/
according the website they ship "almost" worldwide which I assume means including the US. They ship via the Swiss post office.

Quite like the new special blend, Kazaar. Finally a full-bodied lungo. First tried it at the boutique store on King Street in Sydney while on a trip and picked up a few sleeves at my home base at The Bay boutique here in Toronto. Anyone else try this one? Like it? (I was quite taken aback by the cost of the machines in Sydney compared to here in Canada, even accounting for the GST in both our countries! They were 25% or more down there. Never did find out how much sleeves of coffee went for.)

I also purchased a few sleeves of Kazaar. It is very good.

I spoke with someone who had purchased a package of refill capsules; Not sure which one. She stated that the capsule only worked for the single expresso shot options.

Proud owner of Nespresso Citiz. One of the best espresso's I have had..for lesss than 60 cents can't beat it. "Indriya" is a great one to try.

Yes, very intense. It's one of the few special releases that has stayed around.