Lavazza Tablì review: A capsule-free pod coffee machine that curbs waste and makes delicious espresso

The most common issue with pod coffee machines is waste. While the machines themselves last for several years, the single-use coffee pods produce a lot of waste, and despite many brands having recycling services, pods and capsules are hardly the most eco-friendly product on the market.

But Lavazza is set to change that with its latest pod coffee maker – the Lavazza Tablì. As a single-serve capsule free coffee machine, the Lavazza Tablì works the same as other pod models, but using coffee ‘tabs’ that are made of 100% coffee with absolutely no plastic in sight.

I’ve tested plenty of coffee machines during my time as T3’s Home Editor, and I’ve never been more intrigued by a pod coffee machine until this one. I’ve spent the past couple of weeks drinking an insane amount of coffee, and these are my thoughts on the Lavazza Tablì.

Price and availability

Launched in 2026, the Lavazza Tablì is available to buy for £199 / $129 at Lavazza and select retailers, like John Lewis. It comes in walnut brown, sand white and graphite black colours.

There are eight Tablì Tabs options available which start at £5.89, and come with 12 tabs inside.

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Unboxing

The Lavazza Tablì arrived in a large cardboard box, with three boxes of coffee tabs. It was extremely easy to set up, as you’d expect from a pod coffee machine, and only required me to remove some plastic and tape before it was ready to go. To actually make the coffee, I simply filled up the water tank at the back and added a pod into the machine.

As mentioned, the Lavazza Tablì came with three coffee options. This included the Tablì Qualità Oro, Tablì Qualità Rossa and Tablì Espresso Intenso, all of which came with 12 tabs per box. Qualità Oro has an intensity rating of 8/13, Qualità Rossa goes up to 10 and Espresso Intenso is the most intense with an 11/13 rating.

Design and features

Measuring 32.7cm in height, 16.5cm in width and 39cm in depth, the Lavazza Tablì is quite slim and compact. It only weighs 4.5kg so it’s easy to move around, and it takes up minimal space on a countertop. It’s roughly the same size as other pod coffee machines, although it has quite a unique shape.

At the top of the Lavazza Tablì is a bean-shaped slider and piston system which slides back and forth for you to add the coffee tab. The top of the slider has the controls, including an on/off button, single shot, double shot and two cup options, and the removable 1.2-litre water tank is located at the back.

Using Lavazza Crema Plus technology, the Lavazza Tablì expertly brews your coffee to bring out the flavours and crema from the tab. It’s an espresso maker, so the Lavazza Tablì makes espresso, double espresso and lungo coffees. It can’t dispense hot water so no americanos, and if you want a latte, you’ll have to add or froth your own milk.

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The Lavazza Tablì is specifically designed to use Tablì Tabs, so you won’t be able to use a ‘normal’ plastic capsule with this machine. The tabs are made entirely of coffee without any protective coating or binders, and once the coffee is brewed, the tab can be disposed of in your food waste bin.

For those who love an app, the Lavazza Tablì has Wi-Fi support and can connect to the Tablì app, so you can use it remotely. It’s also compatible with Alexa and Google Home.

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Performance

Pod coffee machines all have quite strange designs, but the Lavazza Tablì definitely takes the cake. I tried the walnut brown version which looked lovely in my kitchen – almost like an oversized coffee bean! – and the slim size of the Lavazza Tablì made it easy to keep out on my countertop.

Once on, the Lavazza Tablì took hardly any time to heat up, and it’s an extremely easy machine to use with little instruction required. I pressed the on/off button and waited for the buttons to stop flashing before adding my tab and selecting the shot option – I’m a double shot girl so that was my favourite.

When adding the coffee tab, the sliding motion of the piston system was very smooth and satisfying. It covered up the tab and immediately got to brewing after I pressed the button. I found that it made a minimal amount of noise although it did produce a lot of steam.

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The Lavazza Tablì also made a single, soft-sounding beep when it had finished brewing which I appreciated – there’s nothing I hate more than an appliance incessantly beeping at me! The coffee it made was rich and delicious, and while I’m a milky coffee drinker, I tried a few espressos, and loved the taste.

My first time using the Lavazza Tablì, I noticed some grainy coffee residue at the bottom of my mug. However, on my next try and the ones thereon didn’t produce this, so I imagine it was a first-use ‘error’ – if you can even call it that. The Tablì Tabs are the best coffee capsules I’ve ever tried in terms of espresso strength, flavour and crema, so I’d highly recommend them.

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The Lavazza Tablì didn’t have the standard height adjustment I was used to from other pod coffee makers. The main machine can’t be adjusted to accommodate different mug sizes, so instead, you have to remove the drip tray to get a standard-sized mug under it. If you want the drip tray in place, you’re better off using a small mug as you won’t fit a standard one under there.

Now, this isn’t necessarily an issue or deal breaker – although it would be if the Lavazza Tablì dispensed hot water or frothed milk.

Verdict

As a no-waste, espresso-making pod coffee machine, the Lavazza Tablì ticks a lot of boxes. Its coffee bean-inspired design feels whimsical, and the entire coffee-making process is simple, near-silent and delicious.

The Tablì Tabs make delicious coffee – the best pod coffee I’ve ever tried – although there are no milk options yet, so if you like milky coffees, you’ll need your own milk frother.

Alternatives to consider

As a capsule-free pod coffee machine, the Lavazza Tablì is one of the first on the market. Keurig has recently announced its Alta coffee machine with plastic-free pods which is a similar concept, and it comes with a built-in milk frother.