Lavazza Espresso Maestro Decaf Capsules: How Decaf Works

Lavazza Espresso Maestro Decaffeinated Capsules: How the Decaf Works

The caffeine comes out of these beans before they are ever roasted, which is why a well-made decaf still tastes like a proper Italian espresso. What it gives up is a little aroma and a little body, and a few small habits win most of that back.

Published 26 Sep 2026 Curator-written, not crowdsourced

Lavazza Espresso Maestro Decaffeinated Capsules: How the Decaf Works, in summary: Ten Nespresso Original capsules of Maestro espresso, decaffeinated before roasting. A trace of caffeine remains. Expect the Italian roast character, slightly less body and aroma, and a short cup for the evening.

Last reviewed by the teas.co.uk team in September 2026.

The caffeine comes out of these beans before they are ever roasted, which is why a well-made decaf still tastes like a proper Italian espresso. What it gives up is a little aroma and a little body, and a few small habits win most of that back.

Taken out before the roast

Decaffeination is done to green, unroasted coffee. While the beans are swollen with water, the caffeine is drawn out by one of several established processes, and only after that are they dried and roasted in the normal way. Some cartons name the process, so look there if the method is important to you; we make no assumption about which one this capsule uses.

The process alters the structure of the bean, and a careful roaster has to compensate for that. The Maestro decaf is made for the same small, short cup as its caffeinated siblings in the Maestro range, so the roast character of cocoa and toast comes through. The body is a little lighter and the aroma is the first thing to thin out, but the cup is still plainly an espresso.

Decaffeinated, not caffeine-free

The wording on the box is chosen with care. Taking the caffeine out removes most of it, but never quite all, so a trace remains in every cup. For most people who simply want an espresso after dinner, that makes no practical difference, and the cup still has the crema and the short, concentrated serve of an Italian coffee.

Anyone who has to cut caffeine out entirely should think of this as low in caffeine rather than free of it, and act on whatever guidance applies to them. For everyone else, it answers a common household question: one machine, one person who wants a late espresso, and no need to buy into a second capsule system to keep them both happy.

Machine fit, cup and milk

The capsules are shaped for Nespresso Original machines, the system that uses the small conical capsule. They will not go into a Vertuo, which takes a bigger dome-shaped capsule with a barcode on the rim. Nor are they A Modo Mio capsules: that is Lavazza's own separate system, and the brand's Dek decaf is the one made for those machines.

Because a decaf starts with a little less aroma in hand, the small habits matter more. Warm the cup first, use the espresso button rather than the lungo, and drink it while the crema still sits on top. If you take milk, stop at about 100ml; past that point the cup is mostly milk and the coffee all but disappears.

The packs we stock

Lavazza Espresso Maestro Decaffeinated Nespresso Compatible, 10 Capsules (barcode 8000070053601)

What to eat with it

Lotus Biscoff Snack Pack, 248g: Caramelised biscuit notes sit well with the cocoa and toast of the roast, a gentle way to end supper.
Border Dark Chocolate Ginger Organic Biscuits, 150g: Dark chocolate and ginger bring a little after-dinner warmth to a short black decaf.
McVitie's Original Hobnobs Biscuits - The Oaty One, 255g: A plain oat biscuit for the decaf taken with a splash of milk, when something less sweet suits the hour.

Elsewhere in the Lavazza range

The full range is on the Lavazza brand page.

FAQ

Is Lavazza Espresso Maestro decaf caffeine-free? No. Most of the caffeine is removed but a small residual amount remains, so treat it as low in caffeine.

Will these capsules fit a Nespresso Vertuo? No. They are made for Nespresso Original machines, which take the small conical capsule.

Do they work in a Lavazza A Modo Mio machine? No. A Modo Mio is a separate Lavazza system; the A Modo Mio Dek capsules are the decaf for those machines.

Does decaf espresso taste different? A little. The roast character survives, but body and aroma are slightly lighter than in the caffeinated Maestro capsules, which is why a warm cup and a short pour help.

How is the caffeine removed? From the green bean, before roasting, by one of several industrial processes. The carton often says which.

Curator's note: Run a little hot water through the machine into the cup before the capsule goes in. On a decaf, that one habit does more for the aroma than anything else you can do. Lee, teas.co.uk, Tunbridge Wells.

In short: Lavazza Espresso Maestro Decaffeinated Capsules: How the Decaf Works

Field	Detail
Brand	Lavazza
Packs we stock	10 Capsules
Category	Decaffeinated Coffee
Caffeine	decaffeinated
Machine	Nespresso Original only
Caffeine	Decaffeinated, not caffeine-free
Best time	After supper, short and black