Lavazza Tabli review: eco-friendly coffee tablets make quick, delicious espresso

Date:
Sun, 18 Oct 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Description:
The Tabli system trades metal and plastic capsules for compressed pucks of pure coffee and the taste blows rivals like Nespresso out of the water.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Lavazza Tabli: 30-second review Coffee pods are out, and tablets are in. Recently, Keurig announced that it was killing off the K-Cup in favor of compressed coffee tablets, but it wasn't the first to the punch. Italian coffee company Lavazza had debuted its own coffee tablets and brewer the Tabli system months before, and it's excellent.

The main appeal of Tabli's compressed coffee pucks (called tabs) is their minimal packaging there's no metal or plastic pod that needs to be recycled after each brew or worse, end up in landfill. Using ground coffee or whole beans is a much less wasteful way to prepare an espresso, but it takes
longer, and while it's a fun hobby for some of us, not everyone is interested in getting into the technicalities of brewing a balanced shot. Each of Lavazza's tabs provides exactly the right amount of coffee for a single serving, so there's no weighing required, and no loose grounds to make a mess of your counter. The whole process is just as clean and simple as using
coffee capsules, but without the empty capsules to dispose of at the end. It seems like such a simple idea that it's surprising it hasn't hit the mainstream before and the results are very impressive. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

I've become quite picky during my years reviewing coffee machines, and the Tabli system produces a better-tasting brew than any coffee capsule I've tried. Its app compatibility is a nice touch too, but the ease of use and flavor are what really count and they're both truly impressive. (Image credit: Future) Lavazza Tabli Automatic Tab Coffee Machine at Lavazza UK for 199 Lavazza Tabli: price and availability List price $129 / 199 for the machine alone Available as a bundle that includes a milk frother and coffee tabs Tabs are competitively priced and cheaper than Nespresso The Tabli
coffee machine has a list price of $129 / 199. That's between AU$190 and AU$380, though the Tabli system isn't available in Australia yet. There are also bundles available that include the Lavazza MilkEasy frother and several boxes of Tabs for much less than all the components would cost separately.

Although it's not the cheapest single-serve coffee maker around, bear in mind that unlike some of its rivals, the Tabli system won't sting you with the price of coffee in the longer term. Bosch Tassimo machines, for example, are very cheap, but the pods are some of the priciest around.

A box of 12 Tabs costs 5.89 in the UK, which is about 49p per drink. You can also pick up a multipack of eight boxes for 40, which brings the cost per drink down to 42p. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox
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Things are slightly more expensive in the US, where you can buy a four-pack
of boxes for $48, meaning each drink costs $1. That's still very reasonable, though. For comparison, Nespresso Vertuo capsules cost between $1.40 and
$1.60 each. Value score: 4.5/5 Lavazza Tabli: specifications Swipe to scroll horizontally

Name

Lavazza Tabli

Type

Tablet coffee maker

Dimensions (W x H x D)

6.5 x 12.9 x 15.4 inches / 16.5 x 32.7 x 39cm

Weight

9.9lbs / 4.5kg

Water reservoir capacity

40.58oz / 1.2 liters

Milk frother

No (but can be bought with a standalone one)

Bars of pressure

15 bar

User profiles

None Lavazza Tabli: design Sleek, modern aesthetic Minimalist controls Available in three colors The Lavazza Tabli is a sleek-looking single-serve coffee maker that comes in three colors: graphite black (shown here), sand white, and walnut brown. The top panel has four buttons power, single shot, double shot, and lungo and slides back with a smooth motion to reveal the small chamber resembling the bottom of a manual espresso machines filter basket, where youll place the compressed coffee pod.

There are also warning lights that will alert you if the used tab collection bin has been removed or needs emptying, if the water tank needs filling or hasnt been properly inserted, and if the machine needs descaling. (Image credit: Future) At the very back of the top panel, youll notice a flashing blue light, which indicates that the Tabli machine is ready to connect to
your phone via Bluetooth. Once its connected, the blue light will remain steady but more on that later.

Unlike some other Lavazza coffee machines, such as the Assoluta , the Tabli doesnt have its own milk frothing system. However, if youre a fan of lattes and cappuccinos, the Tabli is available bundled with a standalone frother
that works extremely well. My colleague Josh Russell has just finished
testing it and will be publishing his review very soon.

The Tabli has a small drip tray thats just the right height for an espresso cup. If you want to brew into a larger cup or mug, just slide the tray out to make room. Behind the tray, youll find the bin into which the Tabli machine drops used coffee tabs. The tabs dont break apart, keeping mess to a minimum, and are caught in a basket so theyre not left sitting in water. (Image
credit: Future) Unlike most other coffee makers Ive tested, the Tabli dispenses dirty water into this bin after rinsing itself rather than
expelling it into the drip tray a tidier solution that keeps the front of
the machine clean.

The Tablis removable components arent dishwasher-safe, but theyre easy to hand-wash, and since this machine doesnt have an integrated milk frother, theres minimal maintenance necessary. Just keep the bin and drip tray clean, and follow the descaling instructions periodically. Design score: 5/5 Lavazza Tabli: performance Very simple to use Much better coffee than most single-serve machines App works well, but Google Home connectivity does not Using the Tabli is just as simple as any ordinary capsule coffee maker: place your chosen tab in the recess under the lid, slide it closed, and pick the type of drink you want. A minute later, your drink will be ready to enjoy.

Coffee tabs are given a strength score on a scale of 1-13, and although there are currently only six types available, if the system proves successful, I'm hopeful Lavazza will increase its range.

There aren't any of the elaborate flavors you get with Nespresso or Tassimo pods; all Tabli tabs are made using nothing but compressed coffee, with no additives, and in my opinion that's no bad thing. (Image credit: Future) I've tried three Tabli varieties during testing. Qualit Rossa and Qualit Oro both produced a smooth-tasting, easy-drinking espresso, while the Espresso Ristretto was a little punchier but not at all bitter.

None of them had the astringent taste I associate with most coffee capsules, and their taste is much more like a drink made with freshly ground coffee beans. The espresso also has a good layer of crema that beats what I've come to expect from single-serve machines. (Image credit: Future) The Lavazza
Tabli has a smartphone app, which you can use to operate the machine remotely and create custom drinks. After installing the Tabli app, youll be prompted
to create an account and then connect your coffee maker. This was quick and easy; the app will request permission to search for nearby devices, then locate the Tabli machine without the need to scan any QR codes. The first
time I connected to the machine, I was prompted to grant access to my calling history and contacts, but it seems this was a temporary bug. Following an app update, I disconnected from the Tabli machine, then restarted the process,
and the prompt did not appear.

The app is nicely designed, and the brewing options are presented front and center. You can choose from the machine's three brewing options or create
your own, give it a name, and save it for quick access in the future. You can adjust the volume and temperature of the drink, which is particularly useful if you enjoy an Americano in the morning. Because the machine uses prepared coffee tablets rather than ground beans, if you want to change the taste any more, youll need to pick a different type of coffee tab, Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) Image 1 of 3 View Original Image 2 of 3 View Original Image 3 of 3 View Original
Naturally, the app allows you to order more tabs (as well as other Lavazza products), but you have to scroll down to find the store its not thrust in your face, which is refreshing.

The only issue I encountered involved the coffee makers smart home connectivity. The Tablis box advertises compatibility with Google Home and Alexa, but during my tests it sadly didnt work. I was able to connect the Tabli machine to Google Home easily enough, but although Gemini could turn it on, it couldnt start brewing. Nor could I use voice commands to choose different drinks, as described in the Tablis manual.

However, Im not certain whether this is an issue with the Tabli or with
Google Home and Gemini, which arent known for their flawless reliability. The Tabli app works exactly as intended, but don't count on being able to brew drinks using voice commands through a smart speaker. Performance score: 4.5/5 Should you buy the Lavazza Tabli? Swipe to scroll horizontally Lavazza Tabli score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Not the cheapest single-serve machine, but bundles are great value and coffee tabs are very reasonably priced for better value in the long term,

4.5/5

Design

Modern design with clean lines, which is easy to clean and maintain. Simple user interface.

5/5

Performance

Brews delicious coffee and is very easy to use. App works well, though smart home functionality does not.

4.5/5 Buy it if

You hate the waste of coffee capsules

Talbi tabs are made from nothing but ground coffee, and their packaging is almost entirely cardboard, with just a thin layer of plastic over the top of the carton.

You want tasty coffee without mess

Tabli tabs are pre-measured and ground, and they don't leave residue or
crumbs on your fingers. They produce a smooth, easy-drinking espresso. Don't buy it if

You really want to experiment

Tabs are made from pre-measured and ground coffee, so you can't tinker with brew options like you can with whole beans.

You really want smart home connectivity

Google Home didn't play nicely with the Tabli during my tests, though I'm not sure whether that's an issue with Lavazza's software or Google's platform.
How I tested the Lavazza Tabli I tested the Lavazza Tabli for three weeks, using it instead of my usual manual espresso machine. I used filtered water
in its tank and used three different Tabli tab varieties. I experimented with brewing coffee remotely and creating custom drinks using the apps. I
connected the coffee maker to Google Home and attempted to operate it using typed and spoken commands. I cleaned the coffee maker at the end of each day following Lavazza's instructions.

First reviewed October 2026 Lavazza Tabli Automatic Tab Coffee Machine: Price Comparison 133 View 199 View No price information Check Amazon We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



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