Hotels with Nespresso machines
Nespresso machines in hotel rooms are common at the upper end of the market, and they are the setup most worth knowing about in advance — because which capsules you can buy depends entirely on which line the machine belongs to.
How it works
Nespresso sells two systems that look similar and are completely incompatible. OriginalLine takes a small cone-shaped capsule and pushes hot water through it under pressure. Vertuo takes a larger domed capsule with a barcode around the rim, reads that barcode, and spins the capsule to brew.
The practical difference is choice. OriginalLine is an open system: dozens of other roasters make compatible capsules, and you can buy them in most supermarkets. Vertuo is closed — only genuine Vertuo capsules fit, and no third-party alternative exists.
If a hotel page here says only "Nespresso" without naming the line, it means our sources did not specify it. We do not guess, because guessing wrong means arriving with capsules that physically will not fit.
What to bring
- If the machine is OriginalLine, bring whichever compatible capsules you like — or a refillable capsule and your own ground coffee.
- If it is Vertuo, only genuine Vertuo capsules work. Buy them before you travel if your destination has no Nespresso boutique.
- If you do not know which line, wait until you see the machine. Vertuo capsules are round and domed; Original capsules are small and cone-shaped.