If you have a Dolce Gusto coffee pod machine, you cannot use it with Tassimo coffee pods. T-Discs, as they are called, are not compatible with Dolce Gusto.
The simple reason is that the pods are different both in size and design.
So a T-disc will not even fit in the pod holder of a Dolce Gusto.
The reverse is also true. Dolce Gusto pods do not work in Tassimo coffee machines.
There is the issue of size and design. Another reason why this wouldn’t work is the technology in Tassimo machines.
T-discs have a barcode that the coffee machine reads to determine how to prepare the coffee – water temperature, water volume and brewing time.
If you pop in any other pod other than a T-disc the machine will not recognise it and won’t dispense coffee.
Will Nespresso coffee pods fit in Dolce Gusto?
Because both brands belong to Nescafe, most people assume that you can interchange Nespresso and Dolce Gusto coffee pods. You cannot.
For one, Nespresso pods contain some aluminium while Dolce Gusto pods are all plastic.
Secondly and most importantly, Dolce Gusto pods are taller than Nespresso pods (54mm vs. 30mm). A Nespresso coffee pod won’t fit in the pod holder of a Dolce Gusto.
The rule of thumb when it comes to coffee pods is that different brands are not interchangeable.
You cannot use T-discs in Dolce Gusto or Nespresso in Tassimo machines.
Even lesser known brands like Lavazza and Caffitaly are usually not compatible with other brands.
That doesn’t mean you are locked to one particular brand when you buy their coffee machine. Most coffee pod machines have compatible non-brand coffee pods designed specifically for them.
So you can find compatible pods for Dolce Gusto, Lavazza or Nespresso.
The only exception is Tassimo.
Among the three major coffee pod systems – Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and Tassimo – Tassimo machines are the only ones for which you can’t find compatible non-brand pods.
That’s because of the barcode technology that Tassimo machines use.
Compatible Dolce Gusto and Nespresso coffee pods
Even though you cannot use Tassimo Pods in a Dolce Gusto, you can easily find other non-brand coffee pods.
Go to Amazon or your local supermarket and look for Dolce Gusto-compatible coffee pods. They are often cheaper than branded Dolce Gusto pods.
But there is no guarantee of quality. The coffee may not as good and you may get pods that break or leak when inside the coffee machine.
So we recommend you just stick with Dolce Gusto pods. They are not that expensive and they are easily available.
All major supermarkets carry Dolce Gusto pods. If you don’t want to walk or drive to the store, you can easily order them online at Amazon or other online retailers.
You can also get them at Dolce Gusto’s UK website.
You really have no reason to buy non-brand coffee pods.
The same applies to Nespresso machines.
You cannot use Dolce Gusto or Tassimo pods in your Nespresso coffee pod machine. But non-brand Nespresso-compatible pods are easily available online or at a local supermarket.
But you probably won’t need to go hunting for compatible pods since Nespresso pods are easily available and prices are reasonable.
The Bottom Line
Dolce Gusto pods won’t work in a Tassimo machine nor will T-discs work in a Dolce Gusto. Similarly, Nespresso pods are not compatible with Tassimo or Dolce Gusto machines and Nespresso machines won’t accept these brands’ pods.
In other words, there’s no cross-compatibility among major brands.
But for Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and various other brands except Tassimo, you can find compatible non-brand capsules.
However, you most likely won’t need to look for compatible pods. Many online stores and supermarkets carry coffee pods for all major systems including Nespresso, Tassimo and Dolce Gusto.
If you can find branded pods that belong to your particular coffee machine, we highly recommend you stick with those to ensure the best quality coffee and reduce the risk of leakage and other problems.
