In 2024, Keurig gave us an overview of an exciting innovation: a pod for its push-button machine made from coffee by-products and completely free of plastic. Keurig’s greener system hasn’t hit the market yet, but Italian coffee giant Lavazza launched its own sustainable, plastic-free pod coffee system this week. The company has officially launched Tabli in the North American market, a solid coffee tablet that the 130-year-old brand first launched in Italy and which it considers its most ambitious product innovation to date.
Contrary to K-Cups and most others single serving formatsTabli pods – or “tabs” – do not contain any capsules, any individual packaging or any coating. Just pure compressed coffee; measured, ground and packed into a solid form ready for brewing.
The technology behind the tongue is the result of five years of research and development and more than 15 patents. A concave shape allows the coffee to expand during brewing, producing what Lavazza calls “Crema Plus” – the velvety, lingering layer of foam associated with properly drawn espresso. The machine used to brew these all-natural pods, designed in Italy, requires no setup, grinding or measuring on the part of the user.
This launch is the centerpiece of Lavazza’s accelerated growth in North America.
“The United States is one of the most dynamic markets in the world,” said Daniele Foti, vice president of marketing for Lavazza North America, in a press release sent to CNET. “This is our biggest bet in this market yet, and we intend to shape what comes next.”
Tabli coffee pods are made from 100% pure, plastic-free pressed coffee.
Lavazza“Tabli eliminates the trade-off between quality and convenience entirely – it’s a true multi-sensory experience: coffee you can feel, smell and see before it’s even brewed,” added Foti.
The Tabli machine itself, which only costs $100 with pre-order discountsports a sculpted silhouette and a slider designed for single-touch operation. Accessories include a milk frother and a dedicated tab storage rack.
The Tabli looks like a Keurig but with a decidedly Italian bent.
LavazzaTabli will soon be available for pre-order on tablicoffee.us. Individual tabs range from $0.70 to $1.15. A launch pack includes the Tabli machine, a milk frother and a 60-count assortment tab collection for $100 pre-order (normally $250).