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E.S.E. is a 44 mm paper-pod standard, not a capsule format. A DeLonghi can use these only when its particular model has the shallow E.S.E. pod basket or adapter specified in its manual; a deep ground-coffee basket will not hold the pod correctly. The choices here are currently listed 44 mm E.S.E. paper pods from US sellers, with roast and caffeine status separated so a dark Robusta blend is not mistaken for a mild Arabica-forward one. They do not fit Nespresso, K-Cup, or Lavazza A Modo Mio machines. Prices are for the listed pack or starting pack option, so compare pod counts before judging value.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caffe Borbone Miscela Blu Espresso Paper Pods | $29.99-$53.99 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Caffe Borbone Miscela Rossa Espresso Paper Pods | $27.99-$51.99 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Caffe Borbone Miscela Oro Espresso Paper Pods | $31.99-$55.99 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Caffe Borbone Miscela DEK Decaf Espresso Paper Pods | $30.99-$54.99 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Caffe Borbone Miscela Nera Espresso Paper Pods | $29.99-$51.99 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | Lavazza Dek Decaf Espresso ESE Pods 108 Count | $49.99 | Amazon |
| 7 | Essse Caffe Regular Espresso Coffee ESE Pods 100 Count | $56.95 | Amazon |
| 8 | Essse Caffe Decaf Espresso Coffee ESE Pods 100 Count | $62.95 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Caffe Borbone Miscela Blu Espresso Paper Pods
Miscela Blu is Borbone’s Arabica and Robusta E.S.E. blend for someone who wants a strong but more rounded alternative to the all-Robusta Rossa and Nera offerings. The US maker lists its 44 mm pods from $29.99; its published Blu profile puts intensity at 8.5 out of 10 and acidity at 5 out of 10.
- Arabica and Robusta blend with an 8.5/10 listed intensity
- Blue Blend profile lists acidity at 5/10
- US manufacturer price starts at $29.99
- Its listed medium-high intensity sits below Borbone’s Nera 10/10 extreme
- Moderate acidity can suit buyers avoiding a very dark profile.
- Blu is caffeinated, so it is not the late-day option
Caffe Borbone Miscela Rossa Espresso Paper Pods
Miscela Rossa is a dark-roast, 100% Robusta E.S.E. choice for drinkers who prefer a heavier, more forceful shot. Borbone lists dark chocolate and caramel notes, a 9/10 intensity, and a starting US price of $27.99, making it the lower-priced entry among its five named blends here.
- Dark roast made from 100% Robusta beans
- Rossa profile rates body 9.5/10 and persistence 10/10
- Fifty-count or 150-count pack choices are listed
- The exact Rossa listing gives a lower starting price than Oro and DEK
- Robusta-only roasting creates a distinctly fuller profile.
- Its low-acidity, high-Robusta profile may be too intense for a lighter cup
Caffe Borbone Miscela Oro Espresso Paper Pods
Miscela Oro is the dark-roast Borbone option aimed at a sweeter, Arabica-forward cup rather than the brand’s strongest Robusta blends. Its US product page lists milk-chocolate and hazelnut notes, 9/10 sweetness, and $31.99 as the current starting price.
- Arabica-forward blend with Robusta for body
- Oro page lists milk chocolate and hazelnut notes
- Listed sweetness is 9/10 with intensity 7.5/10
- The profile is explicitly sweeter and less intense than Rossa
- Hazelnut and milk-chocolate notes distinguish the sweeter blend.
- Oro starts $4.00 above the Rossa single-pack price
Caffe Borbone Miscela DEK Decaf Espresso Paper Pods
Miscela DEK is Borbone’s decaffeinated dark-roast E.S.E. blend, useful when the deciding factor is avoiding caffeine rather than reducing roast character. The maker states that its coffee is decaffeinated through a sugarcane process, with chocolate-and-nut notes and a $30.99 starting price.
- Decaffeinated coffee processed by the sugarcane method
- Dark-roast DEK profile lists chocolate and nut notes
- DEK page rates persistence at 9/10
- It keeps a dark-roast Borbone option in the list without caffeine
- Sugarcane decaffeination provides a named caffeine-free process.
- Its listed starting price is higher than Blu, Rossa, and Nera
Caffe Borbone Miscela Nera Espresso Paper Pods
Miscela Nera is the most intense Borbone pick: a dark-roast 100% Robusta blend with bitter cocoa and toasted-caramel notes. Choose it only if that maximum-strength profile is the goal; Borbone rates it 10/10 for intensity and lists it from $29.99.
- Nera is a dark roast using 100% Robusta beans
- Maker calls it Borbone’s strongest blend at 10/10 intensity
- Flavor description names bitter cocoa and toasted caramel
- It is the clearest match for a deliberately high-intensity E.S.E. espresso
- Bitter cocoa and toasted caramel define its dark profile.
- Low sweetness and maximal intensity make it a poor fit for a mild cup
Lavazza Dek Decaf Espresso ESE Pods 108 Count
Lavazza Dek is a 108-pod decaf case sold by Whole Latte Love for $49.99 with an active add-to-cart control. Unlike the five Borbone choices, the retailer explicitly gives the physical diameter: each pod is 44 mm, which makes this a useful exact-standard option when checking a DeLonghi pod basket.
- Case contains 108 decaffeinated pods
- Whole Latte Love specifies a 44 mm pod diameter
- Retailer SKU is 16447
- The seller confirms both decaf status and the 44 mm measurement
- SKU 16447 gives a precise retailer reference for repurchase.
- The 108-count case costs more up front than the Borbone starting packs
Essse Caffe Regular Espresso Coffee ESE Pods 100 Count
Essse Caffe Regular is a 100-pod caffeinated E.S.E. box listed in stock by 1st-line at $56.95. It offers a single large regular-coffee box from a specialist espresso retailer, rather than one of Borbone’s named Neapolitan blend profiles.
- One box contains 100 regular caffeinated espresso pods
- 1st-line lists SKU EC-20300
- The listing shows an in-stock purchase status
- The 100-count format provides a fixed pod count for comparison
- In-stock status offers a current regular-caffeine purchase route.
- The retailer does not publish a roast-level scale on this listing
Essse Caffe Decaf Espresso Coffee ESE Pods 100 Count
Essse Caffe Decaf is the matching 100-pod E.S.E. decaf box, currently in stock at 1st-line for $62.95. It is a different product from the Regular SKU, and gives shoppers a same-brand caffeine-free choice when they want a larger box than a typical 50-pod pack.
- Box contains 100 decaffeinated espresso pods
- 1st-line identifies the product as SKU EC-20310
- The retailer classifies it under E.S.E. Coffee Pods
- A same-size decaf alternative exists alongside Essse Regular
- Retailer classifies this option specifically under E.S.E. Coffee Pods.
- It costs $6.00 more than the current Essse Regular box
Buying tips
- Read the DeLonghi manual and verify that your exact machine has an E.S.E. pod basket or adapter before ordering pods.
- Measure neither a capsule nor a ground-coffee basket as a substitute for the 44 mm E.S.E. standard.
- Compare pod count alongside price: a 100- or 108-count carton is not comparable to a 50-pod option.
- Pick decaf by the product name, such as DEK, Dek, or Decaf; color alone does not establish caffeine content.
- Do not put paper E.S.E. pods into Nespresso, K-Cup, or Lavazza A Modo Mio machines.
- Store sealed pods away from heat and moisture, and check the package date when buying a large case.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.