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A good coffee machine can pay for itself quickly if you’d otherwise buy coffee on the way to work. But the machine’s price is only half the story: what you spend on pods or beans every week matters much more over a year. We checked current Irish prices to work out what a cup really costs with each type of machine.
We haven’t tested these products ourselves. Our picks are based on independent expert reviews (linked below) and the manufacturers’ specifications. Prices change often, so each product links to today’s price.
The short answer
| Type of machine | Coffee cost per cup (approx.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Bean-to-cup | 25–50c (single or double shot of beans) | Daily coffee drinkers who want café-style drinks at the lowest cost per cup |
| Manual espresso | 25–50c | People who enjoy making coffee and want the cheapest good espresso |
| Nespresso Original | About 45–65c per pod | Espresso lovers who want ease and lots of compatible pods |
| Dolce Gusto | About 40–45c per pod; milky drinks often use two | Families and milky-drink fans who want variety |
| Nespresso Vertuo | About 55c–€1.10 per pod | People who want big mugs and great crema at the touch of a button |
Prices checked on 3 November 2026: Nespresso Ireland’s website, and Tesco Ireland for Dolce Gusto pods and coffee beans. Prices change and promotions are common, so treat these as a guide.
For comparison, a cappuccino in an Irish café costs on average about €3.37, according to price comparison site Picodi’s January 2026 figures, and many city cafés charge more.
Pod machines: what a cup costs
Nespresso Vertuo
Vertuo machines read a barcode on each pod and adjust the brew for everything from a 40ml espresso to a 230ml mug or larger. On Nespresso Ireland’s website, Vertuo pods currently cost between about 53 cent and €1.11 per pod, with most around 90 cent. Bigger cup sizes and special editions cost more. Vertuo pods are only sold by Nespresso, so there are no cheaper supermarket versions.
Nespresso Original
Original-line machines make espresso-sized drinks (add milk or hot water for bigger drinks). Nespresso’s own Original capsules cost about 44 to 67 cent per pod on its Irish site. The big advantage is that many supermarkets and coffee brands sell compatible capsules, which can bring the cost down further.
Nescafé Dolce Gusto
Dolce Gusto pods are sold in most Irish supermarkets. A box of 16 Café au Lait pods costs €6.80 at Tesco Ireland, about 43 cent per pod, and multi-buy offers are common. Watch out for milky drinks such as cappuccino and latte macchiato: these usually use two pods (one coffee, one milk) per drink, so a box of 16 makes 8 drinks and the cost per drink doubles.
Bean-to-cup and espresso machines: what a cup costs
Bean-to-cup machines grind fresh beans for every cup, and manual espresso machines use ground coffee. A single espresso shot typically uses 7–9g of coffee and a double shot 14–18g.
At Tesco Ireland, a 1kg bag of Lavazza Qualità Rossa beans costs €30 and Lavazza Espresso Barista Intenso €32. That works out at roughly:
| Drink | Coffee used | Cost of beans (at €30–32/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Single espresso | 7–9g | About 21–29c |
| Double shot / mug of coffee | 14–18g | About 42–58c |
| Cappuccino or latte (double shot) | 14–18g + milk | About 42–58c + milk |
Supermarket own-brand and offer beans can be cheaper, and speciality roasters more expensive. Either way, beans usually beat pods on cost per cup, especially for bigger drinks, and they produce no pod waste.
Over a year: what does it add up to?
Say you drink two coffees a day at home, which is about 730 cups a year:
| Machine | Cost per cup | Coffee cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| Bean-to-cup (double shot) | About 50c | About €365 |
| Nespresso Original | About 57c | About €415 |
| Dolce Gusto (one-pod drinks) | About 43c | About €310 |
| Dolce Gusto (two-pod milky drinks) | About 85c | About €620 |
| Nespresso Vertuo (typical pod) | About 90c | About €660 |
| Café cappuccino | About €3.37 | About €2,460 |
Add milk for milky drinks, and a little electricity: Electric Ireland estimates a coffee machine uses about 0.8 kWh per hour of use, which is roughly 30 cent an hour at its standard rate. Each cup takes only a minute or two, so electricity adds just a cent or two.
The difference between machines is real but modest compared with the saving over buying coffee out. The biggest swing is between one-pod and two-pod drinks, and between standard and premium pods.
So which should you choose?
Choose a pod machine if…
- You want coffee at the press of a button with no mess or cleaning.
- You drink one or two cups a day, or the household likes lots of different drinks.
- Counter space is tight: pod machines are small.
- You want a cheaper machine up front.
Choose bean-to-cup if…
- You drink several coffees a day, so the lower cost per cup adds up.
- You want fresh-ground coffee and café-style milky drinks.
- You’re happy to spend more up front and do a little regular cleaning and descaling.
Choose a manual espresso machine if…
- You enjoy the process of making coffee and want to learn.
- You want good espresso with the lowest running costs.
- You don’t mind a few extra minutes per cup and some practice.
Coffee machines on offer
These machines are on offer right now. The Nespresso Vertuo Pop is a compact Vertuo machine; the Dolce Gusto Piccolo XS is a small, simple pod machine; the De’Longhi Stilosa is an entry-level manual espresso machine; and the Philips 2200 Series is a popular bean-to-cup machine.
- 18.2
Nespresso Vertuo Pop Coffee Machine by De’Longhi (ENV90)
Best for: Easy coffee, small kitchens
-46%A tiny, stylish pod machine that makes great-tasting coffee at the press of a button, from an espresso up to a mug. Tall mugs don’t fit with the drip tray in, but it’s a lovely, easy gift at this price.
What we like
- Compact, fun design
- Good-tasting coffee
- Makes espresso up to a 230ml mug
- One-button operation
Watch out for
- Limited cup height with the drip tray in
- Only uses Nespresso Vertuo pods
- Can occasionally be temperamental
€69.99Was €129.99-46% - 28
Philips 2200 Series Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine
Best for: First bean-to-cup
An easy, good-value way into bean-to-cup coffee: freshly ground beans, simple one-touch buttons and a steam wand for milk. Coffee fans may find the espresso a little light, but for everyday coffee it’s a big step up from pods.
What we like
- Fresh-ground coffee at one touch
- Ceramic grinder with 12 settings
- Easy to clean: removable brew group
- Hot espresso compared with rivals
Watch out for
- Mostly plastic build
- Manual milk wand takes practice
- Pump is loud
See today’s price - 37.8
De’Longhi Stilosa EC260 Manual Espresso Machine
Best for: Espresso beginners
A great first espresso machine if you want to find out whether home espresso is for you. It’s forgiving and compact, but coffee enthusiasts will outgrow it.
What we like
- Real 15-bar pump espresso for little money
- Forgiving baskets make crema easy
- Steam wand for lattes and cappuccinos
- Compact and simple to use
Watch out for
- Steaming milk is slow and takes practice
- Temperature can drift after steaming
- Mostly plastic build
See today’s price - 47.6
Nescafé Dolce Gusto Piccolo XS Pod Coffee Machine (De’Longhi)
Best for: Easy gift
Cheap, tiny and very easy to use. Pods cost more per cup than ground coffee, but for a simple gift or a small kitchen it’s hard to beat at this price.
What we like
- Very compact
- Simple one-lever operation
- Hot and cold drinks, wide pod choice
- No mess, easy to clean
Watch out for
- Pods cost more than ground coffee
- Manual lever: you stop the flow yourself
- Noisy while brewing
See today’s price
More: our best coffee machines guide, small appliance deals and kitchen gadget gifts.
Tips to cut the cost per cup
- Buy pods and beans when supermarkets run multi-buy offers, and stock up (check best-before dates).
- For Nespresso Original machines, try supermarket-compatible capsules.
- With Dolce Gusto, choose one-pod drinks or add your own milk to an espresso or Americano pod.
- For bean-to-cup, try bigger bags (1kg is usually cheaper per kg than 250g) and adjust the dose: many machines use more coffee than you need.
- Descale regularly: limescale makes machines work harder and coffee taste worse, especially in hard-water areas.
- Recycle your pods: check the brand’s recycling options and your local recycling rules for coffee pods.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to make coffee at home?
Ground coffee in a cafetière, a manual espresso machine or a bean-to-cup machine using supermarket beans is usually cheapest per cup. Pods are more convenient but cost more per cup.
How much does a Nespresso pod cost in Ireland?
On Nespresso Ireland’s website, Original pods cost about 44–67 cent each and Vertuo pods about 53 cent to €1.11 each (checked 3 November 2026).
Is bean-to-cup cheaper than pods?
Usually, yes. A double shot from beans costs about 42–58 cent at current Irish supermarket prices, against roughly 55 cent to €1.10 for a Vertuo pod. The machine itself costs more to buy, though.
Do Dolce Gusto lattes use two pods?
Most milky Dolce Gusto drinks, such as cappuccino and latte macchiato, use two pods per drink: one coffee and one milk.
Sources: Nespresso Ireland: Vertuo pods, Nespresso Ireland: Original pods, Tesco Ireland: Dolce Gusto Café au Lait, Tesco Ireland: Lavazza Qualità Rossa beans 1kg, Tesco Ireland: Lavazza Espresso Barista Intenso 1kg, Pro Coffee Gear: espresso shot measurements, Longford Leader / Picodi: price of a coffee in Ireland, Electric Ireland: kitchen energy advice.