If you want better Portability and travel-friendliness
Choose Keurig K-Mini Mate. It scores 4.7 vs 2.0 for Portability and travel-friendliness, with a 4.1 overall score.
Lavazza Tabli Espresso Machine Review
Bottom Line
Choose it for easy, compact espresso with low-waste coffee tabs and thick crema. Skip it if you want broad pod choice, full-size coffee, or minimal upkeep.
Best for
Best for espresso drinkers who prioritize push-button convenience, compact design and reducing conventional pod waste while still wanting a thick, crema-topped cup.
Not for
Not ideal for shoppers who want a broad pod ecosystem, large cups of coffee, traditional espresso texture, or the least possible cleaning and maintenance.
Verdict
Lavazza Tablì makes a strong case for a new kind of single-serve espresso: the machine is easy to use, compact, quick for individual drinks and capable of producing bold coffee with thick crema. Its compressed coffee tabs sharply reduce the plastic and aluminum tied to conventional capsules, which is the clearest reason to choose the system. The tradeoffs are meaningful, though. The proprietary tab range is still narrow, opened packs can raise freshness concerns, and the outer packaging is not completely plastic-free. Maintenance also divides opinion, with one detailed test reporting awkward cleaning, premature waste-bin alerts and slow back-to-back brewing. Coffee quality is generally well liked, but darker-than-expected roasts and a foamy, less traditional espresso texture will not suit every drinker.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
30 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.04 (13%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.417 (57%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.42 (7%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.47 (23%)
Pros highlights
-
Reducing single-use pod waste is the product’s standout strength, and many sources praise the all-coffee tabs. The main caveat is that plastic film remains in the packaging, which one critical test felt undercut the sustainability promise.
-
The compressed tabs are convenient and distinctive, but the ecosystem is proprietary and the flavor selection is still limited. Open multi-tab packs also raise freshness concerns because the remaining coffee is exposed to air.
-
The individual coffee tabs avoid plastic or aluminum casings, which is a major appeal for shoppers concerned about pod waste and microplastics. The machine body and outer packaging still contain plastic, so the overall system is not completely plastic-free.
-
The Tablì is widely praised for a sleek, compact look that fits small kitchens and crowded counters. One tester found it heavier and bulkier than expected, so the footprint is not universally admired.
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Most hands-on testers like the bold, full-bodied coffee, thick crema and strong flavor, with especially positive reactions to fresh-tasting shots. A minority found the flavor one-dimensional, overly acidic or too foamy compared with traditional espresso.
-
Most hands-on experiences are very positive, emphasizing easy controls, low effort and strong first-cup satisfaction. One extended test rejected the machine because of upkeep, controls, price and coffee-quality frustrations.
Cons highlights
-
The machine covers espresso, double espresso and lungo, and a frother can expand that into milk drinks. The tradeoff is limited coffee variety, espresso-focused output and default volumes that may need reprogramming.
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Roast and intensity labels do not always match the cup: some coffees tasted darker or more uniformly bold than expected. One critical test also felt the remaining plastic weakened the system’s sustainability message.
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Smart features are polarizing. Some coverage likes app-based personalization, while one hands-on tester preferred simple buttons without an app and another found Wi‑Fi, Alexa and app functions unnecessarily complicated.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Coffee Machines, this product is above average in Delivery condition, Plastic-free materials, Environmental packaging sustainability, near average in Espresso and beverage quality, Water system, maintenance and descaling, below average in Filter, Noise level, Shipping policy.
Comparison summary
30 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher8 (27%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts13 (43%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower9 (30%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery condition | 4.5 | 1.8 | +2.7 |
| Filter | 1.5 | 3.9 | -2.4 |
| Noise level | 2.0 | 4.1 | -2.1 |
| Shipping policy | 2.0 | 4.1 | -2.1 |
| Portability and travel-friendliness | 2.0 | 3.8 | -1.8 |
| Plastic-free materials | 4.3 | 3.2 | +1.1 |
| Environmental packaging sustainability | 4.3 | 3.3 | +1.0 |
| Cable management convenience | 2.0 | 3.2 | -1.2 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Drink variety and customization
Choose Philips Café Aromis 8000. It scores 4.9 vs 3.1 for Drink variety and customization, with a 4.4 overall score.
If you want better Capsules, pods and consumables
Choose De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Automatic Espresso & Cappuccino Machine. It scores 4.5 vs 3.7 for Capsules, pods and consumables, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better Automation and sensors
Choose De’Longhi Magnifica Start Automatic Espresso Machine. It scores 4.6 vs 3.6 for Automation and sensors, with a 3.9 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Nespresso
- Better: drink size and variety Nespresso was cited as more flexible because it can make both espresso shots and larger cups.
- Similar: coffee flavor and body The coffee was compared favorably with Nespresso for its bold, full flavor.
Phillips L'OR Barista Sublime
- Cheaper: price The Phillips L'OR Barista Sublime was presented as a much cheaper alternative.
FAQ
Does the Tablì use plastic coffee capsules?
No. The individual tabs are compressed coffee without a plastic or aluminum casing, though the multi-tab packaging still uses plastic film.
What drinks can it make?
The core machine makes espresso, double espresso and lungo. A separate or bundled milk frother can expand that into drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos.
Is the coffee good?
Most hands-on testers liked its bold flavor, full body and thick crema, but some found the roasts darker than expected or the texture too foamy compared with traditional espresso.
Is it easy to use?
Yes for basic brewing: setup is simple and the controls are straightforward. Maintenance is more divisive, especially frequent waste-bin attention and cleaning around the brew area.
Are Tablì tabs widely available in different flavors?
Choice is still limited compared with established Nespresso and Keurig ecosystems, and the machine uses proprietary Tablì tabs.
Do opened tabs stay fresh?
Several sources raise freshness concerns because opening a tray exposes multiple tabs at once, so careful storage matters if you do not use them quickly.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - 99 Caffè L'Aquila
- Review score
- 2.0
Article Reviews
cnet.com
Lavazza's $130 Tabli could upend the pod coffee market with 100% plastic-free capsules. Here's how it works.
- Review score
- 4.1
forbes.com
We tested the Lavazza Tablì Espresso Machine for weeks to see how it performs. Here's what we think about whether it's worth it.
- Review score
- 3.9
liverpoolecho.co.uk
Beth Mahoney stopped wasting money on takeaway coffees and switched to the new Lavazza Tabli
- Review score
- 4.6
livingetc.com
Between the capsule-free pods and the sleek brown colorway, this might be the appliance that finally convinces me to invest in a pod machine
- Review score
- 4.3
t3.com
Lavazza’s new coffee machine uses pods made entirely of coffee
- Review score
- 4.8
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