Introduction

This is a review of the new Nespresso Pumpkin Spice Cake coffee for the Original Line (OL) machine. For a number of years now, every Fall, Nespresso does a Fall Seasonal release of the Pumpkin Spice Cake for the Vertuo machine; a number of Nespresso patrons have taken extreme interest in the Pumpkin Spice Cake release and have been asking for it in the OL capsule format as well. Nespresso listened and in the year 2022 they have decided to release in the OL format with a lot of excited Nespresso patrons.

The Pumpkin Spice Cake uses arabicas from Ethiopia, Central and South America. The capsules contain 4.9 grams of coffee, which is pretty small, since most of the Nespresso coffee capsules are 5.0 grams or more. The box is saying to brew as a Lungo size and make as a cappucino, but seems like an espresso would be better? The website seems to mention that this is a half-caff coffee, but the sleeve does not mention that at all.

Aroma

The Nespresso Pumpkin Spice Cake has really strong pumpkin, spice (light), and clove notes. It’s a very pleasant aroma and reminding me of pumpkin pie.

Taste

On the first try, I brewed the Pumpkin Spice Cake as an espresso size, and it does have pumpkin and clove notes to it. I must say that this is one of the best flavored Nespresso capsules I’ve tried – not too much flavor, and not harse in any way and very pleasant. It reminds me of Fall and pumpkin pie. Overall a very nice tasting flavored coffee.

On a second try I brewed as a lungo size and added milk. I find at initial sip, the coffee feels way too watery and should not be brewed as a lungo size at all. I still get notes of pumpkin, but extremely light as the milk and water tends to over power the taste.

On a third try I tried first adding a small amount of milk to a standard Nespresso OL Espresso glass cup, and then brewed as a Ristretto sized cup. It has almost caramel like taste notes to it. It tastes way better than the Lungo brew and milk. I’m actually liking this style a lot better, and when brewed as a Lungo, it is more like a “soup”. I do sense what Nespresso calls the licorice notes, but I think it’s more like caramel notes.

On a fourth try, I tried a Ristretto brew without any milk, the pumpkin aromas are very strong. I actually find the Ristretto brew without any milk very, very nice indeed. Very light pumpkin tastes and not overpowering, and also that strong coffee flavor. It’s got an after punch taste of coffee that is very nice. I’m really liking the Ristretto brew.

Result

I’m really impressed with the Nespresso Pumpkin Spice Cake. They have not gone overboard on the added flavoring, and this is certainly a coffee I can enjoy black. There are no noticable after tastes with this coffee as well. I highly recommend you try this one out. It will only be around for the Fall.

Also, if you are adding milk, brew this one as eitheran espresso sized cup or a ristretto size cup. And actually I highly recommend brewing as a ristretto with only a touch of milk. And finally, if you like your coffee black, I really highly recommend that you brew this as a Ristretto cup!

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