In development for five years in the R&D center of Nestlé in Switzerland, the Dolce Gusto Neo system will be based on a new technology called SmartBrew. It combines three extraction methods to always guarantee the best coffee, whether it’s an espresso, an Americano or a filter coffee. In addition, Nescafé promises simplified use thanks to a single button to press to dispense his coffee, the machine having to take care of automatically adjusting the settings for the user, even if the latter retains the possibility of adjusting them… and this from a smartphone using Bluetooth and/or wifi.
Pods with identifier, and compostable
In order to adjust the settings, Dolce Gusto Neo should be able to identify the different compatible pods. It is certainly not a revolution. Bosch has offered a comparable system for years with its Tassimo, and Nespresso has followed suit with its Vertuo systems. In both cases, the pods are provided with a barcode that the machines can read using an on-board reader.
Nescafé does not detail the operation of its system, but rather the identifier seems to be integrated under the envelope of the pods. In any case, we know that these will be different from the current Dolce Gusto pods. They are flatter, but mostly consist of different materials. Their envelope, precisely, is made from paper to which is added a thin biopolymer membrane making them fully compostable at home. An argument reminiscent of the new Nespresso pods, which is obviously not a surprise since, as indicated at the beginning of the article, the two companies belong to Nestlé. The new Nescafé pods are also certified by the independent organization TÜV Austria for their compostable aspect.
To complete the process, Nescafé also claims to have used partly recycled plastic and aluminum for the manufacture of Dolce Gusto Neo machines, adding that they meet the requirements of energy class A+++ and offer a system of automatic switch off.
The Dolce Gusto Neo system should be launched before the end of the year in Brazil, where the compatible pods will also be produced, and should arrive in other markets thereafter. No price is currently mentioned, but we should quickly learn a little more.