Back in 2024, Keurig gave us a glimpse of an exciting innovation: a pod for its push-button machine crafted from coffee byproducts and entirely free of plastic. Keurig’s greener system hasn’t hit the market yet, but Italian coffee giant Lavazza has launched its own plastic-free, sustainable pod coffee system this week. The company has officially launched Tabli in the North American market, a solid coffee tab that the 130-year-old brand first rolled out in Italy and is calling its most ambitious product innovation to date.
Unlike K-Cups and most other single-serve formats, Tabli pods — or “tabs” — contain no capsule, no individual wrapping and no coating. Just pure compressed coffee; dosed, ground and tamped into a solid form that’s ready to brew.
The technology behind the tab is the result of five years of research and development and more than 15 patents. A concave shape allows the coffee to expand during brewing, producing what Lavazza calls “Crema Plus” — the velvety, persistent foam layer associated with properly pulled espresso. The machine used to brew these all-natural pods, designed in Italy, requires no setup, grinding or measuring from the user.
The launch is the centerpiece of Lavazza’s accelerated North American growth.
“The US is one of the most dynamic markets in the world,” said Daniele Foti, Lavazza North America’s VP of marketing, in a press release sent to CNET. “This is our biggest bet on this market yet, and we intend to shape what comes next.”
Tabli coffee pods are made of 100% pure pressed coffee — no plastic to be found.
“Tabli eliminates the trade-off between quality and convenience entirely — it’s a true multisensory experience: Coffee you can smell, feel, and see before it ever brews,” Foti added.
The Tabli machine itself, which costs just $100 with preorder discount, sports a sculpted silhouette and slider designed for one-touch operation. Accessories include a milk frother and a dedicated tab storage holder.
The Tabli looks like a Keurig but with a decidedly Italian bent.
The Tabli will be available for preorder soon at tablicoffee.us. Individual tabs range from $0.70 to $1.15. A launch bundle includes the Tabli machine, a milk frother and a 60-count variety tab collection for $100 during preorder (normally $250).
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
