If you’re a Starbucks fan, you probably want to get your hands on this coffee maker, like, right now.
“The Verismo System allows you to make favorite Starbucks drinks: cafe latte, espresso or freshly brewed cup of Starbucks coffee at home.“
But let’s dig a bit deeper. First – the Verismo brewer.
The one thing I really like about Verismo is that it’s very simple to use. It has just three buttons (espresso/rinse, brewed coffee, and milk pod buttons) why you don’t have to read the manual over and over again. Just insert a pod at the top of the machine and your drink will be ready in less than 30 seconds.
Verismo has a 33.8 oz removable water reservoir, removable drip tray and can store up to 10 used pods. The energy savings system is a pretty nice feature to have too - the auto off activates after 5 min.
You should know that, every time you turn on the machine, you will be prompted to rinse the machine, before making your first beverage. Even though this can be annoying it helps keep your machine clean and properly heated, so let’s say it’s a good thing.
Dimensions: 16.4″H x 8.2″W x 14.8″D
Weight: 8 lbs
Pump pressure: 19-bar
Where to buy: You can get a Versimo 580 at StarbucksStore.com for $199.00 (box of Verismo pods and free shipping included). There is also a $399 Verismo model called Verismo 585 (read more about this model).
Verismo Pods
Verismo pods are individual portion packs of Starbucks coffee or milk used only for Verismo single cup brewing system. Starbucks guarantees that these pods use the same espresso blend as they serve in their coffee shops and that your home brew coffee will taste exactly like the one they make.
Right now, Starbucks has 10 Verismo pod varieties in their offer.
Espresso pods $11.95, 12 servings: Espresso Roast, Decaf Espresso Roast, Guatemala Antigua
Brewed coffee pods $11.95, 12 servings: Caffè Verona, House Blend, Pike Place Roast, Veranda Blend
Latte pods $12.95, 8 servings: Caffè Latte, Decaf Caffè Latte
Milk pods $9.95, 12 serving: Verismo Milk Pods
Important: In comparison with regular Starbucks drinks, Verismo serving sizes are much smaller.
Espresso button makes 1 oz drink, brewed coffee button 7 oz and milk button 5 oz.Brewed coffee – 7 oz drink.
Regular latte (1 espresso pod + 1 milk pod) – 6 oz drink.
Americano (1 espresso pod + hot water) – 8 ozIf you want to make a grande for example, you will need two pods (espresso, milk, depending on the drink)
Where to buy Verismo pods
You will rarely see Verismo pods on sale – I think that StarbucksStore.com is the best place to get the Verismo pods at this moment. Macy’s, Bad Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s have the same prices as Starbucks. Amazon – No way! (latte price $19.99)
Can I use k-cups / capsules with Starbucks Verismo
You should know that Keurig K-cups and regular coffee pods will not work with the Verismo. They don’t make reusable Verismo pods neither.
The good news – CBTL capsules can work with the Verismo machine. It’s not something I would normally recommend (it’s always best to use original pods/capsules). But, since you can get a 10 CBTL capsule pack for $7.00 ($ 0.70 each) this can be a good option.
Read more about this topic in Q and A section below.
Coffee Take Out
If you’re a loyal Starbucks customer and this sounds like an ideal machine for your home, then Verismo might be the perfect coffee maker choice.
If, for whatever reason it’s not the right fit, know that you have other options – like Keurig or The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf machine. Maybe your coffee will not taste exactly like the one at Starbucks, but you will get that perfect cup of coffee at a great price. 
Related articles:
Verismo Recipes Simplified.
Q & A
1. Where can I find Verismo Reusable Pods
Unfortunately, they don’t make Verismo reusable pods at this moment. You can only use regular Verismo pods.2. Can you use K-cups in Verismo
No. K-cups are much bigger than Verismo pods so, you can’t use them in your Verismo machine.3. Do Verismo pods work in Keurig
Although Verismo pods are smaller than k-cups, and you can place them in Keurig coffee makers, I would not recommend doing that. Coffee will not have the same taste ( in comparison with the one you make with Verismo) and it can cause damage to your coffee maker.4. Are Verismo pods compatible with CBTL
The fact is that, no matter what coffee machine you own, it’s always best to use original pods/capsules etc. Now, according to one of my readers, you can use Verismo pods in the CBTL Kaldi machine, but – only milk pods.
Judy says:
I just got a CBTL Kaldi (for only $90 with coupon code Kaldi89 instead of $199 for the Verismo!) and used a Verismo milk pod and a CBTL Italian espresso for a fantastic latte. (But DON’T use a starbucks espresso capsule in the Kaldi – it won’t work!!) I was really impressed with the flavor and the temperature (hot!) of the latte.5. Can CBTL capsules work with Verismo
Yes, CBTL capsules can work with Verismo machine. But, as I mentioned, it’s best to use original pods/capsules, no matter what coffee maker you own.6. Do Verismo pods work in Nespresso
Nespresso capsules are smaller than Verismo pods so there is a big chance that Verismo pods will not fit into your Nespresso. Of course, you can always try.7. Customer Reviews for the Verismo
Luckily, we have a great community here and I got a lot of feedback on Verismo from my readers. I am sure you’ll find some useful info in the comment section below.8. Verismo Brewer Manual
You can read Verismo Quick Start Guide and Verismo Operating Manual online9. Do they make hot chocolate pods for the Starbucks Verismo
Unfortunately not at this moment. But, according to Starbucks you can make hot chocolate with your Verismo machine. Starbucks suggest: 2 milk pods + 1 envelope hot cocoa mix . Place the hot cocoa mix in your cup then brew 2 milk pods over it. Stir. You get 12 oz.10. Verismo doesn’t make hot coffee
Make sure to always run the rinse cycle first. Rinse cycle is necessary to make sure that machine is properly heated, but it also helps keep your machine clean.11. Verismo isn’t working properly
If you think that your coffee maker is not working properly, I suggest to always contact their customer service first. Each of these coffee makers comes with a warranty and you should definitively use this.
Now it’s your turn – leave a comment below and tell us what do you think about Verismo. If you are new here, I would love for you to subscribe for free email updates (just fill out the form below). I would also love to connect with you on Facebook .
About Danijela
Thanks for your review. I wanted to point out that each latte pod set only makes 6 oz. A tall at Starbucks is 12 oz. Therefore, making a 12 oz latte costs at minimum $3.25 on the Verismo. You can get a tall latte at Starbucks for $3.10! That is ridiculous. I’m basically paying more to make it myself. Also of note, the k-fee cups are available in Europe for 5 US dollars instead of the $12-13 that Starbucks is charging. Too bad they don’t ship overseas or I’d go that route.
Thanks for stopping by and for your feedback Brittany, I really appreciate it!
when you buy the latte pods, you get eight milk and eight coffee, so they are the same as buying a box of all milk and another box of all espresso. I think that the pods should cost $.50 not $1.00. I will only use this when I am too lazy to make espresso in my manual machine or when I want to impress my friends. The latte was better than I expected. Certainly more uniformly brewed than when I do it on my bed bath and beyond $20 espresso maker.
Hi Dwight, thanks for stopping by and for your feedback. I appreciate it!
We moved to coastal North Carolina (from the Northeast) two years ago and now the closest Starbuck’s is 40 miles away! So obviously I am not outraged at the price per cup using the Verisimo system. Presently we grind Starbuck’s Dark French Roast fresh daily and brew it using a Kitchen Aid 14cup drip machine. The coffee is very nice and the cost is reasonable as we buy the beans at Costco. That said, we are looking for a convenient way to enjoy a single cup in the afternoon, be it a latte or a blend other than French Roast, such as Verona, which we adore. If the Verisimo system produces a good cup, I don’t mind having to heat it for 30 seconds in the microwave. I like Starbuck’s coffee very much so I wouldn’t miss not having all the varieties available with the K cups. I tried the K cup Green Mountain varieties and they tasted weak. Bottom line, does the Verisimo coffee taste good?
Hi Alice, first of all, I have to say that i am really glad to hear that you grind beans on your own. It is probably one of the best ways to get good cup of coffee.
As far as the Verismo, the coffee does taste great. You don’t have to worry about that. If you love Starbucks, and you don’t mind spending few extra cents, it is probably a good choice.
Thanks for stopping by and for sharing your opinion with us. Have a great day!
Hi Darijela, Thank you for your advice. We always check out reviews and blogs before we buy just about ANYTHING! Hubbie is waiting for a thumbs up on the Verismo so I will be happy to give him the good news.
Has anyone tried a Verismo pod in a CBTL Kaldi? The pods look very similar in dimension.
Hello Patrick. I haven’t. They look very similar though. I suppose you could try brewing them with Kaldi, but there is a chance that they won’t fit perfectly. As far as I know, Verismo pods are just slightly bigger than CBTL capsules, but that can still be a problem. I will share your question on Twitter right away and ask my readers for their opinion.
Yes!! I just got a CBTL Kaldi (for only $90 with coupon code Kaldi89 instead of $199 for the Verismo!) and used a Verismo milk pod and a CBTL Italian espresso for a fantastic latte. (But DON’T use a starbucks espresso capsule in the Kaldi – it won’t work!!) I was really impressed with the flavor and the temperature (hot!) of the latte – MUCH tastier than my Tassimo. I will be trying a Verona capsule in the Kaldi tomorrow. (Sure wish Starbucks would make Africa Kitamu
capsules for the Verismo – I really miss those from their Tassimo days!)
Thanks for stopping by and sharing this useful info with us Judy. All the best!
Bought a Verismo last week and am thrilled with it. On a per-cup basis, it’s just barely cheaper than my “regular” SBX drinks – but I’m saving on gas and time by not having to drive cross-town every day (sometimes twice) to get my fix. All in all – it’s a winner.
Biggest peeves: the container for the used pods is small – I wish there was an “eject” button in the back of the machine
And a minor quibble: unlike my wife’s Keurig machine, the Verismo does drip for a minute or two after it brews.
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Thanks for your feedback David. I am so glad to hear that.
Have a great weekend!
THANK YOU FOR THIS FORUM, I own and love the Nesspresso machine by Nestle but was looking at the new Starbucks machine Verismo . I was excited at the prospect of returning to Starbuks products however thecost of the products pods runs about 35-40% more than are competing pods. Sad but true, I contacted Starbucks to only recieve the standard response that a lot of time and thought goes into their pricing, not pleased with the answer and will continue to use my Nesspresso machine that makes a fantastic cup of coffee for around .60 per pod. In my opinion Starbucks is missing out on a great opportunity to get prior clients to return, instead they are making poor choices and looking a little greedy, 35-40% more, crazy it is, working out to over $50.00 per pound of coffee. JC
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your opinion Jim. I agree with you, pods are little bit expensive, at least for a home brew coffee.
Hi, I wonder if the k cups fit in a nespresso machine !?
Hi Caroline. K cups are much larger than Nespresso capsules, so unfortunately, the answer is no.
Is you statement “The good news are that you can use CBTL pods in your Verismo coffee machine, or Verismo pods in your CBTL Kaldi Machine” true?
Hello Liz,
I always the best to use original pods, no matter what coffee maker you own. Now, as far as the Kaldi machine, I don’t have one, but I did got a feedback from one of my readers (you can see it in comments) that Verismo pods can work in Kaldi. I did make a small mistake though (thank you for letting me know!)- this is only true for milk pods, not espresso pods. As far as the CBTL capsules and Verismo machine, here’s a video showing that these two can work http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qllUtZj8_tw . But, as I mentioned it’s always best to use original pods/capsules.
Great video! Thanks for the suggestion
I am really enjoying my Verismo. Lattes and Esspressos taste good. And, side note, although this may be sacreligious to some, I use the Americano function for Green Tea every day. Its the perfect temperature for Green Tea, so thats another win for me.
Good Machine.
Hi Congrad, thank you for stopping by and for your feedback. I so am glad to hear that. Enjoy great coffee!
I have a question regarding the Verismo… It seems most reviews are not good when it comes to the Verismo so I’m debating on whether to purchase it or not. Is there any other machine that will fit the Expresso pods from SB? If not, what machine is recommended for Expresso. I don’t drink regular coffee so that’s why I haven’t purchased the Keurig yet either. Any feedback is much appreciated.
Hi Stephanie,
Their is also a model called Americano, priced at $149.99.
as far as I know, Starbucks espresso pods work only with Verismo.
Keurig has only few espresso k cups in their offer, so it probably wouldn’t be the best choice in your case.
If you like single serve coffee makers, I would recommend CBTL coffee makers. They are really amazing (and have great reviews). The CBTL espresso capsules are really tasteful too, plus, they are also a lot cheaper than Verismo pods (10ct pack cost around $7.00).
Now, the most popular CBTL coffee maker – Kaldi costs $179.99, but , as I mentioned in this post, right now you can get one on sale for $129.99, which is great.
When it comes to single serve espresso coffee makers, CBTL is my top pick.
The second option would be some nice, small espresso machine. They don’t offer the comfort (like single serve coffee makers), but they will make good espresso.
I hope this will help little bit. If you have any additional questions feel free to ask. Thank you for stopping by and have a great weekend.
wondering if verissmo pods fit Nespresso machines? They look awfully close in size. Has anyone with either machine actually tried? Deciding between these two machines.
Hi Meledie,
I haven’t tried it myself, so I can’t say for certain. But In my opinion, Verismo pods will not work with Nespresso machine. Although they look similar, Nespresso capsules are smaller than Verismo pods. Sorry!
If you have any additional questions feel free to ask, I will help as much as I can. Thank you for stopping by.
I have confirmed that indeed the cbtl tea pods work on the verissmo… quite well actually … justmake sure to us ethe cofee brewing cycle.. Im wanitng to see how the milk pods work out …
but basicallythey are pretty much teh same so far ..
Tropical passion cbtl and verissmo are my new favorites.
vantur
Hi, John,
thank you for taking the time to stop by and this feedback. I really appreciate it.
I've purchased the pods in Bed Bath & Beyond and Target. They are also on Amazon along with all of the syrups you may need.
Thanks for letting us know Megan, I really appreciate it. I hope you like your new coffee maker. Enjoy your homebrew Starbucks coffee!
I just got my machine today and I usually order a grande no room americano. I’m a little hesitant about it since there are 3 shots in the grande which means I have to use 3 pods tk get the same effect. Which also means the drinks costs me $3 so about the same price as a normal grande americano! I do like the convenience though
Hi Lisa,
thank you for stopping by and your feedback. I am glad you like the machine. As far as the americano – traditional americano is made with just one shot of espresso and about 6oz hot water. So you should be able to make 16oz beverage using two pods. What you need to do is to pull one shot of espresso – use espresso button (top) and pour 6oz hot water over it. When making 16oz beverage, you can pull two espresso shots (2 pods) and then add 12oz hot water. This way you will get traditional Americano (16oz). If you like your coffee really strong, 3 pods are not a bad idea, but I do prefer traditional recipes and original water – espresso ratio. Let me know how it went. All the best!
I purchased the Versimo for a Christmas present for my daughter. She is realy disappointed in it as the pods that came with it brew with a very strong taste. I am thinking about returning it and getting the Keurig. I think she would like it better to brew tea and hot cocoa. I don’t think you can by tea pods for the Versimo?
Hi Debbie
That’s such a nice present. In my opinion, there are two solutions for this strong coffee problem. You can brew your coffee with more water (last button) or you can choose light to medium roasted coffee pods: Veranda, Pike Place or House Blend instead of espresso pods. As far as the tea, unfortunately, they don’t offer Verismo tea pods at this moment. Sorry.
I hope this will help little bit. If you need anything else feel free to ask. All the best and have a great holiday with your family!
WE GOT THIS SYSTEM 12/12/12. THE LATTES ARE DISGUSTING & TASTE NOTHING LIKE THOSE FROM STARBUCKS, THAT’S FALSE ADVERTISING. WE ARE TRYING TO GET A REFUND BUT STARBUCKS DON’T SEEM TO WANT TO GIVE OUR MONEY BACK, SO RIPPED OFF BY STARBUCKS. WE ARE BIG STARBUCKS LATTE DRINKERS & THE LATTES FROM THE VERISMO SYSTEM TASTE DISGUSTING & NOTHING LIKE THE STARBUCKS LATTE
I am so sorry to hear that. I’ve been getting a lot of feedback from my readers and most of them are really satisfied with this machine. Of course, I completely understand and support you – if you are not satisfied with it you should be able to get a refund. Unfortunately, as far as I know, most customers have a bad experience with their customer service. My only suggestion is to be persistent. You can also leave a message on their Twitter or Facebook page, sometimes it can help. I really hope you will get your refund. Good luck.
Where can you buy it that cheap? I thought it was $199
Hi Suzanne, that’s the price – $199.00. You can buy it online – StarbucksStore.com or at your local Starbucks store. You can’t find it on sale right now.
They are on sale right now for $50 less. It’s now $149 until January 1st, 2013. Go to StarbucksStore. com
That’s great Jennifer. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and share this with us.
You can go to your local starbucks right now and pick one up for $150 and they even throw in a box of whatever coffee pods you want.
Yes, online or in-store, every machine comes with a box of free pods, which is great. I hope you like your new coffee maker.
Thanks for stopping by George and enjoy your new Verismo!