T3 Gives Lavazza’s Pod-Free Tablì Five Stars and a Platinum Award

T3 has given the Lavazza Tablì five stars and its Platinum Award, calling it a strong pick for anyone who likes pod coffee but not the pile of empty capsules. The machine sells for $129 in the US and £199 in the UK, according to the review.

The Tablì doesn’t use capsules at all. It brews from tabs of ground, pressed coffee with no wrapper or coating, and T3 says a spent tab can go straight in the food waste bin. The reviewer, T3’s home editor, spent a couple of weeks with three tab varieties rated 8, 10 and 11 out of 13 for intensity, and says they’re the best pods she has tried for strength, flavor and crema. She also found it quick to heat up and close to silent, with a single soft beep when it’s done.

The catches are worth knowing before you buy. The Tablì only makes espresso, double espresso and lungo. It won’t dispense hot water, so there’s no Americano button, and there’s no frother or milk option, so lattes mean buying a frother separately. T3 also points out that the brew head doesn’t adjust: a standard mug only fits if you pull out the drip tray.

Our take: the Tablì keeps collecting praise this month, a week after Time put it on its Best Inventions of 2026 list. If you mostly drink a big mug of black coffee, a Keurig or Vertuo still fits your routine better. If you drink espresso and hate the capsule waste, it’s the most convincing pod-free option out there right now, and Keurig is chasing the same idea with its AltaRounds.