My Taste Test of Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso: Review, Photos

by Nigel Ong

Starbucks offers its coffee in many formats, including Nespresso capsules. I have reviewed some popular Nespresso capsules from Starbucks, such as Colombia and Espresso Roast. 

This time, I will review another single-origin series from Starbucks, the Sumatra Roast. I will brew the coffee in several ways and compare it against other related coffee. 

About Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso

Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso is a unique offering in the world of coffee. Starbucks first introduced the roast in 1971, and has been one of its best-selling single-origin coffee ever since. 

Known for its bold and full-bodied flavor, this coffee captures the essence of its unique origin. The beans are sourced from the lush, volcanic region of Sumatra, a major island in Indonesia. 

The beans were harvested from the highlands and traditionally processed. Many enjoyed Sumatra coffee’s earthy tones and complex herbal nuances. Starbucks Sumatra’s popularity stems from its robust character and intense flavor profile. 

This blend appeals to those who favor a stronger, more assertive cup of coffee. Its widespread acclaim is due to its unique taste and Starbucks’ commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability. 

Noticing changes in coffee trends, Starbucks later collaborated with Nestle and released the roast in a Nespresso capsule version. 

As part of Starbucks’ exotic single-origin collection, Sumatra Nespresso has carved a niche among coffee enthusiasts who appreciate its rich history and bold, distinctive flavor.

How to Brew Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso?

Starbucks Sumatra Roast comes in Nespresso capsules, meaning the brewing style will differ. French press pour-over will not work here. 

With Nespresso capsules, you will require some sort of Nespresso-compatible brewer to brew the coffee. Consider getting one of those Nespresso machines. If this option is too expensive, check out the Wacaco Minipresso NS. 

The Minipresso is a hand-held, portable espresso maker that operates manually. This means you do not need electricity or charge the Minipresso to use it.

This makes it my favorite since I can easily take them into the woods to make coffee when hiking, for example. 

To brew espresso using my Wacaco Minipresso NS:

1. Add hot, off-boil water into the water tank.
2. Put on the main body. Place it on top of the water tank and twist it slightly. 
3. Now drop in the coffee pod on the top end of the main body. T
4. Screw in the outlet cap. You may need to push down slightly before twisting the top cap in. 

The assembly is now complete. Time to move into the brewing:

1. Push down at the piston, then twist anti-clockwise to release the piston. 
2. Turn the device upside down. This means the water tank faces up, and the outlet cap is at the bottom. 
3. Start pumping. It may take about 8-10 pumps to build enough pressure inside the Minipresso NS. 
4. Continue to pump until the pushback force gradually disappears and the espresso has slowed to very slow drips. 
5. You now have a fresh cup of espresso! 

How Does Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso Taste?

With Wacaco Minipresso NS, I can produce a good cup of espresso. Using the espresso as a base, I will create other popular espresso-based coffee drinks and sample the coffee from there. 

Espresso

Making espresso here is a straightforward affair. I added the capsule into the Minipresso NS and then pumped one a single shot. 

The crema looks beautiful, rich, and thick. The color is darker, with a beautiful brown color indicating a dark roast. Aroma-wise, the espresso has a smoky and earthy aroma with a hint of herbal notes.

As I sip my espresso, I can taste the herbal note better. I would describe it as mushroom-like, giving this coffee a unique taste. The smoke and earthiness is strong, but it is not overpowering.

Once I swallowed the espresso, the aftertaste on my palate was medium. The lingering taste is a slight sweetness with some mushroom notes.

Long Black

I brewed another espresso, and this time, I decided to make a cup of Long Black. Popular in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, Long Black is a stronger recipe than Americano. 

Americano usually uses a 1:2 espresso-to-water ratio. Long Black, instead, uses a 1:1 ratio.

I first pulled out a shot of espresso from the Minipresso NS to make the Long Black. Then, I poured a single shot of hot water into the cup before pouring in my espresso shot. The result is a stronger coffee, with the crema dissipated and broken. 

As I drink, the mushroom-like note is not as intense as the espresso and may be more palatable to drinkers. 

This Long Black coffee also tastes less acidic. It has a more pleasant, earthy note than the espresso, probably because it’s more diluted. 

Americano

Next up, Americano. The name Americano comes from American soldiers who made it popular during World War 2. 

As they fought through Italy from 1943 to 1945, these soldiers started ordering coffee from local baristas. The local Italians later learned to add hot water to dilute their espresso to suit the Americans’ palate. This recipe is later called Americano.

To make Americano, I first pulled out a shot of espresso using my Minipresso NS. Then, I added two shots of hot water into the espresso.

Adding water to the espresso preserves the crema. This is one way to tell Americano from Long Black, which usually has a broken crema.

As a result, my cup of Americano has a beautiful layer of crema on top. When I sip the coffee, the crema gives the coffee an additional dimension of flavor that I greatly appreciate. 

The crema itself is mild, with strong earthiness. Once the coffee is in my mouth, I can pick up the soft mushroom note and some smoke. 

Macchiato

Macchiato means ‘stained’ in Italian, likely to mean how a regular cup of espresso is ‘stained’ with some milk. The recipe was first popular in 19th-century Italy when people started wanting a softer espresso later in the day.

To make my Macchiato, I again pulled a shot of espresso with my Minipresso NS. Then, I added a spoonful of steamed milk on top. Here, I use whole, UHT, cow’s milk.

This is a nice twist on a regular espresso. Unlike espresso, which can be too strong, Macchiato is a more sippable version, with milk softening its hit. 

The milk, however, does not seem to blend too well with the herbal mushroom note. This may, however, just be a personal preference. 

Latte

Finally, it is time for the most popular milk coffee style – Latte. I initially wanted to make a Cappuccino, but I thought Latte was more popular worldwide, so I went ahead with Latte instead.

You make Latte using one part espresso and two parts of steamed milk. Unlike Cappuccino, Latte has less milk foam. 

The result is a beautiful cup of coffee. The aroma is rich creamy, with a bit of mushroom note. The whole cup looks inviting, especially for a milk coffee fan like me. 

As I take my sip, the creamy, rich milk taste is strong, accompanied by the bittersweet flavor of the coffee. The milk also made the coffee sweet, thanks to the lactose content inside.

However, I still think the mushroom-like note is a bit odd with the milk, but then again, this may just be my preference.

Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso Vs. Other Starbucks Nespresso

I figured to compare the Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso with other Starbucks Nespresso I have in my collection:

• Starbucks Colombia Nespresso
• Starbucks House Blend Nespresso
• Starbucks Espresso Nespresso

Of these two, I would prefer the Colombia Nespresso most. The reason is probably due to my liking for medium and light roasts. 

Sumatra roast is nice, but its darker roast made it slightly smoky. Espresso roast, meanwhile, is an espresso roast that is best reserved for espresso.

Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso Vs. Starbucks Sumatra Roast

It only makes sense to compare the Sumatra Nespresso with the actual Sumatra Roast. Here, I made two cups of Americano from both coffees and sampled them. 

I do not notice any major difference, which is good to know. This could be because the Nespresso version of the Starbucks Sumatra may just be the same coffee ground, packaged in an aluminum capsule. 

This means you get the same taste and experience without the additional hassle of grinding the coffee. You also do not worry too much about coffee ground spills.

Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso Vs. Sumatra Coffee Roasts

I also have a couple of Sumatra roasts in my collection, also single origins. Again, I brewed all the coffee as Americano and sampled them. These include:

• Sumatra Lintong Coffee
• Sumatra Gayo Coffee

From here, I would say that the Gayo coffee tastes best. There is some herbal, mushroom-like note, but it is not as strong as the one from Starbucks.

Plus, it is not roasted dark, which means less smoke, making the coffee more comfortable to sip. I prefer the Lintong coffee second, again probably because it is a medium roast. 

The Starbucks Sumatra is nice on its own, but its smoky roast made it less enjoyable. This is, perhaps again, my preference, which means you may have a different take on these roasts.

Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso Vs. Other Dark Roasts

Since the Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso is a dark roast, I’d compare it with other dark roasts I have in my collection:

• Starbucks Caffe Verona
• Dunkin Midnight Roast
• Peet’s Major Dickason 
• McCafe Colombian Roast

I ground these coffee roasts down into fine grounds. Then I made espresso out of them, using my Wacaco Minipresso GR. 

Then, I turn the espresso into Americano before sipping it with my Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso.

Flavor-wise, they are about the same, except for the Sumatra Nespresso. They all seem to carry a chocolatey note. Only the Sumatra Nespresso carries a herbal, mushroom-like note.

However, regarding overall satisfaction, I will place the Major Dickason roast first, with the Midnight Roast second. I’ll place the Sumatra Nespresso probably together at the back, with IKEA Patar.

As much as the Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso is a beautiful cup of coffee, I seem to enjoy a more ‘conventional’ cup of dark roasts. This means something chocolate-like, with smoke and earthiness that is not too strong. 

Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso Vs. Regular Coffee

Aside from comparing it against grocery store coffee, I think you can picture the flavors of Sumatra Nespresso coffee better if I compare them against regular coffee.

Yes, I mean those $1 coffees from gas stations and convenience stores.

I picked up a regular Americano from a 7-Eleven and drank it alongside the Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso. Let’s just say that there is a very clear winner. 

The single-origin Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso does taste so much better. It has more flavor depth, and the flavor is delivered in a nicer and more satisfying package. 

Compared to that, the 7-Eleven coffee tastes flat, with a boring, plain bitterness. The coffee is also a little watery, making me suspect it is probably under-brewed.

Is Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso For You?

The Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso may be a derivative of the original coffee, but you are not trading off flavor here. The coffee tastes just as similar to the original roast.

On top of that, you also gain the convenience of not having to grind or deal with possible ground spills. You also gain a consistent taste since the capsule form ensures consistent portioning control between the water and coffee grounds.

The only trade-off is the price – you pay more for your cup of Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso than regular coffee. 

If price matters more, stick with the regular coffee roast. Suppose convenience matters more to the point that you are willing to pay a bit extra. In that case, the Starbucks Sumatra Nespresso capsules will be the best option.