The CPRC Begins Product Development: The Nespresso Vertuo Coffee Pod Recycler

A side-by-side of the two Nespresso Capsule types.

If you’ve been following CPRC for a while, you know our whole mission is simple: make it ridiculously easy to recycle coffee pods—correctly, consistently, and at scale.

We started by tackling the pods most people see every day (Keurig, Nespresso Original), and we’ve learned a lot along the way.

Now we’re taking the next step:

We’ve officially begun early product development on a Coffee Pod Recycler designed specifically for Nespresso Vertuo capsules.

Why Vertuo?

Vertuo has become a staple in a lot of households—especially for people who want café-style drinks at home. But Vertuo capsules are their own beast:

• Different capsule shapes and sizes

• Stronger materials and more rigid construction

• A design that often leaves people unsure what can be recycled, how to prep it, and whether they’re doing it right

In other words: it’s exactly the kind of “high-friction recycling problem” CPRC exists to solve.

What we’re building (at a high level)

Our goal is not just to make a tool that can open a Vertuo capsule.

Our goal is to make something that:

• Opens capsules cleanly and safely

• Separates coffee grounds from plastic in a way that makes recycling realistic for regular people

• Reduces mess (coffee grounds everywhere is the #1 reason people give up)

• Holds up through repeated, everyday use

The big idea is the same CPRC philosophy we’ve used from day one: remove barriers, speed up the process, and make the “right thing” the easy thing.

Early design questions we’re solving right now

We’re in the phase where we test assumptions and prototype hard. Some of the real questions on the table:

• Compatibility: Can we design one recycler that works smoothly across the most common Vertuo capsule sizes without a complicated setup?

• Separation quality: How do we ensure grounds, foil/lid elements, and the capsule body end up where they should—without forcing users into a multi-step ordeal?

• Durability: Vertuo capsules can require more force. That means we’re focusing early on structural integrity and repeat-use reliability.

• Mess control: Grounds management matters. If it’s messy, people stop using it. Period.

• User feel: The device has to feel intuitive, satisfying, and safe—especially for families.

How product development will work from here

Here’s the realistic path we’re taking as we move from “idea” to “something you can actually use”:

1. Mechanism exploration – testing different opening and separation approaches

2. Rapid prototyping – iterating quickly based on what works in real-world trials

3. Stress testing – repeat cycles, worst-case pods, messy pods, stubborn pods

4. Refinement for ease-of-use – reducing steps, improving ergonomics, improving cleanup

5. Pilot feedback – getting real users to try it and tell us what’s annoying (that’s gold)

We’re building this the CPRC way: practical, user-first, and engineered for the real world.

Why this matters

If you use Vertuo, you’ve probably had this moment:

“I want to recycle these… but I don’t have time to deal with all this.”

That moment is exactly what we want to eliminate.

Recycling only works when the process is easy enough that people actually stick with it. That’s what we’re aiming for—turning a frustrating routine into a quick, repeatable habit.

What’s next

This is the beginning—but it’s a big beginning.

We’ll be sharing updates as we move through prototypes and testing, and as the Vertuo recycler starts to take a clearer shape. The mission stays the same, and the work continues to expand: less waste, more action, and tools that make sustainability practical.

If you’ve supported CPRC so far—thank you. And if you’re a Vertuo household: you’re officially on our radar.

More soon,

The CPRC