In 2026, Nespresso will celebrate its 40th anniversary. From its beginnings in the 1970s to its launch in 1986 and its status as a global premium coffee brand, the Swiss company has transformed every cup into a lifestyle experience in its own right.
The story of Nespresso began in the 1970s with a simple desire: to enable everyone to enjoy high-quality espresso at home, worthy of those served by baristas in Italy.
At Nestlé, the brand’s parent company, this idea of a system combining a specific machine and hermetically sealed capsules to preserve the aromas was still a bold gamble at a time when instant or filter coffee dominated kitchens and offices.
The innovation lay not only in the technology, but also in the desire to simplify the coffee experience while enhancing its quality, revolutionizing consumer habits.
The Nespresso Club
It wasn’t until 1986 that this intuition became a commercial reality. Nespresso was officially launched under the auspices of the Swiss group Nestlé, with the launch of its first machines and colorful capsule coffees: an espresso within everyone’s reach, accompanied by four varieties initially: Capriccio, Cosi, Bolero (now Volluto), and Decafeinato. This moment marked the beginning of a real revolution in the world of coffee, placing portioned coffee at the center of both new technology and a refined lifestyle. The brand began distribution in its native Switzerland, as well as in Japan and Italy.
In 1992, Nespresso strengthened its distribution network in Europe with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and the Netherlands. Four years later, the brand expanded even further with the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
The brand works mainly with Arabica coffees and a few Robusta varieties from plantations located in the main producing countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Nespresso is no longer just a brand of machines and capsules. It has become a global consumer universe, bringing together a loyal community. The Nespresso Club, offering exclusive and personalized services, was launched in 1989. Today, the Swiss brand’s catalog includes an extremely rich range of more than 80 grand crus, ranging from the intensity of a ristretto to the more delicate notes of long or flavored coffees.
Even today, the Swiss brand continues to adapt and innovate: its portfolio has expanded with systems such as Vertuo (which uses centrifugation rather than traditional pressure), coffees from sustainable sources, and trendy combinations such as pistachio, white chocolate and strawberry, caramel, and vanilla.
What else?
Over the years, Nespresso has patiently built its model based on direct consumer loyalty rather than traditional distribution. The Nespresso Club, personalized orders, and, since 2000, the opening of dedicated boutiques have become places of experience as well as sales, with stacks of colorful rectangular coffee cases creating a giant monogram.
Internationally, Nespresso is present in 81 countries, with an impressive network of over 800 stores in more than 500 cities around the world. The company also has over 13,000 employees. In terms of performance, Nespresso generates several billion euros in annual revenue. In 2025, its global turnover was approximately 6.8 billion euros.
The brand’s commitment goes beyond the product. In 2022, Nespresso obtained the B Corp certification, an international recognition that attests to its commitment to high social and environmental performance, increased transparency, and accountability towards communities and the planet.
This year, the brand is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an exclusive collection of mugs and anniversary assortments, as well as posts around this celebration on Instagram, which has 2.4 million followers.
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Featured photo: © Nespresso
