Nespresso Vertuoline Pod / Capsule Recycler

thingiverse

I adore the convenience of Nespresso pods, and my wife gifted me a VertuoLine series last Christmas. I knew that older generations had endless third-party options to refill or recycle capsules, but the Vertuoline series was scarce in choices, so I designed my own. This 3D printed design is composed of multiple parts, allowing you to customize it according to your color preference. To avoid any structural support, given that the bottom "guard" and top "tamper" thread into the main body, I eliminated the need for them altogether. You simply glue the pieces together to create a finished item. There are five components to this design: 1. The bottom "Guard," which protects your hands from embedded razor blades and threads onto the base of the main body. It also serves as a dual-purpose tool when refilling pods, allowing you to place it overtop of the pod to prevent coffee grounds from collecting around the edge. 2. The main body comes in two parts: the bottom part holds the razor blades firmly into the base. 3. The "ring" between the two halves of the main body is a result of splitting it into two parts to print threads on both the top and bottom without requiring structural support. This decorative ring hides the glue joint. 4. The upper part of the main body is designed to hold the capsule or pod with minimal room for movement, making it perfect for refilling or recycling pods. 5. The "tamper" is printed in two halves to avoid structural support and has two functions: when refilling a pod, you can use it to tamp coffee grounds firmly, and depending on your recapping method, the tamper can be turned upside down to press the recapping sticker onto the edge of the pod. Recycling pods: The bottom unit holds three 9mm/60-degree razor blades, which are common and easy to find at hardware stores. The design allows you to install the blades using needle-nose pliers to press-fit them into place. The depth is preset to cut only the foil, not the pod itself. Simply press the pod into the base, turn it to remove the foil covering, and discard the coffee grounds for recycling. If the blades become loose, add a drop of superglue to secure them in place. Be cautious when replacing the guard back onto the base, especially before refilling pods or when not in use. Recapping/Refilling Pods: I've found two primary methods for recapping and refilling pods: 1. The "sticker option" involves purchasing foil stickers with adhesive edges that you press around the edge of the pod and then wrap the foil around it. This method is a bit finicky, as you need to carefully align the sticker to avoid covering the barcode on the underside of the pod. 2. The second method, which I call the "disk option," involves placing a circular paper filter on top of the filled coffee, followed by a plastic disk, and then inserting it into the Nespresso machine. I found the "disk" option easier than the first, but both have their pros and cons. The "sticker" option allows for large batches to be made in advance, while the "disk" option is quicker and less tedious, although you can't create a large batch of pods for convenient grabbing. To make the sticker option easier when refilling pods, the design includes a feature that allows the bottom guard to be placed over the top of the pod to prevent coffee grounds from collecting on the rim. This helps ensure the sticker adheres properly. You might consider printing two guards: one for the bottom and another for this specific purpose. I printed this using PLA and superglued the parts together, which has held up well for over a year. However, I recommend avoiding dishwasher use, as it can cause warping. Instead, wipe clean with a paper towel, taking care to avoid the razor blades. This project was instrumental in teaching myself and my kids how to use our new 3D printer, as well as introducing me to Fusion 360. I've downloaded several items from Thingiverse and wanted to contribute something back in return.