For the past several years, Caran d’Ache has released an annual special edition collaboration with Nespresso, and to date, the release has always been an 849 ballpoint, such as last year’s “Arpeggio” pen. All of the various Caran d’Ache x Nespresso products share one thing in common: they are made from aluminum recovered from recycled Nespresso capsules, as part of Nespresso’s capsule recycling initiative. (If you own a Nespresso machine, you are likely familiar with the prepaid recycling bags included with your capsule orders, in which you can return your used capsules to the company.) This year’s release, however, goes in a completely different direction in the sense that it expands the Nespresso line to include both a special edition Fixpencil and Swiss Wood pencil set, and also incorporates a new graphite consisting of 25% recycled Nespresso coffee grounds.
For starters, let’s talk about this coffee-grounds graphite. While it sounds a bit…weird…I didn’t notice much, if any, difference from Caran d’Ache’s graphite core found in either the standard HB Fixpencil lead or the standard Swiss Wood pencil. (For the Fixpencil, your writing experience with the “new” graphite will actually be limited to the core that ships with the new Fixpencil - as of now Caran d’Ache doesn’t sell refills, so you will simply refill with standard Fixpencil leads.) While the graphite might be a selling point for some from a sustainability perspective, I didn’t find that it changed the writing experience all that much.
Visually, the orange Fixpencil in particular is stunning. I’m a bit biased, since I love orange finishes on writing instruments, and this sort of dark matte copper/orange color is somewhat uncommon. I also enjoy the “grippiness” of the finish on the various Nespresso editions, and No. 4 is no exception. I really do hope this particular Fixpencil sticks around for a while, or at the very least Caran d’Ache continues to expand the lineup.
With respect to the Swiss Wood Pencils, in addition to the recycled coffee grounds used in the graphite, Caran d’Ache has added a special inscription and metallic caps, which do not appear to be actual metal but rather a paint or coating, so there is no change to the balance of the pencil. If you’re a fan of the Swiss Wood, the Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache, or any of the other special edition pencils the company has released over the past few years, you’ll want to check these out.
We currently have both Edition No. 4 products available for purchase in the T.G.S. Curated Shop. The Caran d’Ache x Nespresso Edition No. 4 Fixpencil retails for $40, while the Swiss Wood Pencil Set retails for $20. We do still have some limited stock of the Edition No. 3 849 ballpoint remaining, though I don’t know for how long Caran d’Ache will continue to make or distribute this pen since Edition No. 4 has now hit stores. Please check out these and our full range of other Caran d’Ache products, both standard and special editions!
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