Nespresso pod competitors

beanflying

I can't see how if a rival tweaks the overall container design styling Nestle uses any grounds for a challenge. A packaging container of the same general dimensions and style wouldn't be patentable as it is not new or innovative. If they were doing a dead clone and their outer packaging looked like the original then there might be potential copyright issues. Still won't be drinking pod coffee any time soon  ::)

Kelsey

It doesn't matter that much anyway - their patent expires at the end of this year and that will be that. The funny thing is, that when I was drinking Nespresso I looked forward to that day, thinking that I would then be able to pick and choose and have a superior coffee. The reality is that Nespresso's invested a lot of time into making their pod coffee taste reasonable and appear fresh when brewed - I wonder how many people will start using 3rd party 'boutique' pods or el-cheapos only to find the coffee is actually worse?

Brett H

on 1319423039:

It doesn't matter that much anyway - their patent expires at the end of this year and that will be that. The funny thing is, that when I was drinking Nespresso I looked forward to that day, thinking that I would then be able to pick and choose and have a superior coffee. The reality is that Nespresso's invested a lot of time into making their pod coffee taste reasonable and appear fresh when brewed - I wonder how many people will start using 3rd party 'boutique' pods or el-cheapos only to find the coffee is actually worse?

I'm hoping to buy some of MyCuppa's pods for an engineering mate for Christmas so he can see how good the others can be!

Kelsey

Well I guess I'll be interested too! Most of my family now has Nespresso - I'd like to be able to at least try to improve things when I stay over... :D

mycuppa

The number of people who call me every week looking for a solution to their POD/capsule/nespresso situation - I reckon I get about 25 calls a week asking for help..........along the lines of..... caller: "I have this nespresso machine but I want to use your PODS - will it work ?" me:  sorry - you are locked into their system. The other type of caller I get are person's of secretive intent.......seeking to re-fill used capsule or their own capsules. caller: "I need some coffee ground suitable for use in Nespresso POD/capsule" me: sorry, you are on your own.........I can't help you.

Brett H

I'm kinda glad in a way that the Nexpresso fraternity can suffer in their jocks!  Why do they buy the thing and then look for something better/more cost effective?  Do the research baby!  Nexpresso is mediocre bang for premium buck!

Dry_bean.

In another forum I frequent the guys are jumping up and down about this machine http://www.keurig.com/brewers/platinum-brewing-system I've never seen or heard of them, anyone?

Dry_bean.

Looks like the Keurig is indeed another pod device. Here's a link to their pod selection http://www.keurig.com/shop/k-cups/k-cup-coffee Some of the flavours are interesting, butter toffee, hazelnut and blueberry to name a few. They refer to their pods as K cups and apparently refillable cups are available. 

FreshCoffee2

Not wishing to labour the point but having just returned from HOST.......there is a flood (read FLOOD) of cheap pod machines hitting the market. Everything we tasted at HOST was unsuitable for the small number of "high end" Australian coffee market consumers, and of course that is not to say that someone wont put good coffee into a pod somewhere some time. But after its packaged and left in storage until sold,  it will still not be "good" coffee when consumed. The low cost of purchase will probably however, grow the office coffee pod market regardless of the real quality of the brewed end result. My concern in this day and age is.......what do you do with the spent pods....they dont break down do they??????????? I asked that question at HOST but couldnt find anyone connected with the pod industry that seemed to think it is an issue.  Paper pods are now out, and plastic pods are in. Rgdz, Attilio very first Crema Site Sponsor 

Dry_bean.

Keurig do seem to be addressing the issue Attilio, see my previous post. "They refer to their pods as K cups and apparently refillable cups are available."

Kelsey

Also, while manufacturers may not be willing to invest in the process and the cost/benefit ratio might not be there just yet, there are now beginning to be ways to recycle just about any plastic: http://www.ted.com/talks/mike_biddle.html

Brett H

on 1320797337:

My concern in this day and age is.......what do you do with the spent pods....they dont break down do they??????????? I asked that question at HOST but couldnt find anyone connected with the pod industry that seemed to think it is an issue.  Paper pods are now out, and plastic pods are in. Rgdz, Attilio very first Crema Site Sponsor

Exactly!  I remember seeing a Nexpresso demo and the 'Barista' was trying at the end of the session to stuff a shopping bag full of spent pods into the supermarket courtesy bins.  What a worry!

beanflying

Bump sort of. Ran across these being sold be Di Bella openly as Nespresso compatible. Still not buying them

mycuppa

We looked into it, but the very real risk of massive litigation as per what took place in Europe with Nestle almost shutting down D.E. was enough of a deterrent to give it a wide berth until a legal precedent is established.

beanflying

Yep it has the possibility to get interesting. Phil is big enough to make them think twice at least  ??? As I mentioned earlier if you change the package outer to a degree and unless they have patented or copyrighted the dimensions and providing you don't mention compatible with brand N then it should be fine. A straight up clone package would be different as your then copying an item.

mycuppa

I hear........there are something like 127 different patents covering this system, including shape, size, etc. D.E. are at least 10 times bigger than DiBella and they managed to back down. Having working in IT for 20+ years, managed to see some interesting patent law and basically this is generally designed as a stalling and distraction along with costing many $M in legals. Most cases can take a lot of years to work through. I wish anyone willing to take it on the best of luck......

FreshCoffee2

as far as I knew the patents have lapsed which is why everyone is now starting to get in on the act. watch the flood of hard pod machines hit the market, watch the prices of pods adjust downwards, watch the miriad of importers of small cheap thermoblock pod machines and resellers (of pod coffee) race to visit every single office in the country, already started, the promise of a free coffee machine if you buy their pods yarthe yarthe yarthe. It means there is an extra step in the progression between instant coffee offices and "real coffee" offices, as opened up by the impending pod invasion. In fact, it could be looked upon as taking market share directly off instant coffee market, and to not be a "threat" to real coffee bean market. The secondary benefit over time will be that some proportion of the new market opened up by pod machines will eventually go to more upmarket or "real" coffee machines, grinders and "real" coffee beans. Sing to the tune of...." and the beat goes on.......the beat goes on....drums keep poundin a rhythm to the brain...." Rgdz, A.

Brett H

on 1323741542:

as far as I knew the patents have lapsed which is why everyone is now starting to get in on the act. watch the flood of hard pod machines hit the market, watch the prices of pods adjust downwards, watch the miriad of importers of small cheap thermoblock pod machines and resellers (of pod coffee) race to visit every single office in the country, already started, the promise of a free coffee machine if you buy their pods yarthe yarthe yarthe. It means there is an extra step in the progression between instant coffee offices and "real coffee" offices, as opened up by the impending pod invasion. In fact, it could be looked upon as taking market share directly off instant coffee market, and to not be a "threat" to real coffee bean market. The secondary benefit over time will be that some proportion of the new market opened up by pod machines will eventually go to more upmarket or "real" coffee machines, grinders and "real" coffee beans. Sing to the tune of...." and the beat goes on.......the beat goes on....drums keep poundin a rhythm to the brain...." Rgdz, A.

Exactly what I have witnessed close firends associates doing: the pod/crappy machine (one particular friend's words) for work and the good machine (HX & Grinder) for home and leisure.  I still prefer fresh beans, lux grinder and plunger for work but marvel at the number of people trading up from instant.

beanflying

Well it had to happen eventually "Nespresso compatible Pods" are ruled OK to be sold as such in a German Court. Take that Nestle  :pan At least there may be a little more perceived protection for Australian companies selling the reusable ones from having their butts sued by Nestle  ::) http://globalcoffeereview.com/news/article/nestle-loses-coffee-capsule-battle-in-germany

admin

went past the Nespresso shop in Adelaide today - it was packed... just shows schmick marketing beats quality coffee every time! A :'(

Lwowiak

The stores look fantastic. Retail at its finest. Highlights the importance of image when it comes to food and beverages.

Brett H

on 1345620397:

went past the Nespresso shop in Adelaide today - it was packed... just shows schmick marketing beats quality coffee every time! A :'(

And

on 1345623045:

The stores look fantastic. Retail at its finest. Highlights the importance of image when it comes to food and beverages.

I just shake my head every time a mate of mine regales me of his latest Nexpresso paraphernalia acquisition, then reminds me that the coffee isn't great!  :tearhair:  I don't care how long the pale Crema on top lasts, it till tastes burned and stale to me.

admin

latest on the legal side of this... http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-03/nespresso-to-face-competition-on-machines-from-ethical-coffee.html What's also interesting is that the guy who's running the competitor [Ethical Coffee] used to run Nespresso, between 1988 and 1997  ???

Brett H

10 x 7g Kona pods just set my mate back $30!  I hope they are worth it... ???

madpierre

Hopefully not too OT...going through the supermarket yesterday with the 'testing/tasting' counter had set up a pod machine and milk foamer. Machine at $79.00 and foamer (a glorified milk heater/bubble infuser) at $20, offering either a mild, medium or strong coffee.  You had a choice of Gloria Denim Pants branded or the other 'Select"ion  ;D , with the Gl offering a Nicaraguan Single Origin.  I figured it would be worth seeing how they compared to my usual, and chose the Nicaraguan.  To put it bluntly, it was bloody disgusting. It compared favourably to a body-less and bitter under extracted  effort from anywhere you would expect to get such a coffee. So even the method used to make this swill was no better than that used in any of the aforementioned purveyors of poor coffee. I offered my wife a taste as well and the look I got could be almost banned by the Geneva Convention. I don't think even sugar would have made any difference.