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POD's Yes or NO ?

SystemSystem
edited January 1970 in Other Brewing Methods
I keep getting asked about POD's as it seems they are fast becoming the machine of choice for Mr and Mrs Public?


A short rant and others will be sure to have their views...



Some are better than others...


The Nespresso commercial machines are good but use a slightly different pod type.  The generic types can be OK... CAN BE !!!! 


The usual trick is to get quality pods just like other methods; it comes back to the beans and grind and freshness.


The grind in these pods are almost to a Turkish fineness


The DiBella Pods are top quality and if you buy the right grind from hiim, you can repack teh pods and get upto 5 goes on teh one podl. I think he includes the new tops with his pods...  He has info on his web site. 


But if you grind your self, then you need a expensive grinder to give teh almost Turkish fineness at a consistant quality. 


If you want milk; then unless a Commercial nespresso machine or a high end machine; then you have to buy a separate milk machine.  Maintenance of the lines and moving teh milk container in and out of teh fridge as you need it...


Pros = clean and quick and can be great if you like SB


Cons = you can't tweak teh machine, milk is a hassle and if doing your own pods; you need a expensive grinder and could be a bit of a fiddle. re consistency = tamping / dosing


Outcome:


If your going to play and grind your own, spend a bit more and grab a traditional machine and enjoy the whole experience.

Tis my take on what I have seen and experienced, but every one has their own take and what suits one may not suit another.



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Comments

  • KelseyKelsey
    We've had this discussion in person, AM, but my own feeling on pods is less harsh than others. Even Nespresso, thin as it is, has a few advantages over our collective OCD over coffee. In the end, it comes down to lifestyle: When I was in Sydney and extremely busy, I didn't have time to obsess over god shots as I do now. The cafes close by produced coffee about equal in quality to Nespresso. The Nespresso system is fast, simple and completely mess-free. And that's where it suits most domestic users far better than the processes we subject ourselves to. Because in reality, we're not just drinking coffee. At the very least, it's a hobby for us, a passion. So we can judge Nespresso objectively on things like taste and mouthfeel and body.... and it will always come up short compared to what we brew for ourselves. No argument there. But if we do that, we're missing the point - those aren't the criteria that most people are judging by. They might serious appreciate a good cup of coffee, but their priorities simply don't run to thousands of dollars worth of equipment and uncounted hours of time spent in the pursuit of it. It's like the guy next door - for fifteen months now I've watched him build a boat from scratch. He'd already done the hull when we moved in. He's still plugging away at it. It will be a very nice boat once it's done, about the size of a little runabout/ski boat. I'm sure that it'll have a whole host of special features that mass-produced boats can only dream of. It'll look amazing on the water. But personally, if I want to get on the water I'd buy a dinghy and an outboard and be done with it. It's all about priorities.
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  • mycuppamycuppa
    As a supplier of premium grade ESE pods, we have some experience in POD technologies. I also receive numerous inquiries EVERY DAY from people with Nespresso or other proprietary systems such as Senseo, etc. looking for alternative pod/capsule supply as they have become unhappy with the limited range, restricted supply vendors and mediocre results. It's fit for purpose and humans will continue to make the wrong choices at times, however, a few things need to be called out. Nespresso systems are domestic, not commercial. The categories are different - when you mention commercial you need to consider the asset being used hard every day, e.g. like a cafe espresso machine. There are commercial grade ESE POD systems that are built stronger than espresso machines. Nespresso is an appliance that is not designed for continuous use day in, day out, or to be sitting on a cafe bench serving coffees for sale. Nespresso and other closed systems are designed for LOCK IN. Yes, the emergence of alternative suppliers is starting to trickle at a very slow pace, but you can bet your last $$ Nestle have a Rev 2 or 3 model in the pipeline to change the game by even just a slight method and keep ahead of the market for another 12+ months. It's simple, they can change it and they will because just like inkjet and laser printer companies they make their money from the consumables. ESE are a compelling and viable alternative to the capsule/closed pod system - it's just that locally both Sunbeam and Breville have lost the plot over the last few years by sitting on their hands thinking there is life in the tail end of the espresso machine market. Yes, they have achieved their espresso goals, but there will be a gap as they did'nt fully read the market lifecycle successfully - espresso has life, but the real growth is in conversion of instant drinkers. Breville and Sunbeam are leaving their run a bit late - it's likely they may have some in design and prototype stage, but they failed to fully grasp the value proposition of the open ESE standard and more specifically the 10g opportunity. Some of their machines come with 7g ESE baskets, but little is done to promote the benefits. We put our absolute best arabica in our POD blend. It's a superb coffee and whilst somewhat hamstrung with majority 7g dispensers attempting to fill large office bucket mugs, when the market starts to see more 10g dispensers, the snobbish ill-informed POD bashing brigade may have to find another pinata to whack. Most of the detractors have no idea of both the quality and freshness aspects in some of the locally produced ESE PODS and just recycle what they have read elsewhere. History tells us that closed systems always eventually end in tears and it's why an open system like ESE deserves much better understanding through informed marketing messages.
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  • KelseyKelsey
    on 1326248546:
    We put our absolute best arabica in our POD blend. It's a superb coffee and whilst somewhat hamstrung with majority 7g dispensers attempting to fill large office bucket mugs, when the market starts to see more 10g dispensers, the snobbish ill-informed POD bashing brigade may have to find another pinata to whack. Most of the detractors have no idea of both the quality and freshness aspects in some of the locally produced ESE PODS and just recycle what they have read elsewhere.
    I've never had the ESE PODS, so I can't comment on them. Nor have I had a refilled Nespresso, just the standard pre-filled pods. I'd be interested to try both for comparison. I've still got the Nespresso machine floating around here too. The other point to be made (which I also made on CS) is that our goal isn't necessarily the resultant cup of coffee. Part of my enjoyment of my morning (and mid-morning and midday and mid-afternoon) brew is the ritual, the zen-like calm that descends when repeating a process that's enjoyed for its own sake.
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  • Espresso StoreEspresso Store
    Hey I had a POD demo in the "good guys" dept store from a nespresso Rep -- Thoughts: Great for the average Aussie who doe's not have a developed palate & likes the average weak coffee (which is most of the population living in the gold cost) clean, easy to use & not alot of factors involved - I would assume quite consistent. I had the strongest POD in the nespresso range & found it to be quite dull & weak - I love the fact with a average espresso machine you can tweek & get a decent well rounded coffee. Verdict: PODs are convenient, easy to use & I think I Beats Instant Coffee! :)
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  • RichardMRichardM
    I don't understand pods. If people are just after "better than instant", then just buy those coffee bags.
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  • Espresso StoreEspresso Store
    on 1326882500:
    But did you let it run as per the machine or pull it short. I find that if pulled short, some can be quite OK and the odd one has been worthy of being an espresso. But pulled short and a little milk as a piccolo can be OK...  And with home packed pods I have had many a better coffee than from a large number of caf
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  • Brett HBrett H
    on 1327717722:
    I tried a few different Pods & found them to be quite weak & watery.. even with the strongest blends. It may be Nesspresso Its self though.. & I would be keen to try Di Bella Pods, so I could have a more accurate opinion. The Demonstrator made us coffee - so It ran as per the machine, the machine was near the high end of the Pod machine range & retailed around 650 AUD I would say it would a good Pod shot would be on par with the average cafe in the Gold Coast (not the best coffee scene) but hey a professional barista @ a high end cafe or making a coffee for myself at home beats Pods any day..  :)
    I would have to agree with you.... it pains me that so many cafes are so average and get away with serving muck.  I've not spent great amounts of time on the GC but enough to know that good coffee is a rarity... especially late at night after performances!  I've tried the Di Bella pods and yes they are better but still no substitute for a reasonable shot of espresso.  I like RichardM's response even if coffee bags have a component of instant in them... allegedly...
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