Pods on a relentless rise?

admin

this could get interesting... http://wheresthesausage.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/12/espresso-wars-starbucks-takes-on-nespresso-.html 'battle of the [retail] titan' - type stuff :o

Kelsey

The milk pod bit is interesting. As with pods in general, consumers are being told they're getting fresh coffee (not you, the drink) while we know that's just marketing speak that ignores the nuance of taste we're after. They do believe they're getting a premium coffee experience. I suspect the milk pod will be the same story. In itself a foul little capsule of UHT, in the hands of Starbucks marketing it's the perfect recipe for a latte.

Brett_H

Kelsey wrote:

The milk pod bit is interesting. As with pods in general, consumers are being told they're getting fresh coffee (not you, the drink) while we know that's just marketing speak that ignores the nuance of taste we're after. They do believe they're getting a premium coffee experience. I suspect the milk pod will be the same story. In itself a foul little capsule of UHT, in the hands of Starbucks marketing it's the perfect recipe for a latte.

But it's not UHT... It's powdered! Sickly sweet floury powder. Premium product my podhole!

Kelsey

Doesn't matter - they'll still pitch it as a premium marvel of technology that allows Charbucks quality instantly in the home. And consumers will believe it, even to the disagreement of their senses.

mycuppa

Perhaps in other parts of the world, but I doubt here. It has been well reported in the press over many years now that SB's have been essentially unsuccessful in the Australian market, compared to their other country investments. In other words, the model does not seem to work here the same as it does in the US and emerging Asian markets. Witness the de-investments over the last 24 months. One of my customers picked up a 4-group Linea that was specially mod'd for SB - he got it for a song in the close-down sale. I've watched it closely over the years and it's fair to say their brand value in Oz is marginal at best and it's basically only tourists and the mildly curious impressionable teens emulating their US idols that seem to be the primary support of their local Oz business.

askthecoffeeguy

I had a pod espresso at a big name brand store yesterday and it was a perfectly acceptable coffee - stopped the pour short myself and if anything it was slightly sour but not bitter and for share convenience factor I was happy to slam it down and then continue on my merry way - still had to drive across town so the late afternoon caffeine hit certainly came at a good time Was it as good as I can make or of the calibre that I'm used to? No, definitely not Was it quite serviceable and better than a lot of espresso coffees that I've tried at various Cafes? Definitely yes!

zane

I used to work with a guy who graded for the FNC & he assured me that the quality of coffee that goes into a big name pod maker's product is really pretty good, though it is pre-ground and at $0.55 for a 4 gram ($137.50/Kg!) serve may not represent best value for the consumer. (though one wonders how 21grams a serve represents value at the other end of the scale, except in machismo and preference, though it would probably be freshly ground & of a known roast date at least) however if used in an environment where no one is capable of producing a passable shot or inclined to clean a machine (read -cares about coffee) , and ease + convenience is at a premium over the taste of the caffeinated beverage, pods seem to be a viable option, more so if the coffee that goes into the pod is, (at least was), actually decent. I shudder to admit, the local preschool recently proposed getting a pod machine & I had to agree that (for them) it was probably the most hassle free, non instant, way to provide beverages for their staff and maintain a clean quiet environment (seeing no-one would actually use a drip, aeropress, plunger or the like) 🙁

UNM

zane wrote:

I used to work with a guy who graded for the FNC & he assured me that the quality of coffee that goes into a big name pod maker's product is really pretty good, though it is pre-ground and at $0.55 for a 4 gram ($137.50/Kg!) serve may not represent best value for the consumer.

I am pretty certain we have a sponsor that roasts for coffee pods. Honestly, cost is not a huge issue especially for staff whose employer picks up the bill. that being said, at $15 for 250 gram of decent coffee (not an unreasonable amount) and 20 gram per shot allowing some wastage, that is $1.20 per coffee. Even if only 10 grams per shot, we are still talking $0.60 per hit. How long before that espresso machine pays for itself against pods? Ah yes - never! I still reckon most pod machines will be rarely (if ever) used. Like most unnecessary appliances they will quickly be relegated to the cupboard only to turn up at garage sales in ten years time. Money better saved or spent in other ways. If we don't learn from our mistakes (anyone want a fondue set, waffle maker, automatic egg boiler, slow cooker,...?) we are cursed to repeat them.

Dry_bean

FWIW, this in the Advertiser this morning http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/free-taste-test-of-pod-coffee-on-offer-around-adelaide-glenelg-and-norwood/story-e6frea83-1226542742682 have never tried pod coffee so cant comment. Those of you who have may care to. 🙂

mycuppa

As I have noted previously, it is unfair and incorrect to compare per serve costs between bulk espresso beans and portion control. Of course, consumers are wired to think this way. Despite all the theories about global conglomerates making obscene profits on pods, people fail to understand the cost of conversion exceeds the bean costs, so when added they are obviously more expensive, but the portion control format has the benefits of convenience built into the price. Compare a 10kilo bag of mulch from the garden supplies to a few cubic meters dumped on your front nature strip.

zane

Mycuppa's coffee cost less than half of your estimate UNM, including delivery, so the ten gram shot would be less than 30c for a non equivalent product, & that's what I mean, to some, a serve is a serve, but some prefer a fresher product, better taste, perceived quality, what have you... ... clearly a great many people just want a serve of caffeine that is above their personal threshold for qualitative discrimination, and so pods will continue to do well. I'd have loved to recommend nice fresh roasted coffee for the local preschool, but they have other things to think about (a good thing) & so in the value spectrum, for them, pod coffee is not at all unreasonable. I realise that there are other costs that go into a pod other than the raw material & that convenience makes up for a lot in the equation and so "it is unfair and incorrect to compare per serve costs between bulk espresso beans and portion control", however, it still seems a lot to pay for (potentially) stale pre-ground, convenience to me (even if gas flushed & individually packaged). besides some of us like the noisy messy aromatic ritual 😉

mycuppa

This is not directed at individuals but as a whole. Information, commentary and opinions on pods are largely only ever partially correct ( or partially wrong) as most treat the pod market as a single entity or structure Alas, you cannot address pods as simply as calling every single serve portion control a "pod". There are numerous formats and varying standards being open or proprietary. Some are capsules and others are pods. Word semantics at play. What I wish for Xmas is for people to SEPERATE the issues of proprietary formats from open formats as they are materially different. You see, those of us using our very best high grade coffees in our open standard fresh roasted ESE pods tend to get tarred with the same brush as the global evil empires creating lockin strategies maximizing margins on single serve portion control with unknown freshness attributes. Pod discussions, like everrything else deserve context.