iPod, meet coffee pod.
Unlike standard coffee makers and espresso machines, pod-style systems like Senseo, Tassimo and Nespresso use single use pods or packs to make their brew. The advantage of these machines are supposed to be: ease, the ability to make different flavors and styles for different folks, and the foam.
We're wondering if you've tried pod-style coffee systems. What do you think?
I've tried Senseo (on Amazon.com Friday Sale for $55.99) and a Nespresso machine ($399, Amazon.com).
I found the flavor of coffee from Senseo to be average, but the coffee was not hot enough. My last few sips were always cold. The body of the Medium Roast Senseo coffee that came with the machine had a mouthfeel more like tea. Also, as Bloggle explains here, the Senseo foam is strange, more similar to dish soap suds than cappuccino. Turns out, that foam is not true crema.
While the Senseo is a bit easier to operate, the far more expensive Nespresso system produces much better coffee and espresso. The crema from the Nespresso system tastes like the real thing and the drinks come out truly hot.
When pod machines first came on the market, fair trade coffee was not always available in pods. SingleServeCoffee.com explains that this is changing, but still keep in mind that your favorite coffee might not be available in pod form. Though some people have created hacks to re-use or create DIY pods, when used according to manufacturer's instructions, these systems create more garbage than my Mr. Coffee.
If you'd like to try a pod-based machine, Ruth in downtown Manhattan has a Bodum Granos for sale through our Kitchen Classifieds. "Great design," she says. This Bodum is one of the best looking single-serve coffee machines around.
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I had a senseo briefly. It leaked constantly, and the coffee wasn't strong enough for me. I used it for about a week before I went out for a standard Mr. Coffee coffeemaker that I could make super strong coffee in.
I'm a luddite when it comes to coffee equipment (as may be demonstrated here sometime soon . . .)
BUT, let me just relate that a friend of mine who uses one of these pod coffee makers tells me the big issue is the quality of coffee pods available here in the US, and she uses a web site to have pods shipped from Europe, claims they produce a much tastier brew. Here's a link reviewing one source:
http://www.singleservecoffee.com/archives/006940.php
(And yes, NOT a luddite when it comes to the web!)
I love my Senseo like a brother. Never had a problem with it, always happy with the coffee it makes.
However, I think Douwe Egberts (the maker of the Senseo brand pods) really dialed down its coffee for American taste, because the DE in Holland is MUCH stronger. FreshDirect makes fair trade coffee pods of an extremely dark and rich roast that I especially like.
I love my Senseo so much more than I thought I would. I always heat up my milk before brewing the coffee, and it stays much hotter.
I just noticed (as I made the morning's coffee with DE and this afternoon's with the FreshDirect) the foam a Senseo make varies greatly with which coffee pods you use.
The DE does make a very light, bubbly foam and the FreshDirect [which is Mesa De Los Santos Organic Colombian: http://tinyurl.com/tynm5] makes a much denser foam. If the DE is like soap suds, this is more like... shaving foam.
I've tried the Nespresso machine. It is easy, especially compared to brewing an espresso with a semi-automatic machine. But the espresso from the Nespresso doesn't compare to that from a 'real' machine. The crema is there, in my experience, but the flavor is not as developed and the inherent sweetness of a good espresso is absent. I wouldn't trade in my semi-automatic Solis for a Nespresso, despite how neat the Nespresso looks and how (relatively) clunky my Solis is.
That said, if you are looking for something that somewhat simulates what a real espresso can be, the Nespresso isn't a bad choice. Don't get me wrong--I'm not trying to be condescending here. The Nespresso does not make real espresso, but it's fast, easy, and requires no work. Sometimes that's nice, compared to the time it takes to grind beans, fill a portafilter, tamp, knock, tamp, load, and pull a shot...
i used to have coffee at my friend's house almost everyday because her nespresso coffee was the perfect cup. but at the price i stick to my trusty coffee press.
I have the Nespresso and I adore it. When I want my 7AM espresso, or 8 cafe lattes for guests after a dinner party, the last thing I want to do is grind, tamp, etc. (actually, I don't think I am even physically capable of pulling a decent espresso at 7AM with ANY machine). I honestly do not think I am sacrificing anything in terms of aroma, taste, or crema with my fool-proof Nespresso. Mmmmm.