You probably already know that Nespresso is a hugely successful brand of coffee machines and coffee pods, that it’s owned by Nestle and that they use big name celebrities like George Clooney to promote it. But even the biggest of die-hard Nespresso fans may not know everything about the coffee pods that they heavily consume.
The journey from bean to pod
You may be curious as to how Nespresso creates such great tasting coffee pods. The journey of your coffee pod begins by harvesting most of the beans by hand from regions all over the world. There is plenty of taste checks at origin before the beans are packed and shipped. This taste testing ensures that only the finest, cleanest coffee moves on to the next destination.
Once the beans have arrived, beans from complementing origins are selected to be blended. All the beans that are used are either Arabica or Robusta. Arabica has a sweeter, softer taste and you will usually find fruity tones, while Robusta adds body, texture and nuttiness and has a higher caffeine content.
From here, the roasting and grinding of the beans occurs to release the full flavour of the blends. Each coffee requires special roasting techniques which are tailored to create individual finishes and flavours.
After grinding, the final stage is the encapsulation of the pods. The coffee is packed into an aluminium capsule to protect the ground coffee from contact with the air, light and moisture. The encapsulation method that Nespresso use is guaranteed to keep the freshness, flavour and aroma of the coffee for up to one year.
Different types of Nespresso Pods
The most commonly used Nespresso pod design is called a ‘Grands Crus’ and these pods are split into six ranges which include:
Espresso – a short coffee that most people are used to drinking. There is a good variety in this range, and most are from blended origins.
Intenso – contains some of the fuller flavoured and more intense pods and are also typically blended in their origins.
Master Origin – pods in this range have their beans sourced from one location and are very specific to where the capsules originate from and have a unique taste.
Lungo – designed from coffee where a large volume of water is added to the coffee. These pods bring out more complex flavours with subtler tastes without detracting from overall intensity as some are still strong.
Decaffeinato – some of the coffees from other categories but with the naturally occurring caffeine taken out. These are ideal for those who don’t react well with caffeine but still enjoy the taste of coffee.
Barista Creations – typically with the Espresso capsule, but with additional flavours blended through to give your coffee a little kick
You will also find limited edition Nespresso pods from time to time. These pods can be dedicated to holidays, countries etc.
What’s so great about Nespresso Pods?
The best thing about Nespresso pods is that is provides a simple and convenient way to enjoy good quality coffee at a fraction of the price of barista made coffee. It’s as easy as dropping the capsule into your machine, selecting your drink type and pressing a button. As the pods have been measured with the perfect amount of ground coffee, this also means there is no wastage and a consistent espresso extraction every time. Lastly, they provide a recycling system where you can return your used pods to a store or collection point.
Is there any difference between Nespresso Pods and Instant Coffee?
A big jump up from instant coffee, Nespresso coffee pods give coffee lovers a quick and convenient way to get their caffeine fix any time of the day. It’s ‘real’ coffee in that it consists of real coffee beans that have been sealed and packaged immediately after grinding and roasting, which is when coffee is at its freshest. In comparison to the opened and neglected bag of moist, oxidised coffee beans stuffed at the back of your pantry, coffee pods are definitely the fresher choice and the preferred option for coffee lovers.
In saying that, there is no way of coffee pods being fresher than barista made coffee. But with the rising demand for convenient options for everyday items, preservation techniques, quality control and flavour developments for coffee pods are also rising. If you are after the closest thing to the quality of barista coffee, then coffee pods are your best bet.
What are some alternative compatible pods?
Whether you are looking for something cheaper, more environmentally friendly, a different range of flavours, or you just want to see how other brands compare, there are plenty of brands that offer compatible pods with Nespresso Original Line machines. Please note that if you own a Vertuo machine, you won’t be able to find a compatible brand as these pods are especially designed with a barcode that only Nespresso can produce.
We have found this Nespresso pod compatible brand that has an awesome range of pods that are sure to turn your Nespresso machine into something more fun. These pods include Baileys Irish Cream infused, guarana infused, hot chocolate infusions, as well as your standard range of coffee with different intensities. There would be plenty more compatible brands out there, but Express Pods is definitely a great place to start, plus they are also biodegradable so you can feel less guilty about your coffee pod use!