Before Millstone Coffee Pods, the Millstone Coffee Company made their business shipping whole coffee beans to supermarkets.  This was a fairly new idea, one that Millstone pioneered in 1981 when it was first started in Everett, Washington.  The Millstone name has seen quite a number of owners, though, considering its relative youth.  Proctor and Gamble purchased the majority of the company in 1996.  In 2008, they spun both the Millstone and the Folgers name off into its own company, named The Folgers Coffee Company.  Later that same year, The J.M. Smucker Company merged with The Folgers Coffee Company.  One can assume that there was probably some sort of tax manipulation there since companies of this size rarely move that quickly for much of anything.

Luckily for the Millstone label, The J.M. Smucker Company sees Millstone Coffee Pods as their premier coffee, so quality has not suffered.

When shopping for Millstone Coffee Pods, be aware that there is relatively little variety within the label.  There are only 32 different flavors, including decaf coffee pods, so, if you’re looking for something unique, you might need to look elsewhere.  They do not make teas or ESE coffee pods.  However, if you’re looking for the best version of the tried and true blends, then Millstone Coffee Pods just might be what you’re looking for.

Since they sport the Home Cafe Coffee Pods name, you can bet that they’ll fit just about any pod coffee maker that takes regular coffee pods.  They’re often compared, quite favorably, to Senseo coffee pods as they apparently fit quite well in those machines, too.  Even the Keurig crowd uses Millstone Coffee Pods with pod adapters.  You’d be hard pressed to find a significant number of people that don’t like the flavor of Millstone Coffee Pods, too.

Can’t find Millstone Coffee Pods in your local grocery store?  That’s not surprising.  Since the same company owns Folgers, they’re pretty selective about where they place Millstone.  After all, what’s the point in competing with yourself?  Still, it’s fairly easy to find Millstone Coffee Pods online, and the coffee pod was practically made for shipping.

Some purists may argue that espresso made using ESE coffee pods is not real espresso, but that’s just not the case.  Espresso is really a way of brewing the coffee.  It has precious little to do with the coffee grinds themselves.  In fact, there are products out there, intended for use in coffee pod machines, that are not ESE but are still labeled espresso.  Those are the ones to watch out for because they are basically nothing more than a slightly stronger brew of coffee.

Be aware that your particular coffee pod machine may or may not be able to use ESE coffee pods.  Some of the espresso coffee pods will tell you on their packaging which machines they do and don’t work with but, past that, you’re sort of on your own in figuring that out.  You might want to do some research on your particular pod coffee maker to be sure that it will work with whichever ESE coffee pods you’re considering.  If you find any espresso coffee pods that do not work with any pod coffee makers, but are not labeled as such, feel free to comment back here so that others know to not bother.

In a cruel twist of irony, those who have espresso machines can almost universally use ESE coffee pods.  All they need is an adapter.  The problem with your average coffee pod brewer is that, regardless of the coffee pod or how it’s mounted, there simply isn’t enough water pressure, which is vital in the making of espresso.

There is currently no way to make espresso with Tassimo T-Discs or a K-Cup brewer.  There are some brews that are labeled as espresso, but they won’t give you the thick consistency, although I’m sure the Tassimo T-Discs will do a pretty good job with the crema.  The crema, if you didn’t know, is the frothy stuff that sits on top of espresso.

Of the various coffee pod producers I have reviewed so far, few of them produce ESE coffee pods.  For instance, there are no ESE Melitta Coffee Pods, nor are there ESE Green Mountain Coffee Pods.  In fact, the vast majority of ESE Coffee Pods are produced by companies that seem to focus solely on single-serve espresso.

Have you tried Green Mountain Coffees, and are hellbent on making Green Mountain Coffee Pods?  Well, you could always make your own coffee pods.  There’s various guides all over the net on how to do it, although the basic idea is to get a small filter, wrap some loose coffee in it, and stuff it in a pod coffee maker.  As Green Mountain actually purchased Keurig, the maker of K-Cups and K-Cup machines, a few years ago, it’s safe to say that making your own is the only way you’re likely to get Green Mountain Coffee Pods.

Green Mountain is mostly famous for their enormous variety of specialty coffees.  Their “Our Blend”, which is their version of a house blend, could be the best coffee in the universe, but they still never would’ve made it out of Vermont without the specialty coffee niche.  Not with the likes of Folgers and other coffee leviathans out there.  If you check out some reviews, though, it’s pretty surprising just how well pretty much all of Green Mountain’s 100+ coffee varieties rate.

If you’re looking to be able to make complicated brews like you would get at a coffee shop, only at home, and easily, then you should definitely take a look at Tassimo T-Discs.  If you’re a coffee purist that just wants their caffeine buzz, then look elsewhere, because there’s no point in paying for a Tassimo coffee maker if you’re not going to take advantage of all it has to offer.  there are lots of other coffee pods and pod coffee makers out there that will do what you want for a whole lot less.

If you’re looking for Tassimo products, keep in mind that they are made by Bosch.  The Tassimo coffee makers are pretty pricey, but if you consider what they’re capable of doing, it’s worth it.  They get great reviews too, and seem to be at least fairly durable, which is definitely something to look closely at when buying a product like this where there’s only one manufacturer.

Oh, and get this: Tassimo T-Discs have barcodes on them that the brewer will read, and therefore know what it’s brewing.  No programming or anything.  How cool is that?

Crap, now I want one.

Senseo Coffee Pods

Senseo coffee pods are made exclusively for the Senseo coffee pod machine.  This gives Senseo the ability to make their pods, as well as their machines, to work extremely well with each other by not having to worry about other brands of makers and pods.  They seem to be the most popular coffee pods by a rather large margin.

Melitta Coffee Pods (Often misspelled as Melita Coffee Pods)

Melitta coffee pods come in right behind Senseo in popularity, and also have the distinction of not tripping my spell check.  Apparently Melitta is an English word, but Senseo is not.  Anyway, Melitta coffee pods are like Senseo in that they make their own coffee pod brewers and pods, but they don’t claim to be exclusive to one another.

The packaging of Senseo coffee pods are made in a special way to ensure quality and freshness with every cup. Why bother with coffee pods at all if you’re not going to do everything you can to be sure you get the best cup of coffee every time? Their packaging, which is made of plastic along with a very thin layer of aluminum, provides an excellent barrier against oxygen. This keeps your Senseo coffee pods fresh, as oxygen will have the coffee grounds themselves stale before the coffee pod ever makes it to your pod coffee maker, resulting in an inferior cup of coffee. But this is only one of the many differences between Senseo coffee pods and the others that will fit your pod coffee maker.

To remove the oxygen from the coffee pods before they are completely sealed, Senseo packs them under nitrogen to remove the oxygen. This process occurs in a protective atmosphere, so that the experts at Senseo can be sure that no contaminants enter the process. This packing technique is the result of much technology and research, and is yet another example of how Senseo coffee pods should be the only thing you put in your pod coffee maker. Nitrogen, by the way, is completely safe to humans as it is a major component in the air we breathe every day.

In case you get the urge for something sweet, there are even Senseo coffee pods which come in chocolate flavors so that you can use your pod coffee maker for something other than your daily buzz. Senseo Vienna, Godiva Chocolate Crème and Café Noir are the three that Senseo currently offers on their website, but future releases are always a possibility.

Since folks at Senseo have created their pod coffee brewer specifically for the Senseo coffee pods, wouldn’t that be the only right way to go?   If you have a Senseo coffee pod machine, it just makes sense to use Senseo pods.

Coffee pods are basically packages of coffee that are pre-packaged with their own filter. Although coffee pods are very convenient, they can only be used with certain types of coffee makers. To use coffee pods, one has to own a coffee maker that is designed specifically for coffee pods. Unfortunately this convenience is unavailable to those of us with normal, cheapo coffee makers. To use coffee pods, you’ll need to obtain a type of coffee maker known as a coffee pod brewer. There are quite a few to chose from, and not all are compatible with all types of pods, so there is some confusion as to which pods and which brewers to use.

All coffee pods are single serve, single cup, and are only intended to be used in a coffee pod machine.

Fortunately, however, coffee pods are sort of an open format. Although they require special pieces of equipment to brew, pretty much any company can make and sell coffee pods, which means there is a very wide variety of coffee pods available to purchase once you have obtained your coffee pod brewer. Coffee pods are available for as little as $5, though some of the more premium pods sell for over $30. As with everything, it’s really up to you how much you want to spend and if you taste a flavor difference between them. If you, personally, don’t notice a difference between the cheapest and the most expensive, then there’s obviously no reason to waste the extra money.

Coffee pod brewers range from $10 to well over $400 for personal one cup brewers, and upwards of $1100 for commercial grade brewers. They can be purchased from most regular department stores, as well as online. As with most things, if you have the patience to wait for it, it’s probably better and cheaper to order it online.

I’m sure you’ve noticed by now; yes, coffee pods are quite a bit more expensive than your normal, every day coffee makers. Not only is the brewer itself pretty pricey, but the pods aren’t exactly cheap, and they don’t last nearly as long as your typical coffee grounds in a filter type setup. What you get in return, though, is the convenience of having it all in one package, and the ability to brew coffee that’s much closer to what the retail places have to offer.

Commercial coffee pods brewers can be either plumbed straight into the building’s water supply, or used as a pour over coffee brewer. This gives them the flexibility to be in one place all the time, or to move around the office as necessary, depending on the situation. They weigh no more than your typical cheap coffee maker from the department store, generally shipping at no more than ten pounds. Many can be programmed to deliver either an eight ounce or a ten ounce cup, depending on the preference of the customer. They generally automatically shut off their water supply once the pod door is opened in order to prevent burns to the coffee drinker. They’re usually constructed of higher quality materials as they will be expected to be used a lot more than your personal coffee pods brewer. Standard coffee pods work just fine in commercial brewers, though you’ll obviously need a lot more. Like personal brewers, you will need to match the size of the coffee pods with the brewer, and it’s always a good idea to lightly wet the pod before insertion. Since commercial coffee pods brewers are designed to produce single cups of coffee one after the other for extended periods of time, they are ideal for both small and large offices.

Like a personal coffee pod machine, the commercial coffee pods brewers deliver a cup of coffee in just about a minute, keeping the workers refreshed and ready to go and eliminating the wait for the coffee to be finished. Since the brewer will be brewing the coffee pods directly into the cup, there is far less chance of spillage, which means these brewers can be placed in places that might be dangerous for regular coffee makers. No pouring also means less coffee stains on expensive, dry clean only work clothes, preserving both cost and dignity.

Well, actually, no. Believe it or not, coffee pods are pretty simple in operation, and very similar to your average coffee in the filter solution, although coffee pods are obviously far superior when it comes to single cups of coffee. After all, how else could you be sure that each individual cup of coffee is just as fresh as the last? Or how about having six cups of coffee, all different flavors, one after the other? Try that with your traditional coffee maker.

Keep in mind, brewing instructions will likely vary between each coffee pod machine, the steps of brewing from coffee pods are really pretty generic. Simply open the machine, and drop in one of your coffee pods. Be sure, of course, to first check to be sure all the holes are clear and that the machine is clean on the inside. Although coffee pods are sealed, generally preventing any mess at all, things do happen, as well as mineral deposits which can make your coffee taste bitter. If the pod brewer really needs to be cleaned, try running a few brewing cycles with only white vinegar. Also, you may want to moisten the coffee pod, even if pre-infusion is not necessarily suggested by the maker of your coffee pods. This will create a better seal within the pod brewer, making it easier for the water to pass through. If possible, use only fresh, filtered water, as this will help your coffee taste great.

Then, place your favorite mug under the spout and press your coffee pods brewer’s brew button. Similarly to the old style filter system, you should hear the machine kick on and sort of gurgle. After all, it’s doing nothing more than passing hot water through the pod then out into your cup.

Generally about a minute later, you’ll have your coffee! Since coffee pods are sealed, clean-up generally involves simply dumping the used pod in the trash.

Is your coffee not strong enough? Most coffee pods brewers are capable of housing two pods. This will give you the benefit of twice the coffee beans to the same amount of water, creating a much stronger cup of coffee. Also, be sure not to re-use coffee pods. They are intended for one use each, and you probably won’t like the result.

Most coffee pods brewers can hold pods between four and nine grams, though there are many that can hold pods that contain up to twelve grams of coffee. In some cases, it is required to pre-infuse the larger coffee pods. Although pre-infusing sounds very technical, it’s really nothing more than wetting the pod before placing it in the brewer.

It is generally impossible to tell just by looking whether your pod will fit your coffee pod machine. This is because all coffee pods currently on the market are between 55 and 61 mm, which is not easily discerned by the human eye.

Also available are T-Discs and K-Cups. Unlike coffee pods, these are not an “open format” type of coffee. You would need permission and a license to make either T-Discs or K-Cups, which means the selection is far more limited for them. Also, oddly, T-Discs are not Kosher.

T-Discs only work in the Tassimo Hot Beverage Machines, and the Tassimo Hot Beverage Machines only use T-Discs. There are some marked advantage to T-Discs over coffee pods or K-Cups, however.

When one buys T-Discs to make cappuccino, for instance, they’ll receive a package with separate groups of discs; some discs for milk, and containing coffee. While this may seem like a less convenient method, it does give the Tassimo system the flexibility to offer not only coffee, but latte, cappuccino, and even hot chocolate, complete with a frothy topping.

Before deciding between coffee pods, T-Discs, and K-Cups, you should do some thought and some research on exactly what it is you plan to brew. Remember, K-Cups can only be used in a very select few machines, and T-Discs are available only from Tassimo. Also, it’s either impossible, or not nearly as easy to make your own when it comes to T-Discs and K-Cups as opposed to coffee pods.  Making your own coffee pods really isn’t that difficult at all, actually.