Great Coffee Pods (and Tassimo T-Discs, too!)

I’m sure you’re asking, as would many; exactly what are coffee pods? Are they little spaceships in which coffee travels? Obviously not, but the term coffee pods doesn’t exactly jump out at you with an explanation, does it?

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.

Coffee pods are also a good choice for the commercial environment. They offer many advantages over the traditional type of coffee maker. Imagine everyone in the office being able to get an equally fresh cup of coffee, regardless of when they come in to work. No longer would Bob in accounting waste and entire pot full of coffee just to get his 2 pm fix. Flavored coffee, virtually out of the question in the office since no one would ever agree on a particular flavor, would become commonplace as each person could pick and chose the coffee pods that contained the flavor they wanted.

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.

You’re probably asking yourself, how do these coffee pod things work? It must be pretty complicated for it to have taken this long for someone to come up with them, right?

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.