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  • #31
    Re: Pod Snob?

    Originally posted by 79617079756660140 link=1127816102/12#12 date=1260788680
    Originally posted by 7E4A5D4B50677B575E5E5D5D380 link=1127816102/2#2 date=1127860693

    Most pods that come out from the european market are too small for Oz conditions (6-7 ish grams per portion);

    Stale coffee, many times having a high proportion of robusta that gives that very characteristic flavour that you either like or you dont, and, many times having a very odd smell (the pod) from the old coffee oil absorbing into the blotting paper material the pod is made of....

    Marketing...not coffee, and if you check the price of some of the "deals"....for example, $75.00 for a carton of pods, containing 150 pods...thats basically $75.00 per kilo, for stale, under dosed coffee with high proprtions of robusta contained.....!
    Ok I know that there are some criticisms of the pod system, but if you are going to be a coffee snob, at least get your facts straight first....

    Firstly "Oz Conditions" are the exception to the rule. We are in a "Milk Market" which is more or less a wanna-be coffee culture. If I went to a good coffee house in europe and asked for some of the drinks we serve here, I would be laughed out the door.... Much to the surprise of some aussies, espresso was never meant to be consumed by the litre.

    Secondly, the coffee from Nespresso can potentially go stale (like any system), but its hermetically sealed so unless there is some defect in the particular pod, you will be fine for at least six months (though they claim 12 months, 6 months to be safe).

    Robusta - some of the blends have robusta, some dont. Its up to the individual to decide which one suits. So thats just about personal taste. The pursuit of pure arabica is not going to cover all tastes.

    If you really doubt what I am telling you, I can only suggest a blind taste test against an average metropolitan coffee shop (since thats what the system is designed to beat). Considering the average skill of coffee shop staff, you might agree that theres room for competition  

    I honestly think the Nespresso system is good for the interests of coffee generally, as it more or less sets a benchmark for amateurs and makes decent espresso available.
    What a heap of horse hockey, which branch of Nestle do you work for. :

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    • #32
      Re: Pod Snob?

      Originally posted by 3533242F35322A28410 link=1127816102/29#29 date=1260934708
      coffeehorse wrote on Today at 12:09:
      for espresso shots, a pod shot is indeed better than a bad shot.


      If a bad espresso shot is weak, bitter, lacking crema nad body then you might ber right.

      If a bad espresso shot is a touch sour or only 25mls in 30 seconds rather than 30mls then you might be wrong.

      like all things coffee, it doesnt pay to generalise....
      And for the record... i wouldnt drink an espresso shot if i though it was bad because it is only going to cost me less than 5 cents to pull another one.... a fresh one at that

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      • #33
        Re: Pod Snob?

        Originally posted by 66696C323D380B0 link=1127816102/23#23 date=1260828745
        Mr Macchiato: Creating controversy since 2005
        Yeah, some topics are timeless/cyclic.
        Good to see youre still on the coffee journey too Mr Macchiato.

        I must say that I had a laugh at some of the replies above, there are some real gems in there.

        One thing that has changed in the 4 years since Matt posted the thread is that there are some different pods around.

        It would have been covered in other threads but there is a big difference between pods and capsules.

        4 years ago we were all talking about the Nestle capsules, way too small to have enough coffee in them to get a good shot regardless of their heritage or age and they are a landfill nightmare with a huge amount of packaging waste.

        Step forward to 2009 and there are a few roasters using the real group handle shot sized pods.  Nitrogen flushed and if you didnt hold too many in stock and could ensure a fresher local product then they might have a place.  eg: great for decaf or similar low use coffees.  

        Ive looked at one company that was making "double shot" pods that were 14-16 grams which is certainly getting to a point of "enough coffee" to pull a shot.

        I think that a low cost, entry-level espresso machine that used pods might be just the device to get people off their instant coffee habit and get them exploring what coffee could be.  

        So am I going to swap my espresso gear at home for a pod machine?  No way, but I think a good pod system could be an upgrade to the jar of instant that most Australians still call coffee.


        edit: I just added a picture of a "modern" pod (not the plastic Nestle capsule).  A few Australian roasters are starting to trial these with good coffee in them (at the time of roasting anyway!).

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        • #34
          reawaken the capsule/pod debate?

          Hi all,

          The mother-in-law is after a coffee machine and expects to make 1 cup a day. Maybe 2 cups if she has visitors.

          I may have accidentally suggested she get one of those machines that does the pods/capsules thing mostly because its better than the instant coffee she drinks now, its clean/quick to make a coffee and I thought it made sense with all that taken into account.

          I know there are some rabid-frothing-at-the-mouth/no-way-will-i-ever type coffee snobs out there, but seriously, are they really that bad? For someone who isnt going to make that many coffees every day?

          Anyway, some of your thoughts will be appreciated

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          • #35
            Re: reawaken the capsule/pod debate?

            Pod machines are getting better, pods are getting better. For non snobs I think they would be good enough (ie better than instant) but I refuse to believe that a processed packaged product will ever be better than fresh roasted ground to order. So I would say depends on what sort of pod/capsule you are talking about as there would be variation in the quality.

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            • #36
              Re: Pod Snob?

              Consensus seems to be that:
              *The pods are expensive
              *You are trapped into buying only that brand of pods
              *The coffee in the pods is stale (maybe instant would taste better)

              The number of coffees per day is not the issue.
              Whether you drink one bad coffee per day or two, its still bad coffee.

              Comment


              • #37
                Re: Pod Snob?

                Originally posted by 6955485359584F5A52593D0 link=1127816102/35#35 date=1261273534
                Consensus seems to be that"
                *The pods are expensive
                *You are trapped into buying only that brand of pods
                *The coffee in the pods is stale (maybe instant would taste better)

                The number of coffees per day is not the issue.
                Whether you drink one bad coffee per day or two, its still bad coffee.
                So true TG..

                I also understand that the volume is small.. So tiny cups only. In addition... I understand that some pods / nespresso systems use a small component of instant ????

                I am aware that some people do have reusable pod type cartridges and thus you could pack ya own.... But if ya have to do that, ya still have to manage the issue of once ground.. STale very quickly..

                SO why bother.. Bad coffee is bad coffee...

                Comment


                • #38
                  Re: Pod Snob?

                  Originally posted by 6E524F545E5F485D555E3A0 link=1127816102/35#35 date=1261273534
                  Consensus seems to be that"
                  *The pods are expensive
                  *You are trapped into buying only that brand of pods
                  *The coffee in the pods is stale (maybe instant would taste better)
                  Who am I to argue with the Consensus, hes a pretty knowledgeable guy when it comes to coffee
                  Seriously, drank a lot of pod coffee in the US, all very ordinary. :

                  Comment


                  • #39
                    Re: Pod Snob?

                    I accidentally drank some once.
                    The little bakery next door to work in North Sydney had wonderful bread so I thought Id give their coffee a try (I was trying every place in Nth Syd. to try and find something decent).

                    It was my own fault; I was talking to a colleague after I ordered and I didnt realise until it was too late that the big commercial machine they had was converted to take pods and I was too polite to say anything.

                    Needless to say it didnt taste good at all.

                    I kept buying their bread though.

                    Comment


                    • #40
                      Re: Pod Snob?

                      Originally posted by 3A3C2B203A3D25274E0 link=1127816102/29#29 date=1260934708
                      If a bad espresso shot is a touch sour or only 25mls in 30 seconds rather than 30mls then you might be wrong.
                      hey trentski,

                      not sure what was wrong with my comment, the things you highlight dont make it a bad shot imo.

                      I usually go by what an espresso is, and accept that few shots will be flawless. A touch sour? Is that high acidity or a touch sour? 25ml in 30s vs 30ml in 30s is still within the WBC guidelines for a shot of espresso (30ml +-5ml, pours should be within 3 seconds of each other).

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