Interesting. Pod coffee like Dolce Gusto is only 49% more expensive than normal supermarket ground coffee.

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Interesting. Pod coffee like Dolce Gusto is only 49% more expensive than normal supermarket ground coffee.

Huchiz

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Master Geek

#181410 14-Oct-2015 18:26

Simple math.

1, Dolce Gusto Americano Capsule. $9 for 16 pods in Pakn Save. 10 grams of coffee for each. DG suggests to extract 230ml, that is too weak for most kiwi. I think 160ml is good, not too strong like a real expresso but pretty much long black like. So the cost is $0.56 per cup (160ml).

2, Typical supermarket ground coffee such as Robert Harris or Jeds. Price is around $6 per bag as 200 grams. Using a 350ml Bodum plunger you will need to pour at least 25g (Bodum suggests 21g) so the coffee is not too weak, because it's not a pressured extraction system. Also, for a 350ml plunger you will typically get 320ml of coffee, that is 2x160ml. So the cost is $0.375.

So, the capsule coffee system, in this case the Dolce Gusto, is only 49% more expensive than a plunger for a typical 160ml cup of long black. That probably is much lower than many of us would think.

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221 posts

Master Geek

#1405864 14-Oct-2015 18:45

Interesting facts:

* Dolce Gusto mid-range machine such as Mini Me, often on sale for $75 if you shop around.

* Bodum Plunger, small one like the 0.35L size, often on sale in Briscoe for $30. (you need to know the Briscoe's definition of sale)

* Coffee freshness: sealed pod V.S. supermarket class pre ground. (that would be interesting)

* A plunger doesn't do espresso while a pod machine does

* There is no shortage of variety of Dolce Gusto pods around (no less than 50 in total, about half of which are espresso/long black).

* But, that is a big but, there are only 13 are in NZ market (6 of which are espresso/long black).

* The above is very annoying. It's probably the only fact that makes DG less appearing than Nespresso in NZ.

* To make it up, DG coffee pods usually have 7g-10g coffee in each while Nespresso typically has only 5g.

richms

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#1405869 14-Oct-2015 18:50

Im loving my DG for the hot chocolates. Milk in one capsule, and chocolate in the other. No milk storage needed so I can just have the machine in the work space and not have to go to the kitchen for one. Some of the milk+coffee combos are a bit gross (cant recall which flavour but it didnt really taste coffee-ish) so have stick with the black coffee ones. Just watch the picollini machine - the water tank is tiny and doesnt go on and off as easy as the next one up which also has the control for the serving size and was $75 at new world.

Richard rich.ms

xlinknz

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#1405875 14-Oct-2015 18:56

"only" 49% more is still 49% more and generates unnecessary waste

Do you get your used capsules recycled ?

richms

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#1405885 14-Oct-2015 19:02

xlinknz:
Do you get your unused capsules recycled ?

Why would I recycle unused ones? I would use them.

I dont recycle the used ones, they go in the normal trash because that is the easiest. Along with the disposable cups I use in the workspace since I have nowhere to wash themw ithout carrying them to the house and back again.

Richard rich.ms

Huchiz

221 posts

Master Geek

#1405887 14-Oct-2015 19:03

xlinknz: "only" 49% more is still 49% more and generates unnecessary waste

Do you get your unused capsules recycled ?

I have to confess I don't, though Dolce Gusto does have a recycle program in NZ.
And I don't recycle any other ground coffee's plastic/metal bags from home use either. Anyone does that?

Also, for a plunger there would be some washing water and detergent needed, and we would always boil more water than we actually needed. Thus more wasted water, electricity, gas, detergent. I think as we are talking about being eco wise, those facts cannot be ignored.

For 49% more cost, I got much much more convenient (and probably better taste) coffee than a plunger.

xlinknz

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#1405914 14-Oct-2015 19:52

richms:
xlinknz:
Do you get your unused capsules recycled ?

Why would I recycle unused ones? I would use them.

I dont recycle the used ones, they go in the normal trash because that is the easiest. Along with the disposable cups I use in the workspace since I have nowhere to wash themw ithout carrying them to the house and back again.

My bad I meant used capsules

Huchiz: I have to confess I don't, though Dolce Gusto does have a recycle program in NZ.
And I don't recycle any other ground coffee's plastic/metal bags from home use either. Anyone does that?

Also, for a plunger there would be some washing water and detergent needed, and we would always boil more water than we actually needed. Thus more wasted water, electricity, gas, detergent. I think as we are talking about being eco wise, those facts cannot be ignored.

For 49% more cost, I got much much more convenient (and probably better taste) coffee than a plunger.

You can buy coffee in paper bags at the supermarket and other outlets, my expresso machine only boils the water I use to extract

Huchiz

221 posts

Master Geek

#1405943 14-Oct-2015 20:43

xlinknz:
You can buy coffee in paper bags at the supermarket and other outlets, my expresso machine only boils the water I use to extract

I did't realize there are paper bags of ground coffee. It's true your expresso machine won't waste boiled water like a jug. :D

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nunz

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#1408040 16-Oct-2015 19:48

Have you seen the rok coffe maker:

Only boil water you need.
No plastic capsules
Best damn coffee short of an industrial espresso maker:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z00074vW19I

Huchiz

221 posts

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#1408083 16-Oct-2015 23:02

nunz: Have you seen the rok coffe maker:

Only boil water you need.
No plastic capsules
Best damn coffee short of an industrial espresso maker:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z00074vW19I

No, I did't. Now I do. It is a great design and should work very fine once you master the method.

The only concern to me is the build quality, its not even stainless steel. Amazon review does't give too much of confidence.

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#1408138 17-Oct-2015 09:55

We ended up with a MAP pod machine from HN which uses caffitaly capsules

Didn't intend to - wanted to get a nespresso machine but in hindsight it's turned out to be better

The 8g of coffee makes a big difference compared to the 5g in the nespresso

Range was a bit limited but Countdown now sell Select branded capsules as well as Mocanna ones. Even better - Reduced to Clear are selling Gloria Jeans caramel coffee for $5 a box of 16 and they have had them for as low as $2 a box on special - that's $2 for 16 capsules. I like their taste too.

Compared to a plunger, I'm not wasting any coffee. I always made too much with a plunger

richms

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#1416208 29-Oct-2015 16:01

5 boxes for $50 with the spinny stand at the warehouse. Ends Nov 3

Richard rich.ms

JoshWright

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#1416240 29-Oct-2015 16:56

The waste from coffee pods like these is a lot more than from a bag of beans/ground coffee when you think about it. I'm a fan of just making coffee with an espresso machine using the ground coffee, is cheaper and better for the environment. I know that most of the coffee pod brands have recycling programs implemented but I expect 99% of consumers would just toss them out.

Also 'only 49% more expensive', that's almost double the cost!

I understand the convenience of these things, but they're so terrible for the environment that I could never bring myself to use them! I'd way rather just use a plunger/moka pot/regular espresso machine.

PPAP

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#1416490 29-Oct-2015 21:26

richms: 5 boxes for $50 with the spinny stand at the warehouse. Ends Nov 3

Very interesting I found the warehouse is selling Nesquik drink which is not on the official NZ DG website. And before you think it's parallel imported, I did find there is some NZ/AUS info printed on the package.

Not that I will buy that overpriced Nesquik drink. But it is interesting to know whether it is an official NZ product. It it is, does that mean we will have some more flavors soon? I hope so.

Also the warehouse is selling Ristretto Ardenza now.

PPAP

41 posts

Geek

#1416502 29-Oct-2015 21:42

JoshWright: The waste from coffee pods like these is a lot more than from a bag of beans/ground coffee when you think about it. I'm a fan of just making coffee with an espresso machine using the ground coffee, is cheaper and better for the environment. I know that most of the coffee pod brands have recycling programs implemented but I expect 99% of consumers would just toss them out.

Also 'only 49% more expensive', that's almost double the cost!

I understand the convenience of these things, but they're so terrible for the environment that I could never bring myself to use them! I'd way rather just use a plunger/moka pot/regular espresso machine.

Yes, it is more expensive and wasting more, but by how much? I think some guys have already made some careful calculations. It's not that much.

And that is comparing to the cheapest grounded coffee in Paknsave. You probably need some more fancy coffee from Nosh or speciality shops to beat a good pod machine. In that case the price could even be more expensive. And If you are using french press or moka, I do that as well, I'm sure you will waste a lot of energy.

1101

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#1416875 30-Oct-2015 11:32

PPAP:
JoshWright: The waste from coffee pods like these is a lot more than from a bag of beans/ground coffee when you think about it. I'm a fan of just making coffee with an espresso machine using the ground coffee, is cheaper and better for the environment. I know that most of the coffee pod brands have recycling programs implemented but I expect 99% of consumers would just toss them out.

Also 'only 49% more expensive', that's almost double the cost!

I understand the convenience of these things, but they're so terrible for the environment that I could never bring myself to use them! I'd way rather just use a plunger/moka pot/regular espresso machine.

Yes, it is more expensive and wasting more, but by how much? I think some guys have already made some careful calculations. It's not that much.

And that is comparing to the cheapest grounded coffee in Paknsave. You probably need some more fancy coffee from Nosh or speciality shops to beat a good pod machine. In that case the price could even be more expensive. And If you are using french press or moka, I do that as well, I'm sure you will waste a lot of energy.

I really cant see how anyone would ever have thought POD coffee would ever be as cheap as beans/ground coffee
And cask wine is cheaper than bottles .
The companies make the bigger profits from the POD's, same thing as printer inkjet carts
But its all relative, my workday coffee fix from coffee shops costs me $4 each, thats $20-$40 per week. Now thats really more expensive :-)
Its not about saving money, its about convenience .

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