Those weird capsule coffees

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gzt

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Topic # 172103 11-May-2015 22:43

I have some questions about the weird capsule coffees popping up everywhere. I could google it I guess but still not know as much as people here.

I had one or two from professionally installed branded service industry machines operated by trained operators (I assume) and it had that instant type feeling. Really pretty awful I thought and I'm not a connoisseur at all.

Do any of these systems have the potential to produce good espresso coffee or is it something completely different? Are some actually making good coffee?

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Reply # 1302358 11-May-2015 22:52

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Nespresso makes consistently good coffee. It may not be great coffee as very good barista do, but it's most of the times better than the crap coffee most coffee shops make - the number of times I find burnt/bitter coffee in Wellington is a lot more than I find great coffee.

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tardtasticx

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Reply # 1302366 11-May-2015 23:10

As said above, the Nespresso ones aren't bad at all. I've only had my machine for a short while so haven't branched out too much, but the machine came with quite a few sample pods which I've now run through. Even the ones that weren't particularly great for my personal taste were enjoyable.

Wellington, Auckland & Christchurch have Nespresso 'boutiques', and most stores that sell Nespresso machines seem to be happy enough if you ask to try it out. Maybe pop down to a Noel Leeming or the actual Nespresso store and give it a go.

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Reply # 1302367 11-May-2015 23:14

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Tried it in one of those tasting demos at Harvey/NL. Didn't like it but it is my personal preference as I had barista training in my past life.

Coffee needs to be made by a human - not a machine with push buttons. Our lifestyle choice and deciding not to have kids means we can dine out and enjoy proper coffee everyday if we wanted to, which we do most days

This was posted before and I believe Mike told me off for mentioning words to that effect.

MadEngineer

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Reply # 1302368 11-May-2015 23:15

It's just good instant coffee. Get a plunger or stove top if you want good and cheap real coffee (sans the benefits of extract under pressure)

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Reply # 1302369 11-May-2015 23:18

Never been a fan of plunger. Since getting my automatic jura I havent used my manual machine except when the jura was demanding a clean and I couldnt find the cleaning tablets because my kitchen is a tip.

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Reply # 1302371 11-May-2015 23:22

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They can produce a fair cup of coffee, and I'd agree with Mauricio that they'll produce better coffee than many places you might buy coffee out, but it's not really an espresso.

If your question is geared towards deciding on a purchase, then it sounds to me like you need to head in the direction of a proper espresso machine... That's a non-trivial investment in money and commitment however, and I can see why many would opt for the simplicity of one of these machines.

For me, I enjoy making coffee, here is a coffee I made at home the other day:

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Reply # 1302375 11-May-2015 23:25

Also there are other capsule systems around. There is one that the warehouse is now pushing which makes very very different coffee to the nespresso and compatible systems. It may have been that which you thought was very instantish.

Richard rich.ms

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Reply # 1302404 12-May-2015 06:12

I have my own expresso machine at home , but have tried the Nespresso pods in the Nespresso botique in New Market , I was pleasantly surprised . Go and try beore you buy if your near a store .

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Reply # 1302427 12-May-2015 07:48

A one word reply to your post. Nespresso.

I have tried many of the other capsules and nothing came close to the Nespresso brand.

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Reply # 1302432 12-May-2015 08:01

No Keurig K cup in NZ yet?

Mind you I hope neither take off in NZ - K-Cup creator John Sylvan regrets inventing Keurig coffee pod system

freitasm

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Reply # 1302439 12-May-2015 08:18

As above, there are other capsule systems a day results will vary.

There are also after market Nespresso compatible capsules. Most are crap.

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Reply # 1302469 12-May-2015 08:59

Some people are seasoned to the taste of stale coffee from poorly run cafes, pre-ground supermarket beans for plunger or espresso etc, that they have acquired a taste for it.
I don't think it's hard to make good espresso at home, but you need a good grinder (I use a Mazzer - small version of the machines most cafes use). Coffee machine is a Rocket Evoluzione V2 heat exchanger type machine. Both are pretty much the same design as has been used for 1/2 century for modern espresso. Expensive - but not extreme.

We use about 500g beans/week ($20). Nespresso equivalent is actually about 70 pods. That would be a $50/week saving, regardless of any quality consideration, the payback time even for quite good equipment isn't long. That might sound like a lot of coffee, but it's only 5 double shots per day average. (Nespresso caps are single shot). Easy to get up to that volume - I have perhaps 2-3, my wife has one in the morning, friends drop in for coffee...

Plenty of folks also roast their own beans - something I might give a go.

If I was forced into paying Nespresso prices, I'd sign myself into rehab to get over my addiction. If George Clooney can afford it - I can't.

Consistent equipment and method, and it's not very hard. You don't need to be a trained barista (plenty of them with certificates and training routinely make lousy coffee anyway). You just need to take an interest and understand the basics. On a "difficulty rating" I'd put it on a similar level to making toast.

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Reply # 1302504 12-May-2015 09:35

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There is probably more "snobbery" regarding coffee as there is for wine or other drinks. Beverage snobbery gets up my nose, a drink is a drink, each and everyone of us has individual tastes, what is crap for one is heaven for another.
Drink what tastes good for you, if you like the wine in $10, 2 litre casks, go for it. If you prefer $150 bottles, same go for it. The same applies to coffee, tea, Coke....., try them and use the ones your palate says to you yum drink it.

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Reply # 1302598 12-May-2015 10:45

MikeB4: There is probably more "snobbery" regarding coffee as there is for wine or other drinks. Beverage snobbery gets up my nose, a drink is a drink, each and everyone of us has individual tastes, what is crap for one is heaven for another.
Drink what tastes good for you, if you like the wine in $10, 2 litre casks, go for it. If you prefer $150 bottles, same go for it. The same applies to coffee, tea, Coke....., try them and use the ones your palate says to you yum drink it.

Your responses are always so sensible - probably not what most people want to hear. I come from Holland, which has the best coffee in the world on its supermarket shelves. Personally I don't like espresso and never have. I only drink filter coffee and I make it by the cup. I also prefer cheap Spanish and Italian rotgut wines. Local products are generally too smooth for my taste. And I don't pretend to be knowledgeable about any of this, just reporting what appeals to me.

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gzt

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Reply # 1302659 12-May-2015 11:47

Today I learned the capsules have ground coffee inside. Is that all or is there some other processing used for the plain coffee ground before packaging? Is the quantity used smaller than an average traditional commercial espresso setup?

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