K-Cups vs Coffee Pods

Are these simply the same coffee pods by a different name like frying pan or skillet?  Nope.  You can’t use coffee pods in a Keurig brewer and you can’t put a K-Cup in a pod brewer.  So what is the difference?

What is a K-Cup?
A K-Cup is much like a coffee pod.  It is a small cup a little smaller than a yogurt cup with ground coffee inside.  These cups make a single serving of coffee or espresso.  You take the K-Cup, place it into the Keurig brewer and close the lid.  Small holes are punched in the bottom and top of the cup where the hot water is then forced through and drips out the bottom.  The key is that K-Cups are only compatible with Keurig brewers.  It was a design that they patented for single serving coffee.  Because this is a closed technology, the brewers tend to be more expensive, starting at around $100.

Coffee pods are more like round cloth tea bags.  While you do not soak the Pod in the water, they look similar to a K-Cup.  These are manufactured by many different vendors and can be used in many different brewers.  Because of the wide variety of brewer manufacturers, these can be purchased for often less than $50.

If you are interested in brewing espresso pods, you should be looking for an ESE espresso machine.  Because of the high pressure and hotter water required to make an espresso, you can not use an espresso pod in a coffee brewer.  Trying to use an espresso coffee pod in a regular brewer will only cause a mess.  These pods are also only 45 mm versus 55 mm for coffee pods, so you will notice the difference if you tried to insert one.

More recently, some smart engineers figures out a way to use the less expensive coffee pods in a Keurig brewer.  They use something called a pod holster, which fits around the coffee pods to hold them in place of where a K-Cup would normally have fit.

Empty coffee pod filters are now available also so that you can load your own coffee into a pod for a less expensive way to make your one cup of coffee.  This is a perfect way to save money, but still have the convenience of using pods.  Most filters are available online in packs of 100.  These empty filters can even be used for tea.

Choosing Espresso Pods

With the introduction of the single serve coffee maker the world was also introduced to espresso pods. These wonderfully compact units allow for anyone, regardless of coffee brewing experience, to make the perfect cup of espresso. They come in several different varieties that are organized but not limited to the flavor, size, style, and even the brand of coffee maker being utilized. With this many choices it is easy to understand why so many people may be confused by how to choose the perfect espresso pods for them.

The key factor in searching for and purchasing espresso pods is the machine being used. There are several different styles that accept reusable pods made of mesh and plastic and other styles that accept only round filtered pods,  Consult your coffee maker or pod brewer owners manual to insure you are using the correct pod.  Using the incorrect one can lead to at least a terrible cup of coffee and at worst to damaging your machine.

Once you have narrowed down according to the product style then it is time to move on to the next important factor of choosing espresso pods which, of course, is flavor. There are many flavors of coffee pods and also many depths. Flavors of espresso pods can range from light tastes, such as vanilla, to stronger tastes like Irish crème. There are also depths to be considered, which are the roast darkness. These depths are generally listed as regular, dark, French, and special dark roasts.

After choosing the flavor and style of espresso pods desired then the only thing left to do is purchase them. Espresso coffee pods were once difficult to come by and required special ordering. However, now they can be purchased at many local and national chain stores as well as online from specialty grocers and gourmet shops. Keep in mind that many types are purchased in quantities of twenty or twenty four packs. This will mean that you may need to purchase more than one bag or box of espresso pods depending on your drinking habits.

The fact of the matter is that espresso pods should not be an off putting subject. They are easy to find, easy to choose, and can add a special start to any day or end to any evening.  Just pull the pod out of the box, pop it into your pod brewer, pour in the water, push the button and you should have a steaming cup in about 30-45 seconds.  how easy is that?