How to Make Your Own Espresso Pods

So maybe you love Espresso, but can’t afford to stop at Starbucks a couple times a day.  You bought an espresso pods brewer and have been burning through espresso pods.  While this is cheaper than going to the coffee shop, this can still get pretty expensive.  So I did some research to see if you can make your own ESE espresso pods.  It appears the answer is no.  The espresso has to be packed perfectly in the pod to insure the pressurized brewing process can make the perfect cup.

If you are interested in making your own coffee pods, that is another story.  There is actually an inexpensive machine called the Perfect Pod Maker that costs about $40 and allows you to make your own coffee pods.  This machine comes with a started set of pods.  You choose the coffee you want, add a little more for stronger coffee, add a little less for weaker coffee.  It even says you can add flavorings to the coffee in the pod (although I am not sure how you do that).

This machine also allows you to make tea pods and even hot chocolate pods.  Think about the savings you could realize.  This is the perfect mix:  convenience of using a coffee pod, but less expensive because you are using off the shelf coffee.  No shipping and no hassle.

The perfect pod maker is electric and it uses heat to seal the pod.  It takes about 30 seconds to make each coffee pod.  You will have to use their empty pod materials, which you can order on Amazon.  The empty pods cost about $.10 each if you buy them in bulk.  This same company also sells a pod holder so you can use pods in your Keurig K-Cup coffee maker.  No more being held hostage to just one manufacturer and their pricing!

To keep your coffee tasting the best, it is recommend that you keep any completed coffee pods in an airtight sealed container.  I would not make more than you can consume in a month to insure freshness.  Plus, buy your coffee beans whole and then use a manual coffee grinder to get the best and most flavorful coffee.

Going back to making your own espresso pods, I am sure that if you tried enough and were consistent about the packing, you might be able to do it using the perfect pod maker above.  You just need to have a way to pack the ground coffee consistently.  Maybe use a weight that you set on the espresso tamper to be consistent.  Try it.  You have nothing to lose!

Buying an Espresso Pod Brewer

So you are making a commitment to buying a pod brewer.  Well let’s face it, you can’t use espresso pods until you have a brewer.  So how do you chose one?  Great question.  I searched all over the internet figuring that someone would have done a Consumer Reports type of report on these brewers, but no such luck. There are several single entries reviewing one particular model, but nothing comprehensive.  So, let’s talk more about how to make a decision than recommending a particular model or brand.

Buying an espresso pod machine is not much different than buying any other larger ticket purchase.  When you bought your home TV, you probably spent time looking around, comparing prices, reading about different brands, and then asking a friend what they liked.  Buying a espresso coffee pod brewer will be much the same:

• Before you get started, make sure that whenever you ask or wherever you go, we are talking about espresso.  There are many pod brewers out there, but most are made for coffee pods.  They are not compatible with espresso.  Be sure you are talking apples to apples.
• Ask around to see who has a brewer.  Find out what brand they have, what model it is, and how the owner likes it.  Are there any frustrating and quirky things about it?  Would they purchase it again.  Write this down!
• Stop in your local retail store to see what brand they carry.  Talk to a sales person that knows something about these machines.  Drill him for information relative to difference between different brewers.
• These brewers can range from $400 to well over $2000.  You need to make a decision on what your price point is.
• Most units come with a Cappuccino Tori (the wand that sticks into the milk and shoots hot steam to froth the milk). Decide if this is necessary part.  A small difference between products is some manufactures build their units similar to manual espresso makers with dual pumps so you can make espresso and froth milk at the same time.
• How large is the unit and how much water does it hold?  For restaurants or coffee shops, size may not be important (as some can weigh over 30 pounds), but water capacity does.  For home, size matters.
• For convenience, can you unit be connected to a water source so you do not have to fill it with water?  This is nice feature for a home, but almost essential for a coffee shop.
• Does the brewer accept E.S.E pods or just the smaller kind?  You will want to have access to both.  Some units can be converted to brew regular coffee also.
• How long does the unit take to heat up the water before it can brew?  Some faster units can be ready in 2 minutes, others can take 10 minutes or even more before it can make your cup of espresso.

Making this large purchase is not difficult and because there are not many manufacturers of these espresso pod machines, quality is very high on each one.  I doubt you could go wrong buying any of them.

Buying Bulk Espresso Pods

I love shopping anywhere that gives me a larger sized product or where I can buy it in bulk.  My wife laughs when I bring home the 1 gallon jar of mayo or the 10 pound bag of coffee, but I figure that I have room to store it and I am getting a better price because I am buying in bulk.

Maybe you are like me.  You just want to get the best value for your money.  Alternatively, maybe you just go through something so fast that you need a larger quantity so you don’t run out.  I was wondering if anyone sold bulk espresso pods out on the internet.  I took a look around and found the best answer is “it depends”.

There are many Google search entries that say bulk and espresso pods or coffee pods.  It looks like some claim that a 20 pack is a bulk pack.  I really don’t consider that bulk as for many coffee manufacturers, that is the average size.  I did find an online retailer (with a very cluttered website) that sold packs of 150-200 of certain espresso pods at a decent price.  They even had one brand,Intenso Gusto Forte E.S.E Pods, that sold in a 450 pod pack!  That is a lot of espresso!

Although I was unable to find a shelf life for espresso pods, I don’t think you want to buy a years supply.  I would prefer to use up the supply in no more than 90 days to insure the coffee grounds inside the pod stay as fresh as possible.  This is especially important as espresso brings out the best and the worst in the beans much more than coffee does.  This is because of the pressure brewing and intense flavor.

5 Reasons I Love Espresso Pods

I started drinking coffee when I was about 30.  I had never drank much of it until I met my wife.  We would sit on Saturday mornings outside and sip coffee and just talk.  That love for coffee (and my wife) turned into a taste for espresso.  At one point I swear I was just giving half of my paycheck to Starbucks as I would stop there in morning and after work to get my fix.

I finally discovered espresso pods and my life was changed.  Here are just some of the reasons that I love espresso pods:

1. I can make a cup of espresso whenever I want.  There is no need to go to a coffee shop for me.  Just pop an espresso pod in the brewer, pour some water in and I have my cup.  It is just that easy.  It is very fun to have espresso on a cold wintry day when it is snowing like crazy outside.  Dragging myself to the coffee shop would have been a nightmare.
2. Each cup of espresso is perfect.  While some experts argue that only handmade espresso is perfect, in my book using a pod is as close as it gets.  I have tried to make a cup of espresso manually using an machine.  It was tough, messy and I found that I could not get a consistent flavor.  One time it was too strong, the next it tasted burnt, the next it was too weak.  Because of the pods, every cup is consistent and tastes the same.
3. Using espresso coffee pods is a big savings for me over stopping at Starbucks.  While this is not a cheap product, it is much cheaper to brew this at home than pay retail for the finished product.  If you buy the pods in bulk you should be able to save even more.  Plus, since you are making only one cup at a time, you are not wasting anything.
4. With a traditional espresso machine, you have all the grounds to knocks out of the holder.  You also have to wipe down where the holder attaches to the machine.  This can be a messy process.  With an ESE pod brewer, simply remove the pod, toss it in the garbage and you are done.  No coffee grounds and no mess.
5. I can offer espresso to my guests when I have parties.  How many people can do that?  And it is so easy to do I don’t mind offering it.

Using espresso pods has so many benefits.  You should look at buying a brewer and making your own espresso at home.