Coffee pods are slowly becoming a permanent fixture in many homes. They are easy to use and store, unlike coffee grounds that require a lot of care when using.
Pods have improved the coffee brewing process immensly. You only need to slip them into your coffee machine’s pod slot and you have a delicious brew in minutes.
But using a single coffee pod a day can be expensive. That’s why coffee manufacturers have come up with the idea of making refillable coffee pods.
Here is some information on refillable coffee pods and how to use them.
What are Coffee Pods?
Coffee pods are paper packaging measuring about 61 millimeters that contains coffee grounds. These pods, called coffee pads, are made by compressing coffee grounds between two sheets of paper. They may remind you of tea bags.
You may have just heard of coffee pods but they’ve been around for a long time.
Nespresso launched the first pods in 1986 in a bid to ease the coffee brewing process. The coffee in one pod could make a cup of perfectly brewed coffee ensuring consistency in coffee brewing.
The use of coffee pods caught on quite fast and soon other companies such as Green Mountain coffee and Keurig had their own brand of coffee pods.
How to Use Coffee Pods
Coffee machines extract coffee from pods by dripping hot water over them. They are inserted in a coffee machine filter and compressed to extract coffee during brewing.
These pods are usually round in shape to fit in the filter slots of coffee machines such as drip coffee makers. They come in hard and soft forms.
Soft style coffee pods are used in non – pressurized machines such as Keurigs because they can come apart easily under pressure.
Hard-style coffee pods are better suited for preparing coffees such as Espresso that are brewed under high pressure.
Coffee pods brew single cups of coffee, with a standard pod containing 7 -12 grams of coffee grounds.
They work with any machine containing a portafilter, such as espresso machines.
Coffee pods are quite easy to use and affordable, influencing many people to buy automatic coffee machines.
Now the use of coffee pods has gained even more popularity due to the availability of refillable or reusable coffee pods in the market.
These are coffee pods you can use over and over again for coffee brewing.
Benefits of Using Refillable Coffee Pods
You may appreciate using reusable coffee pods over single-use coffee capsules because they make it easier to manage coffee consumption.
A pack of 2 reusable stainless steel coffee pods will last a couple of months and only cost you between $ 16 and $ 30. Some good quality refillable coffee pods can be used for up to 200 times.
That’s much better than buying a pack of 60 single-use k- cup pods for about $ 40 that you only use for a month if you take 2 cups of coffee daily.
They also reduce the amount of wasted k – cup pods you throw out every month that contribute to environmental pollution.
Nespresso is among the coffee companies that have come up with pods you can reuse. These reusable pods are made of stainless steel or BPA-free plastic which are safe for our health.
Refillable coffee pods have a removable lid that makes them easy to reuse. You can discard used coffee grounds and refill the pod with fresh ones anytime.
Reusable pods also make it easy for people who love drinking different types of coffee to use any kind of coffee grounds they desire or even make a blend.
Stainless steel refillable coffee capsules are also dishwasher safe, making them easy to maintain.
The Best Refillable Coffee Pods for Coffee Making
Refillable coffee pods with rubber seals are better for brewing Espresso coffee because they can withstand high pressure.
On the other hand, reusable coffee pods with a plastic latch lid are better for drip coffee makers because they don’t have to withstand high pressure during coffee brewing.
It’s best to use medium to fine coffee grounds when using refillable coffee pods to create a robust brew with great crema. Make sure they are a darker roast if you want to produce a boldly flavored cup of coffee.
Always buy the correct type of refillable coffee pods for your brand of coffee machine to ensure a good fit and avoid damaging your machine.
You may use the year and model specifications of your coffee machines to find compatible refillable coffee pods.
How to Refill Nespresso Coffee Pods
You can buy refillable coffee pods from the grocery store or online. Using them is easy. Here are the simple steps you need to take when using them.
Requirements:
A reusable Nespresso coffee pod
Coffee grounds of your choice
A cleaning brush
A tamper
A measuring scoop
Procedure:
- Clean the empty pod of any used coffee grounds with hot water and let it dry. Get rid of any coffee ground stuck in the pod by using the provided cleaning brush.
- Refill the clean, dry pod with coffee grounds and leave a small space of about 1 millimeter at the top.
- Use a tamper to gently press down on the coffee grounds to pack them evenly into the pod for excellent coffee brewing.
- Cover the seal of the refillable pod and brew your coffee as usual.
- Throw out the used coffee grounds, rinse the coffee pod, and leave it for the next round of coffee making.
Conclusion
Refillable coffee pods are easy to use if you have the right coffee pod size for your coffee maker.
Nespresso coffee makers are a great choice because the company manufactures refillable pods for most of its machines, such as the Nespresso-Inissia, Nespresso Lattissima, and Nespresso Pixie.
Some companies like Cafilas also manufacture refillable Vertuo coffee pods for Nespresso machines.
You can also try Dolce Gusto refillable pods that are compatible with Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machines and excellent for brewing Espressos.
Refillable pods will save you money and allow you to enjoy any kind of brew you like.
If you haven’t tried a refillable coffee pod, this is the time to use one. You will be doing something to save the environment and reduce your coffee expenses.
You may also be interested in recycling the coffee grounds you use in refillable coffee pods instead of throwing them out.
That will further reduce your carbon footprint and allow you to get more bang for your buck.
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