Best Five Nespresso Reusable Pods
Background
For many years we have been disregarding the planet. Our society has become a throwaway society. Everything is "disposable", and our oceans and lands are becoming garbage receptacles. Wildlife is being affected by the mass of garbage. Humans are the only beings walking free, tossing rubbish around as they go. But time is running out for us to make a turnaround for our earth. Wherever possible, we should be moving to reusable rather than disposable. The introduction of Nespresso reusable pods will help this initiative.
With the advent of the Nespresso machine, coffee lovers joined the ranks of disposability. Pop a pod in the machine, wait a short while, and then your coffee is ready. Pop the now empty pod in the trash so that it can join the other 29,000 used pods. People are recycling only 10,000 pods.
We are irresponsible. Nespresso has set up over 100,000 recycling depots, but only about one-third of all produced pods find their way to a recycling spot. Nespresso has also provided recycling bags for customers who seldom use them. The company is doing its best to make its product more sustainable. The onus is now on the public to change their thinking. It is easier for irresponsible users to toss the pods into the garbage than to recycle or switch to Nespresso reusable pods.
A small contributing factor may be the smell that builds up in the used coffee pod. It is susceptible to mold. This smell might discourage users from recycling as it will stink out their recyclable bags.
About Nespresso
Coffee lovers rejoiced when Nespresso introduced their coffee maker. These machines took coffee into the fast-food market. Making a good cup of coffee became very quick and easy. You pop a pod into your coffee maker, and seconds later, your steaming cup of coffee is ready for you, and another pod bites the dust.
We are lucky that the problem is being addressed, as Nespresso reusable pods are available. This article will look at how Nespresso reusable pods work. This article will also assess and present the following five best picks.
- CAPMESSO Reusable Espresso Capsules
- Alchemy Bar Nespresso Capsules Refillable
- I Cafilsa Stainless Steel Refillable Coffee Capsules
- SEAL Pod Refillable Nespresso Pods
- Blusea Coffee Pod Holder Filter Set
At the end of the article, we will summarize the pros and cons. This summary will help you to be in a better frame of mind to make a decision.
Benefits of Nespresso Reusable Pods
Ecological
People are bad at recycling. It is much easier to have one garbage bin and throw everything into it rather than to separate recyclables. The ease of using disposable pods can, with little effort, be replaced with reusable pods.
Economical
Buying pods each month can be quite a drain on your wallet. If you swap to reusable pods, you could save quite a bit. For example, if you drink 2 cups a day, your monthly saving could be about $16. If you drink more cups a day, you can see that you could save a nice amount per month.
State of the pods/Capsules/cups
Using the pod method is easy and convenient. Sometimes coffee lovers are aware of paying for the convenience by having a compromised taste in their cup of coffee. When you buy coffee beans and grind them when you need them, you are assured a fresh cup of coffee with enhanced taste. The ground coffee tastes freshly made.
In a pod, the coffee is ground. The question you should be asking yourself is, "When were these beans ground?" "How fresh is the coffee?"
For all you know, it might have been prepared months ago. When the air gets into the ground coffee, deterioration takes place. When the pod was manufactured, the coffee grinds were exposed to the air for a couple of seconds. This is enough to set up the deterioration process. This looks as if it substantiates the reason for using Nespresso reusable pods. You can grind just enough coffee to fill the pod.
Compatibility
Not all pods will fit all Nespresso machines. When you shop, you need to make sure that you buy the correct Nespresso reusable pods for your coffee maker. Nespresso entered the coffee machine with its first machine (now known as the original machine). As with everything, subsequent models are always tweaked. The newer version is the Vertuo line. The result is that the mechanics of the original differ considerably from the mechanics of the Vertuo line. They have a different modus operandi.
The original line pushes the hot water through the coffee grounds at high pressure (similar to an espresso machine). The vertuo machine produces a much tastier cup of coffee as it extracts more goodness from the grinds. It fills the capsule with hot water and then spins it around, causing more coffee goodness to be extracted from the ground beans.
Because the two lines operate in different ways, the pods/capsules are made differently. So one set of Nespresso reusable pods will only fit one of the Nespresso lines. Most of the Nespresso reusable pods will fit the Original line, but you need to make sure before buying.
Lids
The original pods for your machine come in a sealed unit. Reusable pods need to be open, so they come with lids. There are two types of Nespresso reusable pods. One is a latching type lid, and the other is a sticker type lid. The latching lids will last as long as the Nespresso reusable pods last. The sticker-type lid is a once-off. So you will need to buy a supply of the sticker lid. This takes away from the reusable aspect of the pod.
The sticker pod can withstand high pressure. This results in a heavier layer of crema. The latching type pod does not give such a satisfying crema.
Material
Nespresso reusable pods are plastic or stainless steel.
The stainless steel pods are long-lasting as the material does not degrade. They can withstand the high temperatures needed to produce a strong, satisfying cup. A disadvantage is that they may get clogged and will have to be descaled over time.
Plastic pods are cheaper. Some manufacturers may be guilty of using inferior plastic in the product. The plastic may not be BPA-free. Some of them may not be able to withstand the high temperatures needed for brewing. When they have reached the point of no return, they are likely to explode. Just think of the mess! And possible machine damage. So often the cheapest is more expensive in the long run.
Preparation
You bought your Nespresso machine because it seemed to offer convenience and a good cup of coffee. Pop the capsule in, and seconds later, you have a steamy cup of coffee. Now we are telling you to sort out the pods yourself – just when you thought life had become simple. But it is easy.
- Select your coffee to grind. You want it a little coarser than you would have it for your espresso machine. If it is too coarse, the water will take too long to pass through, and you may be left with an extremely strong cup of coffee. If it is too fine, the water passes through too quickly, and you will get an insipid-tasting coffee. The fresher your ground beans are, the better the taste.
- Fill the Nespresso reusable pods with the ground beans.
- Tamp the coffee down
- Close the capsule and set to brew.
When you throw your coffee grounds away remember your garden or pot plants. Coffee beans make an excellent fertilizer.
Best Nespresso Reusable Pods
CAPMESSO Reusable Espresso Capsules
These capsules are easy to use. The pod uses a foil sticker lid. After grinding your beans, carefully fill the pod and place the lid on the base. Slide into the machine and switch on. No mess, no fuss, and it gives a good crema.
Although the capsules are reusable, they are not indestructible and should only be used for about a month. The stick on top is disposable after every use. A bit of a drawback is that they are only available for the Original line.
Alchemy Bar Goods
This is another easy Nespresso reusable pod. They fit the Original line. They are made from BPA-free plastic that can withstand high temperatures. Because they can stand high temperatures, they are dishwasher safe. This is a plus towards cleaning up. They make use of the latching tops, so the entire pod is reusable.
When these Nespresso reusable pods are used, the pressure that builds up before the hot water passes through is low. This leads to one drawback. The coffee is weaker than you would expect, and the crema is not thick.
I Cafilas Stainless Steel Refillable Coffee Capsules
These Nespresso reusable pods are for use with the Original line. They are made from stainless steel. The rim of the cup has a rubber gasket. This gasket helps build the pressure needed for a thick crema. Grind your coffee finely. Fill the pod to just below the top for the best results.
SealPod Stainless Steel Refillable Nespresso Pods
These Nespresso reusable pods are compatible with the original line of Nespresso machines. They are easy to use and easy to clean up. They use a sticker lid which is not reusable. Remember, sticker lids help the pressure build-up ensuring a thick layer of crema. This article is bearing all the truths with Nespresso reusable pods. The capsule is smaller than the regulation size, so the downside is that your cuppa will be smaller.
Blusea Stainless Steel Coffee Capsule
These Nespresso reusable pods are the only ones on the list that are compatible with the Vertuo line. The Vertuo line spins the capsule during the filtration process. It is a good-looking pod that lasts long as it should be rust-free. The lid is sealed using oxygen-sealing techniques. As with all Nespresso reusable pods, a well-sealed lid gives a satisfyingly thick crema.
Are Nespresso reusable pods the answer?
They do work, and they do work efficiently. The resultant coffee is not as strong as with the disposable pods. The pods cannot contain as many coffee grounds as the disposable ones. If you overfill the pod, it will impede the progress of the water, and your coffee will be even weaker.
If you have a Nespresso coffee maker, then Nespresso reusable pods are a must, even if you are not too concerned about your carbon footprint. It lands on everyone's lap to do what they can. We need to make this world of ours sustainable for our children, grandchildren, and the dwindling numbers of wildlife.
Nespresso Or Espresso?
If you have already purchased a coffee maker, then this section will be purely academic for you. If you want to buy a coffee maker, the following may help you decide which to buy.
The espresso machine has no throw-away components. The Nespresso machine uses pods. Pods are either disposable or reusable. The disposable pods come at a price, whereas the Nespresso reusable pods save money and the environment.
- Do you want a rich, flavorful cuppa with a nice thick layer of crema? Then An espresso machine is for you.
- Do you want a consistent taste each time you brew? Then an espresso is what you need.
- Do you want a good cup of coffee in the simplest way possible? Then you want a Nespresso machine.
The Verdict
When you purchase your coffee maker, you will be making a bit of an investment as they do not come cheap, so you had better be very happy with your purchase. The only way you can be happy is to weigh up the pros and cons carefully.
- Convenience: Nespresso machine. One, two, three, and your cup of coffee is ready
- Cost of the Espresso machine: The only running cost you will have is buying the beans. Well, you would have to do that with a Nespresso machine. The Nespresso machine's disposable pods are expensive. The Nespresso reusable pods cut the cost, but with some, they will have limited usage. Other reusable pods will be more expensive but will last longer.
- Taste: For me, espresso wins every time. The taste is richer, and the crema is thicker.
- Environment: The Espresso machine can be viewed as a positive influence here as the coffee beans could be composted. Disposable pods for the Nespresso machine clutter the environment. The only way to go with the Nespresso machine is to use Nespresso reusable pods.
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MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content.
All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.