Refillable Nespresso capsules or Senseo pods. Are they a good alternative?

We explored the fascinating question of whether it might be sensible to use refillable alternative capsules or pods at home. The idea behind this is that Nespresso or Senseo (and similar compatible machines) bring their coffee machines to market at very low prices by cross-subsidizing their coffees. Ultimately, they make money from the rather expensive coffee products made for these machines.

In terms of quality, the coffee makers are actually quite good and, compared to conventional fully automatic machines, unbeatably cheap.

The refillable capsule

Nespresso capsules are all the rage. However, these coffee capsules are extremely expensive, waste raw materials, and leave behind tons of waste. Refillable systems are a better option. But how good are they, and do they taste good?

Admittedly, genuine Nespresso capsule coffee tastes good enough. But that's also because the coffee and capsules are perfectly matched with a great deal of experience and maximum control. Recreating that with refillable capsules isn't easy.

We are currently testing various refillable capsule systems with different Lapuzia coffees and adjusted grind sizes to achieve the best possible results.

With the metal capsules, we had the impression that they initially used up some of the water's heat, resulting in a slightly under-extracted coffee, meaning it tasted flat and a bit acidic. The coffee from the plastic capsules actually tasted a bit better.

It's a matter of experience. During testing, we found that the grind (adapted to the capsule as much as possible) and the freshness (as fresh as possible, which we guarantee) are the main factors that determine whether the coffee in the capsules turns out well. The fill level of the capsule is also important: If it's not filled tightly enough, the coffee tends to be too thin; if it's over-pressed, some machines stop working. We also found the manual mode to be ideal, where you can stop the water flow yourself as soon as you notice that the coffee is getting thinner.

It may take some time until we find the optimal blend of coffee type and grind size for capsules, as well as get the hang of filling them. We'll continue testing and share our results and recommendations here. We're on the right track. Then you can enjoy great coffee—and avoid tons of aluminum waste. It's worth the effort.

The refillable coffee pad

Since coffee pad machines have become increasingly popular and have become absolute bestsellers within just a few years, we have also tested various refillable systems and achieved good results faster than with capsules.

Unlike store-bought coffee pods, you can fill the refillable versions with your favorite coffee. And if you grind fresh, the coffee from the pods can easily compete with any good filter method.

A detailed description of our coffees for this brewing method and how to handle the pods, as well as grind size recommendations, will be available here soon in another article.

For further information, please visit us in store or send your questions to info@lapuzia.de.