A coffee pod is the coffee development equivalent of the teabag: a pre-portioned serving of coffee wrapped in a paper filter, ready to be infused with water. Ese (Easy Serving Espresso) is the worldwide industry standard for coffee pods. Any pod that meets the Ese standard can be used in any espresso motor that is Ese compatible.
An Ese pod contains in the middle of 6.5-7.5 grams of coffee, packed into a tight circular puck. The pod is placed in a special pod filter (usually supplied with your espresso machine) that fits inside the portafilter.
Coffee
History of Ese pods
Coffee pod machines were originally designed for use in the Italian workplace, to make it quicker and cleaner for workers to make and enjoy espresso in the office. Later on, these machines were adapted for use in restaurants to negate the need for anything to be trained in using a original espresso machine.
The use of espresso pod machines in the home did not come to be beloved until Illy created the Ese standard in 1998. With the commence of this standard, Illy made a concerted effort to mass store these machines as suitable way to enjoy espresso in the home.
Ese pods vs. original Preparation
The key selling point of Ese pods is convenience. The original making ready formula for espresso requires skill and creates a lot of mess. Grinders have to be calibrated to accomplish the correct flow rate; the coffee needs to be dosed and tamped correctly; and afterward coffee grounds have to be cleaned off all the equipment, the work exterior and regularly the floor too. With an Ese pod there is none of this. The pods are already pre-dosed and pre-tamped and the coffee grounds stay contained in the paper filter. Once finished with, the pod can be discarded like a teabag
However, the convenience of Ese pods comes at a price: the taste of a traditionally prepared espresso (done correctly) is excellent to that of an Ese espresso. In comparison to the original method, Ese espresso lacks depth of flavour and life in the mouth. The presume for this is Ese pods are not as fresh as the coffee used in the original method, and with pods the brewing time is too quick to excerpt the fullest flavour.
When development espresso using the original method, the coffee is ground immediately before use to sustain freshness. This is because the actual grinding process releases aromatics from the coffee which are lost from the end cup if not used quickly. Ground coffee also has a much larger exterior area than that of a whole bean, leaving it more vulnerable to air. However, Ese pods are far from stale. Once ground, coffee is speedily tamped into a tight puck which, although essential to development espresso, also serves to cut the exterior area of the coffee. Most manufacturers also seal their pods in private foil packages to additional sustain their flavour.
The flow rate of an Ese espresso is quicker than that of the original method. In the original formula the aim is to yield an espresso of nearby 1.25oz in volume within 25-30 seconds, as this is the optimum time to excerpt as much flavour as inherent before releasing bitter compounds and inordinate caffeine into the drink. With an Ese pod it can take less than half that time to yield the equivalent volume. Ese pods are designed to have a quicker flow rate to enhance consistency from shot to shot. However, the quicker flow rate is caused by less resistance to the water during the brewing process and this in turn leads to a lower brewing pressure, resulting in a flatter extraction. As there is no way to operate the flow-rate with an Ese pod, it would be impossible to make espresso variations such as a ristretto or lungo.
The fact that Ese pods are pre-ground negates the need for a coffee grinder, which can be a expansive saving. A good abrasive for espresso development will cost over £100. However, the cost of Ese pods is considerably more than coffee beans. Expect to pay three times as much for an Ese pod than you would for the equivalent weight in beans. On the distinct side, unlike beans, no coffee is wasted with Ese pods.
Ese pods vs. Other Coffee Capsules
There are many dissimilar types of coffee capsules ready on the store other than Ese pods, such as Nespresso, and Senso. In terms of price and taste, there is limited inequity in the middle of Ese pods and capsules. However, the major question with these other capsules is that, at present, they are exclusively made by one manufacturer: Nespresso is made by Nestle, and Senso by Douwe Egberts. So, for example, if you select a Nespresso compatible motor you are limited to Nestle coffee. On the other hand, Ese pods are made to an industry wide standard and are consequently ready from all the main Italian roasters, such as Illy and Lavazza, and many other roasters too. So with an Ese compatible espresso machine, you have a much wider option of coffee. Not only that, but with most Ese compatible machines you have the option of development espresso the original way too.
What is an Ese Coffee Pod?
