Coffee Capsules vs. Pods: What Are The Differences?
Many people treat coffee capsules and pods like they’re the same product. In fact, they actually have a lot of differences despite their similarities. If you’re trying to buy them, be it for business purposes or personal use, it’s best that you know the differences between the two.
Coffee Capsules
Coffee capsules are small aluminium or plastic containers that have pre-measured coffee grounds in them. As they’re sealed tightly, they can keep your coffee fresh until you want to brew it. These capsules are designed to go into a specific capsule coffee machine, but each brand often has its own settings or format.
The sealed cup is typically made of a foil base of varying sizes and dimensions. Once the capsule is in the machine, the top and bottom of the cup will be pierced so water can seep through at high pressure. It’s very similar to how a professional espresso machine works, which aims to provide an optimised flavour and intensity of the beans.
Coffee Pods
Coffee pods are flat, small, round pouches made of filter paper. Each pod usually contains about seven to 12 grams of ground coffee. Like coffee capsules, they’re also designed to go into specific pod machines, but some pods are also meant to be used with drip brewers.
Coffee pods work similarly to tea bags. However, you can’t treat them like tea bags. Instead, they rely on a low and slow pressure to extract the coffee grinds’ flavour. This is what a coffee pod machine is doing. It’ll run water through the pod under low pressure, lower than a coffee capsule machine’s pressure.
Which One is Better?
It’s hard to say which is the better option between coffee capsules and pods. The answer depends on your coffee-drinking habits and preferences.
Coffee Pods Advantages
As coffee pods are made of mostly paper, they’re highly biodegradable. Some coffee pods can also go across multiple machines, so you won’t be as worried when looking for the perfect machine.
Cost-wise, there are differences in prices between soft and hard pods. Soft pods are generally cheaper than their other similar products.
Disadvantages
If you prioritise taste over anything, some soft pods often feel more watery due to their looser form. In addition, coffee pods often don’t seal as well as coffee capsules. They’re also harder to organise as the pods are unstackable.
Coffee Capsules Advantages
When comparing the seals, coffee capsules are sealed better. This ensures your coffee can preserve freshness longer and will deliver a more consistent flavour when brewed. The seal isn’t the only thing keeping the coffee ground fresh; they’re also typically vacuum sealed to preserve their acidity, crema, sweet notes, and roast strength. This also makes them more hygienic in production.
Coffee capsules are also as recyclable as coffee pods. Due to their rigid form, you can easily stack them when storing.
Disadvantages
Most capsules only fit one specific machine, so you can’t use them on other capsule machines. Some capsule materials, especially plastic ones, can’t be recycled.
