NexPod Review - Load Your Own Nespresso Capsules
NexPod is a new pod system for the Nespresso line of makers that allows you to use your own capsules with your favorite espresso coffee. You might even be able to save a little money over the ~$0.55 cost per Nespresso capsule; I paid $23 on eBay for mine that shipped from Switzerland. That puts it at about $0.28 each empty capsule. Adding up the cost of about 4-5g of coffee per capsule, that adds about a dime to the cost of each unit. These can save about $15 - $20 per box of 80 units; not bad.
It arrived in about two weeks. The box is packed with 80 plastic capsules and a bunch of paper disks, the filters the you will load into the plastic capsule.
To make the review as fair as possible, I cut into a Nespresso Ristretto capsule and poured the coffee into the NexPod, and closed it. There was some coffee left over; I didn't realize how packed the Nespresso capsules were! Rest assured, I packed as much into the NexPod as I could and only left a small amount out. The loading of the capsules is easy, but if you were to do several of these, you would want to keep them in an air tight container, as the capsules have the little holes to let the water flow in and the espresso flow out.
I had a little trouble jamming the NexPod into my Nespresso Essenza C-100 and a yet to be launched Nespresso Citiz brewer as it hung up just before getting into position. I gave it a quick tap, and the capsule fell into the bin, opening up and dumping the ground coffee all over the spend capsule bin. After being a bit more precise, I did it again, tapped it and got it into position quickly closing the lever to keep it from falling again.
Brewing gave it a good head of crema, about half of the level I usually find in the regular Ristretto, and sadly the cup was a bit weak too. I ran through a few of these, and continued to pack as tight as I could, with similar results. It's too bad, because the promise of a decent alternative is there. In the end, with the hassle of making up the pods, the somewhat weaker results and the concern over the pods not quite loading as easily as the Nespresso capsules, I have to say that these are not for me. If you are interested in getting some to pack in your favorite espresso that you just can't match at the Nespresso store, go for it. I just don't see the value in saving up to $20 across a few months' time given the trade-offs.
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Posted by Scott Martin at June 25, 2009 8:41 AM
Thanks for the review. I suspected the effort wouldn't be worth the savings. I was also suspect when the NexPod company suggested that the capsule only took 5g of coffee when a proper single espresso should be made with 7g. This would explain the leftover coffee you had when you transferred from the Ristretto capsule.
I had thought that as an emergency backup plan, a box of these would be potentially handy. However, neither Philadelphia (where I now live) DC (my previous city), nor any other city with which I'm familiar does regular recycling of the type of plastic used in these, which is #5. With my Outpresso device I can recycle my Nespresso capsules and reduce my guilt for using disposable capsules.
These make-your-own capsules may have a few problems, but I may have to give them a try, given Nespresso's total lack of any really fine coffees, such as a Celebes Kalossi (my favorite), a Mocha Sanani Yemen or a Sumatra Mandheling.
If it takes packing the pods tighter or roasting the beans longer, then that's not a problem. Of course, that's assuming that I can find an answer, at all. At least it's worth a shot, in order to get really decent coffee.
The new Nespresso Indirya (sp?) coffee is a huge step up for Nespresso, but it still leaves a lot to be desired. If these make-your-own pods can be made to work, then they will be well worth the effort.
However, with my luck, about the time I am getting the make-your-own pods to work, Nespresso will announce the release of a Celebes or a Sumatra coffee.
Tanks a lot for the review. We find it fair and it tells the status of our product in June/July 2009. We are making real efforts and investments to improve the quality and the points we are working on are:
1. Weaker espresso: We think we have solved this problem with the new edition of the Nexpod, available from 10 July 2009. The new capsules have better sealing capacity and work also with the Citiz machine, this resulting in stronger esperesso.
2. We are working on the easiness to introduce the capsule in the machine, and we hope to solve this problem in a couple of month from now.
3. Costs: we are trying to find distributors and retailers all over the world, to be able to offer Nexpod at a more competitive price.
Again many thanks to the author of this review and the community here, which is helping us a lot in improving our product. Our aim is really to offer a valuable alternative to the original Nespresso capsules.
NexPod, Freedom of Espresso.
G. Alberti, The NexPod Team
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