There is little dispute that if you want the freshest coffee brew, using freshly roasted, ground coffee beans is considered to be the way to go if you want to retain maximum taste, although this depends on several factors, including blend, roast and storage methods. However, it is also not disputed that turning coffee beans into a satisfying brew does involve a bit of a faff. While many of us may welcome the process, our busy lives mean that time isn’t always on our side. Statistics reveal that 48% of Australians own a coffee pod machine, suggesting that while Aussies love their coffee, they are also looking for a convenient way of brewing up a tasty cup at home.
Statistics also reveal that coffee pod machines are the most popular coffee machines in Australian homes. But, just how do they stack up compared to brewing your coffee from scratch using coffee beans? Let’s take a look.
Freshness
Beans
Green coffee beans that haven’t been roasted can keep fresh for up to a year. But, once roasted, coffee beans begin to lose their flavour. However, they should retain their freshness for up to 3 months—but this is dependent on the blend, roast and storage methods. Furthermore, once the coffee beans have been ground, this reduces the freshness to around 1-2 weeks, although in vacuum-packed bags it can be extended to 3-5 months.
Roasting coffee beans does require some effort, but there is minimal effort to grind coffee beans, which may be a reasonable payoff to ensure the freshness of your brew.
Pods
Coffee capsules should be drunk within an ideal time frame of 6-9 months from the date of purchase. They are typically packed with a production date when the capsules were loaded with coffee and an expiration date, which is the recommended date that the coffee should be drunk. While it is still safe to drink the coffee after this date, it will start to lose freshness.
In terms of freshness, pods will keep for longer than your own freshly ground beans and will guarantee fresh coffee every time. This does not necessarily mean they are superior, but it should be an undertaking that the coffee is not a poor one.
Fascinating fact:
Keep your coffee warm by adding cream
Cream increases the thickness (viscosity) of the coffee, causing the evaporation rate to decrease which slows down the process of heat loss to keep your coffee warmer for longer.
Convenience
There is no doubt that the process of making a fresh coffee from bean to cup is a bit of a faff. Even if you are not roasting your own beans, grinding them and storing them is a process on its own. However, there are bean to cup machines that automates the whole process while you get on with doing something else—be it feeding the cat or taking out the rubbish.
Even if you are not grinding your own beans, most methods of making a cup of coffee—whether a filter coffee machine, cafetiere/French press or stovetop percolator—involve some degree of waiting around while your coffee brews. But, you know what they say? Everything good comes to those who wait.
On the other hand, coffee pod machines are nothing if not convenient. Simply choose your pod; place it in the machine and press start. A minute later, you will have your perfectly formed coffee ready to drink.
Coffee Beans vs Pods Cost
The price of coffee machines versus pods can vary enormously. An entry-level filter coffee machine can cost as little as AUD 60, and even cheaper than that is the straightforward French press/cafetiere. If you want to grind your own coffee, you can pick up a simple hand grinder for around AUD 50, or bean to cup machines can cost anything from AUD 200 to thousands of dollars.
The capsule coffee makers are generally a little more expensive than the price you’d pay for a cheap coffee machine and grinder, but are considerably less expensive than bean to cup machines.
How Much Does a Cup of Coffee Made with Beans vs Pods Cost?
With many factors influencing the price of the coffee you buy, this can be more difficult to work out. However, it is generally agreed that coffee pods tend to be more expensive per cup than coffee made from beans. Supermarket coffee pods cost from around 30c each whereas branded pods cost more than double.
A 200g bag of coffee beans should provide 24-28 cups of coffee. At AUD 12.50 a bag, each cup of brewed coffee should come in at around 50 cents a cup—mid-range between the cheapest and most expensive pods. However, if you buy your beans in bulk, purchasing a kilo bag, for example, the cost is likely to be significantly lower, making the price less than 30 cents a cup.
Coffee is a major part of our lives. It has become so integrated into the fabric of Australian culture that it’s hard to imagine life without it. Most people start their day with coffee, and others use it as a way to relax after a long day. While there are many ways to enjoy your coffee, you should consider all of your options before making your decision. Coffee pods are certainly convenient and you can get a decent cup of coffee from them, but there is something inherently rewarding about the ritual of making a coffee from scratch that is appealing to many coffee enthusiasts.
