What is capsule coffee?
Externally, the capsule is a hermetically sealed container. It can be made of aluminum, plastic or a combination of both. The top of the container is covered with foil. Some manufacturers additionally use paper layers or special materials.
Inside the capsules there is natural ground coffee, often compressed. Depending on the company and type of drink, it can be either regular espresso or a more complex drink with milk, flavorings and sweeteners. The concentration of caffeine also varies, and some products may not contain it.
Manufacturers of capsule coffee focus on the quality of the product, so even regular espresso comes in several varieties. And some went further and began packaging tea, cocoa, milk and hot chocolate in the same way.
Filter coffee
Contrary to the popular belief that filter coffee is a relic of the past, modern city coffee shops stand out. Filter coffee is extremely popular as an alternative brewing method. The essence of preparation is to pour hot water through a special filter directly into a cup. The variety of filters is amazing: coffee shops use not only traditional paper ones, but also metal, fabric and even nylon. Another myth: classic espresso and filter coffee are identical. This is wrong. Unlike espresso with its density and layers, good filter coffee is clean, clear and smooth, allowing the true flavor of the drink to come out.
Advantages and disadvantages of coffee capsules
These products are in high demand among customers. This is explained by the benefits of capsule coffee:
- does not contain harmful additives;
- can be stored for a long time without loss of organoleptic properties;
- easy to prepare;
- there is no need to wash the coffee machine for a long time after it;
- Compared to ground natural coffee, it has a more pronounced taste and aroma.
Despite the advantages, coffee capsules also have some disadvantages:
- the price is higher, one cup of aromatic drink costs 1.5-2 times more;
- production assumes that roasted beans need to be allowed to rest for a couple of weeks before being packed into containers; as a result, the taste and aroma of such coffee is less pronounced when compared with freshly ground coffee;
- excess garbage in the form of empty cups;
- capsules are intended for coffee machines of the same company.
Potential harms of capsule coffee
Despite the fact that capsule coffee is considered a clean and safe product, it can actually cause some harm. We are talking about low quality containers. The cheapest option to make coffee containers is to use aluminum.
Usually, another layer is laid between the metal and the contents of the capsule to prevent their contact. But sometimes the capsule is damaged and aluminum ions penetrate into the drink. In this case, harm to health may occur.
Manufacturers of capsule drinks and how the brands differ
Manufacturer of the capsule coffee drink Tchibo Cafissimo
Tchibo Cafissimo is one of the most famous brands today. The company produces 3 types of capsule coffee: Cafissimo Kaffee, Caffè Crema and Cafissimo Espresso. Each of them has its own unique aroma and properties. The cost of 10 capsules is 300 rubles. This manufacturer is considered the first among the rest.
Single Cup is a young company that produces capsule coffee machines and, accordingly, capsules for them. During its short period of work on the market, the company has won the love of people who do not like to overpay. The company is considered honest because they do not charge a lot of money for their product. Single Cup is constantly expanding its range and actively cooperating with other companies. The cost of 10 capsules is 240 rubles.
Coffee from Single Cup
Nespresso is another popular brand of coffee and coffee machines. It has been on the market for a long time and has gained popularity among lovers of good, tasty coffee, however, recently, more and more people are writing that the quality of the drink has dropped. The cost of the product in capsules is from 300 rubles for 10 capsules.
How many cups is one capsule enough for?
One coffee capsule can contain from 2 to 8 g of ground coffee beans. Also, additional weight can be provided by auxiliary components for more complex drinks. But despite this, one capsule is intended to prepare only one cup. Even if you open a glass and try to prepare the contents without a coffee machine, there is no point in dividing it into several servings. The contents of the container are designed strictly for one cup.
Cowboy method
Do not worry. To make coffee using this method, you don't need a horse or a huge hat. But such a drink can be prepared in almost any conditions - if you don’t mind that there will be undissolved particles in your coffee mug.
You will need:
- ground coffee;
- water;
- kettle or saucepan;
- spoon or any other mixing device;
- mug.
How to make coffee
- Place ground coffee in the kettle (one tablespoon per serving).
- Add water to it (approximately 240 ml per serving). Mix well.
- Place the kettle over the flame (or on the stove) and bring the contents to a boil.
- After the liquid has simmered for two minutes, remove the kettle from the heat.
- Leave it alone for four minutes to allow the coffee particles to settle to the bottom.
- Slowly pour the coffee into the mug, avoiding any coffee particles. But, after all, this is a cowboy drink, so some grounds won't hurt.
Overmont aluminum kettle with silicone handle – 1.2 l
Approximate cost: $15.98
What kind of capsule coffee is there?
Most often you can find varieties of espresso in capsules. There is also decaf coffee, milk drink, green coffee with ginger.
The first company to start producing such a product was Nespresso. The company sold both the products themselves and the machines to use them. When the patent for this product expired, the line of capsule coffee was supplemented with products from other brands.
Nespresso
Manufacturer: Nestlé. There are 16 varieties of coffee available, including decaffeinated coffee, hot chocolate, and mountain herbal tea. Capsules consist of food-grade polymer.
Dolce Gusto
Nescafe Dolce Gusto capsules and coffee machines will help you prepare delicious espresso, Americano, cappuccino, decaffeinated coffee or hot chocolate. The capsules are made of food-grade plastic. And the assortment is varied - 3 types of black coffee and 3 with milk, cocoa, hot chocolate, 4 types of tea, milk.
Tassimo
Designed for Bosch coffee machines. The product differs from other brands in that the coffee in the cup is not compressed; the drink is prepared using a somewhat non-standard technology.
Paulig
Most of the range is made from South American Arabica. The company produces classic black coffee, decaffeinated coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate, and tea.
Lavazza
Suitable only for coffee machines of this company. The range includes 6 varieties of espresso. The capsules are made of food-grade plastic.
Squesito
The products are made from high-quality coffee varieties; there are mixtures of Arabica and Robusta for a richer blend. The product line includes 4 varieties of espresso, decaf coffee and hot chocolate. The capsules are made from a combination of aluminum and food-grade plastic.
Cafissimo
This product belongs to the Tchibo brand. The assortment is quite modest, but the quality is high. There are no varieties with milk powder or cocoa.
Handkerchief method
Why have a Keurig coffee machine when you can make one cup of coffee using simpler, less expensive materials that are better for the environment?
This method requires a little patience, but you will likely not end up with a drink with ground coffee particles in it. You can use a glass Mason jar to make the scarf method look extra cool. Well, if you like that.
You will need:
- ground coffee;
- hot water;
- paper clips or clothespins;
- a clean handkerchief or other cotton or linen cloth;
- mug or Mason jar.
How to make coffee
- Place the handkerchief on the mug, then gently press it in the center so that a portion of ground coffee can be poured into the indentation.
- To prevent the fabric from moving, secure it with paper clips or clothespins. Use at least three fasteners to prevent the scarf from falling into the liquid.
- Place one portion of ground coffee on a cloth.
- Pour in a small amount of hot water. Over the next 30 seconds it should be completely absorbed into the coffee.
- Slowly and carefully pour in the remaining hot water. Keep an eye on the clothespins and adjust them if they start to move.
- Put away the scarf and ground coffee and enjoy your drink.
Transparent Ball jar with wide neck and lid - 470 ml - set of 2 pcs.
Approximate cost: $9.44
How to use coffee capsules?
Each manufacturer produces capsules strictly for one brand of coffee machine. Some coffee lovers argue that there are exceptions. For example, a Nespresso product can be prepared not only in coffee makers of this brand, but also in some Krups and Kitchen Aid models. And Dolce Gusto can also be prepared using Delonghi brand technique.
Regardless of the manufacturer, the principle of preparing coffee in capsules is the same. You just need to insert the cup into the special section of the coffee maker and press the Start button. Even if it is a drink with milk, a cappuccino maker and additional containers will not be required. The coffee will be ready as quickly as possible, regardless of its type.
How to brew coffee capsules without a coffee machine?
It’s definitely not worth buying such a product specifically without having special equipment at home. The principle of operation of a capsule coffee maker is that a needle pierces the cup from below, hot water is supplied into the container under high pressure, and then the finished extract is pushed out into the mug through a hole in the lid.
It will not be possible to create such pressure using improvised means, no matter how hard you try. As a result, the finished drink will be less rich, aromatic and tasty.
But if you really want coffee and there are no other options, you can try several methods:
- Remove the contents by piercing the cap or making a cut in the plastic. Pour into a geyser coffee maker and cook in the usual way.
- You can cook it in a Turkish oven in the same way.
- As a last resort, the contents of the glass can be placed directly into the mug and pour boiling water over it. But in this case, the quality of the finished drink will be low.
In order not to spend money on coffee capsules for your coffee machine every time, you can purchase reusable capsules and add freshly ground coffee there.
Purover
Coffee experts call pour over the fundamental method of brewing coffee. The technology is based on a special design: a funnel with a filter through which hot water is poured. As a rule, a vessel is used into which the coffee is poured, but many people prepare this coffee directly into the cup. Then the method is practically no different from the preparation of filter coffee described below.
This same cooking method is called funnel or hario
However, professionals use an additional vessel, which allows them to saturate the coffee with oxygen and maintain its strength. The funnel itself plays a decisive role in the preparation of such coffee. Hario V60 (V - because of the V-shape, and 60 is the angle of the funnel itself) has already become a legend due to the fact that it speeds up extraction (the process of interaction of ground coffee with water).
Using a pour over coffee machine, coffee is prepared in no longer than 4 minutes.
