What Are ESE Coffee Pods?

Are you wondering, “What are ESE coffee pods?” Easy Serve Espresso (ESE) coffee pod is an alternative to grinding your coffee beans or traditional coffee pods.

If you’ve never seen an Easy Serve Espresso (ESE) coffee pod yet, you can think of it as a tea bag – but instead of tea, you will find coffee inside. These coffee pods are compatible with popular coffee machine brands such as Delonghi, Krups, and more. 

How Do ESE Coffee Pods Work? 

An ESE coffee pod fits into the portafilter of an espresso machine. You brew your espresso, eliminating grinding your coffee beans’ time, mess, and noise. The used coffee pod lifts out easily and goes straight into the bin.

The ESE coffee pods are typically 44mm in diameter and can be used in a manual espresso machine (with a filter basket). Thus, you won’t have to go out and get a new sophisticated machine just to enjoy a cup of your favorite rocket fuel. Each pod contains one serving of coffee (which is typically equal to 6.8 to 7.5 grams of coffee) and is ready to brew.

There are many ESE coffee pod manufacturers out there – to give you an idea of what’s available, here are some of the best brands on the market.

Top 7 ESE Coffee Pods

1. The Best ESE Coffee Pods For The Eco-Conscious 

Let’s start with Illy Medium Classico ESE Espresso Coffee Paper Pods, the Italian brand of choice by many coffee drinkers and the first company to market coffee pods. The Illy Medium Classico ESE Espresso Coffee Paper Pods offer a rich, smooth taste with a distinct flavor of chocolate, toast, and caramel. 

The single-serve pods are enveloped in filter paper to maintain their flavor. They can be used in machines such as Delonghi, Dualit 3-in-1, Dualit Express-Auto 4-in-1, Francis Francis, Gaggia, Kitchenaid 5KES2102, Krups XP5210, Krups XP5620, Morphy Richards Accents Pebble, Saeco, and SMEG ECF01. 

You get enough bags to make 18 cups of coffee. They are available in decaffeinated and dark roast options.

2. The Best ESE Coffee Pods For Those Who Love Strong Coffee

The Baronet Coffee espresso pods pack a serious punch. Each pod contains 7.2 grams of fresh coffee and is individually wrapped. You get 18 pods per pack, so it should last at least two weeks if you don’t drink a huge amount of coffee.

The brand’s dark roast is deep and robust. It has a little bite but is not overbearing. Best of all, many customers found the coffee wasn’t particularly acidic, so it’s good for those with sensitive stomachs.

3. The Best ESE Coffee Pods For Italian Coffee Fans 

You may enjoy sipping coffee in a coffee shop, but Lavazza Gran Espresso Single-Serve Coffee Pods offer an easy way to make Italian espresso at home – so maybe you can save yourself a trip out! 

It’s full-bodied, and the smooth crema adds to its allure. I also like the spiciness, and there’s more than just a hint of chocolate there. 

The medium roast makes the most of natural Arabica coffee beans from the Cerrado Mogiana and South Minus regions of Brazil. The blend also consists of Arabica beans from Honduras and Robusta beans from Uganda.

4. Best ESE Pods For Those With Refined Taste

Lucaffé is an Italian brand with one goal: to make its customers smile. The coffee is inspected during every stage of the production process to ensure only the best of the best reaches customers. Each pod is wrapped individually to preserve freshness.

The medium roast pods have a deep, chocolatey flavor that delights the senses. Unlike other brands, you might have to tamp the coffee yourself before brewing.

5. The Best ESE Pods For Medium Roast Lovers

Although espresso is typically made from dark roast coffee, sometimes you want something a little lighter. Bristot’s medium roast ESE pods will satisfy that craving.

This coffee is a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans. You’ll detect hints of chocolate and grains in your brewed java.

6. The Best ESE Pods For Those Who Plan Ahead

If you’re a coffee addict like me, this box containing 150 coffee pods should keep you fueled for a long time. The Caffé Mercanti Rossa Italian Coffee ESE pods are packaged and roasted in Naples to the highest quality.

Each pod is wrapped individually to ensure they’re fresh when you’re ready to brew. The coffee has a robust, deep flavor with hints of spices, cacao, and tobacco.

7. The Best ESE Coffee Pods For Costa Coffee Fans

Last on the list, but not least, is Caffé Borbone’s Red Blend espresso. This coffee is for those who want to replicate authentic Italian coffee at home. It is deep, full-bodied, and dark, with a heavenly layer of crema on top to counteract the bitterness.

Those who love bold flavors will enjoy this brew, but you can add some milk to tone it down.

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