Coffee Beans Vs Coffee Pods: Which One’s Right for You?
Coffee beans or coffee pods? It’s the kind of question that can divide households. While there’s a time and a place for both, if you’re not sure which side you’re on, don’t worry; we’ve all been there. From taste and freshness to convenience and cost, both options have their own pros and cons, and you might find yourself drawn more to one than the other.
Wait, What’s the Difference?
Before we get started, let’s quickly clear up what we mean by coffee beans and coffee pods.
Coffee beans are the ‘real deal’. They’re the seeds of the cherry-like fruit found on coffee plants and are roasted to make the drink we all know and love. Coffee beans are usually ground just before brewing, but you can also buy them pre-ground if you’re not quite ready to commit to grinding at home. They’re super versatile and work with loads of different brew methods.
Coffee pods, also known as capsules, are single-use portions of pre-ground coffee sealed in a compostable plastic, or aluminium container. You simply pop one into a compatible machine, hit a button, and you will have a quick cup of coffee with minimal effort. No grinding or measuring, just coffee on demand. But does that mean it’s better? Read on to find out more.
Flavour
Let’s start with flavour, because let’s face it, for most coffee lovers, this is the most important factor.
Coffee beans, especially the multi-award-winning signature blends we sell at FiXX, give you the best chance of getting a full-bodied flavour in every cup. With the right grind size, brewing time, water temperature and coffee-to-water ratio, you can experience the very best flavour that coffee has to offer. Of course, the smell of freshly ground beans is an extra benefit to enjoy every time you want a cup of coffee.
Coffee pods, on the other hand, are pre-ground and sealed in individual capsules. While the sealing process helps to keep the coffee fresh, lots of enthusiasts say that the flavour just isn’t the same. Once coffee is ground, it starts to lose its magic and even if it’s locked in a tiny pod, over time it will start to lose its depth. But, some people love the taste of coffee pods, and that’s the beauty of coffee; there is something for everyone.
The other thing you have to bear in mind is that you will only ever be able to get 5-6 grams of coffee into one of those capsules, while all other coffee drinks will be using twice, if not three times that amount of coffee – so that of course will impact flavour.
Convenience
There’s no denying it; coffee pods are convenient. Just put one into your coffee machine, push a button and boom, you have a cup of coffee. They’re perfect if you’re still half asleep, in a rush to get out the door, or you just want minimal faff.
Coffee beans need a little bit more effort. You’ll need a grinder, and a bit of time to grind, brew and clean up. But let’s face it, if you’re here reading coffee blogs, you probably don’t mind a more hands-on approach to making a cup of coffee. Also, with the right brewing equipment, making fresh coffee from beans doesn’t have to be complicated.
Take the AeroPress, this compact and portable device makes it possible to enjoy smooth coffee that’s full of flavour wherever you are. You have complete control over your cup; you can use pretty much whatever grind size you want, adjust the amount of coffee or water you use, decide how long you leave it to brew for, and even the amount of pressure you use to push. Dare we say it, it’s impossible to make a bad cup of coffee with AeroPress and FiXX beans.
Cost
This is a difficult point to explore because the equipment required can vary in price significantly, as can the price of coffee beans versus pods. The best way to look at it might be the yield outcome and then the quality in the cup – so it will be subjective.
A 250g bag of coffee should yield approximately 16 cups of coffee. Whereas the box of pods can be easily worked out based on the number of pods in the box.
Sustainability
Typically, coffee pods are made from compostable plastic or aluminium, both of which can be recycled. You first need to clean the pods and potentially separate the different materials used to make them.
You might be wondering, “Can you buy reusable coffee pods?” and the short answer is yes.
But, you will need to buy coffee beans, grind them to the right size and then put them into the reusable pod before you can make a cup of coffee. While reusable pods are better for the environment, they rather remove the whole ‘convenience’ factor of this option and you might as well make filter coffee instead, right?
Coffee beans, in general, are a more sustainable choice. You may need a paper filter, depending on how you’re brewing your coffee, but there’s very little waste with every cup. Our FiXX coffee bags can go straight in your general recycling bin once they’re empty, and you don’t need to worry about removing the labels because they use a biodegradable adhesive.
We’ve even come up with some ideas of ways you can use your used coffee grounds, so nothing has to go to landfill.
So, Which One’s Right for You?
There is no right or wrong answer when choosing between coffee beans and coffee pods, ultimately, it all depends on what you’re looking for in your cup.
If you want to step up your at-home coffee game and experiment a little with coffee beans, we have a solution for everyone at FiXX. From light to dark roasts, we supply a range of coffee beans in Ireland that are suitable for various brewing methods.
Need help picking the right beans for your taste? Take a look at our blog all about coffee strength, or better yet, try the FiXX selection box to find your favourite.
One last thing, we love helping customers discover new ways to enjoy coffee, but just so you know, we’re phasing out our pod range by the end of this year. So if you’re pod or capsule-curious, grab them while they last. After that, we’re focusing on beans and ground coffee.
