Recently, coffee in capsules is in special demand among all admirers of a fragrant drink. This interest is primarily due to the easy and quick way of cooking. But before buying a capsule machine, you should find out all the pros and cons of coffee from coffee capsules. And also get acquainted with the assortment that the leading manufacturers of coffee machines offer today.

Coffee capsules: composition and calorie content

Among all coffee lovers, most prepare it from ordinary instant coffee powder, because they simply do not have time to brew a fragrant and real drink. Even if the coffee machine is “living” in the house, the preparation of such exquisite drinks as, for example, latte macchiata, is already causing difficulties. But if you really want to treat yourself to a delicious and high-quality drink, then you should try the interesting option that the leading manufacturers of coffee machines offer us - this is coffee in capsules.

Coffee capsules are a sealed package with coffee powder inside. You just need to put it in the coffee machine and press the button. Under the influence of powerful hot air, the capsule is opened, and its contents are mixed with water, which the device delivers under high pressure. After just half a minute, you can already get a cup of delicious coffee.

The most important nuance that determines the taste of the finished drink is the composition and quality of the coffee powder.In order to understand what is contained in the capsule, you need at least a little understanding of coffee, since not all sellers know the intricacies of preparing a drink and can easily mislead the buyer about the quality of coffee capsules.

So, for example, coffee foam on the surface of the drink and the speed of its preparation, many doubt the quality of coffee encapsulated. Some people are sure that coffee cannot be brewed so quickly, and the presence of foam suggests that milk is present in it, which the manufacturer did not specifically indicate on the packaging.

  • The foam, which many take for milk, is formed due to the fact that a strong pressure of water passes through the capsule.
  • Fast brewing of the drink occurs due to the strong pressure created by the apparatus.
  • The capsules use natural coffee, and if the package says "100% arabica", then inside there is nothing but coffee.
  • Another point is flavoring. Many believe that only food additives can give such a taste and aroma to a drink, but in fact, there is no “chemistry” in it. If the capsules contain flavorings, then only natural ones, in the form of cocoa, vanilla or cinnamon.

Those who care about their figure, of course, are concerned about the caloric value of capsule coffee. The average weight of coffee powder in one capsule ranges from 6 to 9 grams, and if you take into account that there are 287 calories per 100 g of product, then one serving contains 20 - 30 kcal (everything depends on the variety). The calorie content of the drink will be significantly higher if it is prepared with milk.

Types of capsule coffee

Manufacturers offer more than 15 types of coffee capsules, which can differ in the strength of the drink, the type of coffee, caffeine content and the presence of flavors. There are capsules for brewing latte, espresso, cappuccino and other drinks. There are options with hot chocolate, tea and cocoa. But their main difference is the material that is used to make the capsules themselves.

Three types are distinguished here:

  1. Polymer. These are capsules made from food grade polymer. Such material is absolutely safe for the human body, however, and its price is several times higher than other materials, which makes such a product not particularly democratic.
  2. Aluminum These are thin foil capsules. Such material is not considered the most environmentally friendly and safe. If the packaging is accidentally damaged and it enters the drink, then aluminum can enter the body. Also, under the influence of high temperature on the packaging, aluminum ions can enter the body. True, scientists assure that when using such capsules, a small amount of metal enters the body, which is then simply excreted naturally. Today it is such capsules that are in greatest demand due to their low cost.
  3. Combined. These are capsules made of polymer, aluminum foil and pressed cellulose. The walls of the capsules are made of the simplest polymers, and these products also contain aluminum. Therefore, to call them absolutely safe is also quite difficult.

Pros and cons of capsule systems

  • The main advantage of capsular coffee is its taste. Thanks to the tightness of the packaging, the entire aroma and taste of the drink is preserved, in contrast to coffee beans, which, after opening the packs repeatedly, lose their taste and aroma.
  • Another important plus is the preparation time, which so often is not enough to prepare a drink, especially in the morning. Just a couple of movements - and in a minute you have a cup in your hands with an invigorating and tasty drink.
  • Simplicity and purity of cooking. No need to install special devices, wash the elements of the coffee machine, and just empty the empty capsule. At the same time, capsule-type devices are compact, and their classic design will harmoniously fit into any interior.
  • One cannot but highlight such an advantage as the cost of devices for preparing capsular coffee. It is several times lower than the cost of coffee machines designed to brew a drink in the traditional way.

True, capsule coffee has its drawbacks. And the most significant minus is the incompatibility of capsules and coffee machines of different brands. This means that the consumer should buy the device and capsules from only one manufacturer.

If the apparatus for capsular coffee is several times cheaper than similar automatic coffee machines, then the capsules themselves exceed the cost of grain coffee.

For 100 g of such a product you will have to pay twice as much as for a can of ground coffee.

This is the price for unique packaging, ease of preparation and for the product itself. Therefore, saving once on the machine, you will then have to regularly overpay for the coffee itself.

How to make coffee capsules

Coffee capsules will allow you to enjoy a fragrant and invigorating drink in exactly one minute. Do not have to measure the dose of coffee, because in capsules everything is already weighed and packaged. It is enough to place the capsule in the device and press the "Start" button. After use, discard the empty packaging and all. Nothing needs to be cleaned and washed except a cup.

Delicious coffee in a coffee machine

Today, the flavor line of coffee capsules is represented quite widely. Manufacturers offer a huge selection of aromatic coffee.

  • So, the company Cremesso produces about ten flavors of coffee in capsules: espresso, lungo, macchiato, ristretto and others.
  • Zepter - four species.
  • Lavazza - eight.
  • Squesito - six.
  • Nespresso - sixteen items.
  • And eighteen species from Lespresso.

You should not miss such a novelty as empty coffee capsules. You just need to fill them with your favorite ground coffee, close the lid and that's all, your personal coffee is in your hands.

How to make capsule coffee without a coffee machine

If someone mistakenly gave you a box of coffee capsules, storing it does not make sense. It remains only to redistribute the present or still open the capsules. The latter option is still more practical.

There are different ways to brew coffee without a coffee machine. All that is needed is to heat the water, make coffee and, through a dense cloth, clear the drink from the thick.

The lid is the thinnest in the capsule, so it is best to open the packaging through it. If it is made of foil, then you can even pierce it with your finger, but it is better to use a needle or the tip of a knife.

  1. We pierce the edge of the capsule and make an incision in a circle, that is, open according to the principle of a can. If the lid is made of plastic, then it must be carefully cut with a knife.
  2. After simple steps, the contents of the capsules are brewed like regular ground coffee.

But, if you want to make espresso, it will be extremely difficult to do this without a special machine.

How many cups of coffee is enough for one capsule

One capsule contains enough coffee to make one cup of an invigorating drink. Of course, you can use one package to brew two cups of coffee, but such a drink will be weak in strength, watery and not aromatic.

If you want to save on the purchase of capsules, then you can buy reusable containers that are produced by many manufacturers. Thanks to such products, you can create your own recipe for a fragrant drink.

Rating of the most popular species

At different manufacturers, the quality level of coffee capsules differs dramatically. This largely depends on the raw materials used, the methods of frying and subsequent processing. The most famous and promoted brands include Tassimo, Nespresso, Lavazza, DolceGusto, Squesito.

  • Nespresso is the first brand that decided to develop the product under discussion, so there is more trust in it. The manufacturer's line of 16 varieties of coffee, including three types of elite espresso varieties - pure origin, as well as hot chocolate and tea on mountain herbs. Nespresso coffee capsules are safe because the containers themselves are made from a soft food grade polymer. In addition, the manufacturer offers convenient storage systems.
  • Dolce Gusto - this Nescafe brand product can be called the budget option of Nespresso.The manufacturer produces more than 20 flavors of coffee, though there is one caveat - the contents of the capsules is 6 g in place of the put 7 g (minimum). Coffee capsules Nescafe dolce gusto is presented with a variety of drinks, including 10 types of espresso, several types of cappuccino, latte, as well as decaffeinated coffee and hot chocolate with the taste of mocha, caramel and shokochino.
  • Tassimo - this brand can be recognized by the unique appearance of capsules that resemble disks. Unlike its competitors, this manufacturer has mastered a different technology for brewing a drink. The fact is that the powder in the capsules is not compressed, which means that high water pressure is not required. Each package has a bar code, the device reads it and already knows how much water and time it takes to make coffee. Three options of black coffee, coffee with milk (including latte), as well as cocoa, four types of tea, hot chocolate and milk are available in our market from Tassimo.
  • Squesito. - This is a new product in our market, but many gourmets have already been able to appreciate the excellent quality and good coffee recipe. So, here, for example, 100% robusta is presented. It is such a drink that contains the maximum amount of caffeine and has a characteristic bitterness.
  • Lavazza is real Italian coffee with foam. The manufacturer offers several types of first-class espresso.

Product expiration date

Depending on the production technology, the shelf life of coffee capsules is from 10 months to 2 years. Such a long storage is due to the tightness of the packaging, which protects the contents from light, moisture and air. After the expiration, the capsule can also be used, the only thing that will suffer is the aroma. But coffee from damaged packaging will lose all its properties within a few days.

Today, manufacturers of capsule coffee for coffee machines give their consumers the opportunity to choose a product that will meet all the requirements and tastes. A wide range of capsule coffee allows you to make your own informed choice, in accordance with personal requirements for the quality and taste of your favorite drink.

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