Pod Star FAQ

Check our compatibility guide here. Pod Star have fully reusable capsules for your Nespresso machine, Nespresso Vertuo machines, Lavazza machines,  Aldi K-fee Expressi machines, MAP Caffitaly machines, Verismo machines and Espressotoria machines.

Our Vertuo pod was created using the 240ml pod size using the espresso barcode. This gives people the option of pouring a short espresso or pressing the button again for an additional pour to create a weaker coffee. We find the best result are filling the pod twice and using 2 espresso shots for milky coffee. Creating your perfect coffee will require a few tries as it also depends on how strong your ground coffee beans are, but once you have achieved the desired strength you can continue to use Pod Star this way for future coffees.

Good Question. For some reason the way the Vertuo Next reads the barcode is different from the other models. This results in a Vertuo machine that will not work at all (light might show amber) or if it does, produces a very watery undrinkable coffee.

At the moment there are no reusable pods that actually work with the Vertuo Next machine. Our goal is to develop a pod that will work in the future.

If you have accidentally purchased a Vertuo pod for your Next machine, we recommend you contact us on hello@podstar.com.au and we will have you send back the pods in their originally packaging for a full refund. 

No, our stainless steel capsule has been designed not to touch any of the piercing prongs within your coffee machine. If used correctly the stainless steel capsule will not damage your machine.

We recommend using a minimum of 2 capsules per cup of coffee for Nespresso and Espressotoria machines. The capsules hold slightly less coffee than disposable capsules and for a good strong coffee, using 2 filled capsules is best. The Pod Star Double pack is cheaper than buying two Pod Star Single packs.

Our coffee is freshly ground to a fine-to-medium grind. We recommend buying our ground coffee first - Star Eco Coffee - so that you get to use your Pod Star capsules right away, or buy a Pod Star grinder when you get your Pod Star capsules so that you can grind any coffee beans you like. 

Remember, too coarse and the water will flow too quickly through the pod, too fine and it will flow too slowly. Coffee sold as 'Espresso' grind, which is most of the ground coffee sold in supermarkets and cafes is too fine for a capsule machine. Espresso Grind is designed for an Espresso Machine, not a Pod Machine,

Customers have also had a lot of success with coffee bought ground to a "Stove Top" grind. On a good EK grinder, the perfect setting is 4.2

Yes. Here is a fantastic article on composting with coffee grounds.

Did you know:

1. Coffee grounds impove drainage to soil.
2. They attract earthworms.
3. Many gardeners use coffee grounds as a mulch for their plants.
4. It keeps slugs and snails away from plants.
5. Keeps cats away from using your veggie or flower garden as a littler box.
6. Worms love coffee grounds.

1. Doesn’t fit in my machine.
   Have you checked our compatibility guide, please have a look by clicking this link to see if your machine is listed. https://podstar.com.au/pages/compatability If you see your machine here, you can be confident you just need to push the lever down harder to close. If you have a Nespresso Mini, check out our video resources as there is a trick to inserting the Pod Star capsules.

2. I can’t pull the handle down.
   Some machines can be a bit stiff in the beginning, if you're having trouble try removing the green o-ring if its a Nespresso compatible pod and you will be able to close the handle.

Having trouble inserting your Pod Star into an Essenza mini - watch this quick video to see how. https://youtu.be/KsJ8MgswNZA

Please check our compatibility guide to make sure your machine is on our list - click here

If you have a Nespresso DeLongi or Essenza mini please watch our video on how to insert the capsule correctly - click here

All our machines listed on our compatibility guide have been tested. If it is tight pushing down the lever, it's ok. With a medium amount of pressure it will close. After a few uses it will loosen up and be easier too close. If you have a Nespresso machine and are worried about adding pressure to the lever try removing the green o-ring. This will make it easier to push the lever down. Once you are confident you can add the o-ring back onto the pod.

Here's our guide for making perfect coffee every time with Pod Star capsules!

MAKE PERFECT ECO COFFEE GUIDE

You can also checkout some of our videos and follow along.

How to Video (Nespresso) https://youtu.be/vLQay-QC0mk

How to Video (Aldi K-fee / Caffitaly) https://youtu.be/IHZK6-cTrEM

We also have this handly PDF guide to making great coffee with Lavazza reusable pods.

MAKE PERFECT ECO COFFEE GUIDE FOR LAVAZZA 

It will take a few attempts before you perfect the Pod Star, but hang in there, when you get it worked out you will love making your Pod Star coffee, and you will be saving money, drinking your best coffee, and helping to save the environment with every coffee you drink.

Also check out our video on making a great milk coffee https://youtu.be/nK6r6KGrCI8

If the water flows too quickly it means you packed Pod Star too lightly or the grind on your coffee is too coarse. We recommend grinding your beans to a fine-to-medium coarseness if you're using a grinder. If the grind is correct and water is still flowing too quickly, then pack your Pod Star tighter. Don't forget you can buy your Pod Star ground coffee from us, and we have ground it to the perfect capsule machine grind for you.

Check out this Trouble shooting video https://youtu.be/CqCuahICdNI

If it flows very slowly to the point of dripping, the pod is packed too tight or the coffee is too fine. If you have packed it really tight it may stop the flow altogether. We recommend grinding your beans on to a fine-to-medium grind if you're using a grinder. If you're using the correct grind and the water still slowly drips out, pack your Pod Star capsule a little lighter. Don't forget we sell Pod Star coffee which we have ground to the perfect capsule grind for you.

Check out this Trouble shooting video https://youtu.be/CqCuahICdNI

Depending how you like your coffee, you may need a second shot, especially if you have milk. You can also try a stronger coffee blend, but we prefer to fill 2 capsules per coffee and run each one a little shorter than normal.

Also check out our video on making a great milk coffee https://youtu.be/nK6r6KGrCI8

Absolutely. If you are buying from your local cafe ask them to grind their beans to a fine-to-medium grind - better still let them know you want a "Stove top grind" or 4.2 size, which is a little coarser than the fine grind of espresso coffee they would use through their commercial espresso machine. The coffee from the supermarket should be bought as whole beans and ground yourself to a fine-to-medium grind. If you find a pre-ground, supermarket coffee that works well in Pod Star please let us know so we can list it here.

Please read our blog post here all about coffee grind and some of the places you can find the perfect grind.

Customers have also had a lot of success with coffee's bought online ground to a "Stove Top" grind.

You can also buy fresh roasted coffee ground to Pod Star perfection through our website.

Do you have coffee dripping into your pod basket? Try this easy test to find out what the problem might be.

Put an empty Pod Star capsule into your machine. Press the short shot button on your machine. Does the water flow freely through the pod? If yes, fill your Pod Star with coffee and press the short shot on your machine. Is the coffee coming out in your tray with very little coming out into your cup?

If yes, your coffee is ground too fine and the water cannot push through the coffee inside the pod. Coffee pods use coffee that is ground coarser so the water can flow easily through the pod. We recommend a "stove top grind" (4.2 is the perfect grind size on a commercial grinder). Try our Star Eco Coffee which is ground specifically to give you a great coffee.

You can also buy a grinder, either manual or electric. This will allow you can buy any roasted beans which you can grind fine to medium at home.

The Pod Star Grinder is very easy to use - watch this quick YouTube video.

How to use your Podsta grinder

2 level spoons of roasted beans using our stainless steel scoop equals 2 Pod Star Capsule fills. Grind 2 spoons of coffee beans per capsule.

Then fill your freshly ground coffee to the top of the Pod Star capsule, gently pressing with the back of the scoop to compress the coffee.

If you pull the grinder away from the metal coffee catcher there is a black 5 star dial on the base of the top half. If you turn it clockwise this will make it finer, turn it counter clockwise and it becomes coarser. Grinders are set roughly at the correct position when they are packed but sometimes move when being shipped.
 
Only move the dial slightly in each direction until you have the correct grind. Do a few test coffees until you have the grind right. Once it is set it rarely needs readjusting again. You will know when you have the correct grind by watching our video https://youtu.be/GU00aWUW49A

Grinder adjustment dial

3-5 business days in most major cities in Australia  

7-12 business days for anywhere else in the world. 

We send you tracking notification and you can log in and see where you parcel is at any stage of its journey to you.

Please note: Australia Post and other couriers are experiencing delivery delays due to a high volume of parcels in the delivery network. Thank you for bearing with them as they do everything possible to keep delivering during the current state lockdowns.

We will exchange an item if you receive damaged goods. Please email us at hello@podstar.com.au

If you have changed your mind prior to using Pod Star products, you can return to us within 15 days of receiving the products, and if unused and in their original packaging, you will be refunded minus the shipping charge incurred by Star Eco Products.

If you're having trouble using Pod Star email us at hello@podstar.com.au, we are always happy to help. 

Please view our return policy here - Returns