Welcome to the Pod Star barista academy for Lavazza
To help you get the best out of reusable capsules we have put together a simple training guide. Once completed you too will be barista ready!
Before you start please download this handy PDF that you can print out and refer too as you make your first Pod Star. (Click Here)
Start your journey
Watch this video first
It's all about the coffee!
Freshness is the key
Having a reusable pod gives you freedom. You get to choose the coffee you drink and you control the freshness.
Single use pods are pre-packed, sealed in plastic and foil that could have been on a shelf for months. Fresh roasted coffee is ready to brew 4 days after it has been roasted and only stays fresh for a few weeks from roasting. The flavour deteriorates rapidly after 4 weeks.
It’s common to find single use coffee pods injected with Nitrogen gas to stop oxidation, but you will find if you open a pod it wont have the strong aroma of freshly roasted and ground beans.
Pod Talk
Single use Lavazza pods hold 5 grams. Compare this with your cafe made, barista style coffee which uses 11 grams of coffee to get that richness.
Lavazza reusable pods hold 4 grams. Why you ask?
These pods have been designed to not let your machine pierce the steel capsule with its spikes. There is a ring at the front of the pod to avoid damage, resulting in slightly less coffee.
How many pods do I need?
The next step is simple maths. For the Lavazza we recommend 2 pods per cup
These stainless steel pods are hot! Not just in design but in temperature. So think of buying a double pack if you're going to use more than 1 pod at a time or make multiple coffees at a time.
Pack and Go!
The Daily Grind
Coffee ground for reusable capsules are normally fine to medium. Don’t be caught out by the pre-packed coffee in the supermarket aisle. They generally won’t work as the grind is too fine. But why does the grind matter? Because without the right grind your flow will be wrong for extracting all that goodness from your pod. You don't want fine grinds in your cup and you also don't want coffee that has been ground so coarsely that the water flows right through the grinds without stopping and seeping in the lovely coffee.
Get the grind right, buy coffee ground for use in reusable capsules or buy a grinder. If you buy a grinder you can finely tune the grind to get that flow just right and use any roasted beans you like. This is the freshest way to use a Pod Star that gives you the most freedom.
The Flow
Think about how long water flows through compacted sand. If you put finely ground coffee in your pod the water has difficulty pushing through. Watch this video on the grind. You will see the coffee drip, drip, dripping out. Some machines just stop due to the water getting bogged in the pod and not flowing.
If the grind is too coarse the water flows too quickly which will give you a watery coffee.
The Pour
The amount of water coming through your machine when making a coffee is commonly known as “The Pour”.
This will need to be adjusted when making a coffee if you're using a reusable pod.
For a good strength coffee use two pods. As the water flows through, press the start button on your machine to stop the flow halfway through. Then do the same with the other pod.
If you do a full pour with just one pod you will notice the coffee colour changing, this is due to the fact that you have already extracted the goodness in the first part of the pour.
Practice = Perfection!
It takes all types
Some people like milk, others like soy or maybe you're an espresso purist, but once you have understood and mastered the act of grinding, pouring and flow you will be a Pod Star barista. The best thing about being an expert is distilling this information upon your family and friends and showing them the joy of truly controlling your coffee.
So, grab some fresh coffee and begin your journey with Pod Star.
