Welcome to the Pod Star Barista Academy!
To help you make the most of your reusable coffee pods, we've created a simple training guide. Once you're done, you'll be barista-ready!Before you begin, be sure to download this handy PDFâit's yours to print and refer to as you brew your first Pod Star coffee. (Click Here)
Start your journey
Watch this video first
It's all about the coffee!
Freshness is the key
A reusable pod gives you freedomâyou choose your coffee and control its freshness.Single-use pods are pre-packed, sealed in plastic and foil, and could have been sitting on a shelf for months. Freshly roasted coffee is ready to brew just 4 days after roasting and only stays fresh for a few weeks. After 4 weeks, the flavour starts to fade quickly. Many single-use pods are injected with nitrogen to prevent oxidation, but if you open one, you'll notice it lacks the strong aroma of freshly roasted and ground beans.
Pod Talk
When it comes to coffee, the amount of coffee in your pod makes a big difference. Hereâs how Podstar pods compare:
Podstar Nespresso pods: 5.5 grams
Podstar Vertuo pods: 9 grams
Podstar Espressotoria pods: 6.5 grams
Podstar Aldi K-fee single-use pods: 7.1 grams
Podstar Lavazza pods: 5 grams
For comparison, a café-style barista coffee uses 11 grams of coffee to achieve that rich flavor.For comparison, a café-style barista coffee uses 11 grams of coffee to achieve that rich flavor. For comparison, a café-style barista coffee uses 11 grams of coffee to achieve that rich flavor. Compare this with your cafe made, barista style coffee which uses 11 grams of coffee to get that richness.
Pod Star Aldi K-fee / Caffitaly / Verismo pods hold 5.5 grams. Compare this with your cafe made, barista style coffee which uses 11 grams of coffee to get that richness.
Pod Star Espressotoria reusable pods hold 4.5 gramswhile your cafĂ©-style coffee typically uses 11 grams for that rich flavour. So, why do Pod Star Vertuo reusable pods hold 9 grams? These pods are designed with an indented ring on the lid to prevent your machineâs piercing spikes from damaging the steel capsule. As a result, they hold just a bit less coffee, but still deliver great taste.
How many pods do I need?
The next step is easyâsome simple math. To get that cafĂ©-style coffee without the cafĂ© price, you'll need 1 to 2 compatible pods per cup.These stainless steel coffee pods arenât just stylishâthey also heat up fast! If you're using more than one pod per cup or making several coffees, we recommend getting a double pack. Most people find itâs best to have 4 reusable coffee pods on hand.
Pack and Go!
The Daily Grind
Coffee that is ground for reusable capsules is usually fine to medium. Donât get caught out by the pre-packaged coffee in the supermarket - it is often too finely ground and wonât work well. Why does the grind matter? The wrong grind can mess up the flow, preventing your pod from extracting all the great flavours.You donât want coffee that's ground too fine as it will block the flow, but you also donât want it so coarse that water flows through too quickly without steeping the coffee.To get it right, either buy coffee ground for reusable pods or invest in a coffee grinder. With a grinder, you can fine-tune the grind to perfect the flow and use any beans you like. This is the freshest way to use your Pod Star capsule and 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 best place to start is with Lygon St Coff Co's coffee, perfectly ground for reusable pods.
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.
Pod Star have packs that include delicious Lygon St Coffee Co. coffee. They are great value for money. To get started, we recommend choosing one of the Pod Star packs with everything you need to start your journey to using reusable pods: A starter pack, family pack, barista pack or ultimate pack.
