Welcome to the Pod Star barista academy for Nespresso Vertuo
To help you get the best out of reusable coffee pods 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
OurVertuo podshold 9 grams. Compare this with your cafe made, barista style coffee which uses 11 grams of coffee to get that richness.
Pod Star Vertuo reusable pods hold 9 grams. Why you ask?
These pods have been designed to not let your machine pierce the steel capsule with its spikes. There is an indented ring on the lid of the pod to avoid damage, resulting in slightly less coffee.
How many pods do I need?
The next step is simple maths. To get close to your cafe style coffee without paying cafe prices, you will need to use 1 to 2 compatible pods per cup.
These stainless steel coffee 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. Most people find it's best have 4 reusable coffee pods available to use.
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 steeping in the lovely coffee.
Get the grind right, buy coffee ground for use in reusable coffee pods or buy a coffee 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 best place to start with withStar Eco Coffee that's 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 areusable 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 pod packs that include delicious eco 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:
Starter Pack, Family Pack, Barista Pack, Ultimate Pack.
Brew like a Barista
Making great coffee at home isn’t magic — it’s method. With the right technique and the right tools, you can extract rich, full-bodied flavour from every Pod Star pod. This guide will show you how to grind, fill, tamp, and pour like a pro — so your coffee tastes the way it should: better than café, better for the planet, and better value every time.
Start your journey
Watch this video first
It's all about the coffee!
Freshness is the key
A reusable pod gives you freedom—you 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. Here’s 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 café-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 machine’s 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 easy—some simple math. To get that café-style coffee without the café price, you'll need 1 to 2 compatible pods per cup.These stainless steel coffee pods aren’t just stylish—they 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 it’s 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. Don’t get caught out by the pre-packaged coffee in the supermarket - it is often too finely ground and won’t 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 don’t want coffee that's ground too fine as it will block the flow, but you also don’t 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.