People generally don’t know there’s a difference between a coffee pod and a K-Cup. That’s why we’re going to try to familiarize you with some of the greatest distinctions, pros and cons when it comes to these types of single-serve coffee.
You could try placing a coffee pod in a Keurig or other K-Cup machine, or a K-Cup in a coffee pod, you won’t get what you thought you were going to do. Keurig machines and coffee pods only adjust their functions if you have an adapter or a brewer that supports both the coffee pods and the K-Cups.
So, let’s define a pod and K-cup.
The history
The history of a single-serve coffee container goes back a long way before Keurig K-Cup packs were invented. In reality, coffee pods (as we know them today) were invented first, and others before that.
Since then, it has been difficult to get them on the market, there was no industry standard size or specification for the pod itself. Since the available pod brewers were typically not good enough.
The Senseo/Melitta pods were narrower in diameter (55mm or less), thicker on the side, and were almost hard/tightly packed.
Other pods and pod brewers came onto the market that used a different pod shape, 60-62mm, thinner in height, and generally weaker.
K-Cups were launched on the market by Keurig Green Mountain and defined the single-serve brewing capsules that instantaneously became the competition for coffee pods. The popularity of K-Cups has influenced a rapid increase in the production of different brewers, both for domestic and commercial use.
In addition, numerous companies have decided to produce a wide range of products that are compatible with Keurig and have realized the potential, so today we can see a large number of capsules that are absolutely similar to the original K-Cups, like Nepresso.
What is a coffee pod?
On one side, a coffee pod or a coffee pad (it does look like a pad versus a pod) offers you a cup of coffee that comes to you already sealed and wrapped in filter paper, ready to brew. Typically it comes in a soft, flat round box.
Why should you choose coffee pods?
When it comes to the key benefits of coffee pods, both the consistency of the extracted coffee and the price range should be emphasized. As far as consistency is concerned, coffee pods have considerably better coffee extraction than K-Cups since there is a greater surface area for water to come into contact with coffee.
In addition, because the coffee is not fully sealed in plastic, its aroma when brewing is richer. You will find some very cheap coffee pods that will give you a tasty coffee in no time.
They are also environmentally friendly, as there is not much waste as in the case of K-Cups that come with a plastic cup, and foil lid – which is not biodegradable.
What is a K-cup?
The K-Cup® term is trademarked by Keurig Green Mountain to describe their single-serve brewing capsule. The K-Cup, is a type of coffee pack that resembles a cartridge, with a plastic cup and a foil top. The capsule itself has a filter material in it to hold the coffee in place throughout the brewing process. When the K-Cup is put in the brewer, the lid and the bottom of the cup are punctured by needles from the coffee machine. This way, the coffee will flow to the top and the coffee can be extracted.
Why should you choose K-Cups?
Perhaps the most important benefit of the K-Cup is that it comes in the shape of a self-contained capsule, which makes it quite convenient.
In addition, K-Cups deliver an extremely wide variety of blends and flavored coffees as well as a wide range of roast options.
Finally, some relatively inexpensive K-Cups made their way to the market so that you can enjoy cup of your favorite coffee or other flavored beverages.
K-Cups and coffee pods have a lot in common
They’re both easy single-serve coffee choices! But there are some big variations that you’re going to want to be conscious of. K-Cups are plastic cups with a self-contained filter packed with coffee grounds. Coffee pods are round, flat and contain a coffee base wrapped in filter paper.
Bottom line
Coffee pods cannot be used in Keurig machines, but K-Cups can be used in many single-serve coffee machines besides those manufactured by Keurig. K-Cups are more costly, but they are more varied than coffee pods. Coffee pods are more difficult to find and not as easily available as K-Cups. And K-Cups are less eco-friendly than coffee pods—though it can be an eco-friendly K-Cup consumer! Although, you can now find reusable K-Cups if you’re looking to save the environment.
Which one do you choose? It depends on your coffee machine, budget, and taste preferences.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.
