Espresso Pod Reviews

Flavor: chocolate, dry, aromatic Caveats: overpull shots (2oz), use a less-expensive machine

My take: earthy, crisp, less nutty/sweet Caveats: overbrew to 1.5-2oz when pulling shots (DeLonghi EC155)

I love this stuff and always have it in the house, best brand period.

There was something a bit strange about this one. Some might say unique, but I just thought strange. It also brewed too quick and thin on my Gaggia Classic.

I have found it difficult to find espresso ESE pods where I live. The only available ones locally are Illy, and Starbucks. I was so excited when I found this site and their sampler! All of the coffees in this sampler are delicious! I have a Breville Die Cast espresso machine, and the crema is perfect. In fact, the podmerchant pods give better crema and more robust flavor than most of the others. But they are all unique and delicious! I highly recommend this sampler.

Unlike the almost perfect Caffe Rialto pods, which I don't see here any more (of course), or any of the other 5 or 6 brands I've tried, these Lavazzas allowed far too rapid a flow for optimum extraction -- more than an ounce is suddenly in the cup in 9 seconds. I finally gave up and settled for approximate lungos, which at least revealed a fairly interesting blend and roast. OK flavor, strange behavior!

this is my favorite pod yet. creamy yet strong, love a cup of it in the morning.

Yeah, I like this lemon tea pod. It's pretty ok. I don't think that Casey Anthony would like it, which means that I do like it. OK?

Tried your sampler and this was the winner for me. Strong but not bitter, and good "yum" factor. Makes a 5 AM morning have a happy start.

I go this one in a sampler. I like it best of all. Smooth rich flavor. I agree with others it is not a heavy roast, so if you like that look elsewhere. I prefer a full body without harshness.

I am continually amazed and satisfied by this exceptional coffee. It is very smooth and satisfying. I like strong coffees and am fond of several,e.g. Rialto and Mamma Lucia's, but have found this to be my all time favorite. Strong not bitter, refined without any off key notes. It makes a fine shot in my Francis Francis machine.

Thanks to PodMerchant's variety packs, I was able to try quite a number of different espressos. This is my favorite by far. I only use pods when I travel (along with my Handpresso) and I'm now ordering my second case. The first case lasted for over a year and a half and the pods are still fresh thanks to the wrapping!

I've tried about ten different pods from varying roasters and have yet to find one better than Espressione. It's consistently smooth, rich and fresh tasting. Five stars!

Once again (for probably the tenth time)our order arrived almost before we placed it on the computer! The large Sampler is a fantastic selection: very well-priced, and excellent for the two of us. Only problem is we consistently say to one another while having our after-dinner cappucino, "This is the best one yet!" And by the way, we probably have the only English Fox Hound and Tennessee Treeing Walker Hound that literally demand a spot of ours every night. What could be a better testimonial to PODMERCHANTS? Thank you again.... you folks are tremendous! bill & Liana

Full, deep flavor characterizes the Rialto blend. After sampling a dozen or so varieties, I've settled on this one as my favorite pod. Not than anything I've sampled has been bad, but this one stands out. From the time I snip the foil to that last mouthful, the taste is rich and full with just a hint of bitter that balances all the elements to make for an enjoyable cup.

The Lucaffe Decaffeinated Espresso Pod created a wonderful shot that if served in a blind tasting one would not be able to tell it was a decaff. Full body and flavor. Recommended

The Espressione Regular Espresso Pods were packed right to create a full body and flavor, and not bitter espresso shot. Recomended

I tried many varieties of espresso pods from the Pod Merchant and Illy (dark roast), although not the most flavorful, was the smoothest of the bunch. Very good smooth espresso with a medium body

This is the only coffee we drink anymore. We're ordering our third pod of it today. I like the rich taste, and it's very affordable.

I created a grading system according to my own personal preferences (which basically is my comparison to the typical espresso one would get at any coffee bar throughout Italy . . . I lived in Italy for several years). I tested every brand podmerchant sells by way of their sampler package. I like all sorts of brands, but my favorite, the one that came out on top in the grading process, was Espressione-Regular. I buy it by the case.

We're espresso novices, having recently purchased a "pump" machine. We purchased two Super Sampler packs, hoping to find which espresso is the best. Our scheme was to save the wrappers of the pods we liked the most. Then, we were going to purchase a case of our favorite. We enjoyed them all, so we're going to buy two more Super Sampler packs. Maybe this time we'll pick a favorite. Maybe not.

I tried a sampler pack from podmerchant in my 6 year old Saeco Espresso Classico machine; kept in my cube at work. The Dansei Easy Espresso pods were consistently the best at providing a sweet, enjoyable cub with a healthy crema. I now buy them by the case.

What? I'm the first person to bother to tell the world what a fantastic decaf pod this is? Srsly, the BEST decaf ever.

I've tried many single-origin coffees, e.g. the Hausbrandt pods that PodMerchant used to carry, and the Compagnia dell'Arabica. I never cared for any of them. But Lucaffe's Colombia (and the Messico) are really great.

How can one of their least expensive pods be one of the best? I don't get it. This pod has everything I'm looking for in a cup of espresso.

I usually buy the super sampler because i enjoy the variety of it but i was so excited when i saw that there was a top sellers sampler. All of the espressos that come in the top sellers sampler are so delicious and there is still that variety that i just cant get enough of. I recommend this sampler to anyone who appreciates great espressos.

I've been drinking dark roast illy for years. As the price increases my search for an alternative increases. Will let you know when I find it.

I just wanted you to know I ordered your house Stout espresso pods for the first time and muled them down to my beach house in Costa Rica and I am thrilled with the quality of your products under your brand name. Frankly, the house Stout pods are the best espresso I have had in years. Very smooth, nice creme and a wonderful, warm caffeine lift that does not crash me during the day. You offer a really good value and fulfilled my order promptly and without mistakes. In this day and age, that actually sets you apart. I am sure you are choosing to simply doing business the way it should be done, but that choice is not as common as you might think. Thank you for exceeding my expectations. I am a customer for life now (as long as you keep up the good work, that is).

For me this was the clear winner coming out of the large sample pack. I took pretty good notes on each of the brands and individual varieties and if you like a smooth, strong shot this is definitely the best. I followed up with a 150 pod box of these and was not disappointed. I then decided to switch it up on my next order to the Lucaffe Classic (my runner up).. it was good, but for me, not quite as rich and flavorful as the Mr. Exclusive, so I've decided to go back to my No. 1 for the next order.

Just got a machine that takes double pods (so much more convenient with 2 heavy espresso drinkers in the house), and ordered a box each of Lucaffe and Miscela d'Oro to compare, the former makes good strong espresso with nice crema, the latter is more watery and tastes more like drip coffee. Maybe got a bad batch, but ordering a case of Lucaffe. Wish Illy dark roast was available in 14g pods, that is even a notch better for my taste, but Lucaffe is almost as good.

I have purchased quite a few of these boxes and am tempted to start ordering just one kind and then?????....I get the box again. I love the variety and am happy that so many choices come in decaf. I love my coffee, but can only drink decaf, so thanks a lot Podmerchant!

I've tried a couple different espressos from PodMerchant and I can say that I was satisfied with all of them, but my most recent purchase was of the PodMerchant House Blend and now I am hooked. The Blend has an amazing taste and is so high in quality. Perfect for my morning shot. Thank you PodMerchant!

I called up the Pod Merchant to ask for pod buying advice. They asked me a few questions and then recommended Lucaffe's Mama Lucia. It was great advice. I love this coffee. It's a bold espresso but not bitter. Oddly, it's one of the least expensive pods they sell.

I don't understand why people continue to buy Illy pods. They have a sour taste and theyre crazy expensive. Like most people, I started out on Illy. I thought it was OK until I discovered podmerchant.com and bought the sampler. Now I drink much better espresso and pay a lot less too. my favorite is their house blend.

The Lucaffe Blucaffe Espresso was very smooth but with medium to weak body and with medium sweetness. It was a disappointing espresso and considering the price per cup (~$1) there are other full-bodied, richly flavored options. Overall -- not recommended at this price range.

great convenient and taste coffee. could be a bit stronger

I RARELY feedback/review products but this stuff is great. Rich, hint of chocolate, robust indeed. Either buy this and enjoy so it gets stocked more often or do not buy-the more for me!

Of all the single origin Columbians (and most we've tried except maybe Kenya) this is the best. Consistently high quality, round, full flavor.

The best decaf out there. Absolutely none of that slightly cardboard or metallic decaf taste most have. We put it in a blind taste test with several very good regular espressos and it beat two of them.

Delightfully well balanced blend with a smooth finish and one look at Fatto Col Cuore will put a smile on your morning face.

I drink single shots of espresso. I am allergic to dairy, so all the fancy 'chinos are not an option for me. The hot milk coffee drinks can hide the flavour a little. I got samplers from Podmerchant, and landed on Blucaffe, it's the best. Rich, not too strong, but has subtle boldness. it is pricey though.

A wonderfully smooth, yet full-bodied Arabica blend. Works very well with the Handpresso. Produces a nice crema. One of my favorites.

Decaf is the safest way for me to go as I am sensitive to caffeine. I love these pods. Have not "met" one that I did not like! It's fun to have such a variety to choose from. I have a different one everyday and enjoy discovering the "new" pods each time I order from PodMerchant.

I have tried all of the Compagnia dell'Arabica pods, and while they are all wonderful, the Brasil Santos takes the cake. It comes out perfectly every time, tons of crema and very smooth. I order it by the case so I always have some on hand.

The Amigos Caffe Extra Bar pods are definitely one of my favorites by far. We use a Breville Die-Cast Espresso Machine and it comes out perfectly every time with tons of delicious crema. We have tried the majority of the pods listed and this is our go-to pod. It helps that it is also one of the more afforable! Would definitely recommend

I ordered the big podmerchant sampler. I kept notes on every pod. This was the winner. For my cheap little machine, it scored a 5/5, worked very well. For taste a 4/5. So now I am ordering a case. What do you think about that?

Equipment: Handpresso This is the brand/blend I always have around. Decent crema when using the Handpresso. Soft flavors and smooth mouthfeel with a subtle aftertaste. The flavors are just well-rounded with this blend, and did I mention it is smooth?

Equipment: Handpresso This blend has one of the best cremas from my Handpresso so far. Very good taste and strong. Leaves a 'spiced' aftertaste that I find enjoyable, as it isn't your normal coffee bean aftertaste.

When we got our espresso machine, our first order included a sampler pack. We made a chart (how scientific and organized!) and taste-tested. Each of us gave this coffee a 5, or top billing. We have been through more than 5 cases of Lavazza Gran Crema now, with other coffees for some occasional variety, and this is still our main favorite.

We missed the bar on the first try, retraced our steps back from the Rialto Bridge and there it was, hidden on a side alley next to one of our favorite restaurants. Hard not to miss, given the aromas enticing you toward it. We too, bought a one of the expresso cups (slightly different from Pod Merchant's) as a gift to one of our Rialto loving friends. Thanks, Kevin, for all you do for us caffe lovers.

Got the sampler pack and must say keep coming back to the Messico...strong complex taste

I've tried every pod on this site via the Splendid Samplers that are offered and I have to say these are the best I've tried. Thanks to the superb taste of these pods, I no longer enjoy the taste of Starbucks and have probably saved enough money in the past year by avoiding Starbucks to take a nice coffee/wine tour of Europe!! Thank You Podmerchant for such a great tasting pod!!

Try this delicious coffee after your taste buds have had time to awaken fully. You will be delighted in the smoothness and gentleness of this superb blend. We have cut back on our coffee consumption to save our adrenals :-) so we savor this as our second and final cup of the morning on a daily basis. It is so rich and yummy that it satisfies and sustains us for the rest of the day!

This is a lovely coffee. Lovely. There is no other word for it. The chocolate undertone in this blend makes it unique, even among the other excellent Lucaffe offerings. Thanks, PodMerchant, for bringing it to our attention.

These are the best pods. Great taste and quality. No muss no fuss with clean up. Sonoma Wire Works audio recording software is practically fueled on this stuff.

I have not enjoyed a pod more than this. It is the best I have had and perfect for my Handpresso, when traveling. It is powerful, full and round. Perfect! My search has ended!

Tightly packed pod. I enjoyed it as much as Illy pods.

We've tried a lot of ways to merge our coffee passion with our average income, and Miscela d'Oro has answered the quest. Full disclosure -- my best friend, an Italian who has traveled "home" and sampled espessos extensively, did much of the due diligence that led to this find. We'd owned a $4,000 brass-eagled commercial espresso maker (fine-tuned after the auction purchase from a hotel bankruptcy), to stovetop espresso makers--the whole nine meters. I grind coffee daily and run it through a French press for excellent daily drinking. But for espresso, I "cheat" with these pods run through our pump-based, relatively inexpensive Capresso EspressoClassic Model #114 and get amazing results. Friends are amazed at the coffee drinks we make. But significantly, routinely, we are too. We've tried many pods -- illy, you name it. We pull the Miscela d'Oro pods for about 18 seconds into a pre-heated cup and get a lovely crema on a deep and rich, multi-layered espresso that so far hasn't been matched by anything we've found anywhere.

After trying your big all-Arabica sampler pack, I have to say that Caffe Borbone has risen to the top--a really fine balance of smoothness and deep flavor without a hint of over-roasting (which I had kind of expected from a Naples roaster).

Great flavor, mild but with a nice lingering coffee taste. Also has a nice crema for a pod.

I've tried a variety of pods before, and found a few favorites. But I just got the Messico and LOVE this espresso! It's smooth and has a great taste and aroma and is not bitter at all. Definitely my top pick of all I've tried!!

It's the gold standard! A good arabica with light woody overtones.

Excellent espresso with a hint of fruity flavor. To me it is like a chocolate with a cherry inside.

This coffee was my favorite out of large sampler box. And to find out it's 60% cheaper than my old favorite was a plus. Smooth, rich coffee without a bitter aftertaste.

I recently purchased the sampler package, which was really good, as I had the opportunity to compare taste. I have to say that this one came out best of all for me. It had a distinctive rich and full bodied flavor. I forgot that I was drinking decaf!!!! I highly recommend this one. I am just going place a new order, probably for a case.

I grade according to 5 characteristics:
1) Body & Strength - I like a dark, stout, rich espresso
2) Length of after-taste in the pallet (longer is better)
3) Chocolate overtones (a quality that I personally look for)
4) Bitter - Good bitter not bad bitter. "Good" means it has a nice crisp edge that is pleasant. Think of unsweetened chocolate as an example.
5) Smooth - The taste/flavor should remain constant and level throughout.

I grade simply, on a 1 to 3 scale, 3 being the best score.

1) Body & Strength - 3
2) Length - 2
3) Chocolate - 2
4) Bitter - 3
5) Smooth - 2


Note: I think are very good scores for a pod

I ordered the sample pack to try several espresso pods to use with my Handpresso when traveling. PodMerchant's house blend espresso was my favorite by far.

Podmerchant has hit one out of the park with this blend. Strong, smooth, delicious.

Some time ago, when I first discovered PodMerchant, I took advantage of the pod sample assortment packs in search of my personal favorite. After many weeks of samplings and ratings, I settled upon Caffe del Doge Rialto as my pod of choice. CdDR stands up well to steamed milk for lattes and also makes an excellent, robust yet smooth espresso with no burnt taste or bitterness. CdDR by the case is also an outstanding value. Now that PodMerchant is offering PM Stout pods, I'm going to have to try them just to compare with CdDR- it's almost time to reorder anyway. Thank you PodMerchant, for facilitating my "happy habit"!

As a traveling mobile espresso cart owner, I use these pods to provide more quality bang for the buck. I am after three things; crema head, flavor and reasonable cost. This pod provides all three and customer's are satisfied.

Great afternoon espresso. A riot in your mouth. The best blend from Lucaffe.

Wonderful espresso. Stands up to any milk. Deep. Earthy. Sicilian.

Lots of crema and a nice caffeine hit to boot. If you like the taste of real coffee, you'll love these.

I have just bought a new espresso machine to try out all the pods I learned it is easier better tasting than the cafe.I also have calculated after then of 110 pods making 110 cappuccino that enough to pay for the machine . It also help me understand the Italian better.

These are fantastic! I have had not one that I did not like. They are so very good every night after work, I can sleep after drinking them late at night, so I can have a latte or just espresso anytime! I highly recommend this and podmerchant!

Caffe del Doge Rialto may not be the ultimate espresso blend, but it is my unapologetic favorite. The flavor is smoothly delicious with an excellent crema and a very pleasing afterbite. But what makes it particularly special is that every time I drink a cup it evokes the wonderful memories of accidentally stumbling upon the actual Caffe del Doge while wandering the backstreets of Venice with my daughters in the summer of 2007. Having a cup extracted from the mechanical press while standing at the mirror-finish copper bar is an experience that I will never forget. To this day I drink most of my (pod) espresso from my Caffe del Doge demitasse purchased at the store.

If you like full tasting straight espresso or expect to actually taste coffee when making a milk based drink, this is a great pod. Lots of strong flavor, one of my absolute favorites.

I buy mostly decaf pods these days so I'm always looking for something that offers great taste as well. Too many decaf coffees somehow taste just a bit dull to me. So far, I've been very pleased with this particular product. Being a "no-name" I wasn't expecting much but have been very pleasantly surprised. Good solid flavor and a very good price. My current "go to" decaf pods.

As you may know, I like nothing better than to wet my beak with a demitasse of fine espresso, and to my taste there is no better experience than a well extracted cup of Blucaffe. I have not the talent or the tastebuds to dissect the various flavors and aromas inherent in this exceptional blend, but suffice it to say that it is comparable to the difference between Jim Beam and Glenfiddich; equal quantities of both will get you just as drunk, but, oh, what a tastier trail getting there!