See also razors with disposable heads; printers and carts; etc.
There is continuing litigation about this patent across Europe; there's also a trademark problem being litigated in Switzerland. Nestlé is likely to appeal the German decision.
I can't stand these coffee capsules. The amount of waste they generate is absurd for a process which should really only produce negligible compostable waste (coffee grounds and perhaps coffee filters). Plus, I doubt the plastic capsules are recyclable, since they permanently contain the grounds once used (at least, the Tassimo brand that I've seen in action does this).
This is an "innovation" that saves little time (making a cup of coffee is not a time-consuming process), is substantially more expensive than the process it replaces, and generates an inordinate amount of waste.
So this patent battle might be handy - without vendor lock-in to a single type of "pod" (even with many flavours of pod) you might be persuaded to buy a machine?
These do not look all that different than the Keurig system. Though on Wikipedia only the Nestle version has expressions of environmental concern covering the page.
While I agree there is substantial waste this is a product of convenience. I have owned a K-Cup machine for years having given up traditionally brewed coffee during that time. While the twenty to thirty five cent cost per cup is much higher it comes down to the psychological side, I perceive more waste in a whole pot of coffee than brewing a single cup.
I have used the reusable insert for making coffee with store or coffeehouse purchased grounds but that kind of ignores the reason for buying this in the first place.
This is an "innovation" that saves little time (making a cup of coffee is not a time-consuming process), is substantially more expensive than the process it replaces, and generates an inordinate amount of waste.
I am sorry, but based on my personal experience, you completely lose on the time argument. It is way easier to to get espresso style coffee this way than any other way I am aware of. Just turn the Nespresso machine on, pop in the capsule, place your coffee mug at the dispenser, press the dispense button and walk away. Within seconds you have a very decent cup of espresso, with absolutely no messy after-cleaning of grinder/machine/utensils.
In this once instance, I love the technology, it is way cheaper than barista coffee, way quicker and way less messy than making it on my own.
And oh, you can pry my Nespresso away from my cold dead hands, not before. ;-)
Edit: The only item on my wish list with Nespresso is to use my choice of coffees, which may now become possible with Nestle losing this lawsuit. I'd love to be able to brew the "Honey badger" or "Sugar glider" from Intelligentsia coffee on my Nespresso! Yum!!!
The coffee is a third cheaper and that's for Square Mile or Monmouth beans (about as expensive as you can get ignoring stuff involving Civets).
It's the difference between purchasing a more expensive laser printer and having reduced printing costs, or purchasing an ink jet and having higher printing costs.
We make 2-4 double-espressos per day. It's worth paying for the better machine to make the savings each day. Given that I've had the machine for more than 4 years it's already saved me a substantial amount of money.
Each double-espresso (14g of coffee) costs me around 35p, whereas a Nespresso (6g of coffee) costs around 52p, and the local coffee shop charges around £1.20 (14g of coffee).
So not only is it cheaper, but there's a full double-shot in mine and less than a single shot in yours. Of course, if I had a single espresso to make it comparable then the price of Nespresso looks even worse.
I quick back of the envelope calculation seems to indicate the nespresso coffee cost 4-6 times as much per kg as good quality espresso beans, so assuming you keep your machine for a few years and drink coffee on a daily basis you'll more than make up that price difference.
Within seconds you have a very decent cup of espresso, with absolutely no messy after-cleaning of grinder/machine/utensils.
Furthermore, I'd like to see some Coke/Pepsi-style challenges / blind taste-tests between the Nespresso machine and barista espressos and cappuccinos. The wine world has been surprised by the extent to which people can't tell the difference.
I've had cappuccinos from one of these machines—not sure if it was the Nestle version or not—and it was definitely quite decent. Not as strongly or richly flavored as the best cappuccinos I've had, but it's definitely better than many.
Nespresso capsules can be fully recycled. Every time I order replacement capsules, I also order a recycling bag. At the time of delivery, the driver collects my pre-filled recycling bag from the last batch I ordered and takes it away for recycling - completely hassle-free.
All the rest of the packaging Nespresso pods are delivered in is made of paper or cardboard.
Is there a way to have them recycled if you don't have them delivered to your door by a person in a vehicle? In your case, does the driver just deliver nespresso capsules, or are they delivering supermarket grocery orders?
The driver just delivers Nespresso capsules - you can only order them from Nespresso directly online (at least in the UK). Otherwise, you can pick them up from a handful of dedicated Nespresso retail outlets around the UK - where I am presuming you could drop off recycling.
I think his point was that a guy driving to your house for this single purpose is itself hugely wasteful...
[I suppose if they do it once a year, and deliver an enormous sack full of these pods, it might be in the noise, dunno. Still, a "retail" solution seems much better.]
My company provides a Keurig machine and a whole slew of different beverage choices. While it doesn't reduce waste, and maybe doesn't reduce time, it certainly provides a nice selection of beverages. I value that.
Just relaying some personal experience here... in Austria we have had the off brand capsules for a while. I have tried various brands which all tasted like crap. On top of this, these "crapsules" completely ruined my machine. A colleague had the same experience.
They are another sign of consumerism gone insane. It's largely a marketing thing - blank "pods" are easier to sell. You have (until now) complete control over the supply of the pods. It's a marketers wet dream.
My thoughts have as ever been accurately summed up by the inestimably amusing Mr Brooker:
It depends on what the capsule is replacing. They're absolutely worse than brewing coffee grounds, but they're better than visiting the coffee shop and throwing out a big, styrofoam cup.
Next thing you know the coffee capsule will have a chip in it like ink cartridges.... a true innovation, and then we'll have coffee bypass systems with tubes all over the place for continuous coffee system. Maybe Nestle should contact HP inkjet division for some ideas on how to avoid aftermarket competition.
edit - sorry, I should have been clear, this is total sarcasm. I despise the 'selling the product at a loss and make the profit on the disposables' model.
Hurrah for a sensible patent suit outcome. But less hurrah as there'll be more terrible coffee capsules, which whilst they're a massive time saving convenience I've always found quite bland, I'm planning on shifting from a french press to an Aeropress soon just to try save a bit more time, but I've always found you get slightly more taste than the capsules.
This kind of patent for the machine (which being a hardware-machinery patent, I can agree with), would cover all other existent coffee-pod machines, if it worked as it works on the software patents world. What would be patented would be all possible and unimplemented means of getting a coffee from a capsule, with a mobile or desktop coffee machine.
33 comments
[ 3.4 ms ] story [ 89.8 ms ] threadSee also razors with disposable heads; printers and carts; etc.
There is continuing litigation about this patent across Europe; there's also a trademark problem being litigated in Switzerland. Nestlé is likely to appeal the German decision.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senseo#Patent_matters
This is an "innovation" that saves little time (making a cup of coffee is not a time-consuming process), is substantially more expensive than the process it replaces, and generates an inordinate amount of waste.
For me, the problem is price (and dependence on a single vendor - which is connected :))
While I agree there is substantial waste this is a product of convenience. I have owned a K-Cup machine for years having given up traditionally brewed coffee during that time. While the twenty to thirty five cent cost per cup is much higher it comes down to the psychological side, I perceive more waste in a whole pot of coffee than brewing a single cup.
I have used the reusable insert for making coffee with store or coffeehouse purchased grounds but that kind of ignores the reason for buying this in the first place.
I am sorry, but based on my personal experience, you completely lose on the time argument. It is way easier to to get espresso style coffee this way than any other way I am aware of. Just turn the Nespresso machine on, pop in the capsule, place your coffee mug at the dispenser, press the dispense button and walk away. Within seconds you have a very decent cup of espresso, with absolutely no messy after-cleaning of grinder/machine/utensils.
In this once instance, I love the technology, it is way cheaper than barista coffee, way quicker and way less messy than making it on my own.
And oh, you can pry my Nespresso away from my cold dead hands, not before. ;-)
Edit: The only item on my wish list with Nespresso is to use my choice of coffees, which may now become possible with Nestle losing this lawsuit. I'd love to be able to brew the "Honey badger" or "Sugar glider" from Intelligentsia coffee on my Nespresso! Yum!!!
I can skip the "pop in the capsule" step for a weekly "pour some beans in the top".
Bean-to-cup machines are fairly common, but for those who wish to take their time then there are more time-consuming ways (syphon coffee anyone?).
The coffee is a third cheaper and that's for Square Mile or Monmouth beans (about as expensive as you can get ignoring stuff involving Civets).
It's the difference between purchasing a more expensive laser printer and having reduced printing costs, or purchasing an ink jet and having higher printing costs.
We make 2-4 double-espressos per day. It's worth paying for the better machine to make the savings each day. Given that I've had the machine for more than 4 years it's already saved me a substantial amount of money.
Each double-espresso (14g of coffee) costs me around 35p, whereas a Nespresso (6g of coffee) costs around 52p, and the local coffee shop charges around £1.20 (14g of coffee).
So not only is it cheaper, but there's a full double-shot in mine and less than a single shot in yours. Of course, if I had a single espresso to make it comparable then the price of Nespresso looks even worse.
Furthermore, I'd like to see some Coke/Pepsi-style challenges / blind taste-tests between the Nespresso machine and barista espressos and cappuccinos. The wine world has been surprised by the extent to which people can't tell the difference.
I've had cappuccinos from one of these machines—not sure if it was the Nestle version or not—and it was definitely quite decent. Not as strongly or richly flavored as the best cappuccinos I've had, but it's definitely better than many.
All the rest of the packaging Nespresso pods are delivered in is made of paper or cardboard.
[I suppose if they do it once a year, and deliver an enormous sack full of these pods, it might be in the noise, dunno. Still, a "retail" solution seems much better.]
Just relaying some personal experience here... in Austria we have had the off brand capsules for a while. I have tried various brands which all tasted like crap. On top of this, these "crapsules" completely ruined my machine. A colleague had the same experience.
http://www.ethicalcoffeecompany.com/en/capsule-biodegradable...
Edit: There are refillable cups if you want to avoid the expense and waste: http://www.coffeeduck.com/en/ http://www.podcafe.com.au/
My thoughts have as ever been accurately summed up by the inestimably amusing Mr Brooker:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/nov/26/drink.co...
edit - sorry, I should have been clear, this is total sarcasm. I despise the 'selling the product at a loss and make the profit on the disposables' model.