Coffee capsules — yes or no?
More and more people are considering buying a convenient, modern capsule coffee machine. Is the coffee made with this device healthy? What is really inside coffee capsules? You will find answers to these and other questions below.
The capsule machine — a device for the twenty-first century?
When discussing coffee capsules, we should first mention the device that makes a little black coffee from them: the capsule coffee machine. It heats water to the right temperature, then forces it at high pressure into a capsule filled with ground coffee, releasing its flavour. The drink is then filtered through the filter paper at the bottom of the capsule, keeping grounds out of the cup. That is essentially the whole process. This is how we get coffee from a capsule machine.
Coffee capsules — what is inside?
A capsule contains around 5–7 grams of ground coffee. Manufacturers rarely stop at that ingredient, adding various flavourings, sweeteners or powdered milk. Even setting those additions aside, it is worth considering the ground coffee itself. As you know, grinding whole beans just before brewing is the key to a satisfying flavour and aroma. Even sealed inside a capsule, pre-ground coffee cannot compete with beans ground immediately before preparation. And that is not all. When choosing capsules, we have practically no certainty about the quality of the beans. Unfortunately, manufacturers may well use lower-quality beans. Occasional coffee drinkers might not mind very much, but coffee enthusiasts will notice the difference immediately and are likely to be put off capsules.
Why do coffee capsules still worry consumers?
One of the most common questions about coffee capsules concerns health. Many of us wonder: is capsule coffee healthy? Unfortunately, we do not have entirely good news here. Vacuum packaging food — coffee capsules in this case — releases furan, a toxic compound that can accumulate in the liver and kidneys. The good news is that some furan can be removed from coffee very easily. How? After making the coffee, wait around two or three minutes, during which some of the furan will evaporate. The longer we wait before taking the first sip, the less of the compound we consume.
Still, there is no need to panic: experts point out that the amount of furan in coffee capsules is very small. To exceed the limits and expose ourselves to harmful effects from capsule-machine coffee, we would have to drink a dozen or more cups a day.
Which coffee capsules should you choose?
Coffee capsules offer more than classic espresso: there is a whole range of other flavours and styles. When shopping, you can choose latte, cappuccino or macchiato. Your choice depends on your personal taste as well as the preferences of visiting guests or customers.
Another thing to know is that a capsule machine takes capsules designed specifically for the relevant model. A black-coffee capsule costs around PLN 1.50–2.00 on average, while milk-based capsules cost more. Looking at these prices, whether for black or milky coffees, it is easy to see that capsule coffee is not particularly cheap. If you usually drink two or three cups a day, for example, your monthly capsule bill will be roughly PLN 90–180.
Are coffee capsules worth the money?
Although capsule machines themselves are inexpensive, it is worth asking whether the monthly cost of capsules makes financial sense. Considering that a kilogram of freshly roasted whole-bean or ground coffee from a roastery costs around PLN 80, buying capsules is not necessarily the best option. If you are thinking of getting a capsule machine, definitely consider whether an automatic bean-to-cup machine or a professional espresso machine might be a better investment.
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