I spent an amazing couple of days in wine country last weekend with a few friends. We ate well, drank a bunch of wine, and relaxed in the Northern California sun. Mornings were simply about leisure and both of them started with coffee. Really really good coffee. Nespresso coffee.
Those damn pods make a damn good cup of coffee. There's no denying it. No fuss and no mess. Let me repeat - those damn pods make a damn good cup of coffee.
But where's the soul? A blind taste test by select members of the coffee and restaurant industries says it doesn't matter...Nespresso simply makes a better cup of coffee when compared to others made with high end beans by high end baristas.
As an engineer by training, I fully appreciate the mechanical precision and consistency of the pod system...it's a beautiful showcase of creativity, process design, and packaging genius. That's the reason why they are supposedly served at 15 Michelin star-rated restaurants (including Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck). I get it. The space saving design, efficient production and cleanup, and consistency of the product make it ideal for the restaurant experience...especially since the diner doesn't see each cup being made.
I'm still torn, though. For me, it's not just about the flavor profile. It's also about the experience...selecting, touching, and smelling the whole beans, listening to the sound of the grinder and the pumping of the espresso machine, and seeing the rich crema form on top of an expertly made espresso (have I mentioned before that I'm a bit of a nerd?).
And there's something about the inconsistency of coffee that I love. Even hardcore baristas can be inconsistent...and there's something special about making or buying a coffee that, for whatever reason, is extra good that day. There are no surprises with Nespresso. No deviations. Just consistency. And flavor.
In the end, I would never reject a Nespresso pod-based coffee. I didn't refuse it after my meal at the Fat Duck nor at my friend's house in Sonoma last weekend. Both cups were delicious. Call me a hopeless romantic, but if I had my choice, I'd certainly head to Blue Bottle or to Four Barrel for a beautifully hand crafted product by individuals that are still not ready to give up on their craft nor surrender to mechanized "perfection".