Coffee pods vs T-disks and K-Cups

Before brewing coffee with coffee pods, before you should even be purchasing or pricing the coffee pods you're planning to brew with, you'll want to pick up a coffee pod brewer. Not all coffee pods are exactly the same, so you will need to do some research to match everything up. Various difference sizes of pods are available, and some pods will not fit some brewers. The safest way to find the right pod for the right brewer, or right brewer for the coffee pods, would be to check the coffee pods grams per pod against the brewer's capacity.

Though there are many coffee pods brewers that can hold up to twelve gram coffee pods, some can only hold between four and nine grams. Some coffee pods brewers require the large pods to be pre-infused, which is actually nothing more than wetting the pod before placing it in the brewer, which creates a better seal on the outer filter material.

You're not going to be able to tell if a pod will fit a maching just by looking, either. All coffee pods currently on the market are between 55mm and 61mm, making it virtually impossible to tell the difference with only the human eye.

Very different than coffee pods, T-Discs and K-Cups are also floating around on the market. There are not an "open format" like the coffee pods; not just anyone can make them. Producers need permission and a license, which means selection of T-Discs and K-Cups is very limited in comparison to coffee pods. Strangely, T-Discs are also not Kosher.

The only device that you can use a T-Disc in is the Tassimo Hot Beverage Machine. The Tassimo Hot Beverage Machine can only use T-Discs. Although this limits your options, there are some advantages to T-Discs over other types of coffee brewing methods.

A T-Disc for cappucino, for example, will actually be a package with seperate groups of discs; some will contain milk, and some will contain coffee grounds. Although not quite as quick or convenient as coffee pods, this method does avail the Tassimo system the flexibility to offer latte, cappucino, and even hot chocoate, complete with frothy toppings, in addition to your standard cup of coffee.

Research is key before deciding between coffee pods, K-Cups, and T-Discs. Thought and research are in order here, and before buying, you should know exactly what it is you plan to brew.