Where can I buy ESE pods?
Online will be your best option. Sites such as Amazon, Garraway’s and Next Day Coffee have a good selection.
Finding them in stores may be a bit hit and miss as seeing they are not the most popular form of coffee, but you should still be able to find them in the likes of Aldi and Lidl where there is an excellent collection of coffee variations.
What types of coffee machine take ESE pods?
Easy Serve Espresso pods are accepted in espresso machines. You may be wondering how they are used, then? Well, they fit into the portafilter, and you then just use this as normal. The water will pour through the bag, bringing out the coffee.
Popular brands which make dedicated ESE machines include illy, Francis Francis, and Smeg.
Can I use an ESE pod in a Dolce Gusto, Nespresso or Tassimo machine?
No. These brands use dedicated hard pods, so the foil is pierced allowing the water to run through. They will not work with ESE pods and trying to use one will likely break your machine.
If you have not yet bought a coffee machine and know you want a pod option for convenience, an actual pod machine may be the best option. But if you already have an espresso machine, or know you will regularly use it as normal, it could be worth investing and buying some ESE pods when you just want a quick brew.