Gourmesso – Nespresso compatible coffee capsules
Causing quite a ‘stir’ in the UK coffee scene is Gourmesso (www.gourmesso.com) which are Nespresso compatible coffee capsules. The main boon to buying Gourmesso over conventional Nespresso is the cost as it is around half as expensive.
But what is inside these mystery capsules?
It’s best to answer this question by looking at how most people get their daily fix. Coffee at your favourite coffee shop is made by grinding the bean in the coffee shop and then using those coffee grinds straight away. You might have seen the barista grind the beans and then put them into a porter filter – which looks like handle – which attaches to the espresso machine. Hot water then is forced through the coffee grinds inside the porter filter, which is then turned into coffee in your cup.
The reason the Barista grinds the beans and uses the coffee grinds is because the coffee grinds lose their taste rapidly when exposed to open air. When a brand sells a bag of premium coffee, however great the beans may be in quality, one problem is that once the bag is opened, the quality of that coffee deteriorates rapidly. Gourmesso capsules are the answer to this problem, as the coffee is immediately sealed and made airtight. This allows someone at home to open just one coffee pod at a time for use, rather than a whole 500g bag.
Nespresso capsules cost 50p to 75p each in UK supermarkets. Gourmesso pods by comparison are just 32p. By comparison, it would cost a barista around 36p to make a double shot cappuccino from scratch.
As a third cheaper than rival Nespresso, Gourmesso is a great example of the type of competitive ranges hitting UK shelves recently. Competition has been great for the coffee pod market with new brands, specialist beans, infusions and price tags.
What does Gourmesso taste like?
It tastes great! Which is important, as for me, quality comes ahead of price for almost all purchasing decisions. Finding a brand that can deliver on better prices and great quality is superb.
Gourmesso Pods
I tested several coffee capsules for taste.
Arabica coffee – this is a powerful and complex coffee with fruity and winey notes to the flavour. It’s quite intense. This is great to enjoy first thing in the morning with a Croissant.
Dark Roasted Americano – this one is nutty caramel flavoured, which is sweet and has a soft citrus sharpness to it.
Usually the packs come with 10 to 20 capsule pods. Some pods have markings to identify the flavours and usually are transparent.
Gourmesso Flavor
Between the Nespresso, Gourmesso and other coffee capsules I tried, the Gourmesso was definitely the better one. I usually don’t like flavoured coffees. But I do have vanilla aor Pain d’ Espices (Gingerbread) flavours in my double shot cappuccino.
Tip:
When you are making your drink with different coffee capsules, be mindful that sometimes a drink can become too weak if you add too much milk or water. However, those who prefer less bitterness and a smoother morning coffee drink might appreciate this style more.
