A revolution… or a golden cage?
Twenty years ago, enjoying an espresso at home was a luxury. Home coffee meant an old drip coffee maker, a lukewarm brew that people drank without much thought. Then, a Swiss brand arrived with a tempting promise: delivering quality espresso at home, effortlessly.
And as Swiss people, we undoubtedly have a special attachment to this brand. It is part of our culture and has shaped the way we consume coffee.
But today, with hindsight, it's time to ask the question: are coffee pods really the best way to enjoy coffee?
At Chronic., we believe the answer is no. Not for the taste, not for the experience, and certainly not for the planet.
A locked-in system that costs you more
Have you noticed how coffee pod machines are often heavily discounted, or even given away with the purchase of a pack of pods? It seems like a great deal, but in reality, it's a well-designed strategy: they give you the machine, but sell you the pods at a premium.
The result? You’re trapped in a locked-in system:
- You can only use the brand’s pods (or nearly).
- Each coffee costs up to 5 times more than high-quality coffee beans.
- No freedom to adjust grind size, extraction, or try different coffees.
Sure, it’s convenient. But is it really a good deal? For the price of a kilo of coffee pods, you could afford specialty coffee, freshly roasted, with much better flavors and authenticity.
A standardized coffee, lacking freshness and character
Have you ever seen a roast date on a box of coffee pods?
No? That’s not surprising. Freshness isn’t a priority. Freshly roasted and ground coffee has a unique aromatic complexity. Coffee that was ground six months ago and vacuum-sealed in a pod? It has already lost over 60% of its aromas before even being brewed.
Pod coffee is designed to be consistent, not exceptional. It is often over-roasted to mask defects, stored in a modified atmosphere, and blended to appeal to the masses.
So yes, it’s predictable. But is that really what coffee drinking is about? Where is the experience, the discovery, the joy of exploring different flavors, origins, and roast profiles?
An ecological disaster, neatly packaged
Pod brands love to reassure us:
- “Our pods are recyclable!” (Well, in theory.)
- “We use less coffee per cup!” (Because they optimize every gram to use as little as possible.)
- “Our pods are biodegradable!” (But they take months to break down.)
The real issue isn’t just the pods themselves—it’s our consumption habits. We drink too much coffee, too quickly, without considering the impact.
If we really want to talk about sustainability:
- A coffee machine with a grinder lasts 10 to 15 years, compared to just 3 to 5 years for a pod machine.
- Whole bean coffee, chosen carefully and prepared with attention, creates far less waste than mountains of aluminum and plastic pods.
- The packaging of some whole bean coffees, like those from Chronic., is compostable and certified, unlike the complicated recycling process of pods.
True sustainability isn’t about minimizing coffee in a pod. It’s about drinking coffee that has real taste and meaning.
In 2025, drinking pods is outdated
Twenty years ago, having a pod machine in your kitchen was modern. A tech innovation that signaled an appreciation for espresso.
In 2025? It’s outdated.
Coffee enthusiasts are now looking for authenticity, quality, and respect for the product. They want to choose their beans, grind them fresh, and enjoy a true extraction.
Drinking a pod coffee is like listening to a heavily compressed MP3 on a cheap speaker. It makes noise, but it’s far from high fidelity.
Conclusion: It’s time to say no to coffee pods
Coffee pods helped us rediscover espresso at home. But now that we know what truly good coffee is, it’s time to move on.
Great coffee is:
- Whole beans, freshly ground
- Eco-friendly and waste-free
- Much more affordable
- A real pleasure, not just a routine
Ready to rediscover the true taste of coffee? Explore our whole bean coffees.
