I'm sure you're asking, as would many; exactly what are coffee pods? Are they little spaceships in which coffee travels? Obviously not, but the term coffee pods doesn't exactly jump out at you with an explanation, does it?

What Are Coffee Pod Brewers?

A coffee pod is a small, single serving of coffee that comes wrapped in it's own little package with a filter. They're only used with coffee pod brewers; they cannot be used with regular coffee brewers, but you really wouldn't want to. When it comes to single cups of coffee, though, coffee pods are much more convenient. You don't have to worry about buying coffee grounds and filters separately, or pouring enough grinds for four cups of coffee when you just want one. Unfortunately, these conveniences will make your price per cup a bit higher, but only if you regularly want more than one cup. Coffee pods brewers, though still budget friendly, aren't as cheap as the old standard just yet. There are also many different manufacturers of coffee pods brewers, and not all of them are compatible with all pods, sometimes leading to confusion as to which brewers use which pods.

Which Companies Make Coffee Pods?

Fortunately, however, coffee pods are sort of an open format. Although they require special pieces of equipment to brew, pretty much any company can make and sell coffee pods, which means there is a very wide variety of coffee pods available to purchase once you have obtained your coffee pod brewer. Coffee pods are available for as little as $5, though some of the more premium pods sell for over $30. As with everything, it's really up to you how much you want to spend and if you taste a flavor difference between them. If you, personally, don't notice a difference between the cheapest and the most expensive, then there's obviously no reason to waste the extra money.

Coffee Pod Brewers: About As Expensive As Regular Brewers

Coffee pods brewers often vary in price wildly, ranging from around $10 to well over $300 for personal, one cup pod brewers, and upwards of $1200 for brewers that are used in offices or other types of commercial environments. They're readily available both online and in regular department stores. The better deals will likely come from the internet, though that does require some patients, and can be a pain if you need to return it for some reason.

Are They Worth It?

If you haven't figured it out yet, coffee pods are quite a bit pricier than the every day coffee makers that have been around for years. The brewer itself will cost you more, the coffee pods aren't cheap, and they won't last you nearly as long as your typical filter and grounds setup. In return, however, you will get the convenience of having everything in one package, and the ability to brew coffee that's much more similar to what the retail places have to offer.

Corky likes to write articles about pod coffee makers and gourmet coffee pods.