7 Best ESE Pods You Can Buy in [In 2023]

You may have seen when searching for a new espresso machine, that some will accept ESE coffee pods as well as the grounds.

ESE stands for Easy Serve Espresso, which already appeals. But they are not the traditional pods which we would now use in machines from the likes of Nespresso or Dolce Gusto – think of them more as a little teabag, but with coffee grounds in instead.

It means you don’t need to cope with the hassle of grinding your own beans, and you have a ready-made amount measured out for a single espresso. They are also referred to as paper pods or bags.

Here are our picks of the best ESE pods around.

The Best ESE Pods

Baronet Coffee Organic Small Village Blend Coffee Pods

Overview

Baronet Coffee Organic Small Village Blend Coffee Pods Bag | Fair Trade – Medium Roast | 18 Count, 8 Grams | Single Serve Coffee Pods | Bulk Packaged For Decreased Waste| Rich, Traditional Flavor

Looking for a rich and traditional coffee experience? Look no further than Baronet Coffee’s Small Village Blend.

This medium roast pod will give you all the flavor you need and then some. Each pod is made with 100% organic beans which means that you can rest assured that this product is not only good for your health but also good for the environment.

If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly way to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee without overspending or compromising on taste or quality, look no further than Baronet Coffee’s Small Village Blend pods!

Illy Classico Medium Espresso Coffee Paper Pods (ESE Pods)

Overview

Illy is perhaps the main market leaders of ESE compatible machines, so it is no surprise that they make the pods too.

These pods can be used in machines such as Francis Francis, Dualit 3-in-1, Dualit Express-Auto 4 in 1, Delonghi, Gaggia, Kitchenaid 5KES2102, Krups XP5210 and XP5620, Morphy Richards Accents Pebble, Saeco, and SMEG ECF01.

These medium roast bags have a distinct aroma of chocolate, toast and caramel. It is gentle, yet with strength. You get enough bags for 18 cups of coffee, and you just pop it in logo side up for ease.

They’re also available in a dark roast option for anyone who likes a real kick.

Illy Decaffeinated ESE Pods (ESE Pods)

Overview

Sometimes, you just don’t need the boost, but still want a nice cup of something warm to help you settle down with a book.

These decaf bags bring you all of the joy and taste of the traditional illy coffee, but with a lot less of the caffeine. Just place them with the logo facing upwards, then make espresso as you would normally.

Many refer to them as the best decaf coffee pods they have found, and while there aren’t that many around to compete, it is still high praise.

It can be hard to find decaf paper pods in the shops, so stock up.

Montedoro Caffe` Intenso – Classic Blend

Overview

Are you looking for a cup of coffee that will leave you begging for more?

Look no further. Montedoro’s E.S.E. Intenso coffee pods are the classic Neapolitan blend, made of 50% Arabica and 50% Robusta coffee. The sweet taste and intense body makes it perfect for espresso lovers. Each bag contains just the right mixture of African and Indian coffee beans that are perfectly balanced and blended to enhance the sweetness of Brazilian Arabica beans. This is a medium-roast blend that won’t leave you disappointed! In fact, you’ll want to try it exclusively after your first cup!

Lavazza Gran Espresso Single-Serve Coffee Pods

Overview

Lavazza Gran Espresso Single-Serve Coffee Pods are for you. These dark-roasted pods promise to deliver strong, authentic Italian espresso in the comfort of your own home.

The Lavazza Gran Espresso Single-Serve Coffee Pods are made with 100% Arabica beans and have a medium-strong body and aroma. They’re perfect for a morning pick-me-up or an afternoon pick-me-up (or both!), and they’re compatible with most single serve coffee machines on the market today.

Just pop one into your machine, press the button, and voila! You’ve got yourself some real Italian espresso.

Caffe Gioia – Strong ESE Pods

Overview

This is our strongest espresso yet! Caffe Gioia’s ESE Pods are the perfect choice for those who are looking for a strong, bold cup of espresso. This pack of 150 pods comes in an elegant black box that makes it perfect for gifting or stocking up on your favorite espresso.

This espresso is sure to please even the most discerning of palates. We have even included a free gift box with every purchase so that you can present it as a gift to someone special or keep it for yourself!

Good As Gold Kona Blend Coffee Pods

Overview

Good As Gold Coffee is a Kona Blend Coffee that is roasted to perfection and designed to give you the best cup of coffee ever. It’s a rich, smooth blend that is sure to please any coffee lover. This pack of 18 pods is enough for 1 month of brewing delicious coffee, so order now and enjoy!

ESE Pod Buying Guide

ESE Pod Size

For the majority of ESE machines, the paper ESE pod will have to be 44mm. All of those featured above fall into this category.

As long as you have a suitable portafilter, you should be good to go.

Capacity

Each ESE pod will make one espresso shot, as they contain 7g of coffee. So, think about how often you will use them, and how many you will need before you next make an online order.

There are some which come in boxes of 18, and others where you can get 150 bags, but like with everything else, the smaller the box the better the quality will likely be. You may prefer to buy a few from a brand like illy or Lavazza than risk a big, value box from a brand you aren’t familiar with.

Variety

This will usually be a roast level, which may fall under a certain name depending on the brand. Light, medium and dark are often available, but do bear in mind that they are often weaker than using ground coffee so you may want to take things up a level.

FAQs

Where can I buy the best ESE pods?

Online will be your best option. Sites such as Amazon, Garraway’s and Next Day Coffee have a good selection.

Finding ESE pods 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.