Customer Reviews

Perfect Pod Maker

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Length:: 2:33 Mins

I started into this world of pods and k-cups when my expensive espresso machine died and they wanted $600 to fix it. I bought a Breville K-cup brewer (uses Keurig cups). I started spending lots of money on k-cups and feeling S.O.L. if I didn't order on time and I ran out of luck. So I bought a Pod Holster to fit into the machine so that I could use any pod I wanted. I noticed that they were sold as a set so based on the reviews I set out to see if the Perfect Pod maker could really hold its own. I love seeing a product in action so I decided to give you what I look for-a video review.

I love my Senseo and have purchased several for gifts (as well as upgrading to the newer models). I have purchased pods from several online vendors and have been fairly happy with most but felt most were overpriced and some staled rapidly, even when individually packaged. I also have tried the various "refillable" pods and have been dissatisfied with all of them.
The main complaint I have had is the lack of variety in the dark roast coffees in readily available pods at a reasonable cost.
Perfect Pod has more than fulfilled my wishes. It is easy to use and I can fill the pods with freshly-ground beans, roast my own or even use a commercial espresso grind which I found produced an excellent cup.

I am ordering another as a gift for a friend, to whom I have given a Senseo and who, like me, would like more variety in roast types and flavors.

I love my Senseo coffee maker, but I really don't like their coffee. We got this pod maker so we could choose whatever coffee we want. I must say, this little thing is the greatest! You put in a filter, fill it up with your favorite coffee (about 1 1/2 tablespoons) and close the top for 3 seconds... DONE! Now we truly enjoy the benefits of a single serve coffee maker. It is so easy and the machine is so small... it's perfect! I cannot recommend it enough! I make several at a time and the pods are ready to go whenever I want them. And the best thing, they are disposable, so you just toss it when you are done.

One thing... just make sure you don't grind the coffee too fine or it doesnt work in the Senseo.

Yet another product made in China. Seems every time I buy a product, I find out it's from China ... only after I buy it. There is no escape. So how do I like it? Actually, I think it's a nifty device. It looks like it is built pretty well. I was surprised that it was bigger than I thought it would be (not that it is all that large, it isn't). And the blinking light telling you it's ready (stops blinking when ready) is on the lid. No big deal (since that is where the heating element is), just thought it odd since the on/off switch in the front lights up and felt it would be more appropriate there.

For those who have a Senseo coffee maker (or other pod maker) you should enjoy this product. I don't care that much for Senseo coffee. Oh, a couple grinds are pretty decent, but I tire of them quickly. Enter the Pod Maker. I now can buy any type or brand of coffee I want, from inexpensive 3 pound cans to expensive brands. It's given a new lease on life for my Senseo coffee maker. As far as how it works, see Mark Husson's video review below (nicely done, Mark). And yes, it's as simple as it looks. Obviously, one will waste a few pods trying to gage the correct amount of coffee to use (depends upon the brand, grind and personal taste), but that's a small price to pay to get a better tasting mug of coffee.

So how do I rate it? Between 1 and 10, I give this device a solid 7 (or a marginal 4-star rating). It works as advertised (it seals the pods quickly and effectively, and is cool to the touch). However, the filters are expensive and not available at the grocery store where I shop (there is always a catch). To lessen the cost, it's better to buy in bulk (obviously), but even then, $15 plus shipping for 120 filters is about 5 to 10 times more expensive than standard filters. While Senseo coffee is very expensive (for what you get), one isn't saving all that much money going this route, but at least you can now purchase a variety of coffee and experiment, instead of being at the mercy of Senseo.

Edit: After using the Pod Maker for over a month now, I think I might have short changed its value. I have found several coffees I really enjoy, and this wouldn't have happened without the Pod Maker. As I stated before, it's given a new lease on life to my Senseo coffee maker. Unfortunately, my Senseo just bit the dust and I was in a quandary of which coffee maker to buy. I really wanted the Breville, and also considered the Keurig B60 or B70 (I could still use the Pod Maker for these K-cup machines, so that told me right then and there how important this little device has become to me in a relatively short time). Well, I ended up purchasing another Senseo and saved myself a couple hundred bucks). Without the Pod Maker, I wouldn't have even considered another Senseo. Because of this fact, I will now up my rating from a solid 7 to a 9 (or a 5-star rating -- unfortunately one cannot change the actual star rating). It took a blown coffee maker for me to realize just how indispensable the Pod Maker is.

EDIT 2: Actually, it's not indispensable at all. My second unit died the same way as my first unit died, that is, its heating element went south and stopped heating. The first one bit the dust in just under a year. I thought, no big deal, things happen. When the second one died at about the same time frame, it made me realize that these may have a serious problem. I mean a heating element is pretty basic and they have been around for decades in one form or another (how many irons fail?). No, these are obviously made on the cheap, but I did email the manufacturer. They didn't bother to respond.

So, will I buy a third unit? Uh, no way. But then again, I found out I don't need this piece of equipment. I have a Senseo coffee maker and all I do is load the Pod's filters directly into the coffee maker, add coffee, flip over the top paper and I'm set to go. And no, I don't have a problem with coffee grounds. It works just fine.

I really love this thing. I bought my senseo machine because it was fast and easy to use. Unfortunately the cost of the senseo pods really added up quickly and I was beginning to regret my purchase until I found this pod maker. I bought a huge $7 can of coffee about a month and a half ago and it's still nowhere near empty. It sure beats paying $5 or $6 every week to feed my caffeine addiction. I just make a new batch of pods every Sunday and I'm set for the week. It's really easy and is quick as well - just like the senseo coffee machine.

Addendum: March 11, 2009

The Perfect PodMaker which we received continues to live up to its name, although we have switched to the less expensive beans of Peerless, with no less enjoyment than with Starbucks beans. Used in conjunction with the Philips Senseo pod-coffeemaker, there is no other way to enjoy the essential, volatile and thus short-lived oils emitted for just a few moments when freshly ground coffee encounters very hot water.

The Senseo in particular passes coffee to the cup using a mechanism which encases those essences in a thick layer of tasty foam. If coffee is really the great antioxidant it is said to be, then surely that antioxidant 'lives' in that thick layer of foam.Senseo HD7820 Deluxe Single-Serve Gourmet Coffeemaker

Addendum: December 8, 2011 Liked ours so much that we finally wore it out. After looking everywhere, we finally found an Amazon Marketplace seller who had 2. Price a little steep so we didn't buy both but well worth the cost to get back to using our own coffee, which will earn back that cost in like a month!

I have both a Keurig and a Senseo (I prefer the Keurig), so I bought this to make my own pods. The first 40 pods worked great. Then I started to have problems with the filters not getting sealed all the way around, so I had to turn the pod in the pod maker, to seal the other side. Then I would pods whose seals would just open up again in my coffee maker. Tonight I tried it again, and I have had it plugged in for over 20 minutes and it refuses to get hot. Now, I have only had this thing for less than two months; maybe made 75 pods. I'll have to see if I can get a refund or something.

I got a free Senseo, and reallllly didn't like their coffee. After trying to make my own pod with a regular coffee filter, I did a bit of searching and ran across this little gadget. While I shied away from it initially due to the price, the cost of pre-made pods made me reconsider.

I cannot believe how quick and easy it is to make my own pods, using whatever coffee I want. I generally like darker roasts, but on occasion I enjoy a cup of flavored coffee. I use the larger Senseo pod holder, and put two full scoops of coffee in each Perfect Pod; I get a double cup from each.

Do buy the refills in bulk, it's much cheaper. It doesn't take long to make the pods; I store them in a glass jar.

We use the single-serving Senseo coffee maker at our workplace but we were unhappy with the quality and cost of the Senseo pods. After reading reviews for all the types of "do-it-yourself" pods on Amazon.com, we chose to go with the Perfect Pod Maker. We shied away from reusable pods because we don't have the space to dry the pods between uses.

We are very happy with our choice. It's easy to use, saves space, and makes an excellent cup of coffee with the coffee of your choice. We can also make the coffee as strong or as weak as we'd like. The added variety has made everyone around the workplace excited to drink coffee again.

Having multiple coffee makers, I was pleased to be able to make my favorite coffee in both machines. For the Senseo it made perfect 2 cup pods ( the one cup size is not really enough to drink) No grounds in the coffee as with some of the refillable pods (melitta and ecopad) Nothing to wash when you make several cups - Just replace the pod. For the Keurig I used the same pods I made and put them in the Perfect Holster and once again had excellent coffee. The Perfect Pod is quick and easy to use with no mess. You can make many pods in only minutes. Excellent Product. I am very satisfied with this.