Customer Reviews

Variety Pack, Organic Pure Kona Blend Coffee Pods, 24 Pods, From Aloha Island Coffee

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I really do like my Senseo coffee maker. I, like others who have reviewed the Kona Pods here, was always searching for a better tasting coffee pod to use in the machine. I was excited to see that Kona now made pods and was also happy to see that they had a pod that was a '2 cup style'. I have not found it to be a huge deal to use 2 smaller '1 cup' size pods, but it sounded nice to be able to just put one large pod in the machine instead of 2 smaller one.

After reading some of the reviews here, I could not figure out what some of the reviewers meant by the Kona pods making different amount of coffee per cup each time or how the coffee could be strange and undrinkable. It just didn't make sense. Well, it still doesn't make sense, but it certainly happened with the coffee I made using the Kona pods also.

My results were overall poor and it was very disappointing as the Kona pods cost a lot more than Folgers or other pod brands that I can buy locally. The first thing I noticed was that the coffee in the 2 cup sized Kona pods is packed in much more tightly than in any other pod I have ever used in my Senseo. The instructions for the Kona pods say to wiggle the pods to break up the coffee before inserting into the machine. The Kona pods feel very hard when taken out of their package. I always wiggled and jiggled the pods for about 10 seconds before putting them in the Senseo. After my problems with the Kona pods, my husband decided that I was not 'wiggling' them enough. He promptly wiggled one to the point that it broke open. So, there is just so much that can be done to the pod before putting it in the machine.

The first thing that I noticed was that the amount of coffee brewed when using the Kona pod was quite a bit less than when using 2 smaller pods. That did not make much sense, but after several cups of Kona, it was obvious that there was never the amount of coffee coming out as before when using 2 small one cup pods. The best I can figure out is that the Kona pods themselves seem to 'hold' a lot more water. There is more water that remains in the pod itself after the brewing is done. The pod itself is heavier when I take it out to throw it away. So, I believe the reason that there is less actual coffee using Kona pods is that the pods themselves retain a lot more water and it cannot pass through into the coffee cup.

Then, as others have mentioned, there is the problem that happens to me about 1/2 the time when using the Kona pods. The problem is that for whatever reason, the water does not actually go through and penetrate the Kona pods during the brewing cycle. The 'coffee' that is supposed to be coming out of the spout is just water! This problem is one that I still cannot really figure out. The Kona pods are a little smaller in diameter than all the other pods I have tried. So, I guess that somehow the water has enough room to 'go around' the actual pod and come out of the spout without 'going through' the pod to brew coffee. I also wonder if the paper filter of the Kona pods is different than other pods and for some reason the Kona paper is more difficult for water to penetrate. I have tried wetting the Kona pod paper filter right before starting to brew the coffee thinking that perhaps it would help the water to penetrate the paper and pod. But, that has not worked for me.

So, it is back to regular more reasonably priced coffee pods for me. I have wasted too many expensive Kona pods trying to get a proper cup of coffee from them. Even when the Kona pods brew a cup of coffee, it is not as large of an amount of coffee as I get using other brands. So, adding the cost of the Kona pods to the fact that it brews a smaller amount of coffee equals a product that is way too expensive when it does actually work.

I have been reading of a product called an EcoPod. It is a refillable pod for these type of coffeemakers. It might be the next thing I try.

This coffee is great! The Senseo machine can be difficult to use as far as getting pods into it correctly. I am not sure what has happened to the people reporting "steam locks" but I have had issues when:

- the pod is not inserted properly

- the pod holder is not seated correctly within the machine

- the pod is not prepared for insertion properly

My issues were varied, but basically consisted of hot water coming out of the sides of the coffee maker and no coffee would be brewed, and the pod would have to be discarded. This happened to me with Senseo pods, and probably would have happened with the Aloha Island pods except that I learned how to deal with the machine.

Also in some of these cases the lid to the coffee maker would be stuck, (possibly the dreaded "steam lock"), but I was always able to open the machine after a minute or so of wiggling the lock/release handle on the machine, which I would think most people would do automatically when the machine doesn't open.

By properly preparing the pod for insertion I am able to use single pods for the Melitta One in my Senseo as well as the Aloha Island pods and of course the Senseo pods. If you don't put it in just right, you will have problems. The key is to spread the coffee equally around within the Pod before inserting it into the machine. Do this by wiggling the pod around a bit (take about 5 seconds). The helpful instructions with the Aloha Island pods say to "break up the coffee" within the pod before using, which has the same effect. It took me five months to figure this out while using the Senseo pods, especially when brewing two cups. I wish Senseo would have included a little note like Aloha Island did.

During shipping the coffee can settle or collect within the pod, either on a side(s) or even in the middle. This changes the thickness of the pod, ever so slightly, and the machines tolerance for different thickness pods appears to be extremely low!

So smooth out your pods and enjoy, I think that any problems you have with pods are really problems with the design of the machine, not the pods themselves.

Echoing other reviews, performance is not consistant. One time we did get excellent coffee, this morning it jammed the Senseo machine with a steam lock and there is not telling when we will be able to re-open it. Considering the price of these pods, even only one bad pod makes it impossible to recommend the product.

As a bachelor who frequently must grab a cup of joe at home and run, i was reluctant to waste coffee in my Braun drip machine, and disinclined to clean up after the French Press method. A New York Times article convinced me that a Pod system would be the way to go, and i found the Philips Senseo machine to be the best at the consumer level. Alas, the Douwe Egberts pods that come with are, um, IMHO, not good.

A brief web search led me to Aloha Island's Senseo-style pods, and i ordered a box of their single serving espresso pods. The package arrived swiftly, and the box of pods was swaddled in styro-peanuts: nice touch! i immediately placed a pair in the Senseo unit and let it do its thing. Wow! The quality of the coffee is, to date, unparalled. Rich, smooth, and frothy, almost like a latte before the milk is added. And i was surprised that the yield was about one ounce greater than with the DE pods.

I'm a believer, an advocate, and a confirmed drinker and fan. Thanks and Mahalo!

I was thrilled to find Kona coffee in pods for my Senseo machine. However, these pods do not really fit right. Consequently, sometimes you get a full cup that is mostly water -- then you might get half a cup. There is NO consistency in how much coffee will actually come out -- or how strong/weak the coffee will be. I can't tell if it's manufacturing irregularities or whether the pods are just poorly designed. In any event, only about one in five pods actually produces a drinkable full cup of coffee. I emailed Aloha Island Coffee Company with my concerns and asking for advice, but have not yet received an answer after two weeks.

I'm going back the the Douwe Egberts pods -- at least they are consistent and A LOT less expensive.

Fabulous marriage of convenience and quality. Rich, full flavor from the touch of a button! A dream come true.

I bought a Senseo machine for the convenience of making one cup at a time but was underwhelmed by the coffee choices available.

That is until I found the Kona coffee pods from Aloha Island.

These are all I use now. They cost a little more but worth every penny if you want a very smooth, rich cup of pure Kona coffee these are the ones to buy.

I have to agree with the guy who complained about consistency. I have wasted two very expensive pods so far. The first time I used a Kona pod the machine jammed and I could not open it for 24 hours,(caused a steam lock), about 5 tablespoons of undrinkable crap came out of my senseo. The next time I tried a Kona pod I got a quarter amount of what should have been a two cup try. I am not very impressed so far. I am now afraid to try again.

Yes the coffee is the best quality, pesticide free. There are technical issues with the pods. 1 pod was broken when I opened up the pouch it was stored in. For any pods to arrive broken when they are so expensive is just not acceptable. Also, many times the pod is not working, but turning it around and pressing down on it with a fork or a spoon makes it work (I have Black & Decker Home Cafe Machine). Great coffee, but I felt that I had to really work for it. I also feel that to charage $15 to ship a box of coffee pods is a bit excessive, considering that they are being shiped from LA not HI.

If you are looking for pods for your espresso machine, give these a try. I have a Francis X1 and have tried them all. These are the best. Also, the people in customer service are super nice - guess it is not a surprise they live in Hawaii.