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AliExpress Reusable Dolce Gusto Coffee Pod Review
https://youtu.be/4_xvAQSgrD8
More Info and Purchase: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32960367041.html
Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6
Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/03/15/aliexpresss-reusable-dolce-gusto-coffee-capsule/
Although they may not be for coffee aficionados, Dulce Gusto and the many rival coffee capsule systems, do have an appeal, as they are quick and easy to use and can give very enjoyable drinks, often of more arcane coffee brews that would otherwise require high end coffee machines and a certain level of skill to produce. The big drawback is that the coffee pods or capsules are expensive, cannot be reused and are environmentally unfriendly. Reusable coffee capsules can be obtained but they too can be expensive. However, on AliExpress and other Chinese online stores, they can be found at a more reasonable price.
On AliExpress there are many reusable capsule packages available, so hunt around to find the cheapest and most suitable for you. Take note that not all Dolce Gusto type capsules will work in every Dulce Gusto machine, so check the listing for compatibility. The one I selected was available in a range of options from just a single pod to multiple pods with metal tampers and other add-ons. I went for the cheapest option of a single pod which arrived in a branded box together with a tiny brush and plastic coffee measuring spoon and cost me just £5.38 with free shipping. Delivery from China took about two weeks.
Build quality seems OK. The capsule body is made from metal and seems pretty robust, the lid is of a quite thick silicone with the brush and spoon of low-grade plastic.
The capsule has a very fine mesh bottom and a rubber or silicone outlet below it. The lid has a precut hole to allow the needle jet of the Dolce Gusto machine to enter and inject hot water into the coffee grounds in the capsule.
Operation is not a simple business and some time has to be spent determining how much coffee to put in the pod and what setting to use on the machine. There is no hard and fast rule about this and the only way is by trial and error.
Grind your coffee to a medium level, then add it to the capsule and tamp it down well. Then fit the lid to the capsule and ensure a tight seal is made. Next - and this is the tricky bit - align the hole in the silicone lid to the needle jet of the coffee machine. Take care with this as getting it wrong may damage both the silicone lid and the coffee machine itself. It does get easier and faster with experience. The first few cups I made with it were pretty dire but after a while the coffee got better - or I got used to it - and it may well be that over time a decent cup can be had from it. But the time and effort of filling the pod, tamping it down and carefully inserting it into the machine does rather detract from the ease and speed of the pod system.
The price is good and if you have the time and patience then this may well be a cheaper way of using your Dolce Gusto machine.
