Lay My Hat

Does anyone use those coffee capsule /pod machines in their accommodation and if so what type/make have they found the best

at the moment I have the normal filter machines with the paper /metal filters and offer 1 small Kilner jar of fresh coffee usually enough to make 1 to 2 pots as the apartments are self-catering it is just a welcome “gift” along with specialist individual enveloped tea that is replaced/topped up each rental

but year on year the business is changing from rentals 7-10 nights to 2-3 & 4 nights and sometimes am lucky to have 5-7 in the larger apartment which has a full kitchen ( the other have kitchenettes )

so I am thinking of replacing in the smaller apartments the filter coffee machines & using the capsule/pod ones and putting maybe a pod/capsule bar for guests to purchase additional pod/capsules if required “ at cost “ however i am worried if this restricts the self catering guest to a type of coffee brand where at the moment they can bring with them their own ground coffee type
but on the other hand when guest stays for 2-3 nights they do not always want to carry with them the contents of their kitchen at home or do a large shop they do not spend a lot of time in the apartments a bit like a hotel room with additional kitchen facilities studio style

any recommendations what you would prefer if staying in a property for a say weekend break?

It's a tricky one, because everyone has a different style of coffee they like. So whilst the capsule machine offers a range of coffee blends, it has the downsides of time-lag between individual cups, not much fun if you're waiting to have your breakfast, and also they're rather weak, which some people find offputting.
I suppose in an ideal world, I would like 3 or 4 of your little jars, duly labelled "Columbian", "Kenyan", "Italian roast" or whatever so I could combine choice of blend with strength to suit me. But that would be quite a fag for you I'm afraid. (You did ask though!)

On the brighter side, it's good to see some hotels are now realising that people's coffee tastes range as widely as their taste in tea and are providing a range of blends in the breakfast room.

Mols

thanks Mols

yep it is a tricky one indeed that's why before I make maybe a costly mistake
But I always consider any additions I offer guests to be the best quality or don't offer at all , my German guests are always surprised to have a selection of tea & coffee available as a welcome especially guests arriving later in the day they have enough for breakfast as German hotels do not generally have tea and coffee facilities in the rooms as for the teas I have a good quality German brand for the herbal & green teas and twinings for the black teas they love earl grey ( all sealed envelopes ) so with the coffee I am just trying to make things a little cleaner than having to but the filter machine on and making a full pot more of a boutique feel

Yes, I understand. I recall many years ago some friends had a set of one-cup filters, made of metal so easily washed, where you could just spoon in your coffee of choice then top up with hot water. Would that be sufficiently flexible for your vision?

Though personally I never stop at one, so a jug is fine for me!

Mols

update :

well the jury is still out i have had 2 couples stay with me this weekend "germans" so i thought i would ask for their opinion
and they thought it was interesting as they brought with them their nespresso machine & capsules as like i mentioned before in most german hotels you do not get Tea & coffee making facilites so as they like their coffee in the morning they just pack their machine
both couples stayed with me for 2 nights as a weekend break
and they said if i had written on the accomodation facilities on the booking site that the apartment included say a nespresso machine they would have just bought their capsules so if i was thinking of changing the existing filter machine for a capsule machine as long as the make /brand was listed in advance the guests would know what to expect & with self catering no what to shop for but they would also expect a good branded machine/coffee

I need the jug in the morning. I've just bought a new Mellitta machine with a thermal stainless steel jug so it will now keep hotter for longer, although before I just use to nuke it in the microwave for a short while. I've never found a pod/capsule I like.

Agree, HellsBells, who wants just one lousy cup at daybreak? My press type pot is double-walled steel, so it stays hot all the way through.

Mols

I've had a Lavazza Modo Mio in the flat for a couple of years. The capsules are not massively expensive -I think it works out at around 30p per cup. I buy them from Amazon, or sometimes Ebay- wherever seems cheapest. The have a fairly good range of strengths- the Intenso one is really good, but they do about four or five other ones with a caffeine free option ( can't imagine what numpty would want to drink de caffienated coffee, but that's just me!)
Occasionally people will leave me a wee donation, for more capsules, if they have used loads, but in the main part it's not been a costly addition, and it's been very popular.
The only thing I would point out is that they're not very environmentally friendly.

One of the apartments that we manage has a Tassimo machine along with a cafetiere, the cafetiere is used the most by guests.

I'm a recent tassimo convert, having just purchased one from Curry's for £38 and would take the pods with me if staying at a property with a machine, I wouldn't expect an owner to provide pods.

Keep it tea

The waste is just a bridge too far for me. We all have our own sticking points so this isn't a criticism of those who use them. I believe there are some more environmentally friendly ones available now though?

I provide a cafetiere (the double walled steel type) and a filter machine. I personally don't like or use the pods and would prefer your current set up which sounds lovely! If you wanted to upgrade a bit I would agree with Moliere - you could provide a dark roast and a lighter one, that would be a very nice touch.
Also, especially on holiday, I enjoy the process of making coffee. I actually think the pods take away from this a bit.

The other idea which I have toyed with is providing beans and a coffee grinder. I stayed in a Japanese hotel once that did this and it was wonderful to have the room full of the scent of freshly ground coffee! Unfortunately we just don't have room here for an electric burr grinder. If we did, that would definitely be my choice for an upgrade. I hand grind my morning coffee (fine for two people but not really an option for ten) and I do notice the difference when I use ready-ground from time to time.

teapot wrote:Keep it tea

Loose leaf Yorkshire for a proper cuppa in the morning!

Martha, I can think of two difficulties with beans and a grinder. First the noise, which could incur the wrath of sleeping fellow guests. Secondly, getting the length of grinding right - too coarse and your coffee is weak and flavourless, too fine and it clogs the press so you can't get the blighter down! Even after 20-odd years, I don't always get this right.

Safer to stick to ready-ground in this case I think (and if it's in a sealed tin, it should last pretty well).

Mols

My very expensive Delonghi bean to cup machine sits idly in the corner waiting for when I have time to look at it. broken again, bloody un reliable but brilliant coffee when it worked. Even those pod machines are very noisy.

teapot wrote:My very expensive Delonghi . . . broken again,

Well, the problem is you shouldn't put leaf tea in it!

Mols