Caffe Borbone ESE Coffee Pods - Miscela Nera (Black) - 150 Count

Best ESE coffee pods I have tried, including better than Lavazza. I usually order the black or blue pods. Black is strongest espresso. Lovely aroma! Makes a nice crema. I am using a cheap 5-in-1 coffee maker/19 pressure bar machine by Hibrew. I also love that machine because it has a specific paper pod ESE filter. These pods will NOT work in a regular espresso machine, as they need the special metal holder that forces water through them and not around the pod. I sold my expensive espresso machine, went with this $140 machine, but I can still make a Keurig plastic pod, regular coffee grounds, etc. I also bought a cheap magnetic hot/cold milk frother. My morning capuccinos rival a coffee house. Also, if you are looking for a great tasting sweetener that doesn't taste like junk and raise your glucose, check out allulose. I put a sprinkle in my milk in the frother. For milk frothing, ultra processed milk works best, even lactose free.

Everything was fine

My husband likes the smell of the espresso when it brews. The taste is strong & good. He enjoys the espresso.

These pods were what was being used by a 4-star resort in the Dominican Republic for all their espresso drinks. I returned home, bought a Hibrew 5-in-1 machine that included a chamber for ESE pods. These pods taste better than Lavazza. The Miscela Nera black was the darkest roast flavor, followed closely by their blue. Every cup tastes fresh and dark. Makes beautiful crema on top. SO easy to use compared to loose grounds!

I'm not a coffee expert, so I probably won't use all the right terms, but here goes. My first experience with making espresso at home was with Caffe Borbone "Blue". It was great! I then tried Lavazza (Gran Crema) and Illy (black ribbon) as a comparison, even though they are usually more expensive. After trying those brands, I still liked the Caffe Borbone "Blue" better. So when that supply ran out, I tried the Caffe Borbone "Black". The scant information available seemed to indicate the Black was a mix of Blue and Red (Arabica and Robusta). So after a few lattes made with the Black, I can say that I like it a lot. It is a little more "acidic" than the Blue, but I am guessing that's because it has some Robusta in it. It also packs a bigger punch (caffeine) than the blue. The blue and the black have both been very consistent with their output, as in crema, no thin shots, etc. Overall a very good product and great value.

The Caffe Borbone ESE Pods - Black is the best tasting that I've found. My wife will not drink anything else. Only issue is that sometimes the stock is a little low so delivery can take longer than desired.

After a lot of experimentation it seems as if that senco style coffee pods in individual packages are a good bit more flavorful than small packages of loose pods. These pods are exceptional flavor, bold and solid allowing me to make my brews either single or double espresso - depending on my mood.

Note: Amazon doesn't separate the reviews for the different blends of Caffe Borbone pods. Caffe Borbone makes four different blends of caffeinated pods: Red, Gold, Blue, and now, Black. Each blend has different proportions and origins of Arabica and Robusta beans. The Arabica beans contribute to rich aromas and flavors. The Robusta beans contribute strong body and bite, stand up to dilution in milk, and have about twice the caffeine level as Arabica. As with any coffee product, the climate and geographic origin of the beans, along with the roaster's style and skill, influence the flavor produced. This review is for the BLACK blend pods. Hi -- my name is Steve, and I'm an addict. Well, an espresso addict, that is. I start my day with four shots. I have a commercial-grade, pod-only espresso machine, that is specifically designed to clamp ESE pods into its jaws with the right amount of pressure, and it has a precision flow-meter to control the amount of water that is dispensed through the pods. This produces consistent results, eliminating the human "barista" variables. I've tried pods from dozens of roasters throughout Italy over the years. Lavazza pods taste great, but the coffee isn't ground fine enough or packed tightly enough; the result is a too-short brewing time while the water flows through quickly. Illy pods are excellent, but expensive. Some brands are harsh-tasting, or smell like burning rubber, from poor-quality Robusta beans. I keep returning to Lucaffe pods as my favorites, with the best flavor and aroma. I had previously tried Caffe Borbone's Blu blend, and I found it to be pleasant, although not my favorite. I ordered a case of the new Black blend based on that experience. I was sorely disappointed. These pods are essentially tasteless. The very dark Neopolitan roast breaks down whatever flavor components were in the coffee beans. A higher-quality bean would be able to withstand the roasting, and retain more flavor. I was surprised at just how bland the espresso tasted, and so I did a comparison to Lucaffe, just to be sure my taste buds weren't asleep. Sure enough, the Caffe Borbone Black pods were just too bland. Pros: inexpensive, compared to other brands, perfectly ground and compressed, such that the brew time is consistently within the ideal 20-25 second range. The pods were manufactured in February, so there was very little time spent in storage. Brewing produces a very nice crema, and the mouthfeel is gentle and creamy. Cons: over-roasted, lower-quality beans produce very little flavor. If you don't like the taste of espresso, these pods may actually be for you. Conclusion: spend a bit more, and buy Lucaffe pods instead. Try all their pods, to find your favorite blend.