Not long ago, I wrote about JavaPodz: little packets of flavored coffee built to fit in my beloved Senseo coffeemaker.
The entry caught the eye of a marketing team working for the Senseo folks. Would I, they asked, be willing to try a free sample of Senseo’s own flavored coffee pods and talk about my verdict (good or bad) here on MadeByMark.com?
(Full disclosure: in return for free samples of the coffee, the marketing group asks bloggers and reviewers — like those who write for Epinions.com — to write about the product. I don’t know about the other guys, but I was frank: if I liked it, I would say so. If I didn’t like it, I would say so, too. To their credit, they were fine with that arrangement.)
The verdict: given a choice between JavaPods and the Senseo Flavored Coffee Pods, I would choose the Senseo Flavored Coffees every single time.
JavaPodz are good, and they offer a broader range of flavors. Over time, though, we’ve noticed the JavaPodz smell better than they taste. Their best flavors are the chocolate cappuchino and decaf French vanilla, which are quite good … but we probably won’t order any of the other pods again.
That said: the Senseo pods are, in every respect, better. The coffee tastes thicker and creamier … the aroma is sweeter … and the flavor is spot-on. I’m a big fan of the French vanilla (they call it “Paris“) and the Hazelnut (dubbed “Vienna“). I’m not so much for the Irish creme (“Kilarney“?!?) … but I’ve never been much for Irish creme anyway, so don’t quote me on that one.
I miss a decaf option … and a chocolate-flavored pod would still be a welcome addition to the product line, from this choco-holic’s point of view.
Pop over to Amazon.com and pick up a bag or two: whether you choose Paris, Vienna, or Kilarney, you can’t lose.
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