Review: Senseo Presso Espresso Kit for Senseo Standard Editions

A new "espresso" coffee pod holder and special espresso coffee pods.

We must get 10+ reader write ins each month asking if you can use espresso pods with your Senseo single serve coffee pod brewer - the answer is - you can't. Espresso pods are much smaller - usually 44 mm compared to a 60mm coffee pod, and just don't fit the Senseo coffee pod holder. What you can do is order the Senseo Espresso Starter on ebay that's only out in Europe, and get a pretty good shot of espresso on the cheap.

The kit has two new items for your Senseo Standard editions. A new espresso coffee pod holder that uses standard sized Senseo coffee pods called "presso", and a new darker blend and finer grind Senseo espresso coffee pod.

Note: This kit will only work in your Senseo Standard editions. So if you have a new Senseo Deluxe or Senseo Supreme here in the US - don't order this kit. The espresso coffee pod holder will not fit in your machine if you don't have a Senseo Standard edition.

The Senseo espresso coffee pods are the same size and shape at 7 grams as other Senseo coffee pods. The grind on the coffee and how dark the coffee is has changed. The grind is considerably finer and the coffee is much darker. The big change is the new Senseo espresso pod holder - it's got a bunch of new features.

In the middle of the pod holder there is a screen with holes
like in an espresso pod holder to produce the espresso.

The bottom is different as well and has a concentrated
hole for producing espresso.

The Senseo Espresso coffee pod holder replaces your
current double or single pod holder. It doesn't look
all that different with an espresso pod in it.

The Senseo espresso pod holder will only
work in Senseo standard editions.

Making a cup of the espresso is the same as making a cup of Senseo coffee. Pick the smaller 4 oz cup size on your Senseo coffee pod brewer, and make sure the top is sealed tight. You'll immediately see some similarities with the espresso produced and the standard Senseo coffee crema produced - they look to be the same but the espresso is bit thicker.

A bit on the bubbly side as predicted, but the espresso
is thick and interesting.

Looks pretty good sans the bubbles. The crema top is
mostly what you'd expect from such a device.

So not as unified a crema as one would like. It's not
really espresso it's more like Senseo "espresso".

How does it taste? Surprisinginly not that bad. We thought it was on par with a lower end espresso maker from Krups with lower bar pressure. The crema is very bubbly, but that's the not so real nature of producing espresso in this manner. The overall character of the espresso is very dark and not that bitter. With a little shot of sugar, the espresso perked up a bit and was much more drinkable.

We did finish the entire starter set of Senseo espresso coffee pods rather quickly, and in the end are really happy with this purchase. It's something different and not available here in the US which makes it a bit more fun than having to be perfect. If this was in the US, we think it's very cheap way to get espresso from your Senseo coffee maker instead of buying an additional espresso maker.

You can read more about Senseo Espresso Starter at Senseo, and find them on ebay.

Read More in: Coffee Pod Reviews | Reviews | Single Serve Coffee Europe

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