Caffè BorboneEspresso Paper Pods, Blue Blend, Balanced and Full-Bodied, Medium Roast ESE Pods, Authentic Italian Espresso - 150 Count

First off, these ESE pods are extremely easy to use and work great in my espresso maker. I'm kicking myself for not trying them sooner, as I tended to not use that machine because of the added work compared to my k-cup brewer. Now, it's almost as quick and easy to make espresso. At about 33 cents a pod, the price is pretty darn good, too.After buying a box of the Blu variety, "Life Made Better" sent me an e-mail and offered to send out samples of the other varieties. They sent two of each. After trying them all, I find the Blu to be the best choice for me. It's not very acidic and has a nice, smooth taste and mouth feel. The Rosso and Oro varieties weren't bad by any means, but they aren't my preference. I was really hoping to like the decaf version for drinking later in the day, but I honestly found the decaf version to taste off and didn't like it.So, I absolutely recommend the Blu pods. Very easy to use and clean up after, and the taste is very good. As long as I clean the cup holder well, I get good crema from these.As a side note, two thumbs up to the seller "Life Made Better" and to Caffe Borbone. My box arrived with no expiration date stamped on it, and the pods that I checked didn't have one. I e-mailed them both to ask if I was missing something, and they both responded quickly and thoroughly. (Turns out, they had an issue with production that day, and only about half of the pods had the date stamp - which I then found on some of the packages after checking more of them.) The coffee was fresh and has several months before expiration.

*******31 March 2015 update:Before Caffe Borbone came out with their Miscela Black, I had previously tried Blu and left a review of it below. I rated their Blu 3 star. But their Black - wow! Black! It's so much different to me. It might also be that I've been using Lucaffe Classic pods for a while now and I wanted something different. I'm not sure if I got a bad batch of Lucaffe Classic pods, but something wasn't right with the last box of 50 I ordered. What I'm learning about these ESE Pods is you still need to get a freshly packaged batch for them to be really good. I hate to say it, but I'm super picky about fresh beans. When I open a new bag of coffee beans I want them totally gone within 2-3 days, otherwise the taste starts getting acidic and stale. No good.I think I got lucky with Borbone's new Black. They sent me a sample of all their pods and the Black stuck out the most. It was so freakin' rich, intense and robust. I couldn't believe the depth of flavor that came out of one of these small pods. I had previously really enjoyed the Lucaffee Classic because they had a nicely balanced blend of Arabica (80%) and Robusta (20%) beans. But the last batch I tried was a bit too nutty tasting - either the roast was too light or there was too much Robusta in the blend.Regardless, I remembered how much I enjoyed the Black sample. I purchased an entire box and am happy to have received a super fresh batch. They don't expire until February 2017, so I'm guessing they were just packaged in Feb. 2015. I really, really can't believe they could last until 2017, though.Anyway - Black: rich, deep, robust, dark. It makes a stellar espresso shot and is my new go-to ;)******************Previous review of BLU:I've been in and out of the at-home espresso market since 2004 when I got my first machine. Back then I was working at Starbucks (2000-2006) and I got a super cheap Estro Vapore machine that had been sitting in a Starbucks basement for years.Long and short, when I recently wanted to get back into making at-home macchiatos, I wanted something simple and clean. I bought myself a Gaggia Evolution and a box of Lucaffe Classic pods. My wife's friend told me about Lucaffe, so I decided to check them out. Shortly after I tried the Lucaffe's, I purchased the Borbone Blu because of it's online reputation and positive reviews.I have to say, I tried to like them, but after trying 10, I just wasn't as impressed as I was with the Lucaffee Classic.The Borbone Blu's were much more acidic and tangy. They still offer a good shot of espresso, but don't have the aroma or body that the Lucaffe's do. I much prefer the Lucaffe's. I returned the Borbone Blu box of 150 pods I had purchased, and got myself another one of the Lucaffes.The Lucaffe Classics are smooth, consistent, full of body and chocolaty: just what I want in my espresso. Pour this into a bit of steamed milk and you've created bliss.I also appreciate Lucaffe's packaging: the sealed foil is small and thin. The Burbone foil is much more dense and larger. I didn't see why the added weight and size was needed for the same size pod.If you're not a fan of chocolaty, smooth espresso, and want a more acidic and sharp espresso, go for the Borbone Blu. They just were not what I was looking for.Ben

This ESE pod is surprisingly good. Very smooth and little bitterness. Rich crema. I'm using a Breville Barista Express with double wall basket. ESE is no mess, no muss.

This was great espresso and exceeded my expectations. These pods produce a strong shot. They contain more coffee per pod than other brands. My previous hard pod experience was with Starbucks Hard Espresso Pods, but since they stopped carrying them in Starbucks, I couldn't find them anywhere or on line for a comfortable price. They used to sell 18 for $4.99 and then they cut back to 12 pods in the box for $4.99, which was still OK. These pods are as good and a much better price. Foil packets are easy to rip open with 100% success. No need to get out the scissors. I could save by using ground coffee, but getting back to the convenience and speed of using espresso pods has been a real pleasure. They fit perfectly in my Starbucks Barista ie. Saeco Venezia. So glad they sell in lots of 150 which keeps packaging waste to a minimum. I will be ready to order again before long and their decaf will be next purchase.Review above was for the Blue Pods. Looks like that review disappeared. Oh well, it was a thumbs up on Blue Pods. 100% satisfied.The Red pods were equally wonderful. My only problem was my sensitivity to caffeine. I didn't notice it right away, but after a few days, I could not sleep. Tried cutting down to 1 shot and then a portion of a shot. The Seller is great and had included in description that they contain more caffeine. Sounded great to me, since I would only use one pod instead of two saving me 1/2 on my coffee habit. Finally I gave up and went back to coffee. I'm eager to try the black pods. I understand they are 1/2 Blue Pods and 1/2 Red Pods. That would have been a better choice for person with my sensitivity to caffeine. Still no complaints. These ESE pods are the best in amount of coffee in each pod, quality and value. Great flavor for my strong soy latte; so maybe it's a cappuccino.