Anyone having problems with Lidl's Dolce Gusto Compatible Coffee Pods?

Victor_Delta

We've got a DeLonghi Coffee Pod machine which works well with Nescafé Dolce Gusto pods. Following good reports in a well-known consumer magazine, we've tried using Lidl's Bellarom Lungo compatible pods but have had problems with about 1 in every 5 of them. Basically it seems that the pressure required to burst the outlet valve at the bottom of the Lidl pods is often too great and so the pod bursts round the metal/plastic seam at the top first - resulting in quite a mess, not to mention a lost cup of coffee.

I wondered if others had experienced this problem (I can't find any mention of it on the web) and, if so, whether anyone had found a way of overcoming the problem? I did wonder about trying to make a small hole in the outlet valve just before using a pod?

Otherwise, can anyone recommend where to obtain the best value 'Americano' pods? Tesco currently sell boxes of 30 Nescafé pods for £7 which is 23.3p per pod - not bad but quite a bit more than Lidl's 16.8p per pod!

Victor_Delta

Am I really the only person who's had this bursting coffee pods problem?

Mnoee

I have a bean to cup machine but a quick Google shows this is a common problem for Nespresso and Keurig pod machines, and presumably yours is very similar?

The advice seems to be thoroughly clean the machine first, then try poking a pin into the pod if that doesn't fix it, and just stick to the official pods if the problem persists. 

https://coffeenutty.com/how-to-stop-your-coffee-pods-from-exploding-or-leaking/

Victor_Delta

I'm going to experiment with a pin in the bottom outlet valve...

PLRFD

Ooooh matron.

ciarangallagher

Victor_Delta said:

We've got a DeLonghi Coffee Pod machine which works well with Nescafé Dolce Gusto pods. Following good reports in a well-known consumer magazine, we've tried using Lidl's Bellarom Lungo compatible pods but have had problems with about 1 in every 5 of them. Basically it seems that the pressure required to burst the outlet valve at the bottom of the Lidl pods is often too great and so the pod bursts round the metal/plastic seam at the top first - resulting in quite a mess, not to mention a lost cup of coffee.

I wondered if others had experienced this problem (I can't find any mention of it on the web) and, if so, whether anyone had found a way of overcoming the problem? I did wonder about trying to make a small hole in the outlet valve just before using a pod?

Otherwise, can anyone recommend where to obtain the best value 'Americano' pods? Tesco currently sell boxes of 30 Nescafé pods for £7 which is 23.3p per pod - not bad but quite a bit more than Lidl's 16.8p per pod!

Hi Victor, I have also had the same issue with the DeLonghi machines. I assumed the issue was because of the machine as the issue was prevalent across the different brands of pods so I made a warranty claim on the machine and got it replaced. Then I realised I had the same issue with the new machine, regardless of whether the pods are Nescafe, Starbucks, Costa or Lidl's Bellarom brand. About 1 in 5 or as much as 2 in 5 pods I'm having this issue with. I did not have this issue last year which makes me wonder if the design of the pods was changed in some way or the materials used. I suppose it's not hard to imagine that the pods themselves are perhaps made by a single manufacturer? Something isn't right.

baser999

Victor_Delta said:

I'm going to experiment with a pin in the bottom outlet valve...

If you’d just like to wait here, Doctor Lee will be along shortly 😏

RobOnTheSouthCoast

Sorry, realise I'm really late to the party on this, but Lidl's Dolce Gusto pods make awful coffee. The best I've found so far are Aldi's, and the Americano ones in particular. I've never had an issue with an Aldi pod bursting where it shouldn't (but then I never had a problem with the single box of Lidl ones I bought as an experiment).

Cornucopia

All the discount stores sell boxes of 30 Nescafe Dolce Gusto pods for £6.49/6.50.   Lidl sometimes have them too.  The only issue is that the 30 pod boxes are only available in a limited range of flavours.

Asda used to be best for 16 pod boxes with their long-term 3 boxes for £10 offer, but that seems to have ended now.