Why Bean-to-Cup Machines Outperform Pods (for most requirements)

When comparing bean-to-cup coffee machines and pod style coffee machines, it can be difficult to sufficiently weigh up the characteristics as they cater to the different approaches to on-demand coffee.

Most users however generally prioritise flavour, cost, and user experience when determining the best coffee machines for their requirements. Here’s how the advantages in each of these categories stack up.

1. Superior Quality & Freshness

Aroma and flavour preservation

One of the most compelling scientific observations is how quickly ground coffee loses its volatile aroma compounds once exposed to air. In fact, up to 60% of a coffee’s aroma compounds may degrade within 15 minutes after grinding.

Pod systems, by design, use pre-ground and packaged coffee (sometimes weeks or months in advance). The packaging may delay the gradual loss of aroma and quality over time, however it cannot prevent it entirely (even if this grinding was to take place in a hermetically sealed, nitrogen rich environment to prevent oxidation, which has its own set of potentially negative impacts ).

This has been previously studied by comparing the storage of roasted whole beans to those which had been ground, and even in the most secure packaging (using aluminium containers, nitrogen flushing and hermetically sealing all samples), whilst the reduction in quality was mitigated substantially it could not be halted.

Control over variables

Bean-to-cup machines generally allow control over variables such as grind size, water temperature, strength, and shot volume. This flexibility gives users or baristas more influence over the final cup — adjusting for bean type, roast date, or individual taste preferences. Pod machines typically lock you into pre-determined grind, dose, and extraction parameters, which restricts customization.

2. Better Cost Efficiency Over Time

Higher cost per cup for pods

One of the biggest drawbacks of pod systems is the high cost per serving. Pods often cost significantly more when compared gram-for-gram to whole beans. For example:

*Per week is based on 50 drinks a day, 6 days a week.

All pricing was accurate at time of writing and taken directly from retailers.

The prices on the above table show that purchasing specialty grade whole beans is a comparable price to non-specialty pods. It should also be noted that in general a cup brewed by a pod machine can be a much smaller drink than expected, typically making drinks between 25-110ml. Even for milk-based drinks, this is unlikely to be more than 200ml in total. In contrast, the recipes of bean to cup machines are customisable to the exact required parameters of your tastes.

Total cost of ownership

Beyond the per-cup cost, bean-to-cup machines often have service cycles, parts, and maintenance, but these tend to scale with volume and can often be managed (e.g., descaling, pressure safety checks, replacing grinder burrs).

Because the base cost per cup is lower, the tipping point where “pods become cheaper” is rarely reached unless usage is extremely low. (As low as 5 cups a day depending on the size of the bean to cup machine).

These figures are worked out over 3 years; however, this is rarely a useful metric for the day-to-day running of a business. So, what if instead of an outright purchase, you were to lease a Crew Machine at a weekly cost. How would that compare to the significant coffee costs in a typical month?

Based on an average daily usage of 80 drinks, which would be expected for an office of 30 to 40 people, and a 21-day working month the expected costs when leasing a coffee machine and purchasing coffee can be found below:

This shows that a fresh milk automated bean to cup machine, such as the Crew CM50, with steam boilers to froth milk with unparalleled texture, and a standardised great taste tailored to your exact preferences, is still less than half the running costs to purchase the coffee for pod machines alone.

3. Superior User Experience

Ease, speed, and automation

Modern bean-to-cup machines offer one-touch operation: push a button, and the machine grinds, tampers, brews, and (for fresh milk options) froth milk automatically. For offices or busy environments, that consistency and speed reduce bottlenecks.

Pod machines are simpler in concept but often require:

• Inserting a capsule,
• Ejecting the capsule,
• Potentially cleaning a milk carafe or frother,

Whilst these individual steps do not seem like much of a requirement, they are necessary for every drink made. In comparison, with just the handfill version of the Crew CM50, up to 60 drinks (based on average spread of drink preferences in the UK) can be made before requiring a refill or empty of any of the systems.

Bean-to-cup machines also have a greater flexibility in drink options (espresso, lungo, cappuccino, flat white). Rather than being limited to the pre-determined library of drinks, at Crew Machines we ask how you want your coffee to be and work from there. This is why we work with many fantastic independent roasters as coffee is personal and should be curated to your needs. We even have settings where you can adjust your coffee whilst its brewing. Need a stronger coffee in the morning? Bring the extraction level up to high. Prefer a latte with more milk? Adjust the ratios as your drink is being made.

Reduced waste, simplified logistics

Pod machines produce single-use waste — each capsule (often aluminium or plastic) must be discarded or recycled. Even with “recyclable” pods, the collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructure is often weak or inconvenient. Even when doing exactly as advised in your local council regarding recycling, there is still no guarantee the waste you are attempting to responsibly discard will be correctly processed. Recent studies have shown that in UK approximately 44.6% of what is partitioned for recycling will end up that way, due to contamination, sorting limitations and poor infrastructure. It is therefore significantly more effective to reduce the levels of single use materials used whilst combatting these issues.

Conclusion

While Nespresso-style pod systems offer convenience and a low barrier to entry, bean-to-cup systems deliver clear advantages in:

• Quality — by preserving aroma and enabling control over brew variables, bean machines produce a fresher, more nuanced cup.
• Affordability — their lower cost per serving (especially in higher volumes) and reduced waste make them more economical over time.
• User experience — with intuitive automation, fewer logistic headaches, and greater choice, they offer a more seamless and sustainable brewing solution.