Carte Noire soft pods

An ESE (Easy Serving Espresso) soft pod is a standardized European coffee pod format created in the 1990s to standardize the pre-dosed coffee market:

• Diameter : 44 mm (universal ESE standard)
• Weight : ~7g of ground coffee per pod
• Packaging : biodegradable filter paper, heat-sealed, without rigid packaging
• Extraction : 9-15 bar pressure on espresso machine, output ~25-30 ml in 25 seconds

The ESE format is open and non-proprietary : unlike Nespresso, Dolce Gusto or Lavazza capsules, soft pods can be manufactured by any brand and are interchangeable between all machines with 44 mm ESE pod holders.

All machines with 44 mm ESE pod holders :

• Espresso machines with integrated pod holder — Delonghi Dedica EC685, Ariete Vintage, La Pavoni Europiccola, Krups Nomad, Cuisinart EM-100…
• Filter coffee makers with ESE adapter — some Krups and Melitta models accept an optional pod adapter
• Senseo — with an ESE adapter (third-party accessory, native Senseo format = different 70 mm)

Attention : machines with rigid capsules (Nespresso Original/Vertuo, Dolce Gusto, Lavazza Blue/AMM/EP/Firma, Delta Q) are not compatible with ESE soft capsules — the capsule holder is of different dimensions.

Yes, that's their main advantage over rigid capsules :

• Biodegradable filter paper — the bag containing the coffee grounds is made of food-grade paper, biodegradable and compostable. After use, the used pod is thrown directly into the compost (grounds + paper).
• Zero rigid packaging — unlike aluminum capsules (Nespresso, Lavazza Maestro) or plastic capsules (Dolce Gusto), there's no shell to recycle or throw away. Minimal material footprint.
• Collective cardboard packaging — the pods are packaged in a resealable (recyclable) cardboard box with an inner plastic bag to preserve freshness. Overall impact much lower than capsules.

It is the preferred choice for consumers sensitive to theenvironmental impact of single-use coffee.

Two main differences:

• Gentler extraction — the soft pod allows water to pass through the filter paper , which retains fine particles and some of the essential oils. The result: a more filtered, milderwith a lighter crema.
• Less dense body — aluminum capsules extrude the coffee under maximum pressure with all the oils, producing a thicker body and a denser crema. Soft pods produce a lighter, more fluid.

The choice depends on your taste: if you like a strong, intense Italian , opt for aluminum capsules (Lavazza Maestro, Carte Noire espresso milder, filteredsoft pods Carte Noire are an excellent choice.

Soft pods have a shorter expiration date than aluminum capsules — filter paper is less impermeable to oxygen and moisture than aluminum:

• Best before end date (unopened packaging) — approximately 8 to 12 months from the date of manufacture
• Once opened , consume the pods within 3 to 4 weeks to preserve the flavors.
• Storage — dry place, away from light and heat. Resealable packaging (zip or airtight container). Do not refrigerate (humidity).

For regular use, opt for a compact (5-10 pods or 20 pods) rather than large stocks — freshness is better.

Currently, our selection of 44mm ESE soft pods is led by the Carte Noire. We regularly expand the range according to customer demand — other brands also carry this format (Illy, Lavazza, Segafredo…).

In the meantime, discover our Soft Pods range — hub to browse all available references, or our Coffee Capsules for rigid capsule formats.