Carte Noire soft pods

Yes. These are large-format soft pods made of filter paper, the same size as those used in Senseo (Philips) type soft pod machines :

• Philips Senseo — Original and Original Plus, Select, Switch (pods + filter coffee), Maestro, Viva Café, Quadrante, Latte Duo
• Other soft pod coffee makers of the same format, with a 1-cup (one pod) or 2-cup (two pods) pod holder

Not compatible : capsule machines (Nespresso Original and Vertuo, Dolce Gusto, Tassimo, Lavazza Blue / A Modo Mio / Espresso Pointportafilters , Delta Q, illy Iperespresso) and ESE 44 mm of espresso machines — the soft pod is wider and is not tamped for high pressure.

Two filter paper formats that are not interchangeable:

• Soft pod — large disc of filter paper, approximately 7g of loosely packed ground coffee, for low-pressure machines such as Senseo. Result: a long, mild coffee , similar to a filter coffee, with a light crema.
• ESE (Easy Serving Espresso) pod — small 44 mm pod , packed coffee, for the portafilter of a high-pressure espresso machine . Result: a tight espresso with crema.

pods Carte Noire in this category are soft pods. For an espresso machine with an ESE portafilter, see our ESE pods.

Three intensities of the same 100% Arabica roasted in France:

• Classic Balanced No. 5 — intensity 5/10, medium roast. Round cup, low acidity, notes of toasted cereals and dried fruit.
• Full-bodied & Aromatic No. 7 — intensity 7/10, darker roast. More body, notes of cocoa and wood, controlled bitterness.
• Intense Espresso No. 8 — intensity 8/10, medium to dark roast. The most full-bodied of the three, a rich and velvety cup: our best-seller.

All three are prepared in the same way: No. 5 in the morning, No. 7 during the day, No. 8 after meals or for lovers of strong coffee.

No: a soft pod machine operates at low pressure, far from the 9 bars of an espresso machine. The water passes through the filter paper in a closed chamber, and the coffee emerges long, topped with a fine crema created by the machine. In the cup, it's a coffee closer to filter coffee, without sediment, prepared in about thirty seconds.

The intense on some Senseo machines (less water for the same pod) produces a denser coffee; two pods in the 2-cup holder fill a mug. Even theEspresso Intense N°8 makes a long, full-bodied coffee, not a short espresso—this is the most pronounced characteristic of the range, not a change in brewing method.

A soft pod is made of filter paper and ground coffee, without an aluminum or plastic casing. Carte Noire presents its soft pods as industrially compostable (EN 13432 standard): they can be disposed of with organic waste if your municipality collects them, otherwise with household garbage. The coffee grounds they contain can also enrich a home compost or be used as fertilizer in the garden.

The outer packaging follows the usual packaging sorting procedure. Once the package is opened, reseal it tightly and store it in a dry place, away from light and heat: filter paper protects the aromas less than an airtight capsule, so it's best to consume the package within a few weeks of opening.

Our selection of Senseo-compatible soft pods is currently supported by Carte Noire, in three strengths. We are expanding the range based on demand: find all the products on the Soft Pods.

If your machine is an espresso machine with an ESE 44 mm portafilter , the ESE coffee pods category is for you; for a capsule machine, browse our coffee capsules by system.