Coffee pads

About Coffee pads 

Before you go on to purchase a certain coffee, you must first decide on how you’re going to brew it. Coffee comes in a variety of forms, so the one you end up choosing should be compatible with your brewing appliance or your preferred brewing method. We’re inviting you to find out more about one of the simplest, most hassle-free types of coffee out there—coffee pads, which have been created specially for Senseo coffee machines. 

What Exactly Are Coffee Pads and What Makes Them Special? 

Coffee pads are, in fact, ground coffee packed in paper bags that look similar to tea bags. Don’t get confused though: while these pads might look like tea, they’re not meant to be put in a cup and left to infuse. Instead, this type of coffee has been designed specially for Senseo pad coffee machines. Introduced in 2001, Senseo is a patented brewing system developed by two famous Dutch companies, Philips and Douwe Egberts. The surprisingly compact pad coffee machines brew drinks using a particularly low pressure of around 1.5–3 bars. Coffee like this is thicker than your typical filter brew or a similar kind of beverage, and the gentle pressure used when brewing results in a layer of crema that’s as smooth as silk. 

Thanks to how affordable, quick, simple and hassle-free this brewing method was, it didn’t take long for it to conquer the hearts of thousands of coffee lovers in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria and numerous other countries. According to Philips themselves, in 2005, the total number of Senseo coffee machines sold all over the world amounted to as many as ten million, while the number of coffee pads sold managed to reach an even more impressive 4 billion pieces. As this wave of popularity continued to gain speed, the range of pads available kept on growing alongside it, with various coffee manufacturers jumping on board. Today, there’s a wide variety of coffee pads to choose from, so everyone is bound to find something that’s no less than perfect for their individual taste, or their current mood even!

The Right Coffee Pads for You: How to Find Them? 

There’s a wide range of coffee pads on offer, so choosing the ones for you may be quite tricky. Let’s discuss some of the things that can help you make your decision then.

Milk or no milk? Coffee pads (also known as soft coffee pods for Senseo machines) are, in fact, ground coffee packed in a paper bag. Using most of them, you’ll brew black coffee that you can then flavour with a variety of extra ingredients, such as regular or plant-based milk, sugar or various syrups. Our selection also includes coffee pads with milk powder though, so go ahead and give them a try if you’re a sworn fan of latte, cappuccino or other milk-based recipes. 

Arabica or robusta? When looking through the pads on offer, don’t forget to take your preferred coffee variety into account. If you like your coffee particularly fragrant, delicate and of medium intensity, choose coffee pads with ground arabica in them. Fans of spicier, richer and more intense coffees should give robusta coffee pads a try: robusta contains twice as much as caffeine as arabica does, and it also results in a brew of a thicker consistency.

Variety of flavours. The flavour of your coffee depends on lots of different factors, yet the key ones are the region the beans have been grown in as well as the roast profile selected by the roasters. Being aware of the origin and roast of your coffee will let you get an idea of its flavour profile before you even taste it. South American coffees are usually marked by natural notes of chocolate and nuts, Central American varieties boast vivid, unexpected flavours, African coffees are particularly berryish and fruity, while Asian ones tend to contain rich notes of spices. When it comes to roast profiles, choose coffees of a light roast if you like fruity, subtly acidic brews; go for dark-roasted coffee if you prefer your drinks strong and bitter; or enjoy the particularly well-balanced flavours of pads with medium-roast coffee in them. 

Additional features. You may also be interested in some additional features that some of our coffee pads proudly boast:

• Sustainability. Part of all coffee beans produced worldwide are grown sustainably in certified organic farms. Choose organic coffee pads and rest assured knowing your coffee’s perfectly chemical-free and in keeping with environmentally friendly practices.
• Fair Trade certification. Coffee pads that are Fair Trade certified contain coffee produced in accordance with fair trade principles, one of which states that coffee farmers must be fairly compensated for their labour.
• Rainforest Alliance certification. Coffee pads with the Rainforest Alliance seal on them are filled exclusively with coffee that’s been grown responsibly and in keeping with the principles of social justice, all the while supporting the communities of coffee farmers.  
• Decaf coffee. Those who want to enjoy their coffee without feeling jittery afterwards should try decaf coffee pads. Caffeine has been removed from these pads using a natural method that’s focused on preserving the natural aromas and flavours.

Number of pads in a single package. Some packages contain more coffee pads, while others contain less. This number can vary from 18 to 48 or more. Looking for an extra large pack? Then take a look at Coffee Premium “Strong” with as many as 100 pads in it! To make it even better, each of these pads is packed separately, which helps your coffee stay fresh and fragrant for longer. 

Coffee pad deals. Coffee Friend always offers a bunch of exclusive coffee pad discounts, so stock up on your favourite coffee or take a chance on something new! You can find all coffee pad offers here. 

The most popular and best rated coffees. Still struggling to choose the best coffee pads for you? No worries: you can always rely on our community of coffee lovers and use the sorting feature to see which pads are currently the most popular or best rated. 

Coffee Pads vs. Coffee Pods

Coffee pads are often confused with coffee pods, so let’s try and figure out the difference between them. It’s quite simple, really: coffee pods are created exclusively for espresso-type appliances that brew drinks using pressure of around 8–9 bars. These pod coffee machines are equipped with special E.S.E. (Easy Serving Espresso) pod filters. The main difference between the two types of coffee is, then, the fact that pads are designed exclusively for Senseo coffee machines, while pods are meant to be used in semi-automatic appliances with E.S.E. filters. They also differ in size (coffee pods are smaller) and tamping (while pads contain loose coffee, the coffee in E.S.E. pods is tamped).

Some of the Best-Known Coffee Pad Brands in Coffee Friend’s Range of Products

We’re always focused on expanding our product range and introducing our clients to new, unexpected flavours. Here at Coffee Friend, you’ll find some of the best-known brands currently on the market, as well as products that are less well-known, yet absolutely unique. Let’s get to know these coffee pad brands a little bit better:

Charles Liégeois is a Belgian company founded by the Liégeois family and born out of true passion for quality coffee. The brand presents coffee lovers with a dazzling variety of aromas and flavours. It’s been roasting excellent coffees ever since 1955 and has managed to conquer the hearts of numerous coffee lovers in its native Belgium, as well as all over Europe. Alongside coffee beans, ground coffee, coffee capsules and coffee pods, the company offers the option of coffee pads as well. There’s lots to choose from: lovers of intense tastes will definitely enjoy Sublime, Puissant and Magnifico, while fans of subtlety won’t regret giving Subtil and Équilibré a try. Those who value sustainability and want to support coffee farmers should take a look at Mano Mano and Chiapas. Before you go and put any of these pads in your cart though, don’t forget to consider the package size too: some of them contain 18 pads, while others boast as many as 30 or 40. 

Coffee Premium is another brand owned by the Liégeois family. The pads from Coffee Premium are aimed at those who want to enjoy lots of delicious coffee without breaking the bank. There are 4 different products in our range: Regular is perfect for those who prefer medium-strength coffee, Strong is created for fans of intense brews, Decaf is aimed at those looking for delicious caffeine-free coffee, while Mega Pack is bound to satisfy people who want their coffee strong, affordable and abundant. To help your coffee stay fresh and fragrant for longer, choose the extra large Strong option with 100 individually packed coffee pads in it.

Jacobs Douwe Egberts (or JDE for short) is a subsidiary of JDE Peet’s, the world’s leading pure-play coffee and tea company that’s been operating successfully for the last 250 years. Nowadays, JDE manages numerous different brands, including L’OR, Jacobs, Tassimo, Pickwick, Douwe Egberts and, of course, Senseo. Yes, that’s right: this company worked alongside Philips when designing the very first pad coffee machines and their unique brewing system! What makes the JDE Senseo coffee pad range stand out from the rest is the addition of a milk-based option. The brand’s Senseo® “Caffe Latte” consists of instant coffee, milk powder and sugar. A single pad like this results in a single serving of delicious latte. Fans of stronger brews can choose from arabica and robusta blends, which include the dark-roasted Strong and the medium-roast Classic, while those who tend to go for fragrant and subtle 100% arabica are bound to fall in love with a different medium-roast offering called Gold. 

To Conclude…

Hopefully, you’re now well on your way to discovering your favourite coffee pads! If you’re struggling to choose though, don’t hesitate to reach out to Coffee Friend’s consultants and ask them for advice: they’ll be more than happy to help you out!