JAVA WARS - NESPRESSO PODS TAKE OVER!
Remember Invasion of the Body Snatchers? Well the current invasion in coffee making is no science fiction movie! Just like that, coffee making changed overnight and now EVERYONE you know has one of those pod-using coffee makers! What was wrong with our old coffee pots? How were were all convinced we NEEDED a new coffee system? I must admit I joined in the craze and ran out and got my Nespresso machine for Xmas like a good little consumer. You know Nespresso, they are owned by corporate giant Nestle and designed that sleek machine that resembles a cathedral or bullet (their own words, not mine).
The whole coffee conundrum was an inevitable next step. We all got used to our Starbucks designer coffee beverages. A $4.00, no-foam, extra hot, skinny latte? Big deal! What's next the American consumer shouted? "We are in the middle of a recession and we need to waste our money in a way that feels new!" Well the marketing whiz kids were ready. There are a dozen systems that will pod you a cup. Because only the freshest of fresh coffee, vacuum sealed in a pod is good enough for our overly sensitive taste buds.. .right?
Running right alongside Nespresso is the Keurig coffee system. This monster of a machine takes up more room than my NYC kitchen counter space would allow, otherwise I just might have gone there. I mean how can you resist the hundreds of flavor choices Keurig has aligned by partnering with so many coffee companies! To make it even more enticing, they sell the system at every Bed, Bath & Beyond from Secaucus to Sausalito? Keurig also makes Iced Tea pods and my Spidey senses tell me the machine is big with the ladies. The whole Starbucks vs. Dunkin Donuts scenario is happening all over again with Nespresso vs. Keurig. Girls like their Dunkin Donuts and their Keurig - I know it!
Nespresso is counting on the cult appeal and the "members only" approach as you can only buy the pods (sold by the sleeve) online or in one of their far and few between retail stores.
Slick marketers, Nespresso even hosted a pop up store in Soho, NYC to kick start traffic flow in their latest store that won't bow until the end of the year.
The company commissioned oversized portraits of world leaders and famous icons made from what else? Nespresso Coffee pods!
President Obama has inspired millions, but never before to drink a cup of coffee! That's change you can caffeine in?
The charge was $2.00 at the pop up store and actually was a donation to a host of charitable causes. I highly recommend making an iced coffee from a Nespresso pod as it was my savior recently when I needed an escape from the NYC summer sun.
The pop up store is closed - but will be a full scale cafe / boutique come January 2010.
Visit Nespresso.com to find out more.
May the Java be with you!