PODiSTA's Hot Chocolate range. Source: Supplied
I PULL on a hair net and a fluoro coat and step into a very noisy factory.
It's a little cold, and as I round the corner of a box-like room, the sweetest smell hits me. Now I could be in an apple packing warehouse or a bakery, but I'm at Podcorp HQ, the Australian owned and operated manufacturer of Nespresso compatible pods. They're in the throes of brewing up some hot chocolate goodness, and boy, can't you smell it!
"I think I've tried every kind of hot chocolate available," groans Toby Strong, CEO of Podpac — but his efforts are well worth it. Podpac have managed to produce the world's first Nespresso compatible hot chocolate range. Their hot chocolate pods, like the coffee pods before them, are specially designed to withstand the 19 bars of pressure a Nespresso machine uses, and retain a smooth, creamy taste.
Mint chocolate - my fave. Source: Supplied
It's not easy for a pod to get to this stage, though. Any pod made by Podpac has to go through no less than a dozen processes before being packaged into a supermarket-ready box, ready to be sold under the brand name PODiSTA.
"We have one production line, but we need two," Mr Strong explains, indicating to a specially modified U-shaped machine which produces 240 pods per minute. At capacity, this machine can produce a staggering 120 million pods per year.
"We have outgrown this space within four months, it has been phenomenal," he says — and that growth is only set to rise with the introduction of a sugar-free pod range for kids.
The production line. Source: Supplied
Since launching in late 2013, Podpac have sold over 8 million pods from their headquarters in Adelaide, South Australia. If you are one of the 1.4 million Australians who own a Nespresso machine, you'll probably have a bit of an idea as to why this is, too.
Podpac have neatly squeezed themselves into a market full of frustrated buyers, who can only purchase Nespresso pods from one of the 12 boutiques across Australia or through Nespresso's website.
But since Nespresso's patents ran out, the pod business has become anyone's game — and readily stepping up to the mark is Podpac. And while they might have the world's first hot chocolate pod range as a point of difference, is it really possible to produce a caffeinated brew to rival Nespresso's?
Comparison: PODiSTA coffee on the left, Nespresso on the right. Source: Supplied
"Our pods are made especially for the Australian palette, to go with milk," explains Mr Strong.
"We found from consumer research that a lot of people were saying other pods they'd tried were too weak, because over in Europe, they drink their coffee straight. Here, it's diluted with milk, so the coffee itself has to be stronger. Flavour intensity is the real issue, and we don't just benchmark ourselves against other pods — we look at cafes, too."
Taking this into account, Podpac's coffee PODiSTA pods have been crafted from a painstakingly-chosen blend of beans from all over the world, and then roasted to consumer perfection in Australia. The beans are then packed into a special pod design, which not only dodges all of Nespresso's trademarking stipulations, but produces smooth, delicious coffee.
The PODiSTA pod. Source: Supplied
"For Nespresso, their trademarks revolve around the shape and the piercing of their pod," Mr Strong says.
"The first person to try out a compatible pod once the patent expired was actually the ex-director of Nespresso. We looked at what he did and what other people were doing, and developed our pod from that. We looked at a peel off aluminium top to keep the coffee fresh, but oxygen still permeated. It was trial and error.
"We settled on a pod which has a base that collapses under the pressure of the Nespresso machine, that doesn't get pierced like other pods do. It's fully sealed so there's no need for individual wrapping and wastage. The pods are foil wrapped collectively in a container that's half the size of most other brands, and it has a 24 month shelf life."
How the pod system works. Source: Supplied
Considering the PODiSTA range hasn't even been on the market for a year, their success and their growth are certainly impressive — and prove that making something in Australia was indeed an achievable dream for 31-year-old Strong.
"I was told time and time again just to continue having our products made offshore," he explains. "Many potential investors just didn't feel comfortable investing millions of dollars in local manufacturing.
"I am a big believer in local manufacturing. To keep our economy strong retailers and consumers must take this issue more seriously and support Australian made products. Buying Australian means you can take comfort in the knowledge that you are likely receiving a better made product and you can feel proud about supporting local business."
PODiSTA's coffee pod range. Source: Supplied
Podpac's PODiSTA range is now sold in Woolworths, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys, Spotlight and IGA, and is distributed overseas in countries like New Zealand and Singapore. But most importantly? It just tastes good.
PODiSTA's hot chocolate pods retail for $5.99 for a box of 10; coffee pods are $4.99 for a box of 10.
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