It's no secret that our day-to-day routines have changed over the course of the past few years.
Many of us are shopping differently, dining out differently, getting our entertainment via new media, and even working differently since the onset of 2020 and the covid pandemic.
Related: Huge transportation company files Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Some of this is blatantly obvious; walk through any major downtown metropolitan area on a Friday and see for yourself. Business centers that would ordinarily be teeming with commuters, traffic and busy cafes or lunch spots are now far quieter with the rise of remote work. Fewer folks go into offices every day now, opting to work from the confines and comforts of their homes.
And less of a commute or office life has outsized effects on just about every other facet of life. The roads are less busy during commute times. Buses, trains, even airline work-travel routes are emptier nowadays. And those once bustling downtown cafes are now far quieter — maybe even quiet enough to enable you to slip in and get some work done.
Since a lot of us work from home at least part-time, we're making fewer coffee runs. But Americans aren't giving up their caffeine; they're simply swapping a $6 daily latte at Starbucks (SBUX) — often one of the biggest splurges of the day — for a homemade cup.
Coffee drinking habits have changed
Since many of us prefer to order takeout instead of dining in these days, a similar cohort of folks opt to brew coffee at home, to either save money or make drinks just how they like them.
This has prompted many of us to splurge on an at-home coffee or espresso maker. Perhaps the passion started with a Keurig (KDP) coffee machine, but over the years our tastes have changed. So we may have upgraded to a Nespresso machine.
Related: Nespresso, Keurig make biggest coffee changes yet
Nespresso coffee machines, which are intended to brew a specialty cup of coffee or espresso of cafe quality, are pricier than most Keurigs. The Nespresso Vertuo, one of its most popular machines, runs about $200 and can be upgraded with fun kitchen accessories like a milk frother.
Thanks to its user-friendly accessibility and reliable quality, Nestle's (NSRGY) Nespresso has been growing since the onset of the 2020s. In fiscal 2023, Nespresso saw 5.3% organic growth in the brand, thanks largely to its Vertuo line.
Nespresso users identify viral hack
The Vertuo line is popular particularly in North America because it brews espresso-style drinks in large amounts. Instead of getting a two-ounce cup of strong espresso, Vertuo users can buy pods for as much as 18 ounces. Many of these aluminum pods come in flavors Americans like, too, such as Caramel Cookie, Hazelino Muffin (hazelnut), and Vanilla Custard Pie.
These so called barista flavors are highly rated by tens of thousands of Nespresso drinkers. However, they have their limitations: They're available to brew only in large sizes (with the press of a button, Vanilla Custard Pie pods make 7.77-ounce cups of flavored coffee).
That is, unless you know what you're doing with a new Nespresso hack.
TikTok user BrookelynLikesEspresso posted a video telling her followers that most Nespresso owners can turn their larger coffee pods into smaller espresso cups using what's known as "expert mode."
"This is just another friendly reminder that you can use your Nespresso machine to turn a Nespresso coffee pod, which is a 7.77-fluid-ounce pod, into a double shot of espresso," she says in her video explaining the process.
"All you have to do is load in your pod and double tap (the brew button)," she explains. "It should turn this bright teal color, and that's how you know you're in expert mode. And now you can use this coffee pod as a double shot of espresso."
View the original article to see embedded media.
Users enjoy this feature because it enables them to create professional-grade lattes, like flavored vanilla lattes or other sweet drinks, using stronger espresso shots without having to use the manufacturer's intended size.
It's also a great way to use the old pods you haven't brewed yet because you don't want the full-sized coffee drink.
"I love making the flavored pods like this!" one TikTok user commented. "Like the maple pecan, pumpkin spice, etc. The flavor comes through way more when I make a latte this way vs making the pod the normal way!"
"You’ve just changed me LIFE, have over 50+ of these pods and hate them normally!! Thank you thank you," another wrote.
The video has now garnered over one million views.
A Nespresso employee commented on the video clarifying that "this only works on the Pop and the Next," so anyone with an original machine or older Vertuo machine might not have the teal button feature.
Related: Veteran fund manager picks favorite stocks for 2024
