Coffee pods are hermetically sealed single-serve portions of coffee that can be used with compatible machines to produce cups of java. Although the market for pods is dominated by larger-scale brands like Nespresso and Keurig, specialty roasters are increasingly venturing into this space. One key challenge facing roasters in maintaining product freshness until consumption: modern materials and processes can assist this goal through nitrogen flushing; however, factors such as heat exposure or physical damage may still spoil coffee pods prematurely.