Everything you Need to Know About Coffee Capsules
A convenient, sustainable solution, coffee capsules have become increasingly popular in the world of coffee and speciality coffee.
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A convenient, sustainable solution, coffee capsules have become increasingly popular in the world of coffee and speciality coffee.
Best known for their convenience and the conversations they’ve started surrounding sustainability, there’s no denying the growth of coffee capsules in the world of coffee, including the speciality market.
In this in-depth guide, we explore the history, future, benefits, and usability of coffee capsules, from how they’re made, to how much caffeine they contain, and more. Curious about whether coffee capsules are compostable, what kind of coffee machine you need, and how to brew great coffee using them? Read on.
Coffee capsules are a single-use, compostable ‘capsule’ of filter paper, with a lid that contains a pre-measured quantity of pre-ground coffee. Designed to be compatible with coffee capsule machines, coffee capsules are designed with convenience in mind, enabling coffee lovers to enjoy a perfectly brewed cup of coffee in minutes.
Best known for their convenience and sustainability, there’s no denying the growth of coffee capsules in the world of coffee, including the speciality market. First introduced in the 1980s, coffee capsules have grown in popularity in recent years thanks to their effortless brewing method and compostable packaging.
Compostable coffee capsules are a great way to enjoy eco-friendly coffee at home as plastic’s negative impact on the planet, along with a single-use, throwaway culture, comes under better scrutiny and awareness.
Typically, a coffee capsule contains a single measure of ground coffee that is stored in a single-use capsule that’s sealed for practicality, flexibility of use and freshness. Simply put, the only ingredient in a coffee capsule is coffee. There are no additional ingredients, flavourings or additives; pre-ground coffee is encased in a filtered capsule with a lid, which contains a convenient, made-to-measure amount of ground coffee. It’s as simple as that.
Coffee capsules work by the method of extraction. When placed inside the coffee capsule machine, the capsule is pierced at one end, allowing heated water to pass through the capsule. This jet of hot water extracts the coffee through the filter paper at the bottom of the capsule, which pours through into your cup. All you need to do is place a cup underneath the water stream and the perfect amount of ground coffee will filter through into your cup.
To use your coffee capsule, you will need a coffee capsule machine. There are many coffee capsule machines available at different price ranges, with coffee capsule sizes ranging between some brands. Origin’s speciality coffee capsules are nespresso compatible, meaning you can use our coffee capsule with your nespresso coffee machine (excluding Vurtuo) as well as a range of other popular coffee capsule machines.
Depending on the specifics of the coffee capsule machine you own, the steps you take to brew may vary slightly, and you’ll want to refer to your machine’s instruction manual to make sure you get the best out of your coffee capsules. However, the main principles for using a coffee capsule in a coffee capsule machine are the same.
Before you start..
Your coffee capsule machine will have a water tank or water reservoir. Make sure there is an adequate amount of water in the tank, and regularly replace the water to avoid a stagnant taste. If you live in an area with hard water, a water filter can help ensure the water you use for your coffee is of the best quality and taste.
Make sure you enjoy your coffee with the right size cup to enjoy your capsule coffee. Fancy updating your drinkware? Check out our curated ceramic coffee cup collection and drinkware for the ultimate drinking experience.
On average, capsules contain around 60mg of coffee per capsule. The amount of caffeine can vary between coffee brands, and the amount of caffeine will also vary depending on whether Arabica or Robusta coffee has been used, as Robusta contains greater caffeine levels.
Our Head Roaster Amadeusz Wanat shares his thoughts on caffeine content below.
“If you compare a shot of coffee pulled on an espresso machine (15-20g) to a capsule (5g), then it makes sense that the capsule would contain a smaller punch of caffeine,” he explained. “But, on the other hand, the coffee used in the capsule is ground exceptionally fine, creating more contact space, which can mean better extraction.”
- Amadeusz Wanat, Head Roaster at Origin
Wondering whether a coffee capsule is the best type of coffee to buy? Explore some of the key benefits below.
These made-to-measure capsules contain the exact amount of coffee, measured out and ready to brew. From being taken out of their box and placed in the machine, your coffee capsule brew is ready within minutes—a big plus for those who are looking for a quick coffee grab-and-go before heading into their next meeting or rushing out the door.
Coffee capsules provide a simple, fuss-free coffee experience in a compact form. Whether you’re new to the world of coffee, or a keen home coffee enthusiast, coffee capsules can provide a premium brew in a convenient format.
These neat little capsules provide a great option for those with limited counter space, or for those who don’t always have the time for a longer brew recipe experience, such as a Chemex or V60.
Ideal for Multi-Use
They’re also a smart choice for office environments and communal workspaces. There’s very little room for error when using a coffee capsule, guaranteeing a consistent brew, with no need to carry out numerous steps.
The simple answer is no. The coffee in your coffee capsule is not filtered. However, using filtered water can make a huge difference to the finished quality and taste of your coffee. If you live in an area with either hard or soft water, you might find that this influences the flavours in your cup. Investing in a water filter can make all the difference in the detail, for that brew, including making coffee from a coffee capsule machine.
Just as you’ll note different tasting notes in a bag of coffee, the same can be found in reference to the flavours that can be perceived in coffee brewed using a coffee capsules. Coffee for capsules is sourced from around the world, from some of the very best coffee producing countries, as well as some of the most unique and lesser-known origins and regions that are worthy of recognition. At present, Origin offers two classic coffee capsules options—and there’s plenty more to follow in the future.
There’s no shortage of coffee capsules on the market, from supermarket to speciality brands—so what makes Origin’s different?
Origin offers a House Espresso coffee capsule, a classic blend from Brazil, with timeless flavour notes of chocolate, nuts, and caramel.
Our decaf capsules contain coffee sourced from one of our longest standing Direct Trade relationships with the Mierisch family in Nicaragua. Full flavour, minus the caffeine, our decaf has tasting notes of Assam tea, red apple, and chocolate.
If you’re looking to invest in a coffee capsule machine, you want to make sure you’re getting the most out of it, with capsules that are compatible, saving you the headache and hassle of any technical difficulties, or the concern of costly damage.
Origin’s speciality coffee capsules are all Nespresso compatible such as the Morning or OPAL (excluding professional and built in models), except for the Nespresso Vertuo coffee capsule machine. We always recommend referring to your coffee machine’s instruction manual before trying coffee capsules for the first time.
We use Stronghold in our coffee capsules, which is roasted as a more traditional, dark roast. While darker roasts don’t always mean they’re stronger in caffeine content, it does mean that the beans are getting lighter, with moisture being taken away during the roasting process. In turn, this means that you need more beans to reach the desired weight.
“Our capsules are likely to have an equal or higher caffeine content when compared to one of our single origin, lightly roasted feature coffees, but definitely lower compared to traditional espresso brewed with Stronghold”
- Amadeusz Wanat, Head Roaster at Origin
Taking convenience one step further, the Origin coffee capsule subscription is available to all UK customers, delivering direct to door with letterbox friendly packaging. Choose from a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly subscription order, with full control over your schedule from the easy to navigate personal customer portal.
Skip your next delivery and amend your order dates—perfect when you find yourself with coffee to spare or you’re heading away on holiday. You can also choose to place one off orders, and add extras, as and when you need.
Pick from packs of 10, 30, 60, and 100, and enjoy an effortless experience, from order, to brew.
We offer two brilliant offerings in capsule form; a house espresso, ideal for those looking for a classic coffee experience in a convenient form, and our decaf for the same experience, without the caffeine content— perfect for an afternoon or evening cup, or those will an intolerance or dietary requirements that keeps caffeine off the cards. Both choices provide consistent, easy-drinking, and approachable flavour profiles, designed to be enjoyed black, with milk, or your favourite dairy alternative. Our house espresso has flavour notes of chocolate, nuts, and caramel. The decaf coffee capsules benefit from tasting notes of red apple, Assam tea, and chocolate.
Ready to treat yourself to a convenient, speciality coffee experience in capsule form? Explore the Origin coffee capsule range here.
There’s no difference between coffee pods, or capsules, other than the terminology—the only difference you’ll find, whether you choose a pod or a capsule, is the materials they’re made from, the coffee within, and the tasting notes as a result of the country of origin, process, and roasting recipe for the coffee.
Learn more about coffee processing here.
There are several key differences between coffee capsules and instant coffee. The most notable differences relate to the processing, manufacturing, and quality of the coffee.
While some speciality coffee roasters are exploring the world of instant coffee as a craft product, chances are, that the instant coffee you commonly find in the supermarket, differs quite considerably to what you can find in a speciality coffee capsule.
Want to learn more about the taste of decaf coffee capsules compared to caffeinated capsules? Find out more below about decaf coffee capsules, or read our guide How is coffee decaffeinated?
Coffee used in decaf coffee capsules needs to be decaffeinated before being sealed into the capsule. This typically involves an additional stage for the coffee before it heads to the manufacturer.
Exact processes vary between coffee brewers, but at Origin, we decaffeinate our coffee for coffee capsules using an all-natural carbonated water method.
Depending on the quality of the coffee capsules you buy, you will find coffee capsules can cost anything from 20p per coffee capsule to £1.00 per coffee capsule. The cost of UK coffee capsules will vary depending on the quality of the coffee and the brewing process.
Origin’s coffee capsules can cost as little as 53p per coffee. Speciality coffee capsules are one of the most cost-effective ways to enjoy speciality coffee at home - it’s a great option without having to visit your favourite coffee shop or invest in multiple items of brewing equipment.
Origin’s speciality coffee capsules come in convenient pack sizes. For £6.25, you can enjoy ten cups of coffee with a pack of 10 coffee capsules. It’s even more cost-effective to choose packs of 30 (£17.85, saving you 5%), 60 (£34.10, saving 10%), or even 100 (£53.10, saving 15%). Better yet, with our coffee capsules subscription, you’ll benefit from free shipping, too.
Coffee capsules contain a single, pre-measured amount of coffee, ready for extraction. As such, they’re not designed for reuse. This is why the material choice for capsule packaging is exceptionally important to us. Many coffee brewers and companies, including Origin, prioritise sustainable materials that not only keep the contained coffee fresh, but are also compostable to reduce the impact of single-use coffee capsules as much as possible.
Find out more about our sustainability mission here.
Coffee capsules are made from a number of materials, each considered for their ability to preserve and keep the coffee as fresh as possible. There are two types of compostable products commonly found; commercially compostable, materials and home compostable materials.
Manufacturers and businesses have sought out compostable options for their coffee capsules, meaning your convenient coffee fix has a smaller impact on the planet.
As the names imply, home compostable packaging means it can be responsibly composted at home, while commercially compostable packaging needs to be recycled at specialist facilities to help with the breaking down of materials.
Origin’s coffee capsules are certified as wholly home-compostable.
Approved and certified by the European Standards body, DIN, Origin’s coffee capsules are all fully home compostable, with materials that not only maintain freshness (with a hermetically sealed barrier lidding) but are also 100% biobased.
The biopolymer materials that comprise our compostable capsules are all 100% raw materials, all GMO and pesticide free; they are more sustainable, are carbon neutral, and always renewable. The biopolymer materials are based on starch, glucose, and lignin, making them biodegradable and compostable.
All components safely biodegrade in soil and marine environments but should always be disposed of responsibly. The components also degrade in an anaerobic (no oxygen) environment, meaning the capsules will also degrade in a digester.
If you’re lucky enough to have space for a garden compost, then you can simply enjoy your coffee, and then add your empty coffee capsule to the pile where, depending on temperature and location, your coffee capsule will naturally break down to form compost.
You can also add your used coffee capsule to a food waste bin if your local council provides you with one. If you don’t have access to either, it’s worth checking in with friends, family, and neighbours, finding a community compost space, or even seeing if you can save up your capsules, and return them.
At Origin, we have an on-site composter at the Roastery, meaning everything from coffee grounds and chaff, through to suitable food items, and used coffee capsules, are disposed of responsibly.
Absolutely! Once you’ve enjoyed brewing your coffee, your empty coffee capsules is safe to add to your compost bin. If your compost is collected by your local council, you might want to check to see if they limit certain items in their collection. Certified home compostable coffee capsules, like Origin’s, are safe to place in a compost bin.
There’s no shortage of choice in a fast-growing market for coffee capsules, so what should you look out for to help you choose?
When it comes to deciding what coffee best suits you, the tasting notes for that brew are the first indicator of your personal coffee choice. Some coffee drinkers prefer bright, zingy, vibrant cups, with stone fruit acidity or herby qualities, while others prefer jammy, syrupy-tasting notes, with flavours like chocolate, caramel, and nuts.
While there are certain things that we know will make a coffee taste better or worse in the roasting and brewing process, tasting notes and flavours are a completely personal thing.
Read more about coffee tasting notes here to find your perfect flavour combination.
Quality is key.
Every bag of green coffee that heads to Origin’s Roastery has been sourced with care, and the roasting process that follows is done with respect to maintaining and enhancing the quality of that coffee. Roasters will test, perfect, and carry out a recipe that brings out the best in the green coffee, developing those brilliant tasting notes you’ll enjoy in your cup.
Coffee for our coffee capsules is sourced from the same coffee-producing countries as the rest of the coffee across our coffee programme. Often, you’ll find regular pairings with the tasting notes and country of origin of your coffee.
Brazil is known for approachable, easy-drinking coffee, with sweet, full-bodied coffees with low acidity, commonly with tasting notes of chocolate and nuts.
Coffee from Nicaragua benefits from sweetness, too, but also floral notes, and a bright and pleasing citric acidity.
In Colombia, the coffee-tasting notes can be even more varied depending on where in the country the coffee is grown. From the north, you can expect deep, earthy notes. In central Colombia, fruit and herbal notes are common, and in the south, citrus notes are more common.
The richness of flavour you enjoy in your brewed coffee, will present itself in the cup once extracted. Using a coffee capsule machine, you can ensure an effortless, quick, and consistent cup of coffee that boast s the full flavour of your coffee, thanks to the technology in the machine that has been tailored to take the work out of brewing for you.
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