How Do Coffee Machines Shape the Capsule Coffee Market?

One capsule usually brews a single cup, since each pod holds a pre-measured dose of ground coffee sealed in plastic or aluminum foil and is extracted once in a matching machine. Global capsule coffee sales grew noticeably during the pandemic, and Future Market Insights expects the market to pass $9.8 billion by 2032.

Capsule coffee was invented in 1976 by Eric Favre at Nestle's Swiss headquarters, and Nespresso now holds the leading share of China's capsule market. Starbucks, illy, Sumidagawa, and JDE Peet's have since entered the category, and Starbucks formed a global alliance with Nestle for its at-home series.

Capsule coffee has gradually become a common beverage in offices and libraries thanks to its convenience and consistent quality. Affected by the pandemic, offline coffee shops faced operational difficulties, and sales of capsule coffee machines and capsules grew significantly. According to FMI forecasts, the global capsule coffee market will exceed $9.8 billion by 2032. This article explores the origins of capsule coffee, the layout of major brands, and practical questions such as "how many cups can one capsule brew," helping coffee enthusiasts gain a more comprehensive understanding of this category.

Coffee has gradually become a mainstream beverage today, and it can be seen almost everywhere, whether in libraries or offices. At the same time, ways of drinking coffee have become increasingly convenient. In addition to drip bags and instant products, capsule coffee has also become a representative of efficiency and convenience.

Coupled with the impact of the pandemic, the operation of offline cafes has been affected to varying degrees, and sales of capsule coffee machines and capsule coffee have therefore risen significantly. According to data from global market research and consulting firm Future Market Insights (FMI), by the end of 2032, the global capsule coffee market is expected to exceed $9.8 billion (approximately 65.6 billion RMB).

The method for making capsule coffee is to grind coffee beans into powder and then seal it into specially made capsules of plastic or aluminum foil. When drinking, the capsule is placed into a matching coffee machine for rapid extraction. This pre-packaged coffee occupies an important position in the coffee consumer market thanks to its excellent quality and convenience. Capsule coffee was first invented in 1976 by Mr. Eric Favre, who was then working at Nestlé's Swiss headquarters.

When it comes to capsule coffee, most people first think of Nestlé's Nespresso. Indeed, Nespresso currently ranks first in market share in China's domestic capsule coffee market. But after Nestlé, coffee brands such as Starbucks, illy, Sumidagawa, and JDE Peet's also entered the capsule coffee field one after another.

Coffee giant Starbucks saw promise in the capsule coffee market very early on, forming a global coffee alliance with Nestlé and increasing its bet on the Chinese market, launching the "Starbucks At Home Coffee" series for domestic consumers and bringing it to market extremely quickly. It is reported that among the 21 new "Starbucks At Home Coffee" products jointly launched by the two parties, 15 are capsule coffee products.

JDE Peet's first came into contact with coffee capsules in 2016, and the brand has continued to try launching coffee capsules since then. In 2020, JDE Peet's issued a statement saying that the group would invest 110 million euros (currently about 866 million RMB) to expand its global capsule coffee production lines, showing that JDE Peet's is equally optimistic about the development prospects of China's capsule coffee market.

Coffee brands continuously increasing their investment in capsule coffee means that competition in this market has always continued. As technology continues to advance, specialty instant coffee represented by capsule coffee has begun to occupy users' minds. Capsule coffee, made by sealing ground and roasted coffee powder in specially made capsules, has a distinctive flavor and lasting quality. Brewed with a capsule coffee machine, it makes the entire preparation process simple and quick.

How many cups can one coffee capsule brew?

Generally speaking, one capsule in a Nespresso coffee machine can be made into different volumes according to personal taste preferences—whether you like it strong, mild, or medium: ristretto about a small cup of 25 ml, espresso 40 ml, and lungo 110 ml. Generally, one capsule can make 25 ml of espresso, and some capsules can make 40 ml.

How many times can one pack of capsule coffee be brewed?

It is recommended to brew only once; the second time will be very weak. After brewing, the coffee capsule still looks full because coffee does not dissolve in water. However much coffee powder there is, that much coffee grounds will remain. This is the same principle as brewing tea leaves.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.