Coffee capsules have been a part of the industry for decades now and there's no denying how popular they are with customers around the world. But what about businesses?
Well, in recent years, wholesale coffee capsules have become far more popular. Businesses from hotels and resorts to restaurants and bars are buying coffee capsules in greater volume than ever, and there’s more choice on the market than many might have expected.
So with a huge range of specialty coffee capsules on the market, and wholesale demand growing year over year, this brings us to one key question – what do people want in their wholesale coffee capsules in 2023?
To try and answer this question, we put together a list of a few trends in the wholesale coffee capsule market that we’ve seen this year. Take a look!
Sustainability is a big, big driver for consumer behavior these days. People focus on the impact they have on the environment – and rightly so.
This is an especially big topic in the coffee industry, too – considering coffee origins are so vulnerable to climate change. So it makes sense that in 2020, "nearly half (48%) of all new coffee product launches in 2020 carried an ethical or environmental claim", according to Mintel.
So what does this mean for wholesale coffee capsules?
Put simply, people want them to be as sustainable as possible. Consumers want to see that the capsules they’re drinking can be disposed of responsibly.
That’s why at Metropolis, we exclusively manufacture plant-based commercially compostable espresso capsules compatible with Nespresso original line machines. Our espresso capsules hold certifications with both BPI and CMA, which means they pass the most rigid standards for composting in the US.
Think of it this way: commercially compostable espresso capsules only break down when exposed to specific conditions. You can’t just throw them in with your veggie scraps in the yard.
Commercial composting requires an environment where pressure and temperature are precisely gauged to ensure the capsules break down properly.
This is important as billions of pods and capsules are sold every year. Nespresso alone sells over 14 billion, and that’s before we consider other Nespresso-compatible espresso capsules, Keurig coffee pods, and plenty of other similar products.
Nespresso first brought coffee capsules to the market in 1986. That means it’s been more than 35 years since the first ever coffee capsule brewer was invented.
Since then, we’ve seen so much change in the market. Patents have been lifted, new designs have appeared, and companies now offer a wider range of capsule products than ever.
In a recent blog, we spoke about the difference between coffee pods and capsules. But what we didn’t address is just how many options there are within these two types.
Let’s start with material. Among other things, espresso capsules can be made from plastic, aluminum, and plant-based sustainable materials (like our capsule shells, manufactured by our partners at Smile Beverage Werks).
Alongside that, you have the shape and design of your capsule. We’ve already spoken about the fact that our espresso capsules are compatible with Nespresso original line brewers. But you might be wondering what the difference between these and the wider, rounder Nespresso Vertuo pods is.
Well, the two don’t work in the same machines – that’s the first question answered. But other than that, Vertuo pods brew differently. The brewers actually spin the capsules inside the machine. The pods also have a barcode around the rim which "tells" the machine how to brew that specific coffee.
So, between material, shape, and the exact coffee used inside each capsule, there is a huge amount of choice available on the market. This means there are plenty of factors for both customers and companiess buying wholesale coffee capsules to consider.
But there’s a really important one we haven’t mentioned yet…
In the last 10 to 15 years, so many new coffee companies have entered the single-serve market.
Today, you can see espresso capsules in more places than ever. In the early 2000s, it was just homes and offices, while now you can find them in hotels, stores, restaurants, bars…
So, rather than picking between the classic Nespresso capsule flavors, you can now be a lot more specific about what you want. It’s much easier to find specialty wholesale coffee capsules that fit your brand's needs.
There’s a good chance your customers will also appreciate this variety – meaning that it helps to stock a few different coffees, rather than just one option.
This is why we offer a range of wholesale coffee capsules at Metropolis. We have something for everyone, from our smooth La Cordillera Espresso Capsule to the sweet, bold Spice Island Espresso Capsule – an award-winning Metropolis favorite!
But if you want something a little different, then keep reading.
Alongside offering our core wholesale coffee capsules (the two mentioned above plus the Redline Espresso Capsules and Decaf Redline Espresso Capsules), we also offer private-label coffee capsules and co-packed coffee capsules.
That means that if you want us to build a blend just for you, or pack a specific coffee into Nespresso original line compatible capsules, we can do just that.
Here’s the difference between the two:
Interested in learning more? Check out our wholesale co-packing and private-label espresso capsule solutions today.
Certified compostable facilities may not exist in your area. To find a composter near you, visit www.findacomposter.com or www.compostnow.org on all packaging and marketing materials.
Metropolis espresso capsules are made under license from Smile Beverage Werks, P.B.C.
Metropolis Coffee is not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by Nespresso. Nespresso is a registered trademark of Société des Produits Nestlé.
