Comfort has lengthy been one of many greatest drivers of progress within the espresso business. The explosive reputation of single-serve espresso capsules, notably Nespresso and Okay-Cups, within the early 2000s signifies this.

Specialty espresso, hallmarked by its emphasis on craft and ability, as soon as shunned capsules, as a substitute selecting to deal with hand-brewed pour overs and dialled-in espresso. However as client preferences shifted in direction of comfort and high quality, roasters noticed a chance to faucet into the profitable capsule market – set to be valued at US $14.2 billion by 2033.

Within the mid-2010s, the variety of specialty espresso roasters providing capsules proliferated. As demand for comfort and high quality elevated, the format of single-serve coffees diversified, permitting customers to drink high-quality espresso shortly with minimal tools wanted.

Single-serve drip and steeped espresso baggage emerged as a contented medium for espresso drinkers who prioritised high quality, additionally providing pace and ease of use. At the moment, packaging innovation for single-serve espresso continues to evolve – providing extra precision and adaptability.

I spoke to Mark Zhou, founding father of MTPak Espresso, Matt Lewin, Director of Gross sales at ONA Espresso, and Lucy Ward, Head of Operations and Sourcing at ST. ALi Espresso, to study extra.

You might also like our article on the longer term for filter espresso.

The regular rise of single-serve specialty espresso

Single-serve espresso is precisely what it seems like: a single portion of pre-ground espresso in handy packaging. This format initially grew in reputation within the Seventies as customers regarded for faster, hassle-free methods to brew recent espresso with out advanced or costly tools.

The only-serve espresso market continued to increase with the introduction of steeped espresso baggage within the Nineteen Eighties and the rise of pods and capsules within the late Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s.

Espresso baggage are much like tea baggage, whereby floor espresso is packaged in a paper or food-grade plastic bag. Customers merely steep the bag in scorching water for a couple of minutes, eliminating the necessity for grinders, scales, or machines.

“It removes the psychological effort of dialling in espresso, controlling grind measurement, or measuring parts; it’s already pre-weighed and optimised for brewing,” says Matt Lewin, the 2019 Australian Barista Champion and Director of Gross sales at ONA Espresso in Australia.

Past steeped baggage, espresso capsules and pods stay a preferred single-serve format. These enable customers to brew espresso-style drinks at residence utilizing a capsule machine brewer that requires no expertise and may put together espresso in seconds.

Comfort has historically pushed the expansion of the single-serve espresso market; nonetheless, as specialty espresso consumption has elevated, high quality has performed a extra necessary function. In response to the newest 2024 Nationwide Espresso Information Developments report, 45% of US adults had specialty espresso previously day – up 80% since 2011 and surpassing past-day conventional espresso consumption (44%) for the primary time. 

With extra individuals consuming specialty espresso, client expectations of high quality for single-serve choices jumped considerably.

“Espresso customers have lengthy demanded comfort, as seen by the explosive progress of the capsules market during the last 20 years,” says Mark Zhou, founding father of sustainable packaging firm MTPak Espresso. “However extra just lately, there was an expectation that comfort doesn’t must compromise high quality; specialty espresso customers need each.

“This demand expanded the single-serve espresso market past capsules, providing steeped and drip baggage containing pre-ground high-quality espresso that may be brewed just about wherever.”

Why did pour over fashion drip baggage grow to be so well-liked?

Pour overs are a staple of specialty espresso, showcasing baristas’ expertise and providing distinctive flavour experiences. To emulate this brewing method whereas nonetheless catering to the necessity for comfort, specialty espresso roasters began to supply pour over-style single-serve baggage within the mid 2010s. 

This format options pre-dosed and floor espresso in a paper bag with fold-out handles. Customers merely unfold the tabs, dangle the bag over the rim of the cup, and pour scorching water over the grounds. Initially well-liked within the early Nineteen Nineties in Japan, worldwide client curiosity grew through the early 2020s.

“When journey resumed after Covid-19, the concept of reverting to instantaneous espresso on the highway wasn’t interesting; individuals nonetheless needed a freshly brewed cup, regardless of the place they had been,” says Lucy Ward, Head of Operations and Sourcing at ST. ALi Espresso in Australia. “Since then, demand has not solely sustained however grown, significantly because the hospitality and tourism industries recognise the worth of those merchandise.”

The principle enchantment is that drip baggage supply a fast technique to brew high-quality espresso with minimal tools. Because the espresso is pre-dosed and the baggage can match on most cups, customers solely want scorching water and a kettle.

Matt says ONA’s resolution to launch drip baggage, together with the Reserve Filter Drip Baggage that includes a rotating vary of single origin coffees, stemmed from two key tendencies: the rising consumption of filter espresso and elevated demand for comfort and accessibility.

“These are individuals who take pleasure in single origin espresso and specific curiosity in flavour readability, origin, farm-level element, processing strategies, and terroir expression,” he explains. “These baggage are designed for operate and for individuals who need zero restrictions on when and the place they’ll take pleasure in nice espresso. You’re pouring water over the espresso, controlling the circulation charge, and creating one thing with intention.

“Extra specialty roasters are getting concerned in drip baggage, and we wouldn’t see this sort of provide if there wasn’t a powerful demand,” he provides. “Immersion brewing (like a teabag) tends to present extra physique, however that doesn’t imply it essentially extracts extra complexity. Drip brewing permits for a extra detailed and refined extraction, providing a distinct, typically extra structured expression of flavour.”

The only-serve espresso market continues to evolve

Regardless of the numerous growth of the single-serve espresso market in recent times, there’s nonetheless loads of room for additional innovation. Roasters are actually rethinking drip bag design to create a extra elevated brewing expertise. 

“Drip single-serve baggage enable customers to organize espresso much like a pour over, however the design may be limiting,” Mark tells me. “The smaller floor space could make it tough to pour water over the bottom espresso exactly.

“To enhance consistency and precision, MTPak Espresso launched UFO single-serve espresso baggage. The revolutionary disc-shaped stand rests on high of the cup, rising the floor space and permitting for extra exact pouring.”

In the end, improved precision when pouring leads to higher flavour expression and readability, supporting the demand for high quality espresso in handy codecs. The bigger floor space additionally means customers can put together their espresso much like a pour over, enhancing the brewing expertise whereas nonetheless catering to the necessity for simplicity and ease of use.

Packaging innovation can also be serving to to protect freshness – a necessary issue when brewing with pre-ground espresso.

“Drip baggage act like time capsules, preserving the espresso in a format that simply requires scorching water,” Matt tells me. “A number of the greatest drip baggage we’ve examined have been wonderful even 12 months later, proving simply how properly this format can retain high quality.

“Customers can purchase particular person doses of coffees, brew them nonetheless they need, and expertise a variety of flavours,” he provides. “Whereas we roast our drip baggage particularly for filter-style brewing, there’s flexibility in how individuals use them; some drink them black, others may add milk.”

Sustainability and high quality proceed to be a key focus

As demand for single-serve espresso choices continues to develop, sustainability stays essential to innovation available in the market.

“MTPak Espresso’s UFO baggage are totally customisable with digital printing and constructed from sustainable supplies, catering to customers’ preferences for a personalised espresso expertise and eco-friendly supplies,” Mark says.

Roasters are additionally exploring biodegradable and compostable supplies for his or her drip baggage as an eco-friendly different to espresso capsules.

“Sustainable packaging developments will probably be key, with extra compostable choices on the horizon,” Lucy says. “Nonetheless, the actual problem is making certain that any packaging improvements preserve espresso freshness over time.

“We’re prone to see better-quality, specialty single-serve choices turning into extra extensively out there in grocery shops, making premium espresso much more accessible to on a regular basis customers,” she provides, noting that ST. ALi’s drip baggage are gaining momentum within the quickly evolving Asian market.

“Past high quality, drip baggage are extremely handy,” she provides. “They’re mess-free, straightforward to make use of, and sometimes price lower than AU $3 per cup, making them an inexpensive technique to take pleasure in specialty espresso wherever.”

Comfort and high quality are not mutually unique within the single-serve espresso market. Customers count on each, and roasters must cater to ever-changing preferences.

As the recognition of pour over-style drip baggage continues to develop, we’ll undoubtedly see roasters discover new methods to push the boundaries of packaging design and supplies to raise the brewing expertise whereas nonetheless catering to the demand for comfort.

Loved this? Then learn our article on why prospects received’t wait ceaselessly for a pour over.

Photograph credit: MTPak Espresso, ONA Espresso

Good Day by day Grind

Please be aware: MTPak Espresso is a sponsor of Good Day by day Grind.

Need to learn extra articles like this? Join our publication!