Wholesale coffee capsules allow businesses and their customers to brew high-quality espresso-style coffee at the push of a button. You can only brew them once – but how much coffee does each capsule brew?
Before answering this question, it’s essential to understand that wholesale coffee capsules are exclusively compatible with Nespresso original line brewers. These machines can be calibrated to push more or less water volume through the capsule.
But just how high or low should you go? And is there a sweet spot when you’re calibrating the volume? To answer these questions, let's look at how wholesale coffee capsules work and the best brew ratio to use.
Coffee capsules are single-serve coffee products that brew espresso-style coffee. This differs from coffee pods (like those used with K-Cup machines), which typically brew drip-style coffee.
Wholesale coffee capsules are the same as those you brew at home – just sold at scale to a restaurant, hotel, bar, or another hospitality business. Each wholesale coffee capsule contains between 5g and 7g of finely ground coffee. They are dome-shaped and hermetically sealed with a compostable lid.
While some manufacturers use plastic or aluminum for capsule shells, Metropolis wholesale coffee capsules are plant-based sustainable and commercially compostable. This means businesses can dispose of them at industrial composting facilities nationwide.
How much coffee can you brew with them?Most Nespresso original line brewers give you a choice between a "short" and a "long" coffee with two buttons or dials. The "short" setting generally brews 1oz to 1.5oz of espresso-style coffee, while the "long" setting is closer to 2-4oz.
This "longer" coffee is similar to an americano – still espresso-style coffee, just diluted with more water.
Some brewers also allow you to adjust the volume of water used per capsule with a dial. The upper limit is usually 5 to 6oz.If your brewer doesn’t have a dial, try holding down the brew button until you have the volume you’d like.
Can you reuse coffee capsules?
In most cases, no. The vast majority of original line capsules are single-use. Running a used capsule through the machine a second time will result in a watery, flavorless, and underextracted ‘shot’ that resembles tea more closely than coffee. This is because you've extracted virtually all the soluble flavor oils and aroma compounds on first pass.
While reusable options exist, you generally can't buy them wholesale. This is because cleaning and refilling them after each use is hugely time-consuming. Furthermore, over time, continued exposure to high-pressure hot water damages the capsule, eventually making it unusable.
So – we know that you can adjust original line compatible machines to brew different volumes of coffee. But is this valuable for hospitality businesses?
By adjusting the volume of coffee you brew with a single capsule, you can prepare a range of drinks using the same machine. This means hospitality businesses can be more versatile without needing a wide range of equipment.
As standard, you can brew espresso-style coffee to be enjoyed alone or use it as the base of other drinks, like a latte or cappuccino. Adding more water, meanwhile, effectively allows you to prepare an americano.
You also don't need a grinder or an espresso machine to make these drinks. Instead, you have a single capsule machine to cater to customers. This helps to minimize clutter and streamline workflow – staff only have one machine to clean and maintain. As a result, they have more time to focus on what matters: providing excellent customer service.
This setup is also much more accessible, saving you money on training. Your team doesn't need to know how to dial in, tamp, or pull a shot of espresso – instead, they only need to learn how to adjust your original line brewer for different volumes.
Moreover, in-room at hotels, your guests will have an option for a shot of espresso or a short americano. This will please guests looking for a simple cup of drip coffee.
So, now you know why wholesale coffee capsules are valuable for hospitality businesses, where do you source them?
We manufacture our wholesale coffee capsules at our Chicago Roasterie and can produce up to 14,000 units per hour. Once packed, each capsule is nitro-flushed and sealed for a shelf life of 12 to 24 months, helping you serve fresher coffee for longer.
Every commercially compostable Metropolis wholesale coffee capsule is certified commercially compostable by the BPI and CMA – meaning you can dispose of them at any industrial composting facility in the country.
We also offer co-packing and private label coffee capsules alongside our wholesale options.
With co-packing, you provide the coffee, and we handle everything else. Once we fill and seal them, we deliver them to you, ready and packed with your branding.
For private-label espresso capsules, we work with you to design a signature blend suited to your requirements. We can also secure relevant certifications, including organic, Fair Trade, and more.
Our facility is certified SQF, meaning we hold a top certification required to sell into the US's largest retailers and hospitality brands.
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 Coffee is not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by Nespresso. Nespresso is a registered trademark of Société des Produits Nestlé.
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