We hesitated for a long time. Capsules are convenient, fast, universal. But they are also a declining format, criticised for their aluminium footprint and price wars. So why enter now? Because there is one segment growing within this market: the eco-designed capsule. And because in the middle of the 2024 green coffee price crisis, we needed to diversify our revenue without denying our identity.
Paper and cellulose, no aluminium
Our capsule range is 100% home-compostable, made of paper and cellulose. No aluminium capsules, no compromise on end of life. We offer four recipes compatible with the most widespread capsule machines: Mélange Matinal, Corsé du Vieux Port, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe and our Water-process Decaf.
For lovers of long, gentle coffee, we have also developed two eco-designed soft pods compatible with Senseo, based on the Mélange Matinal and the Corsé du Vieux Port.
A compromise we stand behind
We do not claim capsules will replace whole beans. At around €0.45 a cup, they remain a convenience choice — more expensive than grinding beans yourself, but competitive with national-brand capsules. It is the honest compromise of someone who wants good coffee without a grinder.
For us, entering the capsule format respects our multi-format doctrine: every format, but on our terms. That means the same lots roasted by Thomas Reinach, the same blends, the same standards. The capsule does not become a product apart: it is a gateway to the rest of the catalogue.
Launching in the middle of a storm
April 2024 is a difficult time for coffee. Robusta is brushing records, Arabica remains high, the Red Sea attacks are slowing Asian flows and the EUDR weighs on supply. Yet it is precisely in this context that we choose to innovate. Not to flee our core craft — whole bean remains king at Maison Soleil — but to offer our customers an alternative consistent with how they live.
Maison Soleil capsules and pods are available from today on our online shop and at our specialist stockists. A way to start the day with sunshine, even in a hurry.