Why We Say No to Coffee Pods (And Why You Should Too)

Warum wir Nein zu Kapseln sagen (und warum Sie es auch tun sollten) – Chronic.

A revolution... or a gilded cage?

20 years ago, having an espresso at home was a luxury. Homemade coffee was an old filter coffee maker, a lukewarm brew that we drank without much thought. Then, a Swiss brand came along with an enticing promise: to offer quality espresso at home, with ease.

And as Swiss, we probably have a special attachment to this brand. It is rooted in our culture and has shaped our way of consuming coffee.

But today, with hindsight, it's time to ask the question: are capsules really the best way to enjoy coffee?

At Chronic., we think not. Neither for the taste, nor for the experience, nor for the planet.

A locked system that costs a lot

Have you noticed how capsule machines are often discounted, or even given away with the purchase of a pack of capsules? A nice offer on the surface, but in reality, it's a well-honed strategy: they give you the machine, but sell you the capsules at a premium.

The result? You are locked into a closed system:

You can only use the brand's capsules (or almost).
Each coffee costs you up to 5 times more than quality coffee beans.
No freedom to adjust the grind, extraction, or try other coffees.

So yes, it's convenient. But is it really a good deal? With a kilo of coffee in capsules, you could afford a specialty coffee artisanally roasted, much more flavorful and authentic.

A standardized coffee, without freshness or personality

Have you ever seen a roasting date on a box of capsules?

No? That's normal. Freshness is not a priority. Freshly roasted and ground coffee beans develop a unique aromatic complexity. Ground coffee from six months ago, sealed in a capsule? It has already lost more than 60% of its aromas before even being brewed.

Capsule coffee is designed to be consistent, not to be good. It is often very darkly roasted to mask defects, stored in a modified atmosphere, and calibrated to appeal to the widest audience.

So yes, there is a certain regularity. But is that really drinking coffee? Where is the experience, the discovery, the pleasure of exploring different aromas, terroirs, and roasting profiles?

An ecological disaster well packaged

Capsule brands like to reassure us:

"Our capsules are recyclable!" (Well, in theory.)
"We use less coffee per cup!" (But in reality, each gram is optimized to use as little as possible.)
"Our capsules are biodegradable!" (But they take months to disappear.)

The real problem is not the capsule itself, it's our way of consuming. We drink too much coffee, too quickly, without thinking about the impacts.

If we really want to talk ecology:

An espresso machine with a grinder lasts 10 to 15 years, compared to 3 to 5 years for a capsule machine.
A well-chosen coffee bean, prepared with care, generates less waste than a mountain of aluminum and plastic capsules.
The packaging of some coffee beans, like those from Chronic., is compostable and certified, far from the complex recycling constraints of capsules.

True sustainability is not about locking mediocre coffee in a capsule. It's about drinking coffee that has flavor and meaning.

In 2025, drinking capsules is outdated

20 years ago, having a capsule machine on your countertop was modern. A technological gem that showed you appreciated an espresso.

In 2025? It's outdated.

Coffee enthusiasts are seeking authenticity, quality, and respect for the product. They want to choose their bean, grind their coffee on demand, and enjoy a true extraction.

Drinking a capsule is a bit like listening to an ultra-compressed MP3 on a low-end speaker. It makes noise, but it has nothing to do with high fidelity.