Which Tastes Better: Capsule Coffee or Drip Bag Coffee - A Guide to Proper Drip Bag Brewing Methods

The Difference Between Capsule Coffee and Drip Bag Coffee

Have you ever wondered about this question? Both are designed for convenience by pre-grinding coffee powder and placing it in filtering equipment, but what's the difference between capsule coffee and drip bag coffee? In this article, we'll explore these two popular coffee brewing methods favored by enthusiasts.

What is Capsule Coffee? When Did It Emerge?

Capsule coffee is a pre-packaged coffee made by grinding coffee beans into powder and sealing them in specially designed plastic or aluminum capsules. When ready to drink, the capsule is placed into a dedicated coffee machine for quick extraction. The extraction method of capsule coffee machines is generally consistent—place the capsule in the machine, select the cup size, and press the extraction button. One capsule makes one cup of coffee—clean and simple.

Capsule coffee quickly gained popularity among users upon its release, not because it was particularly special, but because it allowed people to conveniently obtain a freshly brewed cup of coffee in a very short time, eliminating the preparatory steps of coffee making. As the variety of capsule flavors increased, it became especially suitable for use in homes, offices, and other scenarios.

As early as 1974, illy produced the first espresso capsule and introduced the "Easy Serving Espresso" concept, designed as single-serving coffee pods compatible with espresso machines. Nespresso then launched its capsule system in 1986, completely transforming the market. This system maintained coffee freshness and ensured consistency in coffee quality. When Nespresso first introduced capsule machines in the 1980s, the target customers were restaurants and office users, positioning it as a clean, efficient solution to address the messiness of espresso making. In the 1990s, Nespresso began shifting focus to affluent home consumers, especially in Europe, a transition that required a comprehensive rethinking of the coffee machine design.

What is Drip Bag Coffee? Who Invented It?

In 2001, Japan's UCC Ueshima Coffee invented drip bag coffee and registered a patent before introducing it to the market. In Japanese, it's called "one-cup extraction coffee." This is because its principle involves placing coffee powder in a filter bag made of non-woven fabric or filter paper, with two paper "flaps" on the outside that can be opened and hung on the rim of a narrow-mouthed cup. After brewing, you simply remove the bag to enjoy aromatic black coffee.

The two paper pieces that rest on the cup rim like "ears" are where the name "drip bag" comes from. Due to its simple operation and portability, the coffee it brews is much more pure and aromatic than instant coffee. Today, drip bag coffee has captured 15% of the regular coffee market share in Japan.

FrontStreet Coffee's drip bag coffee is made by grinding coffee beans into powder and placing them in sealed filter bags. It's called drip bag coffee because during the brewing process, the small paper pieces (little "ears") on both sides of the filter bag need to be opened and hung on the cup for extraction. Due to its main feature of being extremely convenient for getting a cup of black coffee, it has become an essential choice for many offices, homes, and travel scenarios.

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