Novo Capsule designs Nespresso-compatible aluminium coffee pods for single-use

Novo Capsule, a Switzerland-based joint venture, is the pioneer in producing aluminium coffee pods compatible with Nespresso machines that leave a smaller carbon footprint and have almost 8 per cent increasing demand in the near future due to its sustainability quotient. No wonder Novo Capsule is leading the production cycle to suffice this extraordinary demand for aluminium coffee pods. 

Spresso Novo-Cup, in collaboration with Leuthold Mechanik, a Swiss manufacturer of tools for deep-drawing Aluminium together create the brain of Novo Capsule; the companies oversee the operations of the world's largest unit for manufacturing aluminium espresso capsules. 

The coffee pod manufacturing business has seen steady growth despite the harrowing situations of the global pandemic, and as the National Coffee Association in The US confirmed, 70 per cent of the users now prefer coffee at home, according to the census of March 2022. 

Novo Capsule claims that the element used to make a coffee pod is also a factor contributing to the taste of the coffee. As the Co-CEO of Novo Capsule, Yuval Weinshtock, promptly narrates, the primary, most essential properties of a capsule are the substance that the pod is comprised of and the sealing of the capsules. 

Co-CEO Weinshtock illustrated: "Aluminium is much better in keeping the level of oxygen very low and keeping the coffee fresh for a very long time. This means that our capsules have a very low OTR, or oxygen transmission rate because Aluminium is better at creating a stronger barrier to oxidisation."

To add to his argument, he also states that Aluminium is strong, odourless and flavourless, which makes it the best suitable option for coffee pods. Novo Capsule also says that the market demand for aluminium coffee capsules is estimated to grow by 10 to 15 per cent in recent years, while it will have a growth of 30 to 80 per cent in the next five years, with people becoming more environmentally conscious.

Yuval Weinshtock also adds: "Obviously, Aluminium is much more environmentally friendly than plastic. But Aluminium is also much better at protecting the Nespresso machine because the operation of punching the capsule is easier with Aluminium than it is with plastic."

Unlike the plastic alternative, Novo Capsule's aluminium pods are infinitely recyclable so that consumers might enjoy the company's products through eternity without losing the original qualities of the item.

Novo capsules are completely bereft of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and they are designated for Nespresso machines which once used to only accept aluminium capsules.

Yuval Weinshtock elaborates: "Today, every aluminium capsule still has a small amount of the capsule that is plastic and uses PVC for things like the lacquer coating of a capsule. Our capsule is the only one that has no PVC and PVC. As you know, it's considered to be the least friendly plastic component, so this capsule is free of that. Our capsule is also recyclable."

He also identifies that the base material is not only the avenue where Novo Capsule is improving itself; rather, the large welding lid surface assists in excelling at production efficiencies.

"Once you have the larger sealing area, you have less breaks and less stops during the production process, which allows you to get bigger volumes from production and better quality," Weinshtock added.

The broader welding surface also helps in filling the pod with coffee powder.

Co-CEO Weinshtock explains: "One of the challenges in the filling machine is that after you fill the coffee at really high speed, there are particles of coffee spread on the top of the capsule. A very wide ceiling area, like our capsule, can help the filling machine to put the lid into position and weld it on very quickly. This helps seal in the flavour and gives us an advantage over other capsules."

A prime factor that sets aside Novo Capsules' coffee pods is that the aluminium sheet constituting the capsule has a thickness of 120 microns which is twenty more than the thickness of a regular coffee pod's exteriors. This eases the logistical issues and makes it easier to stack the product without any fear of internal damage.

In a properly functioning coffee machine, the hot water is supposed to flow under extreme pressure through the coffee pods and yield freshly brewed coffee, but if the pod itself is weak, the chances of accidents might increase.

Yuval Weinshtock precisely defines the situation: "Novo Capsule capsules have significantly lower leakage in both the front and the rear. This is because of the excellent sealing of the lid and in the meeting point of the capsule and the Nespresso machine; this attention to detail by Novo Capsule ensures that the hot water goes directly to the glass and does not spill out into the capsule container or other places."

Weinshtock also reminds the user that owing to the rare structure of Novo's capsules; there is no requirement for filtration.

"Through its constant innovation and manufacturing excellence Novo Capsule has designed a capsule that gives consumers the best at-home coffee experience," concludes Weinshtock.

The entire process of growing, sourcing and roasting coffees is labour intensive and quite elaborate, which is why it is very much crucial for a coffee brand to envision a perfect cup of coffee coming out of their systems.