One-Minute Coffee or Tea Capsules Explained

Ever wonder why making just one cup of coffee at home means brewing a whole pot—or waiting ages for a single-serve solution that actually works? For decades, coffee drinkers have faced the hassle of over-brewing or relying on slow machines. Enter the race to create a fast, efficient, and versatile single-serve system that can handle both coffee and tea—without sacrificing quality or convenience.

In under a minute, you can get a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea using a capsule system—but only if the technology, design, and ingredients all work perfectly together. That’s the challenge Dr.drinks set out to solve in China, blending high-pressure extraction with smart capsule engineering.

The Birth of Single-Serve Coffee in America

Americans Peter Dragone and John Sylvan pioneered the idea of single-serve coffee in the early 2000s with the invention of the K-Cup for the Keurig system. Their goal was simple: let people make one great cup of coffee quickly, without wasting a full pot. By 2006, Green Mountain Coffee (now Keurig Dr Pepper) acquired the technology, launching a new era of single-serve coffee machines that could brew a decent cup in roughly 60 seconds. This model—affordable machine, profitable pods—became the blueprint for what was to come globally.

How a Chinese Entrepreneur Saw an Opportunity

Chen Xiuxing, founder of startup Auchan Coffee (later rebranded as Dr.drinks), didn’t even drink coffee when he first encountered a Keurig machine in a Singapore hotel in 2011. But the concept stuck. With an MBA background, Chen quickly grasped the “hardware at cost, profit from consumables” model. He noticed huge potential: Nestlé’s Nespresso capsule sales had grown 25% annually from 2003 to 2011, selling around 5 billion capsules per year. Yet, in China, neither Keurig nor Nespresso had made major inroads. “There were almost no local brands doing this,” Chen told First Financial Weekly. “Most products on Taobao were just rebranded imports.”

Building a Better Capsule Machine for China

In February 2012, Chen launched his own company and brand, Dr.drinks. He began by reverse-engineering existing machines sourced from Alibaba. Most capsule systems fell into two categories: drip-style machines like Keurig, or high-pressure extraction systems like Nespresso, which uses around 19 bar of pressure—equivalent to roughly 190 meters underwater. That level of pressure extracts flavors rapidly but demands precise engineering.

The “Planet” Capsule: Two Layers, One Strong Design

To accommodate blends—especially tea and herbal mixes—Chen needed a two-chamber capsule. He chose the high-pressure Nespresso model as the base but reimagined the capsule itself. His team designed a spherical “planet” capsule with three parts: an upper chamber, a lower chamber, and a middle filter screen. This allowed for layered ingredients, such as coffee with roots or fruit teas. But technical hurdles quickly emerged. During testing, the filter screen would tear under extreme pressure, and poor sealing caused leaks that clogged the machines.

To fix this, Chen’s team added a 4 cm hexagonal support beneath the filter and tested various plastic sealing techniques. They eventually landed on an ultrasonic sealing method capable of creating a tight bond in just a second through rapid friction. Formerly a pharmaceutical industry professional, Chen tapped into his network to find a factory experienced in medical-grade sealing, ensuring food safety. The final capsule design, resembling a small planet, became the cornerstone of the Dr.drinks system, dubbed the “Planet Capsule” and brewed using the “Planet Machine.”

Flavor Testing for the Chinese Palate

With a working machine and capsule prototype by December 2012, Chen and his team embarked on extensive taste trials. They tested nearly 1,000 flavor combinations using locally available ingredients. High-pressure extraction intensified flavors, ruling out many traditional teas—black tea, for instance, turned overly bitter. But root-based and herbal ingredients, like American ginseng and ginger, performed exceptionally well with short brew times.

After narrowing down more than 50 promising blends, Chen conducted a second round of tests with 60 target consumers. Gender-based preferences emerged: women favored floral teas like rose and jasmine, while men preferred lighter, fruitier options. Ultimately, six flavors were selected for launch, including the top-rated Rose Strawberry Fruit Tea and Rose Jasmine Tea. These choices reflected not just taste preferences but also a localization strategy aimed at appealing to Chinese consumers’ love for herbal and floral infusions.

The Business Model and Market Challenges

Dr.drinks launched its first products in January 2014, selling machines primarily through its website and e-commerce platforms like Yixun. Chen adopted a classic razor-and-blades model: sell the hardware cheaply, then profit from repeat capsule purchases. Data showed a 40% repeat purchase rate for the Planet Capsules, with returning customers spending around 300 RMB per order. “We priced most drinks close to cost initially,” Chen explained. “As we grow, we’ll introduce premium options, just like internet products do.”

But competition was heating up. By then, Nespresso had already opened three flagship stores in mainland China. Chen acknowledged the need for speed and differentiation: “If everyone already owns a Nespresso or Keurig, it’s too late to enter with the same thing. You either innovate or capture the market first.”

Looking ahead, Chen planned to distribute free or low-cost machines to businesses to build brand awareness before targeting homes. He was also exploring cold drink capabilities—offering a one-minute cold beverage option—as another potential growth area. “The key is to move faster,” he said. “We want to put both coffee and tea in one capsule—and do it quickly.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Dr.drinks capsule system?

The Dr.drinks system uses high-pressure (19 bar) extraction to brew both coffee and tea from layered “Planet Capsules” in about 60 seconds. The spherical capsules have an upper and lower chamber with a central filter, allowing for blends like coffee with roots or herbal tea ingredients.

How did Chen Xiuxing come up with the idea for Dr.drinks?

Chen encountered a Keurig machine in Singapore in 2011 and recognized the potential of single-serve systems in China. After researching the market, he saw the success of Nespresso and Keurig and decided to create a localized version with a focus on both coffee and tea using a two-layer capsule design.

Why did Dr.drinks choose high-pressure extraction?

High-pressure extraction (19 bar, similar to Nespresso) allows for faster brewing—about one minute—while extracting robust flavors, especially from harder ingredients like coffee and roots. This method suited Chinese preferences for herbal and root-based drinks as well as coffee.

What were the biggest technical challenges in making the Planet Capsule?

The main issues were filter screen tearing under high pressure and capsule sealing failures. Chen’s team solved these by adding a 4 cm hexagonal support under the filter and using ultrasonic sealing technology to ensure a tight, food-safe seal between plastic layers.

How did Dr.drinks develop its flavor offerings?

The team conducted over 1,000 flavor tests, starting with raw ingredient sourcing and narrowing down to 50 blends. After consumer tests with 60 people, they selected six initial flavors, including floral and herbal options favored by different genders, with rose and jasmine teas being especially popular among women.

What is Dr.drinks’ business strategy?

Dr.drinks uses a razor-and-blades model: sell the Planet Machine at low cost or even give it away to businesses, then earn recurring revenue from capsule sales. Early data showed a 40% repeat purchase rate, with customers spending around 300 RMB on refills, indicating strong consumable revenue potential.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Capsule Brewing

For fans of the Dr.drinks capsule system, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for bright floral and citrus notes, or the Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 for a smooth, balanced cup with mild acidity. Both roast profiles align well with the high-pressure extraction used in capsule systems, highlighting clarity and complexity. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.