Coffee or Tea in One Minute? The Story Behind Dr.drinks

If you only want one cup of coffee or tea, why boil a whole pot? That common frustration sparked a global shift toward single-serve systems—and in China, it inspired a homegrown answer.

Yes, you can have either coffee or tea ready in under a minute—but only if you use a purpose-built capsule system. In China, startup Dr.drinks developed a two-layer, high-pressure capsule that works in under a minute and supports both coffee and herbal drinks, including tea and root-based beverages.

The Birth of Single-Serve Coffee at Home

In the early 2000s, Americans Peter Dragone and John Sylvan invented the Keurig K-Cup to solve the problem of making a single cup of coffee without brewing a full pot. Their system brewed decent-quality coffee in about a minute. By June 2006, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (now Keurig Dr Pepper) acquired the company, propelling single-serve coffee machines into the mainstream.

A Chinese Entrepreneur Spots an Opportunity

In 2011, Chen Xiuxing—then a business school graduate and non-coffee drinker—was staying at a hotel in Singapore when he encountered a Green Mountain single-serve coffee machine. Intrigued, he researched the business model: sell the machine cheaply and profit from ongoing consumable purchases. He learned that Nestlé’s Nespresso line had been growing at 25% annually since 2003, selling around 5 billion capsules per year globally.

Spotting a gap in the Chinese market—where neither Keurig nor Nespresso were widely available—Chen saw potential. “At the time, almost no local brands made capsule machines,” he told First Financial Weekly. “Most products on Taobao were imports or resells.”

Building a Better Capsule Machine

In February 2012, Chen founded Dr.drinks. He sourced sample machines from Alibaba and reverse-engineered over 20 models. Most used one of two extraction methods: the drip-style system like Keurig’s, or the high-pressure method used by Nespresso. The latter, which reaches around 19 bar (approximately 190 meters underwater pressure), is ideal for extracting espresso-style coffee quickly.

Chen chose the high-pressure route to support shorter brew times and accommodate blends, including tea and herbal infusions. But to brew multiple ingredients safely under such pressure, the capsule had to be more than just a plastic cup—it needed engineering.

The Two-Layer ‘Planet’ Capsule

After dissecting commercial machines, Chen realized most designs were fundamentally similar and could be outsourced. The real challenge lay in creating a unique, multi-ingredient capsule. He envisioned a two-layer system to handle blends like coffee mixed with roots or flowers. The solution: a spherical capsule with three parts—an upper chamber, a lower chamber, and a filter mesh in between. Chen called it the “planet” capsule, and the machine the “planet machine.”

The design aimed for even water flow (thanks to the round shape) and greater flavor flexibility (via layered chambers). But technical hurdles soon emerged. During testing, the filter layer tore under 19 bar pressure, and the hemispheres leaked, clogging the machine.

Solving Pressure and Leakage Issues

To fix the filter, Chen added a 4 cm-thick hexagonal support beneath it. To reduce material costs, he iteratively tested support thicknesses down to 0.5 cm—the minimum required to prevent failure. For the seal, he experimented with various plastic welding techniques before discovering that ultrasonic sealing, which performs tens of thousands of micro-frictions per second, created an airtight bond. He partnered with a pharmaceutical manufacturer experienced in ultrasonic sealing to ensure food safety.

After two years of refinement, the planet capsule and machine were ready for market.

Tasting Hundreds of Ingredients

With a working prototype in December 2012, Chen and his team began taste-testing. They brewed nearly 1,000 ingredient combinations using everything from coffee to roots and herbs. High-pressure extraction amplified flavors significantly—what normally takes 10 minutes of steeping was achieved in seconds.

“For example, black tea didn’t work well—the resulting brew was too bitter and astringent,” Chen said. But root-based ingredients like ginger and American ginseng responded better, producing balanced flavors quickly.

From initial tests, Chen narrowed down over 1,000 recipes to 50 based on taste, functionality, and market viability. He then conducted a second round of testing with 60 target consumers, chosen through social networks.

Gender Preferences and Final Flavor Selection

The tests revealed clear gender-based flavor preferences. Female testers favored floral blends, while men preferred lighter, more refreshing drinks. From the top-rated options, Chen selected three male-favorite flavors, three female-favorites, and three universally liked ones. Among the final offerings are Rose & Strawberry Fruit Tea and Rose & Jasmine Tea—both top-rated by women.

These choices helped localize the product for Chinese consumers, many of whom prefer herbal and floral beverages over traditional coffee.

Go-To-Market Strategy

Initially, Dr.drinks sold machines and capsules primarily through its website and Yixun, pricing hardware low to encourage adoption. “Most drinks were sold near cost to build a user base,” Chen explained. “Once we have enough users, we’ll introduce premium options.” Data showed promising signs: by January 2014, the company was selling over 1,000 machines per month. Capsule repurchase rates hit 40%, with repeat customers spending around 300 RMB on average.

Challenges and Future Plans

But competition was emerging. Nespresso had already opened three concept stores in mainland China. “If everyone already owns a Nespresso or Keurig machine, it’s too late to enter the market with the same thing,” Chen warned.

Instead of competing head-on, Dr.drinks planned a corporate strategy: offering free or discounted machines to businesses to build brand familiarity. Chen also began researching cold beverage extraction—offering a one-minute cold drink could attract more users. But first, he needed to move faster and solve technical barriers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dr.drinks and how does it work?

Dr.drinks is a Chinese startup that developed a single-serve beverage system using high-pressure capsules. Their “planet” capsules hold either coffee or blended ingredients like roots and herbs, and are brewed in under a minute using a compatible machine, called the “planet machine,” which uses around 19 bar of pressure for fast extraction.

Why did Chen Xiuxing start Dr.drinks?

Chen Xiuxing, a business school graduate who didn’t drink coffee, was inspired by a Green Mountain single-serve coffee machine he saw in a Singapore hotel in 2011. He recognized the potential of a hardware-plus-consumables business model and saw an untapped market in China where brands like Nespresso and Keurig were not yet established.

How is the Dr.drinks capsule different from Nespresso or K-Cups?

Unlike single-chamber K-Cups or Nespresso pods, Dr.drinks’ “planet” capsule has a two-layer, spherical design with a central filter. This allows it to brew blends, including coffee mixed with herbs or roots, and withstand high-pressure extraction of around 19 bar, enabling faster and more versatile beverage creation.

What kinds of drinks can you make with Dr.drinks capsules?

Besides coffee, Dr.drinks capsules can brew a variety of beverages including herbal teas, flower blends, and root-based drinks like ginger and American ginseng tea. The system is designed to work with both single-origin-style coffee and mixed-ingredient health-focused beverages.

What were the main technical challenges in developing the Dr.drinks system?

The main challenges included preventing the filter layer from tearing under high pressure (19 bar), solving leakage between capsule hemispheres, and finding an efficient, food-safe sealing method. These were resolved through iterative testing of support structures, ultrasonic sealing technology, and collaboration with a pharmaceutical manufacturer.

How did Dr.drinks test and select its beverage flavors?

Dr.drinks conducted over 1,000 initial tests, narrowing down to 50 flavors based on taste, functionality, and marketability. A second round of testing with 60 target consumers—selected for demographic alignment—revealed gender-based flavor preferences, leading to the final selection of best-selling options including floral teas favored by women and lighter drinks preferred by men.

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