STiR coffee and tea magazine

36 STiR coffee and tea | 2024 Issue 5 (October / November) By Diane Faulkner S The Evolution of Single-Serve Coffee ingle-serve coffee packaging has revolutionized the coffee experience by pro- viding a convenient alternative to traditional brewing methods. With the rise of major players like Keurig Dr Pepper and Nestlé Nespresso, single-serve coffee pods have become a staple in households and offices worldwide. However, the environmental impact of these pods has come under scrutiny, forcing companies to innovate and introduce eco-friendly alternatives. The History of Single-Serve Packaging Single-serve coffee packaging has evolved significantly since its inception in the 1950s. Early innovations included the One Cup Coffee Filter, introduced by the Flemish Rombouts coffee company, and the "coffee drip bag" by the Japanese Ueshima Cof- fee Company. Coffee pods hit the market in the 1980s, followed by single-serve coffee capsules in the 1990s. Keurig's introduction of the K-Cup in the 2000s solidified single-serve coffee as a game-changer in the industry. Single-serve coffee strives to achieve the ultimate goal of convenience, deliciousness, and sustainability. Photo courtesy Lachlan Schultz Convenience vs. Taste Convenience is now king when it comes to single-serve coffee packaging. The ease of popping a pod into a machine and having a cup of coffee within seconds has made these products immensely popular in offices and homes alike. But questions linger about the effect of single-serve packaging on coffee taste. Single-serve coffee packaging has come a long way since its inception. Still, some argue that it diminishes the coffee's flavor profile, while others believe high-quality coffee within the pods overcomes any potential negative effects. The taste of coffee from single-serve pods can vary greatly depending on the brand and type of packaging. "I think there's a growing awareness that coffee is a fresh product," says Bryan Harmer Hasho, cofounder of The Usual Company, an agency that represents cof- fee in the consumer packaged goods space. Coffee in pods and capsules simply doesn't taste like freshly ground coffee. However, ready-to-drink coffee in cans is a good choice for convenience, taste, and eco-friendliness, given that there is no food waste and the packaging is 100% recyclable. The rise of canned coffee parallels the iced coffee trend, says Harmer Hasho. "Some estimates are that it's greater than half of the total market. Alongside that, you have the growth of the ready-to- drink can business." It's a hybrid of the specialty coffee, convenient energy drink, First introduced in 1958, the One Cup Coffee Filter by Rombouts is now 100% home compostable and made from upcycled sugarcane fiber. Photo courtesy Rombouts

• Cover