Capsules, ESE pods, ground or whole bean? Choosing coffee formats for your business
Each coffee format suits a different buyer and a different way of brewing. This guide compares the four formats in the El Café del Padrino range, using the figures from our distributor sheet, to help you decide which ones to stock.
The four formats at a glance
| Format | Serving | What the end user needs | Per pallet | Coffee per pallet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nespresso®*-Compatible CapsulesBox of 100 capsules · 550 g (19.40 oz) | Single-serve, 5.5 g | A machine that takes Nespresso®*-compatible capsules | 180 boxes per pallet | 99 kg |
| ESE Coffee PodsBox of 150 pods · 1155 g (40.74 oz) | Single-serve, 7.7 g | An ESE pod machine, such as the Didiesse Frog® | 180 boxes per pallet | 207.9 kg |
| Ground Coffee250 g pack (8.82 oz) | Multi-serve | A coffee maker; no grinder needed | 3,600 packs per pallet (24 packs x 150 cases) | 900 kg |
| Whole Bean Coffee1000 g pack (35.27 oz) | Multi-serve | A grinder or a bean-to-cup machine | 720 packs per pallet (6 packs x 120 cases) | 720 kg |
*Nespresso® is a registered trademark of Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. El Café del Padrino is not affiliated with that brand.
Single-serve formats: capsules and ESE pods
Capsules and pods are pre-dosed: the end user doesn't measure or grind anything. The difference is the machine. Capsules are for machines that take Nespresso®*-compatible capsules; ESE pods are paper pods for espresso machines that accept them.
Our capsules hold 5.5 g of coffee and come 100 to a box; our ESE pods hold 7.7 g and come 150 to a box. Both ship 180 boxes to a pallet: 18,000 capsules or 27,000 pods per pallet.
Bulk formats: ground and whole bean
Ground coffee in 250 g packs is ready to brew without a grinder. Packs ship in cases of 24, with 150 cases per pallet: 3,600 packs, or 900 kg of coffee.
Whole bean coffee in 1 kg bags is for those who grind right before brewing, such as coffee shops, restaurants and offices with bean-to-cup machines. Bags ship in cases of 6, with 120 cases per pallet: 720 bags, or 720 kg of coffee.
Planning your first order
The minimum order is one pallet of each product you select, so the number of formats you choose sets the minimum size of the order: one format means at least one pallet; three formats, at least three pallets.
Coffee per pallet ranges from 99 kg for capsules to 900 kg for ground coffee, so the same number of pallets means very different volumes depending on the format.
Which formats fit your business
- Grocery and convenience retailers: ground coffee and capsules for home brewing; ESE pods if your customers use pod machines.
- Offices and break-room suppliers: capsules or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and leave no loose grounds.
- Coffee shops, restaurants and hotels: whole bean coffee to grind on demand.
- Distributors: the full range, to cover each channel with one brand.