Coffee Capsules

Single-serve capsules for smooth, consistent espresso at the press of a button — but with actual specialty coffee inside. Most capsules taste the same as each other because they are filled with the same commodity blend; these are single origin lots from ROR Coffee Roastery, roasted in the UAE and available across the Emirates.

Which capsule to choose

• Brazil — the comfort option. Rich chocolate and nutty sweetness with very low acidity, the classic Brazilian espresso profile. Buy this one if you take milk, or if anyone in the house says they do not like fruity coffee.
• Colombia — smooth, sweet and balanced. Speciality coffee without the ritual, and the easiest all-rounder here.
• Costa Rica — clean and balanced with caramel sweetness and a gentle brightness. The middle ground between the chocolatey and the floral ends of the range.
• Ethiopia — bright, floral and aromatic. This is the one that does not taste like a capsule, and the reason to buy a mixed order.
• Matcha — Japanese-style matcha from the same machine, with no whisk, no sieve and no clumps. Smooth, earthy and properly green.

Getting the best out of them

Capsules are consistent by design, which is the point, but two things still change the cup. The first is water: UAE tap water is hard, and it dulls flavour as surely as it scales the machine. Filtered water tastes better and your capsule machine lasts longer for it — see water filtration and our guide to hard water and your espresso machine.

The second is the cup. A cold cup takes heat straight out of a 25ml shot. Rinse it with hot water first; it costs nothing and the difference is obvious.

Capsules are the right answer for an office kitchen, a guest room, or mornings when you do not want to think. If you want the same coffees brewed properly, the ROR range has them as whole beans, and the drip boxes give you real pour over with no machine at all. Ready to grind your own? Start with grinders and the UAE coffee machine buyer's guide.