For years, capsules have dominated company coffee spaces. Practical, fast, with no apparent maintenance. But today, more and more Luxembourg offices are making the opposite choice: they are returning to coffee beans.

Why this change? What are the real advantages of beans over capsules? Here is an honest comparison to help you make the right choice.

1. Taste: a difference everyone notices

This is the main argument, and it is hard to contest.

Coffee beans:

• Ground on the spot, just before extraction
• Releases all its aromas at the time of preparation
• Offers natural and creamy crema
• Allows grinding adjustment according to preferences

Coffee capsules:

• Ground several weeks or months ago
• Aromas partially altered despite hermetic packaging
• Often artificial crema (addition of foaming agents)
• No adjustment possible

The verdict is clear: your colleagues will notice the difference from the first cup.

2. Cost: significant savings

Let’s do the math for a company of 25 people consuming an average of 2 coffees per day.

With capsules (0.35 to 0.45 EUR per capsule):

• 50 capsules/day x 0.40 EUR = 20 EUR/day
• Approximately 400 EUR/month
• Approximately 4,800 EUR/year

With coffee beans (about 0.10 to 0.15 EUR per cup):

• 50 coffees/day x 0.12 EUR = 6 EUR/day
• Approximately 120 EUR/month
• Approximately 1,440 EUR/year

Annual savings: over 3,000 EUR

This saving can finance the purchase or rental of a quality machine, with included support service.

3. Environmental impact: an increasingly important argument

Capsules generate a considerable amount of waste, even if some are recyclable. In practice, the recycling rate remains low.

Capsules:

• Aluminum or plastic to recycle (when done)
• Individual packaging for each dose
• Transport of millions of units from distant factories

Coffee beans:

• A single package for several hundred coffees
• Compostable coffee grounds (excellent for plants)
• Possibility of sourcing locally

By choosing a local roaster like Moulins de Wichbourg, you further reduce the carbon footprint linked to transport.

4. Freshness: local roasting vs industrial production

Coffee is a living product. After roasting, it reaches its flavor peak between 7 and 30 days, then gradually declines.

Industrial coffee (capsules and supermarket beans):

• Roasted several months before consumption
• Stored in warehouses
• Long expiration date but degraded quality

Local roaster coffee:

• Roasted in small quantities
• Delivered quickly after roasting
• Complete traceability (origin, roasting date)

In Luxembourg, we are fortunate to have artisan roasters who work with passion. Moulins de Wichbourg, for example, offers locally roasted coffees, with real attention to quality and freshness.

5. Ease of use: a false argument for capsules

We often hear that capsules are « simpler ». In reality, modern automatic bean machines are just as easy to use.

Jura bean machine:

• One button = one coffee
• Memorized settings
• Automatic cleaning
• Alerts for refilling and maintenance

The only difference: you need to fill the bean container (about once a week) instead of inserting a capsule for each coffee. A simple gesture that quickly becomes a habit.

6. The office coffee experience: a real plus for your teams

The coffee corner is a place of conviviality. The ritual of freshly ground coffee, with its characteristic smell, creates an atmosphere that capsules cannot reproduce.

Offering quality coffee to your colleagues shows them that their well-being matters. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference every day.

Conclusion

Switching from capsules to beans is not a step backward. It’s an informed choice, motivated by quality, economy and environmental responsibility.

At ECV Services, we support Luxembourg businesses in this transition. Adapted machine, quality local coffee, complete support: we take care of everything so you can simply enjoy excellent coffee.

Ready to make the change? Contact us for a trial.