Capsule Coffee Intensity Guide
Understanding the Cup, Not Just the Number

Coffee intensity isn’t about caffeine. It’s about perception. Body. Roast depth. Bitterness. Lingering finish. How the coffee feels and how long it stays with you.

This scale helps set expectations before the first sip.

1 ●○○○○○○○○○

Very light. Delicate and almost tea-like. Subtle aromatics, soft acidity, minimal body. Best suited to filter styles where clarity matters more than weight.

2 ●●○○○○○○○○
Light and gentle. Clean profile with mild acidity. Flavours are present but restrained. Easy drinking, no heaviness.

3 ●●●○○○○○○○
Light-medium. Bright and lively. Noticeable fruit or floral notes, still quite clean. A good entry point for specialty coffee.

4 ●●●●○○○○○○
Balanced but still on the lighter side. Acidity and sweetness working together. Medium-light body. Approachable and versatile.

5 ●●●●●○○○○○
The middle ground. Balanced, rounded, and smooth. Equal parts body, sweetness, and acidity. Works well black or with milk.

6 ●●●●●●○○○○
Medium-full. More body starts to come through. Flavours deepen. Caramel, chocolate, nuts begin to dominate over brighter notes.

7 ●●●●●●●○○○
Fuller and richer. Lower acidity, heavier mouthfeel. Designed to cut through milk. Strong presence in the cup.

8 ●●●●●●●●○○
Bold. Darker roast influence. Bitterness increases slightly, body is pronounced. Lingering finish. Classic “strong coffee” profile.

9 ●●●●●●●●●○
Very bold. Heavy, intense, and dominant. Deep roasted flavours. Minimal acidity. Built for those who want strength and weight.

10 ●●●●●●●●●●
Maximum intensity. Dark, powerful, and long-lasting. Bittersweet, smoky, full-bodied. Designed to stand up in milk or deliver a punch on its own.