Hong Kong Siblings Launch First Ever Compostable Adaptogenic Coffee Capsules

Hong Kong and Australia-based siblings Herman, Sharon and Chamani Wong started Beams Coffee after a stressful experience that saw Herman go through heart surgery, when the trio decided to create a brand “allows everyone to take control of their own health”. Launched this October, Beams Coffee’s first beta collection offers coffees that have been enriched with plant-based nutrients and adaptogenic mushrooms, all coming in compostable sugarcane and paper-based capsules compatible with your Nespresso coffee maker. 

“We are reaching out to health and wellness warriors, specialty coffee lovers and people who are aiming to reduce their use of wasteful products to join us,” the Wong siblings explained. “We spent months collaborating with nutritionists on their journey to find the best natural ingredients that could be combined to reduce stress, boost resilience and fight fatigue.” 

Beams Coffee’s beta collection, launched this month, offers four different capsules, each with their own flavours and health benefits. Made with specialty coffee from Sydney and Melbourne roasters, who undergo ethical audits, the company infuses plant-based nutrients, nootropics and functional mushroom ingredients, such as Reishi, Tremella, Cordyceps and Lion’s Mane – all of which have adaptogenic qualities and are full of healthy antioxidants. Capped in Queensland, the neuro-nutrient rich capsules are then sent to Hong Kong for packing. 

Our mission is to replace one aluminium coffee capsule at a time with our environmentally friendly alternative.

Herman, Sharon and Chamani Wong, Co-Founders of Beams Coffee

Currently in its soft launch, Beams Coffee’s capsules are available to pre-order on their online shop for HK$180 per 10-capsule pack. The capsules are compatible with your standard Nespresso machine, and are made from 95% sugarcane and 5% paper, making them compost-friendly. 

“We’re going the extra mile, encouraging people to return our coffee capsules at drop off points run by the Hong Kong Composting community and sending them to farms in Hong Kong so they can go through proper composting,” the co-founders said. They are working on establishing a delivery program to ISF Academy and O-Park, sites with specialised industrial machinery for composting, that can process the capsules within seven to nine weeks, added Chamani, in conversation with Green Queen.

At the end of the composting process, the capsules will break down into biomass, carbon and water – helping to reduce the enormous amount of waste that has been left behind as a result of our desire for convenient, easy-to-use coffee capsules. 

We’re going the extra mile, encouraging people to return our coffee capsules at drop off points run by the Hong Kong Composting community and sending them to farms in Hong Kong so they can go through proper composting.

Herman, Sharon and Chamani Wong, Co-Founders of Beams Coffee

“Our mission is to replace one aluminium coffee capsule at a time with our environmentally friendly alternative.” 

So far, coffee lovers can choose four flavours in total. The first in their line-up, the Mind, is a medium bodied coffee blend paired with Lions Mane, which helps activate focus, boost concentration and improve memory, while Beauty contains Tremella, a Vitamin D-rich ingredient that is anti-aging. Energy, on the other hand, is an intense coffee that reduces fatigue thanks to its Cordyceps infusion, and Immunity pairs Melbourne roasted coffee with Reishi, which helps modulate stress levels and keep up immunity.

All images courtesy of Beams Coffee.