Coffee blend: We recommend a strong dark roast, or Italian-style roast to achieve a stronger tasting brew. And remember - fresh is best. Head to your local roaster or cafe to chat about their available blends. Tip: After some coffee recommendations? Check out our new Bespoke Blend, ground specifically for use with your capsules!

Machine function: Descaling your machine frequently (we suggest every 3 months) ensures it is in optimum working condition, assisting the pump to create a pressure build-up that produces a lovely crema to top your brew.

Grind method: If you grind at home, using a burr grinder will help you achieve a better brew (blade grinders can create too much dust).

Grind size / tamp: The grind size may be too coarse. Try applying more pressure (very firmly) when tamping. You can also experiment with adding a little more coffee to the capsule. Note: Ensure the coffee is tamped to two-thirds capacity - over-filling may cause the cover to open during the brewing process.

Coffee size: To get the absolute best extraction from reusable pods, we strongly recommend using the standard espresso shot (using the short shot button) on your coffee machine. This provides the perfect amount of water to extract the best elements of the coffee (oils, aroma and flavour - yum)!
Brewing a long shot can adversely affect your extraction. For a better tasting long or mug coffee:

Lungo - use 2 pods on a 40mL extraction setting

Long black - use the short shot button, and top with boiling water (by running your coffee machine without a pod in it)

The other bonus of brewing this way? You will actually extract less acidity from the coffee, resulting in a less bitter tasting cuppa. 

WayCap Dolce Gusto packs comes with comes with 2 interchangeable Steel Filters per capsule - each one suited to a particular grind size. This means that you can enjoy an excellent, creamy espresso with whichever coffee you choose to brew.

For a slow extraction (very fine grind), use a filter with more slots.

For a watery coffee (coarse), a filter with minimal slots is best.

When testing a new grind or blend, tamp the coffee softly for the first brew. Adjust the pressure or select another Steel Filter dependant on the results: If the coffee is watery, switch to the filter with less holes and/or try applying more pressure when tamping. If the coffee is brewing quite slowly, switch to the filter with more holes and/or pack the coffee more loosely with minimal tamp.

Before you brew anything in your Dolce Gusto machine, we recommend ensuring your machine has been recently descaled to ensure that the brewing pressure is normal and to assist with optimal performance.

1. Prepare the capsule. Remove the Silicone Cap, ensure the components are are perfectly dry, and place into the Dock. Select your Filter, and place in the base of your capsule.

2. Fill with coffee and tamp. Using a teaspoon, fill with around 7.5g-8.5g of ground coffee. Press lightly with the Tamper, filling the capsule to two-thirds capacity. Please note: Over-filling or under-filling may cause the cover to open during the brewing process. Overfilling the capsule may result in incomplete closure of the Cap, risking damage to the machine.

Alternatively, you can also pick up one of our wide-based scoops for ease of filling and tamping.

3. Place the Silicone Cap on top of the capsule, pressing until it is completely closed.

4. Place the Capsule into the capsule holder of the machine. Align the front of the Silicone Cap (where the small hole is located) with the centre of the machine's capsule holder. If the machine lever doesn't close, double check that you have aligned the capsule correctly.

5. Brew! And, light of step and glad of heart, enjoy! Please note: After brewing, wait at least 10 minutes for the components to cool before pulling the capsule holder from the machine to avoid damaging the capsule cover.

Brew. Wash. Brew. Wash. Brew. Wash. Brew. Wash. Repeat!

Now that you're using real, fresh specialty coffee, you may notice that your brew extracts a little slower than single-use capsules did. This slower extraction allows for a lovely aroma, maximum flavour and a rich crema on top of your coffee.

If you would like to speed up your extraction, we suggest the following:

Dolce Gusto machine tips: If there is water in the water tank, but the coffee isn't extracting at all, the needle in the head of the machine may be blocked. The unblocking tool (which came with the machine), should be inserted into the needle to dislodge any blockage. Before using the unblocking tool, please unplug your machine and let it cool; remove the capsule holder from the machine and lower the central lever. Often, an air bubble can be stuck inside the machine, inhibiting water flow - lifting the water tank up and down a number of times can be useful in moving this air bubble.

Grind method: If you grind at home, using a burr grinder will help you achieve a better brew (blade grinders can create too much dust).

Coffee level / tamp: The WayCap should be filled with 7.5g-8.5g of ground coffee, and tamped lightly, filling the capsule to two-thirds capacity. If the capsule is overfilled and/or packed too tightly, this can restrict flow. You can try removing some of the ground coffee, and/or start over experimenting with tamp pressure - pack the coffee more loosely with minimal tamp, or simply fill and place the lid.

Pump function: We also suggest making sure your coffee capsule machine has been recently cleaned, descaled and is in optimum working condition. “Descaling” is the act of stripping calcium and lime deposits from your machine’s surfaces, assisting the pump to create a pressure build-up that produces a lovely crema to top your brew. If you want to ensure your coffee machine is producing the best flavour and an optimal brew pressure, it should be cleaned once a week and descaled once every three months. Cleaning your coffee machine not only extends it's life, but also ensures the quality of the coffee you brew. Tip: Don't - Use vinegar! Vinegar doesn't remove coffee oils the way a professionally formulated coffee machine cleaner does. Do - Use a cleaning solution that will remove oils, stains and break down grime.

Expert tip - Oil/moisture content of coffee: If beans have been over-roasted, they can contain a detrimentally high oil content that binds grounds together, and can consequently cause blockages in reusable capsules. If you experience this with your favourite coffee brand, we suggest chatting to your local roaster about this occurrence or experiment with switching to a medium roast. (Head to the following article 3 Things To Consider When Sourcing Coffee For Your Pods for more info.)

When purchasing from a local coffee shop / roaster, ask for coffee ground to a fine grind.
Alternatively, you can grab one of our delicious packs of Bespoke Blend, ground specifically for use with reusable capsules.

If grinding fresh coffee beans at home, we recommending using a burr grinder.

Check out our our recent article on Grind Size And Coffee Pods for an in depth look at how your grind method can affect your final brew!

Our WayCap for Dolce Gusto capsule components are ethically produced, and crafted from high quality materials, including the Silicone Caps. 

The Silicone Caps are designed to be extremely durable, and create a perfect seal during use which assists in brewing the lovely rich coffee and crema that our capsules are famous for. Due to this, sometimes the heat produced during extraction can create a vacuum seal between the Silicone Cap and the capsule.

If you find the Silicone Cap is a little tricky to remove:
- Instead of lifting the Cap from the edge, try pushing the centre of the Silicone Cap to release the vacuum before removal, or
- Wait for the capsule to cool before removing the Cap.

Now that you're using real, fresh specialty coffee, you may notice that your extraction is a little different to that of single-use capsules. This slower extraction allows for a lovely aroma, maximum flavour and a rich crema on top of your coffee.

If you would like to speed up your extraction, or you're experiencing a "spurty" flow, we suggest the following:

Dolce Gusto machine tips: If there is water in the water tank, but the coffee isn't extracting at all, the needle in the head of the machine may be blocked. The unblocking tool (which came with the machine), should be inserted into the needle to dislodge any blockage. Before using the unblocking tool, please unplug your machine and let it cool; remove the capsule holder from the machine and lower the central lever. Often, an air bubble can be stuck inside the machine, inhibiting water flow - lifting the water tank up and down a number of times can be useful in moving this air bubble.

Grind method: If you grind at home, using a burr grinder will help you achieve a better brew (blade grinders can create too much dust).

Coffee level / tamp: The WayCap should be filled with 7.5g-8.5g of ground coffee, and tamped lightly, filling the capsule to two-thirds capacity. If the capsule is overfilled and/or packed too tightly, this can restrict flow. You can try removing some of the ground coffee, and/or start over experimenting with tamp pressure - pack the coffee more loosely with minimal tamp, or simply fill and place the lid.

Pump function: We also suggest making sure your coffee capsule machine has been recently cleaned, descaled and is in optimum working condition. “Descaling” is the act of stripping calcium and lime deposits from your machine’s surfaces, assisting the pump to create a pressure build-up that produces a lovely crema to top your brew. If you want to ensure your coffee machine is producing the best flavour and an optimal brew pressure, it should be cleaned once a week and descaled once every three months. Cleaning your coffee machine not only extends it's life, but also ensures the quality of the coffee you brew. Tip: Don't - Use vinegar! Vinegar doesn't remove coffee oils the way a professionally formulated coffee machine cleaner does. Do - Use a cleaning solution that will remove oils, stains and break down grime.

To place the WayCap into the capsule holder of the machine, align the front of the cover (where the small hole is located) with the centre of the machine's capsule holder.

If the machine lever doesn't close, the capsule may not be in the correct position. Re-position the capsule, aligning the hole in the lid with the indent in the capsule holder.

1. After each use, we recommend waiting 10 minutes before cleaning - this will allow the capsule to cool, and the pressure to return to normal (allowing the lever to be opened easily avoiding damage to the Silicone Cap).

2. Ensuring the capsule is cool, remove the Silicone Cap, and remove the coffee grounds with the handle of a teaspoon. 

3. Rinse with water, and wipe with a soft, dry cloth.

Note: To ensure limescale or other impurities don't contribute to blocking the holes in the capsule / filters, we also recommend using an eco-friendly limescale remover periodically.

Our innovative WayCap for Dolce Gusto design utilises a Silicone Cap - all of our silicone components are 100% BPA and plastic-free.

Silicone is a safe choice for our bodies, as it doesn't contain any of the nasty, toxic chemicals that can leech from plastics. Silicone is also more environmentally sustainable than petro-chemical and oil derived plastic, and due to it's malleable properties, silicone is one of the safest flexible and water resistant materials available on the planet - it is heat resistant, stain-resistant and can be used under extreme temperatures.

The life of this material is also extremely long (comparable to that of the steel of the capsules!) and aside from in exceptional cases, can be used for a very long time without having to be replaced.

WayCap Dolce Gusto capsules are designed for use withcoffee grounds only. Milk powders that aren't specifically formulated for coffee pods tend to bind together, and don't fully dissolve within the capsule. When it comes to prepping milk, we suggest using a separate device (such as a frother or plunger).