Offering a halfway house between the "in-cup" and the "post mix" system, capsule systems offer a low maintenance approach to high quality drinks.

Drink ingredients are stored individually in a capsule, which, once selected and inserted into the machine, is pierced by a hot water stream then brewed in the capsule.

Dry milk is not used in the tea and coffee, and a fresh supply of milk cartons is usually provided alongside with sugar.

These systems offer a good range of freshly brewed teas and coffees, and again are popular in places of work where a lesser volume of more sophisticated drinks is required.