For a small or growing brand, the right machine is the one that matches your current volume — not the biggest one you can afford. Overbuying ties up capital; underbuying stalls growth. Here’s how to choose, from hand-sealing to your first automatic line.
Start by matching volume to machine
Capsule machines form a ladder. Pick the rung that fits your realistic output:
| Stage | Machine | Approx. output |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-seal / prototype | Adhesive lids (no machine) | very low |
| Small batch | Semi-automatic sealing (CMF03) | up to ~1,000 seals/h |
| Precise dosing | Auger doser (CMF05) | 25mg–1kg/dose |
| First automation | Automatic 2,500/h (CMAF20-1) | ~2,500/h |
| Scaling | Automatic 5,000/h | ~5,000/h |
Use the Machine Capacity Calculator to convert your daily target into the right tier.
Semi-automatic: the popular small-business start
The semi-automatic sealing machine (CMF03) is a common first machine: you fill capsules and it seals up to ~1,000/hour, on a desktop, with no compressed air needed. Low cost, easy to maintain, and multi-format (Nespresso, Dolce Gusto, Lavazza, K-Cup). Pair it with a doser (CMF05) for accurate filling.
When to move to automatic
When orders are steady and hand-filling becomes the bottleneck, step up to an automatic machine at ~2,500/hour. The CMAF20-1 is multi-format (including Dolce Gusto) with nitrogen flushing for freshness. As volume grows, 5,000/hour and cup-sorting options follow.
Budget, footprint and power
Beyond price, check: footprint (desktop vs floor-standing), power/voltage (semi-auto runs on standard single-phase; automatic lines may need more), compressed air (semi-auto often doesn’t; automatic does), and format flexibility (one machine, multiple formats saves money later).
Don’t buy blind — validate first
If you’re not yet in production, validate the product with a pilot before buying equipment (see Test Before You Buy Equipment). Then get a tailored machine recommendation.
FAQ
What’s the cheapest way to start? Adhesive lids or a semi-automatic sealer with empty capsules and films.
Do small machines support multiple formats? Yes — CMF03 and the CMAF20 series are multi-format (note some inline models exclude Dolce Gusto).
When should I automate? When steady orders make hand-filling your bottleneck.
Find the right machine for your volume
Machine Capacity Calculator → · Get a Machine Recommendation →
