What KÁAPS does

KÁAPS (legal entity: Productos KÁAPS S.A. de C.V.) is a privately held Salvadoran coffee company founded in 2011 and based in Antiguo Cuscatlán / Santa Elena, La Libertad, El Salvador, operating with 11–50 employees. It manufactures, sells, and distributes premium single-serve coffee pods in the globally open 44mm E.S.E. (Easy Serving Espresso) format, sourced from high-altitude (1,200+ meters above sea level) Strict Altitude farms in western El Salvador in varieties including Bourbon, Pacamara, Americano, Descafeinado, and a Mixta mixed-box SKU. PODs are sold in boxes of 25 or 150 units at price points ranging from $12.90 to $72.00.

The company's commercial model pairs its proprietary PODs with a range of compatible coffee machines spanning portable (Handpresso Solo, $99), home/office (FROG, $329; MyPod), restaurant (SARA INOX, $549), and high-traffic commercial (BLITZ, $2,825; AURABAR) segments, all sold with bundled starter POD inventory. It complements hardware sales with a maintenance and repair workshop offering on-site service and loaner machines, plus consultation and staff training services for commercial accounts. Distribution is purely domestic (El Salvador) and runs through a flagship showroom in Santa Elena and four named channel partners — KADO (online retail), UNDISA (wholesale), PORTICO REAL (physical retail), and LE CROISANT (hospitality/food service) — supplemented by WhatsApp-based direct ordering.

KÁAPS serves three primary customer segments: home and individual consumers, restaurants and coffee shops, and business/corporate offices, with a secondary niche in travelers and mobile professionals via the Handpresso line. Revenue mechanics combine one-time hardware sales with recurring POD consumables and professional services revenue. No external funding, parent company, or public listing is disclosed; the company is independently owned and reportedly operates without institutional capital.

Name

KÁAPS

Legal name

Productos KÁAPS S.A. de C.V.

Website

https://espressokaaps.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KÁAPS is a Salvadoran privately held coffee company that manufactures and distributes premium 44mm E.S.E. single-serve coffee pods and a compatible range of home and commercial coffee machines, serving consumers, restaurants, offices, and travelers in El Salvador through a flagship showroom and four distributors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Single-Serve Coffee

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Coffee, Espresso & Tea Appliances Retail (CRACADAC)

Keywords

• Single-serve coffee pods
• Ese 44mm espresso pods
• Premium salvadoran coffee
• Espresso coffee machines
• Commercial coffee equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Antiguo Cuscatlán

HQ country

El Salvador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Coffee POD Sales: Sale of packaged premium single-serve coffee pods (PODS) in boxes of 25 or 150 units across varieties including Bourbon, Pacamara, Americano, and Decaffeinated. Recurring revenue from consumable coffee products.
2. Coffee Machine Sales: Sale of coffee brewing machines including portable (Handpresso Solo), home/office (FROG), restaurant (SARA INOX), and high-performance commercial models (BLITZ). One-time hardware revenue.
3. Maintenance and Repair Services: Workshop services for maintenance and repair of coffee machines, including on-site service and loaner machines for high-traffic commercial establishments.
4. Advisory and Training Services: Consulting to recommend appropriate equipment for businesses, and training of staff on proper use of coffee machines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

KÁAPS manufactures and distributes premium single-serve coffee pods in the 44mm E.S.E. (Easy Serving Espresso) open standard format, sourced from Salvadoran farms at altitudes above 1,200 meters, available in Bourbon, Pacamara, Americano, Decaffeinated, and mixed varieties. The company also sells a full ecosystem of compatible coffee machines (portable, home/office, and commercial) and provides maintenance, repair, and staff training services. Sales occur through its own showroom, partner distributors, and WhatsApp ordering within El Salvador.

Product overview

KÁAPS is an El Salvador-based company specializing in premium single-serve coffee pods (PODs) in 44mm E.S.E. (Easy Serving Espresso) format, complemented by a range of coffee machines and support services. The product portfolio consists of six coffee pod varieties (Bourbon, Pacamara, Americano, Descafeinado, and Mixta mixed box) available in 25 or 150-unit packs, and five coffee machine models spanning portable (Handpresso Solo), home/office (FROG, MyPod), restaurant (SARA INOX), and high-traffic commercial (BLITZ, AURABAR) segments. The E.S.E. pod format is positioned as the most environmentally friendly single-serve option. Support services include a maintenance/repair workshop and consultation/training programs. Products are sold through distributors (KADO, UNDISA, PORTICO REAL, LE CROISANT) and a showroom in Santa Elena, El Salvador.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Café Bourbon Pods Premium single-serve coffee pods in 44mm E.S.E. format made from Bourbon variety beans harvested above 1,200 meters in El Salvador's volcanic soil, with fine flavor, sweet notes, citrus, floral fragrance, and chocolate undertones. Sold in boxes of 25 units ($13.90) or 150 units ($72.00). Targeted at home consumers, offices, restaurants, and coffee shops.
• Café Pacamara Pods Premium single-serve coffee pods in 44mm E.S.E. format made from the Pacamara variety, a coffee developed in El Salvador, harvested above 1,500 meters in volcanic soil with cool climate. Sold in boxes of 25 units ($13.90) or 150 units ($72.00). For home consumers and food service operators seeking a distinctive Salvadoran variety.
• Café Americano Pods Blend of gourmet varieties with a coarser grind designed for long extraction optimal for American-style coffee, featuring smooth flavor, balanced acidity, and honey notes. Sold in boxes of 25 units ($12.90) or 150 units ($67.00). For home and commercial users preferring a longer extraction cup.
• Caf\u00e9 Descafeinado Pods International blend of decaffeinated coffee pods in 44mm E.S.E. format offering smooth flavor for desserts or evening consumption, with a delicate and balanced cup without caffeine effects. Sold in boxes of 25 units ($16.90). For consumers avoiding caffeine.
• Caf\u00e9 Mixta Pods Mixed box containing 50 units each of Pacamara, Bourbon, and Americano pods (150 total). Designed for households or businesses that want variety. Price: $72.00.
• Handpresso Solo Portable manual espresso pump machine that works without electricity or batteries. Compact, lightweight, and designed for preparing authentic espresso anywhere; user pumps to 16 bar pressure, adds hot water, and inserts a KÁAPS E.S.E. pod. Price: $99. Targeted at travelers and mobile professionals.
• FROG Coffee Machine High-performance home/office coffee machine with low energy consumption. Supports Americano and espresso preparation, with a steam wand for cappuccinos. Includes 1 box of 25 Bourbon coffee units. Price: $329. Targeted at home users and small offices.
• SARA INOX Coffee Machine Commercial-grade espresso machine designed for medium-sized restaurants. Features an efficient size, 3-liter water tank, stainless steel housing for durability, and a steam wand for cappuccinos. Includes 1 mixed box of 150 coffee units. Price: $549. Targeted at restaurants, coffee shops, and corporate offices.
• BLITZ Coffee Machine High-performance commercial espresso machine designed for restaurants or high-traffic coffee shops. Features dual independent coffee units, dual steam outputs for cappuccinos, hot water outlet, pressure gauge, and 5-liter tank. Includes 2 boxes of 150 coffee units. Price: $2,825. For high-volume food service operations.
• MyPod Coffee Machine Compact programmable coffee machine for home or office use, equipped with a steam wand for preparing cappuccinos. For individual consumers and small offices.
• AURABAR Coffee Machine Coffee machine model featured in KÁAPS instructional videos demonstrating preparation of espresso, Americano, and cappuccino using KÁAPS E.S.E. pods. For home and small commercial use.
• Maintenance and Repair Workshop Fully equipped workshop with replacement parts for maintenance and repair of all KÁAPS coffee machine models. Offers home service and loaner machines for high-traffic businesses during repairs. Targeted at commercial customers and high-volume users.
• Consultation and Training Services Advisory services to recommend appropriate equipment for businesses, plus training for staff to ensure optimal use of KÁAPS coffee machines. Targeted at corporate offices, restaurants, and coffee shops.

Quantifiable outcome

• Premium coffee harvested at 1,200+ meters above sea level, categorized as Gourmet coffee with fine flavor, floral fragrance, and balanced acidity

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• KADOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKADO is an online retail platform (kadoenlinea.com) that serves as a distributor for KÁAPS coffee PODs and machines in El Salvador, providing e-commerce accessibility to consumers.
• UNDISAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUNDISA (undisa.com) is a wholesale distributor network in El Salvador that distributes KÁAPS products, leveraging their established supply chain infrastructure.
• PORTICO REALcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPORTICO REAL (porticoreal.com.sv) is a Salvadoran retail chain that serves as a point of sale distributor for KÁAPS products across its physical store locations.
• LE CROISANTcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLE CROISANT (lecroissant.com.sv) is a hospitality and food service business in El Salvador that distributes KÁAPS products, serving both as a retail point and potentially using products in their own operations.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• illy: Italian premium espresso brand with a long-running E.S.E. pod business and a tightly integrated machine + pod + service offering. Comparable to KÁAPS in product mix, premium positioning, and Italian-style espresso heritage.
• Lavazza: Italian coffee major producing beans, ground coffee, and a portfolio of single-serve pods including E.S.E. Lavazza's E.S.E. range is the closest large-brand analog to KÁAPS's core pod business.
• Nespresso (Nestlé): Global leader in premium single-serve coffee, offering pods, machines, and an after-sales service model similar to KÁAPS's pods + machines + workshop model. Useful as the dominant incumbent whose commercial playbook KÁAPS partially mirrors.
• Kimbo: Established Italian coffee roaster offering E.S.E. pods, beans, and a full espresso machine range. Comparable to KÁAPS as a traditional roaster expanding into the same E.S.E. single-serve format.
• Segafredo Zanetti: Global Italian coffee group with a broad pods, beans, and HoReCa machine portfolio. Comparable to KÁAPS in combining consumer PODs with commercial espresso equipment for restaurants and coffee shops.

Regional players

• Café Britt: Costa Rica-based specialty coffee brand with a similar Central American origin-country positioning, producing premium whole bean, ground, and single-serve coffees for retail and HoReCa across the region — directly comparable in narrative and product mix to KÁAPS.
• Café de El Salvador (Consejo Salvadoreño del Café): El Salvador's national coffee authority and the institutional home of the Estricta Altura / Strict Altitude designation. Relevant as a regional and origin-positioning peer — KÁAPS's high-altitude claims are anchored against this same standard.

Direct peers

• Caffè Borbone: Italian E.S.E. 44mm pod specialist and one of the most direct comparables to KÁAPS. Borbone sells compatible single-serve pods, machines, and capsules in a similar bundled ecosystem, with the same E.S.E. open-standard format KÁAPS uses.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KÁAPS