ESSENSO is a coffee brand developed in Singapore, primarily recognized for its MicroGround instant coffee product line. This formulation combines soluble instant coffee with finely ground Arabica beans. Launched by Super Group, a local food-and-beverage company, the brand was positioned as a premium range intended to bridge the gap between the convenience of instant coffee and the aroma of freshly ground brews.

Currently, ESSENSO products are marketed in Singapore under the L’OR ESSENSO name. The portfolio includes standard mixes such as 2-in-1, 3-in-1, and Less Sugar variants, alongside origin-inspired options like Brazilian Élégance and Colombian Mystique 1.

Origins

ESSENSO emerged from Super Group’s strategy to develop differentiated coffee products for Asian consumers. In a corporate announcement in 2015, Super Group introduced ESSENSO as a new range of premium microground coffees, with an official rollout planned for selected markets in the fourth quarter of that year.

The concept addressed a common trade-off in the coffee market: brewed or ground coffee typically offers richer flavour and aroma, while instant coffee provides greater convenience. ESSENSO aimed to combine these attributes. Contemporary coverage of the launch described it as a new generation of instant coffee using 100% Arabica beans, where the beans were finely ground and mixed with soluble instant coffee 2.

Super Group Era

During its initial phase under Super Group, ESSENSO was positioned as a premium extension of the company’s existing coffee portfolio rather than a conventional instant-coffee product. Super Group emphasized its proprietary MicroPlus™ technology, stating that this process allowed finely ground coffee beans to be incorporated into an instant formulation. The objective was to preserve more of the roasted bean’s character while maintaining the ease of instant preparation.

Transition to L’OR Branding

Following the acquisition of Super Group by Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE) in 2017, ESSENSO became associated with JDE Peet’s coffee operations. Today, the brand is presented in the Singapore market as L’OR ESSENSO. L’OR’s local website describes the products as blends combining MicroGround coffee beans and instant coffee, crafted by L’OR Coffee Artists.

Trademark records indicate that Jacobs Douwe Egberts RTL SCC SG Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-incorporated entity, is the registered owner of the ESSENSO trademark in the United States. The registration covers coffee, instant coffee, and related products 3.

MicroGround Concept

The defining feature of ESSENSO is its MicroGround technology. Conventional instant coffee is produced by brewing coffee and drying the extract into granules or powder. In contrast, ESSENSO formulations incorporate a proportion of finely ground coffee particles alongside soluble instant coffee.

Current L’OR ESSENSO 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 products state that they contain 1% MicroGround coffee within the premix. This composition is designed to offer:

• The speed and convenience of instant coffee.
• A pronounced coffee aroma.
• A richer perception of roasted coffee flavour.
• The characteristic profile of Arabica beans.

Coffee Beans

ESSENSO has consistently emphasized Arabica coffee beans as part of its premium positioning. The original launch materials described the range as being made from 100% premium Arabica coffee beans. Current products maintain this specification, distinguishing themselves from many mass-market instant coffees that rely heavily on Robusta or mixed species 4.