Decided to start a new thread, offshoot of this one.
My opinion:
First, congrats to Zander and crew. No doubt an entrepreneurial coup, and the champagne must be flowing at Coffee Equipment Co. today.
But when I first heard this rumour a couple of weeks ago, I didn't believe it. And now that it's true, I'm in shock. I wonder how it bodes for existing Clover owners, and the development of the machine and technology for quality driven cafes (ones that really pursue quality, not a "quality user experience").
Also, there's been other companies that the Big Green has tried to buy, but the companies have refused to sell, simply because they felt Starbucks' mission and their own missions in quality coffee did not cross paths. Apparently, Clover isn't one of those companies, for good or bad.
D61 Senior Member Joined: 13 Nov 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Ottawa Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: between machines :( Grinder: Bezzera BB04
Posted Wed Mar 19, 2008, 1:56pm Subject: Re: Starbucks buys Coffee Equipment Company, makers of the Clover
My first thought was for all the "little guys" and what this will mean for their future access to a Clover. The Big Green Machine could claim all production is now needed for their own stores. This would have a huge impact on all the independants who may have been considering acquiring a Clover as a way of differentiating themselves further from Starbucks. Huge change in the landscape.
mikep Senior Member Joined: 9 Nov 2004 Posts: 724 Location: Illinois Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Red Expobar OC / Gaggia... Grinder: Cimbali Jr/ Solis Maestro... Roaster: Hearthware Precision
Posted Wed Mar 19, 2008, 2:10pm Subject: Re: Starbucks buys Coffee Equipment Company, makers of the Clover
The news release posted in spinnaker_007 's blog: http://spnakr007.blogspot.com/2008/03/sbux-buys-clover.html has the line- "Starbucks will become the exclusive provider of the revolutionary Clover(R) brewing system." I suppose it makes sense, if Howard Shultz has paid for it he deserves to keep it to himself.
For the smaller, quality driven shops? Seems like there will be a niche for someone else to fill. No one thought the clover was perfect- here is a chance for someone to innovate and come up with a new, maybe better solution to bringing freshly brewed by-the-cup coffee at a speed acceptable in a retail setting.
Posted Wed Mar 19, 2008, 3:17pm Subject: Re: Starbucks buys Coffee Equipment Company, makers of the Clover
mikep Said:
The news release posted in spinnaker_007 's blog: http://spnakr007.blogspot.com/2008/03/sbux-buys-clover.html has the line- "Starbucks will become the exclusive provider of the revolutionary Clover(R) brewing system." I suppose it makes sense, if Howard Shultz has paid for it he deserves to keep it to himself.
For the smaller, quality driven shops? Seems like there will be a niche for someone else to fill. No one thought the clover was perfect- here is a chance for someone to innovate and come up with a new, maybe better solution to bringing freshly brewed by-the-cup coffee at a speed acceptable in a retail setting.
I agree. For all it's virtues, clover was still pretty expensive. Now that they will probably not exits for small shops anymore, hopefully it will be the fire under the feet of the people mulling over whether to start a clover-killer & we can get some real competition in the market
jazzkj Senior Member Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Maine Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Rocky Drip: French Press
Posted Wed Mar 19, 2008, 5:13pm Subject: Re: Starbucks buys Coffee Equipment Company, makers of the Clover
I wasn't shocked to see that they bought CEC, but I was shocked when SBUX initially decided to put the Clover in stores. A while back, I was visiting family in LA and went to Intelligentsia to try a Clover made coffee. I was impressed (but perhaps the Rwandan Golden Cup would have been good brewed in a shoe). I also appreciated the fact that shops like Intelligentsia are making moves to go further than the "Starbucks Experience."
Honestly, I hope Starbucks lets small shops buy the Clover (and make it a less expensive machine by ramping up production). But now that Starbucks can close one inch of the growing gap between itself and premium coffee purveyors by cornering the Clover market, it will be hard for them to offer it. Then again, seeing a Starbucks labeled machine in a small chain like Intelligentsia would be a coup for SBUX.
I used to train Starbucks baristas (years ago, before superautomation), and I always thought that poor barista training would eventually doom Starbucks. Superautomatics (and now the Clover) were supposed to fix that, but of course we know that a superautomatic is no panacea. Forget ubiquity, tens of thousands of dollars in machinery, bean stock sitting on the shelves. If the barista doesn't care if your drip or espresso is drinkable, the company will never get past that.
Noonievut Senior Member Joined: 9 Sep 2006 Posts: 400 Location: Toronto. Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Brasilia Club Grinder: Rocky DL Vac Pot: Other - Aeropress Roaster: 2 x Freshroast+8
Posted Wed Mar 19, 2008, 5:30pm Subject: Re: Starbucks buys Coffee Equipment Company, makers of the Clover
lol
I have no confidence that the the clover will improve their coffee one bit. They used to have good grinders and espresso machines, which in my opinion didn't result in me enjoying a good espresso, so why would I be impressed with them having a clover? I will, however, order a coffee from the clover once they have one close to me, but I will compare to the coffee-via-clover I've had at Manic in Toronto and I don't think I will be surprised.
Lady_Croft Senior Member Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Michigan Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Sun Mar 23, 2008, 3:17pm Subject: Re: Starbucks buys Coffee Equipment Company, makers of the Clover
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS - how did I miss this news!?
I hope Starbucks dies - it's nothing but a DISGRACE to the world of specialty coffee. It is like the "disgusting thing standing where it ought not" of the coffee world!!! It settles for mediocrity - it believes in quantity over quality, yet all the while CLAIMING it cares about quality and passion for coffee. In fact it's nothing but a monolithic money-making corporation and retail predator, pumping out thousands of LOUSY lattes and cups of over-roasted coffee a minute. I have a Clover in my small town, and it's wonderful. To THINK that the Starbucks will be taking over such a magnificent machine, one which purpose is specifically to cater to TRUE coffee enthusiasts who want to enjoy every subtle nuance of flavor in their beans!?!? to THINK that this machine will be used to brew cups of Starbucks' acrid, burned, stale garbage......it is a sad sad day..........
MatthewBrinski Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 136 Location: Woodland Park, Colorado Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun Mar 23, 2008, 3:42pm Subject: Re: Starbucks buys Coffee Equipment Company, makers of the Clover
Lady_Croft Said:
I have a Clover in my small town, and it's wonderful. To THINK that the Starbucks will be taking over such a magnificent machine, one which purpose is specifically to cater to TRUE coffee enthusiasts who want to enjoy every subtle nuance of flavor in their beans ...
I love how the negativity is generally directed at Starbucks over this issue. Starbucks didn't steal the Clover. The Coffee Equipment Company sold their operation to Starbucks. The ultimate decision was made by Clover, NOT Starbucks.
Those who developed the Clover see the brewer as having a different purpose than what was stated above, or their definition of "TRUE coffee enthusiast" is not the same as yours.
darrylr Senior Member Joined: 3 Apr 2005 Posts: 245 Location: Washington Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Sun Mar 23, 2008, 6:22pm Subject: Re: Starbucks buys Coffee Equipment Company, makers of the Clover
The fact the the Clover will now be exclusive to Starbucks and will therefore ever only brew Starbucks beans rather defeats the original purpose of and vision for the machine, methinks. Ah, the lure of the fast (mega)buck.
I find it interesting that Starbucks makeover is all about machines. New exclusive superautos. New exlcusive coffee brewers. The customer experience is all about the computerized machinery folks! Our machines are bigger than your machines!
Oh yes, the ambiance of electric motors and silicone grease. It's what I go to coffee shops for.
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