Vater5B Senior Member Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 88 Location: Oklahoma Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Europiccola, Saeco... Grinder: Ascaso I-2, Zassenhaus Knee... Vac Pot: I will gladly take one off... Drip: Bodum French Press,... Roaster: Air Popper, or if I have...
Posted Fri Aug 1, 2008, 1:11pm Subject: Starbucks back to semi-autos?
In the article from Western Living that Mark posted on his Twitter, I noticed this little snippet:
"Third Wave efforts may be pushing the mass-market coffee business to a tipping point: Starbucks recently announced a major, “back to basics” course correction in an attempt to fend off encroachment from small, artisanal coffee shops on one side and fast-food coffee on the other. They are doing away with their current automated espresso machines and retraining their baristas to pull espresso shots manually. This past April they acquired the company behind Clover, and they plan to roll out the specialty machines in some stores soon."
I have not been able to find a source for this info anywhere... I thought they were just changing to different super-autos this year. Is the reporter simply misinformed, or am I way out of the loop?
senorswiss Senior Member Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 109 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, usa Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: espresso: EB, others:Maestro... Vac Pot: Moka Pot Drip: French Press, Aero Press Roaster: Modified HG/BM
Posted Fri Aug 1, 2008, 1:18pm Subject: Re: Starbucks back to semi-autos?
I read something similar in the magazine, Wired, recently. I was kind of sad to hear that Clovers will no longer be sold to independent coffee shops, although I understand it was probably a good business move for the Clover company.
Posted Sat Aug 2, 2008, 9:55pm Subject: Re: Starbucks back to semi-autos?
Starbucks definitely will NOT return to semi-auto era. Thermoplan just makes another machine to Starbucks, the original fully auto is Verismo, now Mastrena. To be honest no one thinks that Verismo makes real coffee. Even barista who does not taste coffee realizes shot quality difference between Verismo and La Marzocco. I cannot see any point to use fully-auto machines except cost saving.
Vater5B Senior Member Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 88 Location: Oklahoma Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Europiccola, Saeco... Grinder: Ascaso I-2, Zassenhaus Knee... Vac Pot: I will gladly take one off... Drip: Bodum French Press,... Roaster: Air Popper, or if I have...
Posted Sat Aug 2, 2008, 11:15pm Subject: Re: Starbucks back to semi-autos?
Okay. It just seems like another case of a reporter not triple-checking their facts then.
They definitely won't go semi for their mainstream shops, for the rumoured new line of specialised and boutique cafes - most definitely, as autos and supers just won't do there anymore...manuals neither.
BrownWater Senior Member Joined: 1 Mar 2006 Posts: 212 Location: Ithaca, NY Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Salvatore, Expobar Grinder: Super Jolly Roaster: fluid air
Posted Mon Aug 11, 2008, 11:30am Subject: Re: Starbucks back to semi-autos?
what's 500 million when you do billions a year?
Plus they're closing about 600 stores.
They see the downside of the curve approaching.
Coffee as a trendy thing is sliding out of popularity, tea is coming back up as a trend now. Soon, when most of Starbucks' customers are coffee and espresso lovers that know what they want and how it should taste, having semi-autos will be doable because they'll be serving less people.
Posted Mon Aug 11, 2008, 5:41pm Subject: Re: Starbucks back to semi-autos?
I personally think that consumers are finally getting educated about what is supposed to be in those ceramic cups! keep spreading the good coffee word =]
pstam Senior Member Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 2,089 Location: Beijing Expertise: Professional
Espresso: ECM, SAN MARCO, EURO 2000 Grinder: MAZZER Vac Pot: YES Drip: YES Roaster: YES, HOME STYLE
Posted Fri Aug 22, 2008, 3:53am Subject: Re: Starbucks back to semi-autos?
senorswiss Said:
I read something similar in the magazine, Wired, recently. I was kind of sad to hear that Clovers will no longer be sold to independent coffee shops, although I understand it was probably a good business move for the Clover company.
Peter in Beijing ------------------- http://www.kaffa.cn/ ------------------- I have got a new website, just started to establish. If you have any question or suggestion, let me know and it is mostly appreciated.
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