CONNECTED COFFEE
The rise of automatic coffee machines
Words: Daisy Barnes
All images - Credit to Infosys
At a time when margins are squeezed and staff are hard to come by consistency, efficiency and customer experience are key. Automated machines are fast becoming the favored solution for high street chains seeking to delight their consumers at the touch of a button.
From talent shortages to rising costs and changing spending habits due to the cost of living crisis, UK coffee chains are facing a profitability problem. Could the solution be found in technology? Because while consumers still associate good coffee with craft and expertise, automated coffee machines have been moving to the high-street, delivering exciting ways for delivering the perfect cup with minimal effort.
To find out more about this trend, I spoke to Martin Morrell, of Eversys, a leading manufacturer of automated coffee machines.
Consumers traditionally associate “good coffee” with baristas crafting coffee beverages on traditional machines. But today’s automatic machines can produce a coffee that, for most consumers, is just as delicious as coffee made on a traditional machine.
Martin says, “Automated machines such as Eversys can create a coffee that is indistinguishable from barista-made coffee. This has happened gradually, but these machines are becoming the go-to solution for some leading coffee chains.”
Today’s automatic machines can produce a coffee that, for most consumers, is just as delicious as coffee made on a traditional machine.
When it comes to operating larger chains, consistency is key. Automated machines can help by acting as enablers, allowing all operators, especially non-specialists, to deliver a consistent, high-quality cup. Martin explains, "We wouldn't say revolutionize - we just think we've made the current system better and enabled a lot more functionality."
What consumers enjoy about coffee isn’t just the end product; it’s the experience. Martin emphasizes that the functionality of automated machines frees up baristas to engage with customers. He observes, "The role of the barista is to talk and educate about coffee, delivering an experience that will keep your most loyal consumers coming back.
It’s about creating theatre. Rather than being busy with tasks that an Eversys machine can handle more consistently, your barista can engage with the consumer, making your brand stand out.”
Beyond enhancing the customer experience, automated machines offer significant cost savings by freeing up counter space, increasing efficiency, and even diagnosing their own problems. Increasingly, these machines can also provide the opportunity for shopper marketing, creating possibilities for targeted advertising and the creation of new revenue streams.
Enhanced connectivity is becoming a defining feature of automated machines, where technology is increasingly integrated into the traditional barista setup. According to Martin, this helps deliver consistency and fosters smarter ways of working. He explains, "As demand for data grows, so will demand for telemetry in coffee machines. We’re one of the first to have push and pull functionality where we’re not just reading the data, we’re using it change settings, fix problems, play videos on the screens.”
We're just trying to enable more people to enjoy a better cup of coffee.
So, what does the future hold? Martin predicts a two-speed industry involving both slow and fast coffee experiences based on consumer demand. He references industry expert James Hoffmann, who notes that while some customers appreciate the theatrical aspect of traditional coffee-making, many simply want a consistent and efficient product. "It's like loving Phantom of the Opera,” he says, “but not wanting to see it every day. Customers just want their regular café to deliver a consistent product without having to watch the show every time."
An example of this is one of the chains Eversys works with, which has integrated touchscreen ordering systems. Customers can walk into a store, select their product on a screen, and pick up their coffee at a collection point. Martin shares, "When we swapped their traditional machines with Eversys, it unlocked a 30% uplift in volume during busy hours because we reduced drink production time by 15-20 seconds."
The future of Out of Home coffee is being reimagined with the help of technology – and Eversys is at the forefront of this revolution, enabling out-of-home operators to deliver a consistently great product and customer experience.
As technology advances, we’ll undoubtedly see more innovations that blend efficiency with quality.
For more information on Eversys, visit www.eversys.com/en/
Daisy Barnes
Marketing, Finlay Beverages Daisy.Barnes@Finlays.net
When it comes to Out of Home coffee, Finlay Beverages exists so you can focus on what you do best – delighting your consumers every time. We combine world-leading expertise in coffee with a flexible and analytical approach to developing coffee solutions for your business. Thanks to our fully traceable supply chains, you can expect not only exceptional consistency of product and supply, but peace of mind your coffee has been meticulously sourced, whether you require wholesale coffee beans or a bespoke blend solution.
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