Articles >> Commercial Coffee Machines – The Fast Food EffectCommercial Coffee Machines – The Fast Food Effect
According to business reports, Starbucks are waking up and smelling the coffee . After over a decade of world domination in the coffee industry, the coffee chain is losing its froth. Commercial coffee machines revolutionized the coffee industry, creating the ‘Seattle-effect’ across the globe. Starbucks began its world domination in Seattle 15 years ago and it’s credited with leading the way to global dominance – its commercial coffee machines conquered even us tea-loving Brits.
Commercial coffee machines in McDonald’s
Howard Shultz founded the coffee giant, and its success was because it offered a hip, more sophisticated and bohemian alternative to the fast food joints on the high street. Shultz would have been appalled at comparisons to say McDonald’s. However, the Starbucks chain has changed how the coffee industry works, and now McDonald’s has announced it’s about to take on the giant, installing commercial coffee machines in 14,000 of its stores to provide high-grade espressos to customers.
Starbucks ‘lost its soul’
Commercial coffee machines have helped Starbucks build a mini empire, but recent reports show the giant has taken a pounding as its share price dropped by almost 50% in the last year. Starbucks is not going without a fight though, and Shultz himself sacked his Chief Executive and got back into the saddle. Starbucks used commercial coffee machines to create an aspirational lifestyle and café brand, but now the huge success of the brand means it has in Shultz’s words, ‘lost its soul’.
Commercial coffee machines – more than churning out espresso
The story is a lesson for all cafes and coffee shops tempted to think having a high tech commercial coffee machine is enough. Commercial coffee machines are essential for all catering outlets, but become too MacDonald-like, with an automated and impersonal service, you’ll alienate your customers who bought into the brand for being specialist, cool and high quality. The ubiquity of Starbucks has had a negative effect on quality and customer service. Anyone looking to muscle in to take advantage of the struggling Starbucks image should note it takes more than great commercial coffee machines that can churn out espressos – it takes passion, heart, and as Shultz said, soul.
Although commercial coffee machines can help sell vast amounts of espresso, many critics believe Starbucks went wrong when they switched to completely automated espresso machines and pre-bagged coffee beans – it meant customers lost the smell, aroma and theatre of coffee making.
Commercial coffee machines: available from Coffee Xclusive
Coffee Xclusive supplies a wide range of top-quality coffee machines for use in the home, the office, or for commercial purposes. We also provide coffee beans, pods and capsules along with all the accessories you need. To find out more, or to order online, just browse our website. We’re always happy to answer any questions you might have – just fill in our online enquiry form on the Contact Us page.
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