Thursday, July 24
Can the Clover Coffee Machine Save Starbucks?
Labels: Coffee Video Thursday 6 tickles / ticked
This $11,000 Clover Coffee Machine will be installed in 80 Starbucks by the end of 2008 hoping that it can help the coffee company earn back the respect is has lost due to criticisms with its coffee.
According to Wired Magazine:
The Clover is the first coffeemaker that lets the user program three key variables: dose, water temperature, and brew time. (Example: 37.5 grams of Brazilian Fazenda São João at 204 degrees for 43 seconds.) After the coffee steeps, a piston mechanism extracts the liquid from spent beans, resulting in a fresh cuppa in less than a minute. A filter platform pops a hockey puck of grounds out of the top, where it's easily wiped away. An Ethernet port connected to an online database is designed to let users save favorite recipes for specific beans. Made of stainless steel and copper, a single Clover typically takes several hours to assemble by hand.
With that description, it is no wonder why Howard Schultz, founder and CEO of Starbucks, was wowed by this machine. But will will it be able to help the company in its bottom line and win coffee lovers back? We still don't know..we will find out by the end of the year.
Source: www.wired.com
July 24, 2008 at 6:38 AM
I think when starbucks put in that last round of espresso machines that were all automatic, that is when they went down hill. All coffee is not the same. The good barista needs to be able to control factors that go into an espresso! Turn the coffee back over to the barista!
Christina
CoffeeCoffeeCoffee
July 24, 2008 at 6:29 PM
No matter how complicated and hi-tech the equipment that they will be using , the bottom-line is that a good coffee still depends on the person making it. The human factor is still a big plus for many genuine coffee-lovers.
July 25, 2008 at 11:43 PM
@Christina and kirhat
I agree with you both that it has to be the barista/person to be able create great coffee. The machine can't do it alone especially with a lot of people wanting to customize their drink. The human touch will be very important here. But I'd love to have that coffee machine in my kitchen..:)
July 26, 2008 at 12:26 AM
I look forward to trying one of these. I should probably track down one of those Seattle locations with it.
Starbucks will get through there current struggles. The things about Schultz is the he seems to "get it." He seems to love coffee and understand that people connection. When he sent that internal memo last year bemoaning the changes to the company, he set a lot of key things in motion.
July 26, 2008 at 7:36 AM
Would love to know if this machine will actually make that big of a difference in an awesome cup of coffee??!! I agree, think the person making the coffee is the most important! I love Starbucks, but some days ~ definetly the coffee is better than others, depending on whose working that day. . . .So . . . .??? Happy week-end to all!
July 28, 2008 at 12:01 AM
@cromely
I also want to try the clover machine, though that would have to wait until next year since I'm in the Philippines right now. As for Schultz, he knows what people want (that's why he was able to start Starbucks), I agree with you..that guy seems to "get it."
@ollie mckay's
We will have to find out if it will make a big difference. I do hope the machine helps and with the personal touch of the baristas, it can get better. As for the coffee, please tell me once you've tried it if it makes a difference. As for now, all I can do is watch on video how nice that machine looks.
Have a great week everyone!:)