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Costa Coffee Professional debuts its new range of automated coffee machines with patented capsule technology to cater for hotel, leisure, and workplace settings.
Costa Coffee began its journey to become one the world’s leading coffee brands in 1971, when roasters and brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa started supplying beans to specialist shops and cafés in London, United Kingdom.
In the half-century that has passed, the company has evolved with the many technical innovations of the sector and progressed from solely roasting beans to operating coffee shops, creating at-home products, and developing end-to-end solutions for the out-of-home category.
Recognising a growing demand for automated capsule coffee machines in hotel and workplace settings, the brand’s research and development department have recently released a new range of professional coffee capsule machines for the market.
“The latest solution by Costa Coffee Professional, Podio is a comprehensive range of patented coffee capsule machines tailored for workplaces, hotels, and leisure businesses,” says Liz Allanson, Senior Proposition Manager of Costa Coffee Professional.
“What makes Podio stand out is the range of drinks it can produce. It delivers on quality in terms of coffee taste and aroma, which is achieved through a unique double filtration method, pre-infusion technology, and focus on foam quality. The machines also have intuitive interfaces, elegant design, and a plug-and-play set-up.’’
Allanson believes it is these functionalities that makes Podio machines ideal for low-volume environments where variety and convenience must be delivered without compromising on quality.
“Customers are looking for a premium coffee experience through a single machine that’s also commercially attractive,” she says.
“Podio is one of the only coffee machines on the market offering espresso and beyond coffee drinks, such as hot chocolate.”
The machine is available in three models, designed to specifically cater for different individual business needs. The PodioX1 is engineered to deliver espresso with minimal downtime using a simple plug-and-play system, while the PodioX2 features Costa’s latest milk foaming technology, leveraging a bag-in-box milk solution. This solution offers optimal hygiene due to its zero-contact design. When it comes to accommodating different coffee preferences, Allanson says the PodioX3 is equipped to please a range of tastes.
“The PodioX3 offers our customers the widest variety of drinks with its alternative milk compatibility,” says Allanson.
“With the new machine anyone can produce a well-crafted cup of coffee thanks to its advanced milk system, which can create silky flat whites, velvety lattes, and frothy cappuccinos. No operational staff training is required due to the machine’s intuitive touch-screen display and automated cleaning cycles.”
In addition to this, a two-way telemetry system is available to help business customers monitor the machine’s usage and updates to drive continuous improvement, minimise business disruption, and reduce operation downtime.
Image: Costa Coffee Professional
The vision for the new line of machines, according to Allanson, was focused on creating an innovative solution that put quality front and centre.
“Innovation is an important part of Costa Coffee Professional’s vision, as well as designing elegant and intelligent solutions for the future. Coffee quality is key to any solution we develop, which is delivered by recreating a traditional coffee with a fully automated machine,” she says.
“The capsule technology is an exclusive patented solution. It’s a closed loop system, which keeps air and moisture out so the coffee remains fresh.”
Building on this aim to achieve end-user satisfaction, look and feel were also key priorities for the team who wanted to replicate a barista setting to enable the user to see the coffee as it is brewed.
“The colours, shapes, and finishes of the machines are carefully curated to evoke the same warmth and welcome felt throughout our Costa Coffee stores,” says Allanson.
“Taking inspiration from coffee theatre, Podio embraces a progressive visual identity built around a ‘centre stage’, an elevated platform to observe the drink creation as it is crafted in front of the customer’s eyes.”
The Costa Coffee Professional team focused this latest project on hotel and office settings in response to the change in coffee-drinking habits they had noticed post COVID-19 lockdowns.
“In the workplace segment, employers often deploy in-house coffee provisions to improve the environment, productivity, and retention. With the major shift to remote working since the pandemic, employers are increasingly seeking to entice employees back to the office with a premium coffee offer,” Allanson says.
Demonstrating the brand’s commitment to sustainability, Allanson details how the Podio’s capsule solution reduces waste and has been designed to save energy.
“We are committed to improving the environmental performance of all our solutions through clever innovation and design. Through our Podio capsule solution, there is typically a reduction of energy consumption compared to a standard bean-to-cup machine’,” says Allanson.
“The Podio capsules are made from recyclable plastic, which means they can be given a second life, while the capsule packaging is made from recycled materials.”
In addition to this, the bag-in-box carton packaging used with the PodioX2 is 100 per cent recyclable and consists of 62 per cent recycled material. According to Allanson, the recipe combined with exact dosing and efficient frothing technology reduces the carbon footprint of the machine by 20 per cent compared to other frothing methods.
“With one milk pack serving approximately 140 cappuccinos, PodioX2 requires fewer cartons, reducing waste and environmental impact. Our ambient milk packs require no cooling during transportation and storage, further facilitating daily business operation,” she says.
As part of Costa Coffee Professional’s aim to further expand its product range, Allanson says the new Podio collection is setting the foundation for its future innovations.
“Further to the design, technology, and sustainability element, having a commercially attractive solution is key to winning in the priority segments. Creating a machine in the most cost-effective way was therefore essential,” she says.
“Podio is a champion of simplicity, utilising thoughtful design to guarantee an effortless experience from installation to drink creation, setting the blueprint for our future Costa Coffee Professional product solutions.”
For more information, visit costa.co.uk
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