Design & Technology

filter coffee and espresso are two very different beverages

Could espresso machines be used to brew something like filter coffee?

Filter coffee and espresso are two distinct drinks, with two different brewing techniques. One is a modern, Italian invention that serves as the base of dozens of milk-based drinks, while the other is experiencing a renaissance with the rise of third-wave coffee. Yet new technology is allowing filter coffee to be brewed with an espresso machine.. Read more
Eric Tessier speaks about coffee shop design

How % Arabica redefined coffee shop design

Today, Kenneth Shoji’s coffee shop chain, % Arabica, has grown from one small store in Hong Kong to more than 150 outlets across 20 countries. From its headquarters in Kyoto, it has become an internationally recognised name owing to its minimalist coffee shop design, good-quality coffee, and striking espresso machines... Read more
steaming milk for coffee

Is it time to stop steaming milk for coffee?

Ben Mitchell speaks with German barista champion and judge Nicole Battefeld-Montgomery about the art of steaming milk for coffee – and why it could be about to change... Read more
pret a manger uses automation

How automation became crucial to Pret A Manger’s success

Jordan Montgomery speaks with Pret A Manger’s Coffee Develop Manager, Stephen Welch, to understand how automation has helped the brand expand beyond UK borders... Read more
alessio pezzoni ceo elektra coffee

Italy is still the most innovative country in the world for coffee

The CEO of Elektra Coffee, Alessio Pezzoni, explains how a small town in Italy has been at the heart of some of the most astonishing innovations in espresso for nearly 80 years... Read more
steam wands pouring milk

Steam wands: Do they stifle productivity in coffee shops?

Jordan Montgomery speaks with Kresten Thøgersen of Father Carpenter about the challenges of steaming milk and how modular technology is helping cafés improve workflow... Read more
baristas specialty coffee shop

How can baristas make more time for their customers?

Matt Haw speaks with Norwegian Brewers Cup Champion, Tom Kuyken, about how baristas can juggle chatting to customers with the pressures of their all-important daily tasks... Read more
induction heating espresso

Is induction heating the future of espresso machines?

Imogen Phillips explores the emergence of induction heating for making espresso and whether it will become the dominant technology in the future... Read more
superautomatic coffee machines airport

How superautomatic coffee machines redefined airport coffee

Bronwyn Linkhorn speaks to Hawaiian Paradise Coffee vice president, Marilyn Kiriakos, to find out how superautomatic coffee machines have elevated the airport coffee experience... Read more
Cropped shot of barista pouring milk in to a cup of coffee.

Will automation change the role of the barista for good?

Automation will spell the end of baristas – or will it? Jenna Gottlieb chats with Demian Estevez of Mojo Coffee House in New Orleans about the myths around automatic coffee equipment and their impact on the labour market... Read more