Clover to the Masses

Heard about it? I am sure you have heard all about our friends at Starbucks closed for training a few days ago. You may have even heard that they are going to be putting La Marzocco machines back in their stores. Did you also know there are a few Clovers in the Starbucks family? What is the Clover? It is a single cup commercial coffee brewer. Why so great? Well, I think it is still left to be determined but so far, many people are really in to it. I am not sure what type of saturation they will get, however, at a price of $11,000.00 per unit but the idea behind it is what gets coffee lovers excited. Here is a something to think about. You are in to wine (ok, just go with me here). When you go to a wine bar you are not offered just two selections. No, you are offered a menu of different wines with different characteristics from different parts of the world. From Napa and Sonoma to Bordeaux and Australia - the consumer is able to really taste the difference and select a wine depending on their mood. Coffee is much like wine. It does not go a single publication of Wine Spectator without talking about coffee. There is much more to coffee than a white cup and a donut. Each region is different and the regions are vast - Hawaii, South American, African and more. Now, there is a way for the coffee enthusiast to try them all - fresh and made to order. The Clover is a great machine and I would not mind having one in my own shop or on my counter for that matter. I think the coffee consumer is turning the corner of the prosumer - wanting nothing but the best. I think we are a long way off from seeing Clovers on the counter of all local coffee companies but even seeing them on the counter of a Starbucks is great to see. Do I think that Starbucks has a few coffees worth trying? Maybe. From what I have tasted, however, I feel that they are going to loose much of the benefit as the roast profile of these offerings is typically pretty dark. The darker the coffee, the less uniqueness it has and the less differences you will taste cup to cup. This "new" machine allows shops to bring in more single origin coffees for tastings and also should help drive whole bean sales - which we love to see! I will have to turn again the the master of Starbucks over at Starbucks Gossip. He talked about the Clover in Starbucks and it got 26 others (so far) replying. i do agree with one of the quotes from the posts - the Clover will not make better coffee. A great machine helps but a great machine will not make bad coffee better. You have to start with great coffee to really get the benefit of the Clover. I am excited to see what the group will do with the Clover. You can learn more about the Clover at their website. ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke, coffee catering, coffee, espresso, tea, oklahoma, oklahoma city The Global Exchange Fair Trade Store is your Online Source for Socially Conscious Gifts