Hot Brew: Exploring Options in Hot Beverage Equipment
By Meline Beach
Coffee is regularly and commonly consumed as part of a daily routine for millions of people. According to the Canadian Coffee Association, Canada ranks among the top countries for per capita coffee consumption, with 71 per cent of Canadians consuming coffee yesterday. The aroma is known to induce feelings of comfort and warmth or productivity and alertness. No matter the season, reason or location, coffee, as a hot beverage of choice, has tremendous influence and represents high profit potential for c-stores. Specialty coffees, such as lattes, cappuccinos, and other espresso-based beverages, as well as hot chocolates, including mochaccino (combining espresso, chocolate syrup or cocoa powder, and steamed milk) are also popular hot beverages that drive repeat visits and higher sales volumes.
The hot beverage market is expected to continue its upward trajectory with an annual growth rate of 4.75 per cent (compound annual growth rate 2024-2038) according to Statista.
As the demand for hot beverages continues to rise, selecting the right equipment is important. Let’s explore a few options that are leading the way in providing innovative solutions to meet this growing trend in the c-store channel.
Speciality Beverage Solutions
When it comes to picking the right equipment, Daren Schwengler, president of Specialty Beverage Solutions (SBS), suggests taking a few things into account. From store location to what types of drinks you expect to serve, there’s a lot to consider. SBS’s La Cimbali has different machines for different volumes with 110-volt and 220-volt options.
“The beautiful thing about espresso and coffee machines, like La Cimbali, is their versatility,” says Schwengler. “We can create all types of drinks, from extra milky or light foam to less milk, more foam and varying degrees of coffee bean intensity.”
Efficiency and speed are equally important. La Cimbali’s single boiler system, found in several models, means less power usage (La Cimbali S 20 runs on a 20-amp breaker) but more hot water on standby when things get busy. Plus, with an online connection, SBS can offer quick support to retail operators, from tweaking recipes to tackling cleaning and troubleshooting.
“Timing is everything when it comes to coffee,” says Schwengler. “With La Cimbali, you can get a cup in about 35 seconds – under five seconds to grind the beans and less than 30 seconds to brew. That means fewer lines and happier customers.”
When considering costs, Schwengler emphasizes that pricing typically falls within the range of $5,000 to $20,000 depending on the location’s volume. He suggests that c-store retailers thoroughly evaluate their anticipated coffee sales and choose equipment accordingly. Opting for a machine intended for lower-volume stores can result in notable wear on components, leading to heightened downtime, operator frustration, and customer discontent.
Bunn-O-Matic Corporation (BUNN)
In BUNN’s lineup, the Sure Immersion 312 stands out as the go-to machine for c-stores.
“Sure Immersion brings together a range of delicious bean-to-cup drinks with an interactive touchscreen,” says Jay Beckett, marketing graphic designer at Bunn-O-Matic Corporation of Canada, serving c-stores, carwashes, and gas stations. “Customers love navigating the large touchscreen, where they can also see promotional graphics and videos while waiting for their drink.”
The 10-inch full-colour touchscreen Picture-Prompted Cleaning display makes it easy for operators to manage daily cleaning and weekly maintenance routines.
When it comes to value, Beckett raves about the Sure Immersion 312’s functionality. With a single grinder for three bean hoppers and two internal powder hoppers, it can whip up café-style beverages along with hot and iced coffee. Plus, the 17-inch touchscreen offers ample space for user-uploaded promotional content. With its diverse offerings and user-friendly design, this machine is a top pick for c-stores looking to boost their hot beverage program.
FRANKE
Understanding that every business is as unique as its customers, Franke has built a lineup of beverage equipment that offers a range of options to suit a variety of business needs. This includes solutions for various levels of investment based on volume, dayparts, and products offered. From lower volume, single-machine applications to high-throughput programs requiring multiple machines, Franke delivers solutions for any beverage program. The size of the equipment investment can be tailored to a customer’s needs and may be as simple as a single machine for a small store. The break even on a single unit starts around five cups per day for the Franke A400 Fresh Brew, making upgrading a program quite accessible.
“When selecting the equipment, the operator should assess the arrival rate for their customers and ensure they can serve during their peak demand period,” says Greg Alford, country manager, sales – Canada. “While many of our customers start with one machine, typical installations feature two machines for freshly brewed coffee. The key is to monitor the service area to ensure customers are not waiting in line too long.”
For some, retailers, the A400 Fresh Brew, a small-footprint bean-to-cup machine that is capable of serving 15 to 100 cups a day. At 15 cups sold a day, an operator typically recovers their entire A400 investment in the first year. The A800 finds rapid return on investment from 25 cups per day with a 250 cups per day capacity. This model features patented iQFlow technology and provides perfect extraction times with each cup, and cold-water bypass to keep iced drinks icy. Either way, customers can feel confident knowing that each cup is ground and brewed fresh, meaning more taste, and less waste.
“The super-automatic equipment investment actually reduces total coffee service costs to the operator by completely eliminating waste; no more dumping half pots that have past their fresh time limit,” explains Alford. “Typical estimates on waste elimination are around 40 per cent reduction – a huge savings. Add to that an even higher reduction of coffee production labour and operators are finding their investment to super-automatic coffee systems increases profitability in their coffee programs, while the improved coffee quality increases sales.”
Franke representatives are ready to leverage their industry expertise to help customers select the right size of system for their business, as well as to provide marketing guidelines to help customers implement a new coffee program successfully and ensure their beverage programs are able to meet their full potential.
Core-Mark
Core-Mark doesn’t sell equipment – they facilitate connections between retailers and trusted suppliers that specialize in providing cutting-edge, advanced, technological equipment and financing solutions. They are a leader in sourcing ecologically friendly and sustainable products that adhere to the single-use plastic ban.
“We research and recommend a program packaged with flexible and customizable equipment, one that caters to our customer’s desire for choice in both coffee varieties and condiment selection,” Marc Rex, director of Fresh & Foodservice at Core-Mark. “We also look at suppliers who provide marketing support with branded cups, menu boards and posters for strong branding and positioning within the c-store.”
Core-Mark’s expertise lies in sourcing flexibly designed equipment. They source equipment with multiple dispensing options, including different cup sizes, adjustable temperature settings, and different brewing methods that cater to different customer preferences.
“Hot beverage machines are like building blocks, with parts that fit together easily,” says Rex. “Store owners can rearrange these parts to offer various drinks, such as coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and flavoured syrups, giving them flexibility in their offerings.”
Other factors Core-Mark takes into consideration when working with suppliers for hot beverage equipment include a user-friendly digital interface, which allows customers to easily select their desired beverage options and customize their drinks. Preferred equipment must allow for self-service, thus empowering customers to customize their beverage according to their preferences, which gives them control over requirements such as the amount of milk or cream to add to the beverage or the type/quantity of sweetener to use. They also partner with equipment suppliers who have service support throughout Canada and are ready to dispatch immediately to c-stores.
“The equipment we source is built to brew hot beverages quickly, eliminate wait times, and get the customer served promptly,” says Rex. “Since customers can self-serve with the machines we source, the store staff can focus on other tasks, and it reduces wait times at the cash counter.”
C-store retailers have a plethora of options to choose from when creating or maintaining an in-store hot beverage program. From purchasing directly from an equipment manufacturer or working with a distributor who conducts the research for you, coffee is a growing commodity that will only benefit a c-store’s bottom line if managed and equipped correctly.
Meline Beach is a Toronto-based communications practitioner and frequent contributor to Convenience and Carwash Canada. In addition to freelance writing, Meline provides communications and public relations support to businesses across Canada. She can be reached at www.mlbcomms.ca.
