Dirty sodas clean up. A look at the state that has the most fast-food restaurants. Wonder no more about Wonder’s new identity. Starbucks unveils the coffee house of the future. These stories and more, This Week in Foodservice.

This dominant British coffee chain pursues U.S. expansion plans with a twist

New things are brewing for today’s coffee shops. 

Common themes driving all coffee station designs include space, ergonomics and efficiency.

Coffee remains a staple in U.S. restaurants, and specialty and cold brews continue to expand the category’s potential.

Coffee brewers typically last from 7 to 12 years, or even as long as 25 years, depending on a variety of factors including how well the operator cares for the equipment and the water quality. In fact, the type of unit and water quality will determine the necessary amount of maintenance.

In commercial foodservice, coffee stations have become a staple for speed and efficiency in serving traditional and specialty beverages. 

By now, you might have spotted a coffee robot slinging lattes at an airport. Maybe you’ve ordered a fresh salad from a vending machine. Or perhaps you’ve heard people talking about seeing these mechanisms on college campuses or even in hospitals.

Finding ways to add or enhance foodservice offerings without stretching an operator’s already-thin labor pool represents a challenge that spans most segments.

Coffee makers don’t get as much attention from the foodservice equipment channel as pieces like fryers and flattops. If a restaurant’s coffee maker goes down, though, there are likely to be many upset customers. Here are a few tips to keeping coffee makers running smoothly.

Coffee and its offshoot drinks are a cultural staple. Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee per day, making the U.S. a leader in consumption of this beverage. New York-based IBISWorld reports there are 63,630 coffee and snack shops in the U.S. as of 2021, an increase of 2.6% from 2020.

Keeping coffee urns and bulk brewers spotless and in optimal condition has a significant impact on the overall quality and freshness of the coffee.

Operators serving high-end coffee should consider systems that combine a precision coffee grinder and brewer. These units have dual coffee bean hoppers to brew two types of coffee into a decanter or airpot.

The coffee segment has evolved substantially in the last couple decades, with specialty coffee becoming a staple as well as a number of creative beverages emerging, such as nitro and cold brews.

America’s coffee culture continues to evolve as new brews, brewing methods, bean sources and technologies emerge. Millennials take the lead with java trends, and the under-40 demographic drives growth in cold brew and ready-to-drink categories, according to the National Coffee Association.

Cafes are less likely to use single-cup capsule brewers, which provide between 6 and 20 ounces of coffee at a time in 30 to 50 seconds, since these operators typically use shuttle brewing systems, which brew into 1.5-gallon containers or shuttles. A standard twin shuttle brewer can produce approximately 10 shuttles per hour, or approximately 160 12-ounce cups per hour. With optional heating elements, productivity boosts up to 20 shuttles per hour or 320 12-ounce cups per hour.

Coffee brewers are generally categorized by brew volume or the vessel into which the beverage is brewed. For example, decanter types brew into glass decanters, thermal coffee brewers brew into large servers, and satellite or shuttle brewers brew into non-thermally insulated servers.

Consultant Q&A: Ignacio Goris, president, Labor Guru, Miami

Keeping coffee urns and bulk brewers spotless and in optimal condition has a significant impact on the overall quality and freshness of the coffee. The type of unit and water quality will determine the amount of maintenance a coffee brewer will require. Coffee brewers typically last from 7 to 12 years but can last as long as 25 years, depending on how the operators care for the units.

To better compete in the coffee arena, a number of restaurants have upped the ante in terms of this beverage’s quality and number of offerings. Purchasing the appropriate coffee brewer and accessories can be critical to a business’ success.

There have been coffee brewer improvements that have enhanced energy efficiency.

Coffee brewers are offered in different sizes and types for a wide range of applications. When specifying these units, a number of factors come into play.

The better the condition of the water being used, the less maintenance issues a coffee brewer will experience.

Lime scale can negatively impact a coffee brewer by damaging parts, which can lead to a shorter service life for this piece of foodservice equipment.

Foodservice operators can choose between pour-over, automatic and satellite brewers to produce traditional coffee.