If you’re a coffee enthusiast as I am, you have probably wondered the secret behind Starbuck’s tasty coffee. Well, they say that there three critical components to a quality coffee, namely; coffee machine, coffee beans, and hands.
And today, I will focus on the first critical component; the coffee machine that Starbucks use, and it’s effect in promoting the superiority of Starbucks. But before we look at this equipment, let’s look at a brief history of this brand.
In short, Starbucks uses the Mastrena Espresso Machine. This machine is equipped with a built-in coffee grinder, Mastrena eliminates the need for an independent coffee grinder.
But before I look at this equipment, let’s look at a brief history of this brand.
About Starbucks
Starbucks was founded in Seattle, Washington, on March 31, 1971, by three partners. Initially, Starbucks was founded to sell only top quality roast coffee beans and equipment.
Fast forward, in 1988, the founders of Starbucks sold the company to Howard Schultz. Howard saw great potential in the espresso bar on a trip to Milan, Italy.
On his return to the US, he opened his first coffee shop where customers could order coffee. From there, Starbucks; popularity grew immensely, and it later expanded in the United States and the rest of the world.
As of today, Starbucks is the largest coffee retail shop globally, and it has more than 22,519 stores around the world and in 58 countries.
Starbuck Coffee Machine
Way back in the 1900s, Starbuck used standard espresso machines like the L Marzocco Linea machine for their coffee production.
Ordinarily, these espresso machines with portafilters required skilled barista to operate. However, as the company grew from a humble opening to a multi-billion industry, they gradually switched from the standard espresso machines to the automatic espresso.
Unlike the standard espresso, the semi-automatic espresso is less involving and only requires the barista to push a button, and the machine does the rest of the task.
So, which automatic espresso machine does Starbuck use? Starbuck and all its franchises have entered into an agreement and partnered exclusively with
About Mastrena High-Performance Espresso Machine
Mastrena Espresso Machine is a product of Thermoplan AG. Thermoplan AG is a tiny Swiss company of 230 employees, and it’s tasked with the responsibility of manufacturing the espresso machine for Starbucks and its franchises globally.
This company developed Mastrena exclusively for Starbucks, and the first model debuted in the stores in 2008. According to the manufacturer, Mastrena comes with a computerized menu that leaves no room for human error when making lattes and cappuccinos.
Unlike other espresso machines, Mastrena comes with a low profile, and this makes it easier for Starbuck baristas to make eye contact with customers.
A report by Bloomberg indicates that Thermoplan AG has 40 employees that are tasked with the research and development of this espresso machine, and other 140 working in production and assembly of this coffee machine.
Can I Buy a Mastrena Coffee Machine?
As I had mentioned earlier, Thermoplan AG partners exclusively with Starbucks and Mastrena are sold exclusively to Starbuck franchises.
So, no, the Mastrena Coffee Machine is not for sale to the general public to purchase. Starbucks holds all the rights to this specific design, meaning you won’t find this machine in any homes or offices.
however, there are great, affordable alternatives that you can use, the one I recommend is Breville BES870BSXL barista coffee machine (see what other people are saying on Amazon)
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How Much Does Mastrena Coffee Machine Cost?
Mastrena costs around 3-6X compared to the standard espresso machine. Remember, its an automatic machine that has been equipped with a computerized menu for an efficient and quick coffee-making process.
Each of these machines costs around $17,750 and most of these units are programmed to handle a variety of tasks, including making both lattes and cappuccinos.
But as I had mentioned earlier, the tasty Starbucks coffee is more than the coffee machine, but it also boils down to the barista and type of coffee. So, what coffee beans does Starbuck use?
Types of Coffee that Starbucks Uses Primarily, Starbuck uses the Arabica version of coffee. This type of coffee is sourced from three regions, which include Latin America, Africa, and Asia- Pacific.
However, Starbuck signature coffee blends are usually sourced from the Asia-Pacific region. Also, Starbucks has its 240-Ha farm in Costa Rica, where they cultivate their coffee beans.
Final Thoughts on Starbucks Coffee Machine
I hope this article answered the question and helped you to choose a better high-quality coffee maker.