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You’re certainly not the sole person interested in finding out which espresso machine Starbucks employs to serve its endless supply of espressos. The answer? Starbucks uses a special high-tech espresso machine known as Mastrena, which Swiss company Thermoplan AG developed exclusively for them. The Mastrena machine enables Starbucks to provide quick service and consistent taste across locations in New York and Tokyo as well as smaller UK towns.
The Verismo 801 was Starbucks’ espresso machine prior to the Mastrena being introduced, which was also produced by Thermoplan. It was a solid piece of kit, but it had one big drawback: The machine’s tall and bulky design presented difficulties for baristas when trying to engage with customers across the counter. Starbucks experienced a minor issue because the shape of their machines limited customer interaction despite their dedication to friendly service.
Starbucks collaborated with Thermoplan to create a new machine which provided quick service and excellent coffee, while also featuring a compact design that improved barista-customer interactions. That machine became the Mastrena.
The Mastrena super-automatic espresso machine performs all necessary functions through a single button press. The machine grinds coffee beans and tamps them before brewing espresso, while managing cleaning and maintenance tasks. The automated capabilities of the Mastrena represent a transformative development for Starbucks where speed and consistency remain essential factors.
Some standout features include:
Starbucks together with Thermoplan made improvements beyond the initial product design. They improved it. The Mastrena II offers an improved touchscreen interface and refined grinder settings, while expanding drink customisation options. The Mastrena II system aims to enhance barista performance while meeting the increasing requests for various options, including flat whites and iced caramel macchiatos.
At Starbucks, speed combined with consistent service becomes essential particularly during the hectic morning rush hours. That’s where the Mastrena really shines. The machine functions beyond making espresso, because it helps baristas perform their duties more smoothly and keeps customers moving through the line faster.
Its automation level during espresso preparation stands out as the system’s major benefit. The Mastrena automates every step, from grinding beans and tamping grounds, to pulling the shot through a single button press. The time saved on each beverage preparation adds up quickly when business is at its busiest. While the machine handles the demanding tasks of creating espresso, baristas gain the opportunity to concentrate on steaming milk and preparing other beverages, along with interacting with customers.
The automation feature allows new team members to achieve proficiency in their roles much faster. The machine’s preset drink options allow anyone to pull a perfect shot regardless of their experience level. Every drink prepared by this machine maintains perfect consistency, no matter if it’s served at a local café or a bustling store in the city. Customers receive the same Starbucks flavour experience on each visit.
The Mastrena’s layout and design also contribute to its effectiveness. The Mastrena machine’s reduced height allows baristas to maintain clear sight lines to customers while operating. The straightforward touchscreen interface delivers easy-to-understand real-time information and alerts, which help baristas maintain smooth operation.
And let’s not forget reliability. Starbucks locations must serve thousands of drinks daily and any system downtime leads to operational chaos. The Mastrena machine is engineered to withstand high-pressure environments, which results in minimal breakdowns and better service quality.
The Mastrena enables baristas to serve customers more quickly with reduced stress while maintaining consistent coffee quality, which meets Starbucks customer expectations.
Short answer: not really. Starbucks maintains an exclusive partnership with Thermoplan which keeps Mastrena machines off the public market. Occasionally someone will sell a used Mastrena machine online but they remain hard to find, and expensive because they’re built for commercial operations. The Mastrena machines exceed the requirements for most home coffee setups.
The cost of a Mastrena machine ranges between $15,000 and $25,000 according to estimates. The machine has been constructed to perform under continuous operation in busy environments, which suits Starbucks well, but remains too cumbersome for regular home kitchen use.
The Mastrena is unlikely to be your choice for home use yet numerous excellent espresso machines on the market deliver Starbucks-quality coffee at home.
The power and scale of these espresso machines don’t reach the Mastrena’s level but they deliver an amazing cup of coffee.
The Mastrena is what defines Starbucks as Starbucks. It’s fast, reliable, and built for quality. The Mastrena remains out of reach for most people but we can still enjoy learning about the engineering involved with our daily flat white.
All coffee enthusiasts appreciate the Mastrena because it stands as both a major piece of equipment and a crucial component in Starbucks’ worldwide coffee production.