The first espresso machine was invented in 1901 by Luigi Bezzera, an Italian businessman who wanted his workers to spend less time on their coffee breaks! The machine used pressurised steam to force water through coffee and brew it more quickly than usual – although with a somewhat bitter taste. Since then, the coffee machine has come a long way and the espresso has formed the backbone of today’s hot beverage dispense and vending options. The first beverage vending machine dates back even further, to the 1st century BC when Hero of Alexandria, a Greek mathematician /inventor, created a machine that would dispense holy water in return for a coin in Egyptian temples. Despite this early start, it was many years before the idea made any further progress – 1946, in fact, before coffee vending machines came into general usage in the US. Today, coffee is the most popular vended hot beverage[1], accounting for six out of the top ten items purchased from machines beverages. Getting a cup of coffee from a vending machine comparable to the quality available on the high street has been a challenge, but one that we have solved! The Nescafé® Accolade machine has a distinctive, premium look and feel, offering a unique range of café style ingredients and stylishly-branded paper cups. It aims to bring to the workplace the same feeling of quality and sophistication that has revolutionised the high street coffee-drinking culture. With increasing time pressures at work and less time taken for lunch, the coffee break is just as important today as it has ever been – if not more so and the coffee machine remains a central part of office life. In the workplace… Keeping employees happy and motivated is a major driver for employers when it comes to staff welfare. Unsurprisingly, a premium hot beverage offer has been recognised as having a key role to play in creating a positive environment7a. A survey carried out by Redpoint Research in September 2007 found that 75 per cent of business and industry sites had a vending machine, ensuring that staff can enjoy a beverage 24/7. But it’s not just about feel-good and motivation, it’s also about productivity. Research[2] has shown that a premium coffee offer aids worker output – employees feel valued and appreciated and importantly, more compelled to stay at work than disappear off to the nearest high street outlet, should the opportunity arise. However, the debate as to whether to charge for a hot beverage at work continues…if employees do charge, should it be subsidised? If so, how much of a subsidy is acceptable? Historically, hot beverages have been supplied to staff for free, but if as consumers, staff are willing to pay a premium price on the high street, would they not also pay at work if the coffee is comparable in terms of range and quality? We’re not talking high street prices but perhaps the day of the 5p or 10p vended cup of poor quality cup of coffee should be behind us? MAKING MORE MONEY FROM HOT BEVERAGES We’ve established that the market is growing. So…how can we help you? We want to work in partnership to find the right products and solutions for your business and your customers. It’s also about looking ahead to future trends and coming up with new ideas. But what about TODAY? We’ve got loads of ideas! Have a look at some of them and if you would like to chat further, do send us an email or give us a call! - Regularly update your hot beverage menu – consider regional products and suppliers to make a point of difference
- Serve the nation’s favourite teas, hot chocolates and coffee brands – consumers trust well-known names and knowing that you stock the best, will drive footfall
- There are now a host of café style coffees available that don’t require specialist equipment and can be whipped up in an instant, saving time and generating a higher margin than some conventional hot drinks!
- Don’t forget the Nation's Favourite Premium coffee brand[1], Nescafé® Gold Blend,® like café style coffees, it makes an attractive offering for the consumer.
- Are you offering hot beverages ‘on the go’? This is a service that can be easily implemented - have a look at Nescafé® &Go!
- Do you need a 24/7 solution? When did you last review your offer? Branded concepts such Nescafé® Accolade deliver a premium café style drink and can help you to keep staff on site and deliver a healthy bottom line!
[1] IRI Data Dec 2007
[1] Mintel Vending UK June 2007 [2] Mintel Vending UK June 2007 | 
