PV is delighted to bring you latest blog post from Excel Vending’s Jane McDonald
Not too long ago, perhaps around 25 years or so, in the days before Excel Vending, when I was visiting my customers,they would ask ‘would you like a coffee?’, and I would reply, ‘is it from a vending machine?’ If the answer was ‘Yes’, my answer was always, ‘no Thanks!’
My, how things have changed!
‘The biggest change of all is the quality of the coffee and the number of coffee options you can get from a good vending machine.’
Vending machines as they were then, in no way resemble the vending machines of today, either in their appearance, or in the products they dispense. You just only look at our ‘Coffee To Go‘ installations to appreciate that – but the truth is, vending machines can deliver just about anything nowadays. Perhaps the biggest change of all is the quality of the coffee and the number of coffee options you can get from a good vending machine. Of course, this has been driven by demand: the public is far more discerning about coffee than ever before. People don’t ask for ‘a black coffee’ anymore, they want an ‘Americano’. Add to this the long list of choices such as; Espresso, Lungo, Cappuccino, Mocha, Latte and so on ad-infinitum and you can soon see how far coffee drinking has advanced in just a few short years.
Some people in our industry dislike Starbucks and Costa. However, love them or hate them, these two are the forefathers of a whole new generation of coffee retailers and have been largely responsible for the popularity of coffee today. Coffee drinkers are getting younger too; many more teenagers enjoy a Macchiato today than ever before.
So, the vending machines of today are simply responding to the demand that has been created for good quality coffee. Good vending machines like our ‘Coffee To Go’, or the Coffeetek ‘Button Gourmet‘ offer whole-bean solutions which have taken it up another level..
If I was visiting my same dear clients today, I’d be saying ‘yes please!’
- If you would like to say ‘yes’ to a coffee and a chat about your refreshment offer, and you’re in Glasgow or the surrounding area, please e-mail the author at Ja**@**************co.uk
