Hot New Acorto Espresso Machine Puts Specialty Coffee Drinks On Ice

Business Wire, Sept 4, 2001

Business Editors, Food/Beverage Writers

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 4, 2001

Many consumers who used to be satisfied with only hot espresso drink options now request iced espresso drinks as well.

Iced espresso beverage demand has soared 20 percent in the last two years, according to a 2001 survey by the National Coffee Association. To help commercial venues meet this increasing consumer demand, Acorto, Inc., a worldwide leader in espresso machines, has introduced a significant breakthrough with the 1500s Elite, a sophisticated, fully automatic espresso machine that can produce iced lattes with the same ease as hot espresso drinks.

It's about profit.

"The specialty coffee beverage market is booming at nearly $8 billion(a) annually, and with the 1500s Elite, it's easier than ever for restaurants, hotels, food services and casual dining establishments to take advantage of this demand and boost profits," says David Isett, president of Acorto. "With its simple push-button operation, the 1500s Elite lets you meet customer needs, build traffic and lower costs with minimal staff involvement. Our conservative estimates show a payback in less than 6 months and a three-year annualized return on investment of over 200 percent."

It's about milk.

The 1500s Elite uses a patented milk system to achieve the ideal fusion of air and steam to deliver rich, creamy lattes and frothy cappuccinos faster and quieter than other machines on the market. For sensational iced lattes the user simply fills a cup with ice, presses the "ICED LATTE" button and the 1500s Elite does the rest.

Design highlights of the 1500s Elite include a sleek black exterior and contemporary control panel to complement the upscale image of commercial establishments. The sophisticated new look offers visual appeal as well as functional simplicity. It's an all-in-one system that at the touch of a button, automatically grinds fresh whole espresso beans and steams and froths fresh cold milk to produce freshly brewed espresso drinks. With a footprint of just 18 inches, the compact 1500s Elite fits easily on most countertops. Like other Acorto models, it meets U.S. and international health and safety compliance requirements including NSF, ETL and CE certifications.

The Acorto Espresso Program.

Acorto is committed to customer success. The Acorto Espresso Program guides and supports customers with consulting services at both the planning and implementation stages. It also features a comprehensive customer service network that is centrally monitored to insure customer satisfaction. No other manufacturer can match Acorto's support and accountability.

Price and availability

The Acorto 1500s Elite ships in November 2001 and is priced at $12,500 MSRP and includes a two-year comprehensive warranty.

About Acorto

Acorto is a global leader in super-automatic commercial espresso machines. The Seattle-area company introduced the market's first fully automatic espresso machine in 1990. Acorto machines have both attendant-operated and self-serve applications and are serving tens of thousands of espresso drinks daily in thousands of locations around the world. Customers include Compass Group - North American Division, Sodexho Alliance, Hilton and Sheraton Hotels, United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Krispy Kreme, Brinker International/Macaroni Grill, Legal Seafood, Mimi's and Buca di Beppo restaurant chains. For more information about Acorto, please call (800) 995-9019 or visit www.acorto.com.

(a) Source: Specialty Coffee Association, 2000 retail sales dollar

estimate, $7.76 million. Includes cafes, kiosks, carts, specialty

bean retailers and marketers.