A European airline is testing a “fully autonomous” coffee machine cart that can make a variety of espresso-based coffee drinks, including popular on-the-ground favorites like cappuccinos, macchiatos, and espressos in just seconds.
The trial has been organized by Eurowings, a low-cost network carrier of Germany’s Lufthansa Group, which has bases across Europe, with two of the machines currently in operation on a small number of flights.
According to a Eurowings spokesperson, the trial has been running for the last month, although the airline chose not to publicize the pilot project while it gathered customer and crew feedback on the new machine.
The trial may have stayed secret until the cabin crew Facebook page, A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew Lounge, managed to get hold of a video of the innovative coffee machine cart in action.
The machine is similar to one you might find in airport premium lounges or hotel buffets and is stored inside a standard-sized airline single cart. Raise the top flap on the cart, and the coffee machine pops up from inside, revealing a touchscreen panel displaying the various drinks that can be made with a single touch.
The self-contained unit could be a game-changer for airlines looking to improve their coffee offering onboard, although Eurowings says that a final evaluation of the feasibility of the coffee machine won’t get underway until the trial finishes next week.
Until then, passengers might see the coffee cart on flights departing from either Dusseldorf or Prague, where the machines are installed on two aircraft.
If Eurowings decides that the coffee machine cart really is as good as it seems, the airline reassured us that it would be sure to communicate a further rollout.
Until now, many premium carriers have relied on special airline-certified Nespresso machines that can make espresso and include milk frothers to whip up a cappuccino.
Unfortunately, these machines can be pretty temperamental and are quite a time-consuming endeavor for cabin crew to whip up a hand-made beverage.
Low-cost airlines have, however, completely avoided these Nespresso machines and have opted for fresh brew coffee using large coffee bags or, more commonly, powdered coffee mixes that are quick and easy to make, and come with decent margins.
The idea of a coffee machine cart might seem attractive but the idea does have a few flaws. First, the machine takes up an entire cart and galley space on any airline is most definitely at a premium.
Eurowings will also have to evaluate whether the machine is reliable and what the upkeep costs will be like, as well as whether increased sales make up for those potential problems.
