Thermoplan AG
Encyclopedia
Thermoplan AG is a manufacturer of kitchen appliance for foodservice
. The headquarter of the company founded 1974 by Domenic Steiner is located in Weggis, Switzerland
.
Thermoplan is an international machinery manufacturer in the restaurant sector. Thermoplan's espresso
machines are modular fully automatic coffee machines. The medium-sized firm employs 125 employees. Ninety-five percent of the turnover of Fr.
85 million are from outside of Switzerland.
The company's major breakthrough came when it was introduced by the international coffee house chain Starbucks
as the exclusive supplier award received. The module system convinced the coffee giants from overseas, but it guaranteed shortest downtime. Today, more global corporations like McDonald's
and IKEA
to the customers of the emerging company, which is the 2004 Innovation Award from the Central Swiss Chamber of Commerce won and its growing number of specialized manufacturing buildings in a quiet village (Weggis) in Switzerland, far from the major economic centers of the Swiss Central country and foreign effect.
The Verismo 801 by Thermoplan AG Switzerland is used by Starbucks espresso coffee business. This unit is sold internationally as the Thermoplan Black & White (to IKEA and McDonalds, among others) but is exclusive to Starbucks in the United States through 2010. The first machine of this design was originally made in France
. The machine has a modular architecture. For example, the grinder module (Mechanical Module in Starbucks-speak), has two grinders units but only one grinder motor. The way it works is one grinder has a burr set cut in one direction and the other burr set is cut in the opposite direction. Both grinders are connected to the motor by a common drive belt. When the motor turns clockwise the left grinder grinds and the right just bounces the beans around. When the motor is reversed counterclockwise the right grinder grinds and the left just bounces the beans around. The other modules are the CPU module, the Power Module, the Hydraulic Module (coffee boiler water distribution block, and pump), the Foamino (a hot milk auto foamer). Each module is held in place by two thumb screws.
The French company fell on hard times and the Foamino suppler Thermoplan acquired all the assets and patents, moved the operation to Switzerland, and began marketing the machine under the Black and White name. In the late 90's when Starbucks was looking to replace the venerable La Marzocco
with a Superautomatic, they first invested in the Schaerer made Verismo 701, and then found Thermoplan. They realized some changes needed to be made for the US market and to meet their strict coffee quality profile (which then abandoned until the Flavor profile upgrade of 2008). Although the Foamino works well in Europe where they add a little milk to their coffee to make a little cappuccino, Starbucks understood in the USA were they add a little coffee to their 16 or 20 ounce cups of milk the Foamino would not cut it. Working with the Thermoplan engineers they replaced the Foamino with a powerful steam boiler and a thermal sensing steam wand. The Tea / Steam Module (Starbucks speak again), looks like a small old time steam locomotive when it's removed from the machine for service and works like one too.
The Thermoplan developed NEE (New Espresso Equipment), Magistrale and Verismo 901 were all ill-fated Starbuck's prototypes that were rejected during testing and subsequently scrapped. Thermoplan also manufactures Starbucks newest machine, the Mastrena, the Tiger, a lower-volume espresso machine with a similar modular design which is distributed by Bunn
in the United States, and the Black & White 2, an upgrade to the Black & White line of espresso machines, combining the main features found on the Thermoplan Verismo 801 and the Thermoplan Tiger.
The company spent 1.6 million Swiss franc
s (US$1.3 million; €980,000) to convince Brazil's national soccer team to choose Weggis for its training camp before the 2006 World Cup. A practice ground in Weggis was turned into a temporary 5,000-seat arena called the "Thermoplan Arena".
Foodservice
Food Service or catering industry defines those businesses, institutions, and companies responsible for any meal prepared outside the home...
. The headquarter of the company founded 1974 by Domenic Steiner is located in Weggis, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Thermoplan is an international machinery manufacturer in the restaurant sector. Thermoplan's espresso
Espresso
Espresso is a concentrated beverage brewed by forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground coffee. Espresso is widely known throughout the world....
machines are modular fully automatic coffee machines. The medium-sized firm employs 125 employees. Ninety-five percent of the turnover of Fr.
Swiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
85 million are from outside of Switzerland.
The company's major breakthrough came when it was introduced by the international coffee house chain Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
as the exclusive supplier award received. The module system convinced the coffee giants from overseas, but it guaranteed shortest downtime. Today, more global corporations like McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
and IKEA
IKEA
IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
to the customers of the emerging company, which is the 2004 Innovation Award from the Central Swiss Chamber of Commerce won and its growing number of specialized manufacturing buildings in a quiet village (Weggis) in Switzerland, far from the major economic centers of the Swiss Central country and foreign effect.
The Verismo 801 by Thermoplan AG Switzerland is used by Starbucks espresso coffee business. This unit is sold internationally as the Thermoplan Black & White (to IKEA and McDonalds, among others) but is exclusive to Starbucks in the United States through 2010. The first machine of this design was originally made in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The machine has a modular architecture. For example, the grinder module (Mechanical Module in Starbucks-speak), has two grinders units but only one grinder motor. The way it works is one grinder has a burr set cut in one direction and the other burr set is cut in the opposite direction. Both grinders are connected to the motor by a common drive belt. When the motor turns clockwise the left grinder grinds and the right just bounces the beans around. When the motor is reversed counterclockwise the right grinder grinds and the left just bounces the beans around. The other modules are the CPU module, the Power Module, the Hydraulic Module (coffee boiler water distribution block, and pump), the Foamino (a hot milk auto foamer). Each module is held in place by two thumb screws.
The French company fell on hard times and the Foamino suppler Thermoplan acquired all the assets and patents, moved the operation to Switzerland, and began marketing the machine under the Black and White name. In the late 90's when Starbucks was looking to replace the venerable La Marzocco
La Marzocco
La Marzocco is an Italian maker of espresso machines, and its machines are consistently considered in the top rank, particularly since the introduction of the dual-boiler GS series in 1970, and its machines are widely used in specialty coffee shops...
with a Superautomatic, they first invested in the Schaerer made Verismo 701, and then found Thermoplan. They realized some changes needed to be made for the US market and to meet their strict coffee quality profile (which then abandoned until the Flavor profile upgrade of 2008). Although the Foamino works well in Europe where they add a little milk to their coffee to make a little cappuccino, Starbucks understood in the USA were they add a little coffee to their 16 or 20 ounce cups of milk the Foamino would not cut it. Working with the Thermoplan engineers they replaced the Foamino with a powerful steam boiler and a thermal sensing steam wand. The Tea / Steam Module (Starbucks speak again), looks like a small old time steam locomotive when it's removed from the machine for service and works like one too.
The Thermoplan developed NEE (New Espresso Equipment), Magistrale and Verismo 901 were all ill-fated Starbuck's prototypes that were rejected during testing and subsequently scrapped. Thermoplan also manufactures Starbucks newest machine, the Mastrena, the Tiger, a lower-volume espresso machine with a similar modular design which is distributed by Bunn
Bunn-o-Matic Corporation
Bunn Corporation is a manufacturer of coffee- and tea-making equipment headquartered in Springfield, Illinois. Founded by George Bunn, who invented the fluted coffee filter, its customers are primarily institutional foodservice providers. The company also offers a product line for home use and...
in the United States, and the Black & White 2, an upgrade to the Black & White line of espresso machines, combining the main features found on the Thermoplan Verismo 801 and the Thermoplan Tiger.
The company spent 1.6 million Swiss franc
Swiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
s (US$1.3 million; €980,000) to convince Brazil's national soccer team to choose Weggis for its training camp before the 2006 World Cup. A practice ground in Weggis was turned into a temporary 5,000-seat arena called the "Thermoplan Arena".