Sponsored by BUNN
Drip brewing has long been recognized as the fast and reliable solution for high-volume coffee service. Now, as operators grapple with the challenges of pandemic recovery, it is playing an even more important role.
At a time when dining-room seating is restricted in many places and operators rely on drive-thru, curbside pickup and delivery for survival, high-margin beverage sales are needed more than ever.
Changing coffee consumption behavior is forcing the industry to adjust. “Prior to the COVID-19, about half of coffee purchases were done at the drive-thru, but during the pandemic, that number jumped to about 90 percent,” says Randy Vickery, Vice President of Sales, Eastern Zone, at BUNN.
With so many people working at home rather than in the office, the traditional early a.m. commuter coffee rush has become more of a midday coffee event. “People start their day at home, take a break to get a cup of coffee from a convenience store or their coffee shop, and resume work,” says Doug Bishop, Senior Director of Beverage Innovation at BUNN®.
However, the demand for flavor and complexity in coffee continues to be a driving trend. “Instead of just a dark, black cup of coffee, people want coffee with particular flavor notes now,” Vickery says.
It Pays to Upgrade
Such realizations are motivating operators to upgrade to drip brewers that can extract more precise flavors from specialty coffee beans. The advanced gear also delivers benefits such as faster brewing, recipe programmability, flexible batch sizes, greater customization and longer hold times
For example, the BUNN Infusion Series® brewing platform produces consistent drip coffee with precise flavor profiles with minimal training and labor costs. Its key features include a special multidirectional sprayhead that enhances flavor extraction. “It provides a constant, uniform spray pattern over the coffee so that it is not over-extracting some areas and under-extracting others,” says Bishop.
Another plus is Soft Heat® technology, which protects the flavor of brewed coffee in a thermal vessel held in the docking station. Thermostatic controls automatically shut off the heat once a preset temperature is reached – a gentler and more consistent method of warming than a plate that heats continuously.
“With the Soft Heat system, we’re able to hold a consistent temperature without ever overheating the coffee” says Bishop.
Benefits of Batch Brewing
A leading benefit of these enhanced batch brewers is the flexibility to produce the right amount of coffee to match the peaks and valleys of restaurant service which helps operators control product and labor costs. “When the demand is slower, you are able to brew only a half-gallon and minimize potential waste,” says Bishop. “When it gets busier, you can brew a gallon-and-a-half, and your staff won’t need to brew as many batches so they can focus on other tasks.”
It is important to note that the brewers deliver the same rich flavor profile in half-gallon as well as gallon-and-a-half batches.
Another key feature of Infusion Series brewers is the USB port, which makes it easy to update software and export recipes for seasonal specials and limited time offers. “If a chain wants to roll out a pumpkin-spice flavor or a new varietal, that recipe be programmed throughout the company exactly the way it was at the corporate store,” says Bishop. “Keeping recipes uniform throughout the system enhances consistency and cost control.”
Low-touch and Contactless
Yet another sign of the times is the need for operators to communicate measures of safety and sanitation. Customers are reassured when they see employees wearing masks and gloves and working with clean, modern brewing equipment at the drive-thru window.
“Customers tell us they want to see the cleanliness of equipment and the staff wearing PPE (personal protective equipment),” says Vickery. “That helps to increase the level of consumer confidence.”
BUNN is offering solutions that adapt to the changing landscape with coffee dispenser faucets and dispenser handle sleeves. In addition, the new BUNN VirtualTOUCH™ allows customers to conveniently select and dispense a beverage simply by scanning a QR code with a smartphone.
Satisfying the growing consumer demand for quality coffee is a business opportunity that restaurant operators cannot afford to overlook during the pandemic. For more information about how BUNN drip-brewing solutions help operators maximize coffee sales, visit https://commercial.bunn.com/.
