Coffee Machine Tea Vending
Lavazza BLUE is a product line from the coffee-producing company Luigi Lavazza S.p.A. . It is the brand name for one of the coffee capsule machine systems invented and designed by the Lavazza Group. The other two systems available at the moment are called Lavazza Espresso Point and Lavazza A Modo Mio. In the Lavazza BLUE system, the ground coffee is separately vacuum-packed in aromatically-sealed plastic pods. With one capsule the user can brew one cup of espresso/coffee (or tea). For preparing a drink with the capsules one must use a machine that is especially designed for that specific capsule system. Several machines with different water tank capacities and functions as well as a wide selection of different coffee and tea variations for the capsule system are available. The Lavazza BLUE brand is lead directly by Luigi Lavazza S.p.A., the Lavazza BLUE products are sold by Lavazza and by its official trading partners worldwide.
The Name
The BLUE in Lavazza BLUE is an abbreviation that stands for:
- B for Best
- L for Lavazza
- U for Ultimate
- E for Espresso
With the meaning behind each letter, included in the brand name, Lavazza wants to relay the image of a high quality premium-product to the customer.
Machines
The available machines for the Lavazza BLUE capsule system can be grouped in machines for home/office use on a smaller scale and for office use on larger scale. The biggest machines are fully automated vending machines that function similar to other vending machines for hot drinks.
The features of the Lavazza BLUE machines in general:
- A water tank in different sizes, machine-dependant
- Hot water pumping system with pressure depending on the machine
- Manual or automatic capsule insertion and holding system
- A drawer or container for empty capsules
- Steam spout for preparing frothy milk (the vending machines do not have)
- Only work with Lavazza BLUE capsules
Many different types and models of coffee machines for home or office use are available, but the most popular are the LB 800, LB 1000, LB 2200 and the Guzzini. There is also a range of Lavazza BLUE vending machines used in large offices, malls and public spaces. Of the four mentioned machines the LB 800 and Guzzini are the small models, the LB 1000 got average capacity and the LB 2200 is the biggest one. The size of the water tank and the number of features as well as the grade of automation of capsule insertion/removal and of the brewing process are the main differences between the models. When comparing the LB 800 and the Guzzini, as machines with similar size, the Guzzini got more special features, like a cup warming plate for example. The LB 1000 and LB 2200 were designed by Pininfarina, a famous Italian design company. The Guzzini was also designed by a famous Italian design company, named Fratelli Guzzini. The fact that Lavazza contracted two famous design companies with shaping three of the four mentioned machines, shows how much the company emphasizes the aspect of doing everything with a certain style. This attitude becomes even more apparent when looking at their advertisement campaigns.
Coffee blends and teas
Lavazza produces many different kinds of coffee and tea capsules to meet the taste preferences of not only Italian but also international customers. The capsule itself is made of plastic and its specific shape is especially adjusted to the coffee machines. The contents of the pod are vacuum-packed and aromatically-sealed. The foil on the top allows the machine to easily pierce it and the water to flow in the pod. The bottom is a bit dented inwards and also gets pierced in the capsule holder mechanism which makes it possible for the water to pass through the ground coffee and exit the capsule.
Coffee blends
The main difference between the different coffee blends is the amount of Arabica and Robusta ground coffee,the origin as well as the way of processing and roasting the coffee beans for the ground coffee. The amount of total coffee in each capsule is 7 to 8g.
The different coffee blends in overview ( name , blend, origin, sort of drink):
- Dolce , 100% Arabica, Brazil & India, espresso
- Delicato , 100% Arabica, Brazil & India, long espresso
- Intenso , 40% Arabica, Brazil & Central America, 60% Robusta, Indonesia, espresso
- Amabile , 40% Arabica, Brazil & Central America, 60% Robusta, Southern Asia, long espresso
- Ricco , 40% Arabica, Brazil, 60% Robusta, Asia, espresso
- Decaffeinato , 100% Arabica, Brazil, espresso
- Decaffeinato Soave , 100% Arabica, Brazil, long espresso
- TIERRA , 100% Arabica, Honduras & Peru & Colombia, espresso - sustainable coffee
- Caffè Crema Dolce , 100% Arabica, Brazil & India, espresso
- Intenso Double pod 40% Arabica, Brazil & Central America, 60% Robusta, Indonesia, espresso
Teas
The teas that are available for the Lavazza BLUE system are sold under the brand name of Lavazza BLUE Di piú. A milk drink, a malt coffee from barley and a vegetable bouillon are also sold under that brand name.
The Lavazza BLUE Di piú products in overview ( name , sort of drink):
- THE NERO CLASSICO, Classic Black Tea
- THE al LIMONE , Lemon Tea
- THE VERDE , Green Tea
- CAMOMILLA , Chamomile Tea
- THE ai FRUTTI di BOSCO , Red berries tea
- THE alla Pesca , Peach Flavour Tea
- THE alla MENTA , Mint Flavour Tea
- ORZO , Coffee made of Barley
- Tisana GELSOMINO e UVA BIANCA , Herbal Tea
- Tisana MELA e CANNELLA , Herbal Tea
- CONSOMMÉ , Vegetable Bouillon
- BEVANDA BIANCA , Milk drink
How it works
The coffee capsule is inserted/brought in position in the machine, the way the insertion process works differs from machine to machine. The vending machines do not require the insertion because they are fully automatic. The upper foil of the capsule and the bottom get pierced in several places. The brewing process starts. The preheated water from the attached water-tank gets pumped through the pod with high pressure, entering the ground coffee through the previously made holes in the upper foil and after flowing through the ground coffee exits the capsule through the bottom. The pressure with which the hot water is being pumped through the pod depends on the machine-type. The way the user can decide if he wants to drink a smaller portion/short coffee or a bigger portion/long coffee also depend on the type of machine. There are different coffee blends that are suited for different coffee styles. After use, the capsule is either being ejected in an intern capsule reservoir of the machine or has to be taken out manually by the user.
See also
- Lavazza
- Espresso
- Senseo
- Tassimo
- Saeco
- Nespresso
References
- ^ http://www.lavazzablue.com/lavazzablue/en/why_blue_in.jsp
- ^ http://www.lavazzablue.com/lavazzablue/de/images/logo2.jpg
- ^ http://extra.pininfarina.com/
- ^ http://www.fratelliguzzini.com/cucina.aspx
- ^ http://www.lavazza.com/corporate/en/products/home/blue/
- ^ http://www.lavazzablue.com/lavazzablue/de/coffee_blends_in.jsp
- ^ http://www.lavazza.com/corporate/en/products/home/blue/