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WEGGIS (Swiss) – Thermoplan is a family business that has spread all over the world, suppling customers in over 80 countries with fully automatic coffee machines for professional use. They’re proud to be known as Swiss made company (Thermoplan manifactures fully automatic coffee machines in Weggis, with around 80 percent of the components used coming from domestic production.)
We discussed the immediate and future prospects for this market with Sanela Kujovic, Communication & PR Manager Thermoplan.
Super-automatic machines for the hospitality industry: what features are baristas and home baristas looking for today?
“Thermoplan designs and manufactures B2B super-automatic coffee machines exclusively for the professional hospitality sector, not for home use. At HOST 2025, Thermoplan presented the Black&White4 Competizione, a machine that combines the precision and consistency of a super-automatic with the creative freedom of traditional barista work.
Today’s baristas are looking for exactly that balance — consistent cup quality, intuitive operation, and flexibility in handling different types of milk, including plant-based alternatives — all of which the Competizione delivers.”
How do your super-automatic machines handle plant-based drinks and cow’s milk at the same time in coffee shops?
“Thermoplan’s super-automatic machines, like the Black&White4, can process cow’s milk and all plant-based alternatives at the touch of a button, making it easy for coffee shops to offer a wide variety of beverages.
Thanks to Thermoplan’s innovative milk technology, every type of milk — whether dairy or plant-based — produces perfect, consistent foam while maintaining the highest hygiene standards, even when switching between different milk types. This capability is increasingly important for cafés looking to meet diverse customer preferences.”
Telemetry: what are the next developments for this function in super-automatic machines?
“Thermoplan’s super-automatic machines are equipped with ThermoplanConnect 2.0, the next-generation telemetry platform that combines real-time monitoring with AI-powered insights. Through an integrated chatbot, operators receive automated guidance on maintenance, cleaning, and recipe adjustments, while also tracking machine performance and production data remotely.
This combination of telemetry, AI, and chatbot support enables coffee shops and operators to optimize efficiency, reduce downtime, and manage their super-automatic fleets proactively.”
Thermoplan has launched the super-automatic for the latte art world championships, Black&White4 Competizione: what are the advantages for competitors?
“For competitors in the latte‑art arena, the Black&White4 Competizione offers distinct advantages:
It delivers world‑champion level performance: constant temperature, reliable pressure, grinding precision (doses within ±0.3 g) and extraction consistency (for example 10 espressos all within 18‑22 % extraction) were key in its selection as the official machine of the World Latte Art Championship.
It combines top‑end automation with barista‑style control: the “AirSteam®” automatic milk‑foam function gives perfect foam at the push of a button, while the “AutoSteam” mode lets experienced baristas manually control steaming and texture in the pitcher, offering both speed and artistry.
It supports high workflow demands: the dual‑system brew & steam simultaneously function ensures that while steaming milk the machine can still brew coffee without loss of performance. And fully automatic cleaning for hygiene helps maintain quality under competition conditions.
These features mean competitors can rely on consistency and speed, while still having the creative control needed for top‑level latte art — making the machine both a tool for performance and a canvas for creativity.”
You are also opening up to tea: why are you interested in this beverage and in which markets is it most relevant?
“Thermoplan is expanding into tea to enable cafés and operators to offer a wider variety of beverages alongside coffee. With Thermoplan’s tea machine, both hot and cold tea creations can be prepared at the touch of a button using fresh tea leaves, ensuring consistent quality and convenience.
Tea remains especially popular in Asia, but this technology allows operators worldwide to fully exploit beverage variety, while also managing the complexity of steeping times, temperatures, and different tea types.”
Which countries do you want to penetrate (we are thinking of the entire Asian market, which is now increasingly shifting towards coffee but remains strong on tea) and which ones are saturated?
“Thermoplan has a 98 % export share and is present in over 80 countries with more than 200 certified service partners, so every market is important and has potential. Coffee is consumed globally, and with our reliable service network and adaptable solutions, we can support operators everywhere. This global approach ensures that we can meet demand wherever there is interest in high-quality coffee and specialty beverages.”
Energy consumption: where are super-automatic coffee machines heading while guaranteeing the same performance?
“Super-automatic coffee machines are increasingly designed with sustainability in mind, aiming to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact while maintaining top performance. Thermoplan implements highly efficient heating systems, advanced insulation, and intelligent standby modes to lower power use without compromising coffee quality, milk steaming, or beverage speed.
Combined with telemetry and smart machine management, these innovations not only help operators save energy and costs but also support a more sustainable, eco-friendly coffee operation.”
