Will home coffee machines drive cafes out of business?

Coffee consumers around the world are becoming more educated about quality coffee, and how the beverage should be enjoyed (according to specialty coffee enthusiasts). This has led to an increase in coffee machines being purchased for home use, with many devotees of the caffeinated beverage hailing the appliance as an essential and integral part of their daily lives.

With so many people touting the benefits of home coffee machines, is there any danger to the café industry? Will latte-bearing socialites be snapped using travel coffee mugs from home, instead of their Grande Starbucks cappuccinos?

It’s doubtful

There’s no question that the introduction of coffee machines for home use have had an impact on the way consumers enjoy coffee in their day-to-day lives. However, many people view cafes as a social environment – a way to go out with friends, whilst enjoying a comfortable, homey atmosphere. Rather than stopping the public from going out to cafes, home espresso machines have encouraged many to switch from instant coffee, to a more espresso-based brew when drinking at home. Owning a machine really only affects coffee consumption at home – as with all appliances, they have limited portability, so it’s unlikely that café-bought coffee will ever lose favour with the public.

Educating the consumer

If anything, home coffee machines are arguably improving the coffee industry – by educating consumers on one of the most popular beverages around the world, and promoting a more refined method for household consumption. This actually works to the advantage of specialty cafés in particular, by encouraging customers to become more involved in their enjoyment of coffee, and to experiment with different brewing methods and bean blends, to find the one that works best for them. This experimentation can often lead to trying coffee beans from smaller, independent specialty cafes, which thrive on business from the local community.

Cafes may expect a small hit to their takings from home espresso use – but the difference in patronage should be relatively small. This is particularly true with office workers, who often spend the majority of their time in high-pressure situations, stuck in a cubicle – a lifestyle where coffee isn’t so much of a luxury as it is a necessity.







Don’t enjoy instant coffee? Household coffee machines are a great way to get a café-style espresso in the comfort of your own home.