The Verismo 801™ by Thermoplan AG Switzerland is the backbone of the Starbucks™ espresso coffee business. Starbucks™ has exclusive distribution rights for this model and they pretty much keep it to themselves and their partners, however a few very used machines have found their way into the general public.

The first machine of this design was originally made in France. The machine has an interesting and innovative modular architecture far ahead of it's time. 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...very cool!  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. An espresso technicians dream machine!

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 found Thermoplan. Although smitten by the elegant design they realized some changes needed to be made for the US market and to meet their strict coffee quality profile.

Although the Foamino works well in Europe were they add a little milk to their coffee to make a little cappuccino, Starbucks™ understood in the good old USA were we add a little coffee to our 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.

Don't hold your breath in anticipation of Starbucks™ releasing this machine for general consumption anytime soon. They only share this machine with entities who can qualify through their business alliance program and then contractually agree to operate their business following Starbucks™ guidelines, using Starbucks™ products, and proudly displaying the Starbucks™ logo.

If you were hoping for a Verismo 801™ but can't or don't want to join the Starbucks™ team you might want to consider another powerful machine that shares a French heritage. The UNIC TANGO or the ultra powerful two brew group UNIC TANGO DUO will meet the challenge. Click the links and check it out.

If you decide to wait it out until Starbucks® decides to start selling these machine new or starts to release some of their older, very tired and very used Verismo 801's™ you can review the specification sheet below and make plans to install one say around  January 2009 or August 2012. Just a guess on my part. It might happen anytime or it might never happen, who knows?