bluesman wrote:I assume this means that they're adopting the Lean methodology popularized by Toyota - it's a process improvement tool that can be applied to any production system, including manual.

Yup, it really doesn't mean anything except the adaption of some of Toyota's methods of reducing onhand inventory, reducing or eliminating batch-building, and streamlining processes.

"Disruption," my riff on corporate take-overs:

I understand the reasons why an innovator would sell his company to a corporate monolith.
I also understand why the monolith would buy the innovator to increase its profits.
It will likely work out well financially for all the owners who will get rich.
And the products will likely continue to be useful.
But it's oddly reminiscent of what happened
when Salomon bought Arc'teryx.
I worry about all the workers.
A great tragedy, perhaps,
Or perhaps not.
But all of a
sudden
style
came
to
rule.

What happened to Stumptown since they were taken over by Starbucks?

Stumptown is owned by the parent company of Peet's.

Could it also be that Cimbali is pretty dead in America? Bland, uncool... Around here the wave 2.5 coffee shops all had LaCimbali machines and seemed cool at the time but they got left behind. So maybe this is to also breathe some life into the parent company?

Cimbali markets under the brands listed here: http://gruppocimbali.com/en/

It looks like Slayer will be added to the list.

Ed

MNate wrote:Could it also be that Cimbali is pretty dead in America? Bland, uncool... Around here the wave 2.5 coffee shops all had LaCimbali machines and seemed cool at the time but they got left behind. So maybe this is to also breathe some life into the parent company?

Hardly, I truely doubt Cimbali cares about such things! What they care about is market shares and profit. We should therfor more look at this acquisition as a way to give the company a much needed technical and innovative boost rather than anything else.

Aspects that is very important these days, if a company wants to stay in the game. Something Cimbali and Faema have been lacking in recent years, with this acquisition they can get back into the game.

With all respect the name Slayer is not worth very much outside the speciality market, a market with a very small profit compared to the larger cafe market, where Cimbali is still one of the largest companies.

Brand popularity varies per country. In Canada Faema traditionally carried a strong name within the espresso community.
In Portugal the de facto espresso machine brand is La Cimbali, so much so that in Oporto they call an espresso a "cimbalino" (ceenbaleeno) in homage to La Cimbali.

Looking at Gruppo Cimbali patents or technology section of their website, they do not appear to be lacking in innovation. http://www.faema.it/prodotti/tecnologia

I'm sure there will be some innovation sharing both ways but ultimately I believe this union is about gaining market share in a growing espresso hotbed Seattle and further within the U.S..

You can find an equal of most of the Cimbali patent stuff. It isn't really that impressive to be honest, their first PP machine hit the market last year the M100HD. And it has been a bit of an ongoing trend that they launch something after others.

Calling Cimbali innovative is quite frankly stretching the definition, they are copying others or buying the technology/taking the patent.

But you're spot on regarding brand popularity in different regions. In Denmark it is LM in most cafes and third wave shops

When do you all think there will be differences showing up in the Slayer machines and the production techniques? Should I clarify by saying changes for the near future?