Why the espresso machine may be obsolete
How one machine gives cafés unmatched versatility and simplicity
What if your café could serve high-quality cappuccinos and lattes without needing a single espresso machine, or a trained barista?
That’s not science fiction anymore. It’s already happening in Sweden.
In collaboration with BKON, 3TEMP, and Cafébar, Latte Art Factory is reshaping how coffee is served in high-volume venues like arenas, event centers, and stadiums, starting with a pilot at Stockholm Live.
The Problem with Traditional Espresso
Espresso machines are iconic, but they come with baggage.
They require skilled baristas, time-consuming training, precise calibration, and ongoing maintenance. In high-traffic environments like concert halls or sports arenas, this model starts to break down. Speed is everything, and traditional café workflows struggle to keep up.
That’s where coffee concentrate and the Latte Art Factory step in.
A New Workflow: Barista-Quality Without the Barista
The new system is radically simple — and incredibly fast.
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Coffee concentrate is brewed in advance, delivering a high-quality coffee base.
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The concentrate is stored in thermoses, eliminating the need to brew coffee during service.
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The Latte Art Factory handles all milk texturing, from dairy to oat, and delivers café-style cappuccinos and lattes at the push of a button.
No espresso machine. No steaming wand. No tamping or dosing. No problem.
Proof in the Pour: Stockholm Live Pilot
During a single weekend at a major event in the Strawberry Arena:
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Over 600 drinks were served from just one sales point
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The venue charged ~5 EUR per drink
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They recovered one-third of the entire setup cost in just two days
Better still, the system required less than 20 minutes of training, a huge win for venues with frequently rotating staff.
The feedback? Smooth execution, high drink quality, and surprising customer satisfaction, especially with plant-based milk options.
The Bigger Picture: Global Potential
With Stockholm Live showing early success, the potential is enormous:
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ASM Global operates 350+ venues worldwide
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Each could run 3-8 LAF stations per arena
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A single “coffee central” hub prepares all concentrate in advance
By using coffee concentrate and pairing it with the Latte Art Factory, operators gain an espresso-free, barista-free system that scales fast, with zero compromise on quality.
The Future of Coffee Service?
Let’s be clear: This isn’t about replacing baristas. It’s about rethinking where and how we serve coffee when speed, consistency, and simplicity are non-negotiable.
From arenas and stadiums to conference halls and festivals, this partnership shows that café-quality drinks don’t need an espresso machine any more.
Just a brilliant concentrate. And the best milk foamer in the world.
Curious how this setup could work in your business?
Let’s talk. The espresso-free future might just be your biggest upgrade yet.
