While it is still a long way behind the rest of the world, coffee consumption in China is growing and by most predictions is likely to explode in the coming years. Some estimates see the growth at around 40 percent in the next few years, and some even see China becoming one of the top five coffee drinking countries in the world in the near future.
Meanwhile in Hong Kong and Macau, coffee has long been a popular beverage, not just at café’s and restaurants, but also at home. And as more and more people enjoy coffee in this part of the world, in line with most consumption trends, people are also looking for faster, easier and more convenient ways to make and enjoy coffee.
Over a decade ago, Nespresso machines, using compact coffee capsules, arguably revolutionised our ability to make high quality espresso’s with no fuss or bother, and now the company is launching their latest Nespresso U Machine in Macau and Hong Kong, Umilk.
In addition to the convenience of preparing your favourite Grand Cru coffee with just the touch of a button, Umilk now has an integrated fresh milk solution providing further flexibility and convenience for making lattes and cappuccinos, explains Matthieu Pougin, the country manager of Nespresso for Hong Kong and Macau.
Another improvement is that Umilk can change its configuration, with the adjustable water tank and Aeroccino3 component able to seamlessly slide around the back or side of the machine to best adapt to your home or office kitchen layout.
“It not only has a quick heat up time of 25 seconds, Umilk also features automatic brewing, so your coffee begins the second you drop your Nespresso capsule and effortlessly close its neat slider,” Pougin notes.
“We’ve kept seeking breakthroughs of our brand, and the key strength of Nespresso is our ability to listen to our consumers and be aligned with what the local consumers express. This machine is easy to clean, fast and convenient for making your coffee. It matches what local consumers expect,” he adds.
Nespresso has also recently launched its two most intensely flavoured Grand Crus – Kazaar and Dharkan – to delight customers through a coffee experience of unparalleled intensity.
Derived from a blend of beans, Kazaar is an authentic and powerful Grand Cru with a raw intensity of 12. Much of its intensity comes from using two Robustas from Guatemala and Brazil.
“Kazaar was first released to acclaim from Nespresso Club Members and coffee connoisseurs in 2010 as a Limited Edition Grand Cru, then revived again in 2012 on a limited basis,” says Pougin, “They have now become part of the permanent Grand Cru selection.”
Pougin explains that to reach Kazaar’s rich intensity, Nespresso coffee experts included a high quality ‘Conillon’ Robusta from Brazil, never before used in a Grand Cru, and in this case treated like an Arabica variety.
Meanwhile Dharkan has more velvety notes, due to long roasting at low temperatures. This technique unveils the powerful, seductive character of the Dharkan blend of washed Arabicas from Latin America and Asia.
“Its sensual personality reveals deep roasted notes with hints of bitter cocoa powder and toasted cereals that express themselves in a silky and smooth texture. In cup, it creates a subtle balance and a pleasant bitterness that lingers in the mouth,” Pougin says.
Triple-A Programme to protect the future of quality coffees
Coffee farmers are vulnerable to volatile market conditions for coffee, unpredictable weather patterns and rising farm management costs. The effects of poverty and urbanisation in certain coffee growing regions have made it hard for farmers to plan for the future.
In response to this, Nespresso launched the AAA Sustainable Quality Program in 2003 to help protect the future of these high quality coffees and secure the livelihoods of the farmers that grow them.
First A: Quality: Helping farmers adopt best practices in coffee cultivation to protect the supply of the highest quality coffee.
Second A: Sustainability: Supporting farmers to become more environmentally and socially responsible. For instance, drainage division to stay away from using polluted water.
Third A: Productivity: Helping farmers to improve productivity and implement cost reduction initiatives to increase their net income.
This program was developed together with leading environmental NGO, the Rainforest Alliance. It builds on the expertise and years of experience of each organisation to guarantee farmers a better relationship and help protect the natural environment, while ensuring the highest quality coffee.
There are 52 coffee farms from eight different countries in the programme, scattered throughout Central and South America, Africa and East Asia.
“We’ve made the commitment to source 60 percent from the programme and we are striving for 80 percent by the end of 2013,” says Nespresso country manger Matthieu Pougin.
