What the Starbucks Capsule Coffee Machines Really Are
Starbucks-branded capsule coffee self-service machines have appeared in malls, office buildings, subway stations, and campuses, selling drinks such as Americano and coconut latte from 9.9 yuan. Nestlé and Starbucks China both say the machines are not an officially authorized project, even though the units carry Starbucks green livery, the brand logo, and the line "Nestlé Dolce Gusto Starbucks Capsule Official Authorized Retailer."
The wording points to the 2019 Starbucks Service Project, a Nestlé and Starbucks partnership that supplies coffee service for locations outside retail stores, so the machines may be automated equipment tied to that deal rather than Starbucks-run units. Some devices also display franchise recruitment information, which adds to the confusion, and consumers cannot easily verify the operator from the machine alone.
Recently, a capsule coffee self-service machine under the Starbucks banner has been appearing frequently in shopping malls, office buildings, subway stations, and other locations, with prices starting at 9.9 yuan attracting many consumers to try it out. However, a line of small text on the machine body reveals its connection to Nestlé Dolce Gusto, and some devices even carry franchise recruitment information. Nestlé and Starbucks China have both responded, denying that the device is an officially authorized project. Who is actually operating this "Starbucks self-service coffee" that has spread across many locations? How can consumers tell the difference?
▲
Click to follow | Daily specialty coffee culture magazine Coffee Workshop
Recently, many netizens have posted photos on social media platforms, saying they bought affordable Starbucks drinks from a device called the "Starbucks Capsule Coffee Self-Service Machine."
From the photos shared by netizens, this "Starbucks Capsule Coffee Self-Service Machine" is mainly placed in shopping malls, office buildings, subway stations, scenic areas, and university campuses. The machine's exterior uses Starbucks' classic green livery, printed with the brand logo and instructions for making capsule coffee. The electronic screen loops Starbucks coffee advertisements, and after clicking, a menu interface appears, covering various drinks such as Americano and Raw Coconut Latte, with prices ranging from 9.9 yuan to over ten yuan.
Some consumers偶然 discovered this machine during their travels, and out of curiosity plus the low price, they placed orders to try it. According to feedback, after waiting only a moment, they could pick up a freshly made hot coffee from the dispensing slot. These self-service coffee machines scattered throughout the city indeed provide convenience for people on the go, allowing them to buy the drinks they want at any time.
However, after careful observation, some users noticed that these self-service machines have a line of small text printed on the body—"Nestlé Dolce Gusto Starbucks Capsule Official Authorized Retailer." It is understood that in 2019, Nestlé and Starbucks joined forces to launch the "Starbucks Service Project" in China, aiming to provide overall coffee solutions for drinking scenarios outside of stores. From this, it can be inferred that these self-service coffee machines may not be directly operated by Starbucks, but rather automated equipment launched by Nestlé based on this cooperation project.
However, netizens also discovered that some coffee self-service machines in the circulated pictures have contact information for franchise recruitment, and some customers reported that after scanning the QR code according to the operating instructions, the drink ordering interface that appeared had no connection to either Starbucks or Nestlé.
Previously, Nestlé issued a solemn statement clearly stating that the "Starbucks Authorized Service Project" does not involve any form of franchising. Under Starbucks' authorization, the project is actually operated only by Nestlé and its certified third-party teams, and it emphasized that any franchise introduction and promotion of "Starbucks Authorized Coffee Service" by non-Nestlé parties is false information. Based on this, some people believe that these capsule coffee self-service machines that are open to franchising and deployed in multiple regions may have nothing to do with Nestlé or Starbucks.
In response to consumer feedback, a Jiupai Finance reporter sought verification from Nestlé. The company responded that Dolce Gusto is indeed a capsule coffee machine brand under Nestlé, mainly selling capsule machines and capsule coffee products. After Nestlé reached a cooperation with Starbucks in 2018, the brand also launched multiple Starbucks coffee capsule collaboration series. However, Nestlé clearly stated that the "Starbucks Capsule Coffee Self-Service Machine" discovered by netizens on city streets is not officially authorized by Nestlé.
Starbucks China also responded to the matter, stating that the so-called "Starbucks Capsule Coffee Self-Service Machine" shown online has not obtained Starbucks brand authorization, and that multiple similar cases discovered previously have been handled through rights protection. If further infringement is discovered in the future, it will continue to take action in accordance with the law.
Image source: Internet
Disclaimer: Some images in this article are from the Internet. For some content on the website, such as images, we will respect the original author's copyright and indicate the source. However, due to the large quantity, some images and texts may not have been credited in time. Please understand. If the original author has any disputes, they can contact the website for handling. Once verified, we will correct it immediately. Compiled and edited by "Coffee Workshop." Please indicate the source when reprinting. If there is infringement, please inform us for deletion. Thank you ~ !
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
