Phantom Espresso Maker was born out of the desire to connect baristas and customers during coffee making process. That front-bar positioning and large size espresso machines often become a barrier between customer and barista, it’s hard for customer to actually watch and enjoy the process of crafting a delicious cup of espresso. Phantom features vase-like form of the tower, it is based on the heritage and romance of espresso equipment. It features a cantilevered bar and twin espresso glasses. The elegant treatment balances with purposeful detail. There are bean hoppers and sensory bowls at the front of this tower, it invites customers to get closer to the bean, see and smell those ingredients before turning into a cup of coffee.

Phantom Espresso Maker was designed and developed as prototype in 2017 by Starbucks Industrial Design and Starbucks Equipment Development. Now, the team has partnered with long term supplier Thermoplan of Switzerland to commercialize Phantom. Recently, this espresso maker debuted at SoDo Starbucks Reserve Store.

Phantom Espresso Maker allows those shots of espresso to appear before the customer, the glasses rotate toward the barista and the coffee pours onto a cup below using that knurled bar handles. A beautiful and ritual-like of espresso making process would invite customers to appreciate every cup of coffee. That bottom-fill process provides clean and sweet flavor due to gravity keeping bitter particulates suspended in line. After each serving, Phantom shot glasses flush with hot water for easy cleaning.

This new approach of espresso machine design removes equipment barrier above the counter. Phantom is able to operate for both higher and lower volume periods of day. For busier times, the barista can select a bean hopper to automatically initiate the process, but for quieter moments, you can choose manually dose beans from a countertop jar into the top of Tower to start the grinding process.

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