Katodix

Tool: Lelit PL042EM classic style with integrated coffee grinder

Taste: Hey, we're talking instant ground Maragogype here, man!

Temperature: 93°c - dropped to 90°c during the process

Tumbler: Thick-walled super small china

Comment: This guy is clearly nuts, or in the wrong business. I mean, any Director of Photography would focus (no pun intended) on what your cup looks like. Getting the lights right. Patrice, Katodix's CEO (Chief Espresso Officer) is a stakhanovite of the espresso. He probably graduated from some remote italian MBA (Master in Barrista - Advanced) with honours. Yet Patrice remains humble. You'd probably have to torture him (by serving him Winbooks' coffee, e.g.) before he admits having been a consultant for Pavoni's 1905 PC16 relaunch. I guess this is going to be the one others are judged by.

Ageas

Tool: Nespresso mid-range professional
Taste: ... Nespresso, of course
Temperature: Perfect
Tumbler: Wahaow!

Comment: They may love the future, we love their coffee. Off to a new start, new buildings, new everything, new coffee-machine. In a cup that's their only connection back to their 1824 corporate roots. Strange & different. Next time, I'll try and see if I can get a double-latte, cinnamon, regular.

(Recession? What recession?)

Wishfull thinking.

Some of us out there are starting to hear the worst of the financial crisis is behind us, that the markets are showing signs of positive growth (as opposed to the unbelievably stupid "negative growth" - honestly, I mean... "negative growth"...).

Rubbish.

Judging by the higly predictive nature of the research found on this site, this simply is rubbish. Costs have gone down, coffee beans have become an endangered species. The cutlery has been sold by hungry middle managers hours before corporate death. The corporate world is being taken over by camera-equipped hot-water vending machines that report how time and resources are being wasted.

Things are really not looking that good at all. Read your coffee.

Solvay

Tool: Unidentifiable
Taste: Hot water
Temperature: Tepid
Tumbler: Plastic (of course)

Comment: A company that makes 5.2 billion EUR selling off its most profitable business unit can surely dig deep in its pockets to find the cash to offer its distinguished guests a decent cup of coffee. No. It'll promote its plastics (disposable cups), and minimise its environmental impact by not heating the water.

This must be the tip of the cost-cutting iceberg.

BKCP

Tool: Espresso-Style Vending Machine
Taste: Nescafé
Temperature: Hot
Tumbler: Plastic, throw-away

Comment: How can a no-frills bank earn even more money other than serving Nescafé in plastic throw-away cups? Obvious. Asking you to serve yourself whilst the meeting room gets prepared.

I'm getting desperate. Signs are out there. Read on the next post.