There was a chance before the buyout for my machines to be used in the future stores of Coffee Connection, but just before that began the deal went through with Starbucks. Starbucks saw his test machine in the Coffee Connection lab, and continued its testing. They have purchased several units for field testing. As far as Armando knows, the machines have performed very well. Someday they hope to be a supplier to Starbucks.
Current dealers are coffee roasters working primarily out of Alaska, Colorado, Texas and Boston.
We have made direct sales and are in a national French bakery and cafe chain called La Madelaine which are experiencing positive results from the machine's use. By competing in an industry largely dominated by established competitors, Espresso Armando faces a formidable challenge to gain market share. The current line of Espresso Armando machines, while technically superior and rapidly growing in reputation, is priced higher than the existing products from the foreign competitors. To counter this price difference, and to entice the coffee stores and restaurants in the U.S., Armando has formulated a strategy to increase their competitiveness. We intend to make a less sophisticated machine for people who cannot afford the top machine and would want to make espresso but may not want the expense.