Coffee Machine Technologies introduces the new Elektra Evok espresso machine and reveals why it’s a great option for hospitality venues seeking support.

The increasingly fast-paced nature of the coffee industry means equipment companies often feel pressure to release new products. With large tradeshows gathering thousands of international coffee professionals under one roof, there’s an expectation to unveil new machines, models, and functionalities at these huge industry events.

Carmelo Corallo, National Sales Manager at equipment and servicing supplier Coffee Machine Technologies, says it’s almost impossible for manufacturers to continuously reinvent themselves or come up with new concepts. Instead, he says equipment is gradually evolving in response to industry trends and the needs of the market.

This drive to provide hospitality solutions and help businesses overcome sector-wide challenges is what inspired Elektra’s new Evok espresso machine. Aware of the skilled-labour shortages affecting cafés, restaurants, bars, and hotels across the world, the Italian manufacturer sought to create a machine that provides the support venues need.

“During COVID-19, a lot of hospitality workers left the industry and many haven’t returned. Backpackers, students, and internationals used to prop-up the sector here in Australia, but there are far fewer skilled baristas around now. We speak to countless businesses that can’t fill these skilled roles and are now turning to tools to help them improve quality and consistency,” says Carmelo.

While fully automatic machines are often considered one of the solutions to the staffing issue, many people still want the design, feel, and craft of a traditional espresso machine. Taking this into consideration, the team at Elektra blended the convenience, reliability, and assistance of automation with the timeless aspects of a classic machine.

“The Evok captures a very subtle entrance into automation. Only the key features essential to the barista employ automation and there’s the option to add additional support depending on the business’ needs,” he says.

“At the same time, it still looks quite classic. It has wood-handled steam levers and portafilters. It’s not bulky like many of the fully automated machines either – it’s compact.”

Evok was designed with ease of use in mind, catering to all levels of barista experience. A digital touch-screen display and clear buttons guide users through the coffee-brewing process, while its ergonomics have been carefully considered to facilitate a smooth and economic workflow.

According to Carmelo, the key question most hospitality owners ask when looking for a new machine is “how do I make the workflow as easy as possible?”. He says this is where the machine’s automatic functionalities, such as the ability to create custom recipes, monitor performance via telemetry, and introduce pre-steamed milk dispensing, become most valuable.

“Milk texturing is one of the areas that requires training and practice from the barista, which might not be possible in some venues,” he says.

“The Evok has two add-on options that can assist. The first is the automatic steam lance, which offers temperature management for preparing hot or foamed milk to ensure consistent quality. The second is an automatic cappuccinator, which delivers hot or foamed milk directly from a refrigeration unit connected to the machine into the cup.”

Another optional function is Elektra’s telemetry system, which provides data communication and remote monitoring of the machine’s functions and performance. Carmelo says this feature best benefits franchises and multi-site chains that want to standardise a recipe across their fleets.

“If a company wants to log into a machine remotely to adjust volumetrics or temperature, or to monitor its performance, the telemetry system can be a great tool,” he says.

The two-group version of the machine will be launched in Australia by Coffee Machine Technologies in January 2025, with a three-group model due to follow later in the year. It’s currently being tested by some of the company’s key clients in the country, ensuring any operational issues are resolved before general release.

“This is something we aim to do with all our equipment. The Australian market is unique, we’re much more milk-based than many other markets, so we ask some of our trusted clients to road-test the machines to see how they perform here and provide valuable feedback,” says Carmelo.

In September 2024, Carmelo and team soft-launched the Evok at a tradeshow in Melbourne. They paired it with the new Fiorenzato F64 EVO Sense grinder and an automatic tamper to demonstrate the simplified workflow the machine can offer. While many attendees were impressed by the Evok’s sleek design, he says it was the size of the machine that got them talking.

“People couldn’t get over the compact footprint of the machine. Equipment with automatic functionalities can often be bulky, but the Evok is streamlined to offer ultimate bar-space efficiency,” he says.

“This appeals to restaurants, hotels, bars, and pubs where real estate on the bench is very important. Traditionally, these venues don’t serve a lot of coffee, so the setup can’t take up too much space. However, being able to offer quality coffee is becoming increasingly significant to these businesses.”

Another aspect of the machine that Carmelo believes appeals to these hotel, restaurant, and café (HoReCa) venues is its reduced power consumption. A built-in energy saving system means the machine can run on 15 amps, where most espresso machines rely on 20, while still delivering the same power and output. As a result, venues generally won’t have to upgrade their power supply. For cafés and other businesses that require a high steam output, Coffee Machine Technologies can offer the same machine but with a higher wattage element.

“The Evok is the ideal machine for HoReCa venues, franchises, and multi-store operations that want a consistent and reliable machine, which is also easy to use and service,” says Carmelo.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to use this machine. It’s not overly complicated to operate and the parts are very interchangeable. Elektra is a brand that’s stood the test of time and this is a dependable machine that won’t break the budget.”

With costs going up across the board, Coffee Machine Technologies was eager to add more value-based options to its fleet of equipment. The new Evok will be priced around the $10,000 mark and is available with a variety of financing and servicing options. There are two colourways – matte black, and black and gold – to choose from and the option to customise with design lighting and wooden side panels. 

For more information, visit coffeemachinetechnologies.com.au