The winner in the technology category comes from the
entrepreneurial Gimme team, an industry newcomer, with
their introduction of the Gimme System, a combination
hardware/software solution that turns traditional vending
machines into data-producing, "smart" machines.
This year readers' votes refected a move towards a
high-quality, premium coffee experience with the win of
MARS DRINKS™ ALTERRA® Donut Shop Dark in the
hot beverage category and Coffea Technologies' NEXT22
Super Automatic Bean to Cup Coffee Brewing System
in the equipment category.
The coffee experience consumers crave
In 2015, OCS operators reported record-breaking revenues
in most of the U.S., driven partly by consumer demand
for a more sophisticated, premium coffee experience. The
NEXT22 Super Automatic Bean to Cup Coffee Brewing
System by Coffea Technologies was voted best new product
in the equipment category and is focused on bringing that
gourmet coffee experience to the consumer.
The NEXT22 allows users, with the touch of a but-
ton, to be served SCAA Gold Cup Standard beverages,
from lattes to cappuccinos to a traditional cup of coffee.
The machine shows its sophistication inside and out. The
machine features personalized messages on a 10-inch video
screen, uses a small footprint and has a cashless option.
Internally the brewer can create a single cup or a 60 ounce
carafe, customized to the user's needs and featuring its
patented Vacuum Extraction method to produce a truly
21
st
century coffee experience.
The overall favor and taste of coffee is just as impor-
tant as how it is brewed. The winner in the hot beverage
category, MARS DRINKS™ ALTERRA® Donut Shop Dark,
AdvancePierre Foods
Pierre Signatures
Sandwich line
Food
Gimme System
Technology
2016 R E A D E R S ' C H O I C E A W A R D S
MARS DRINKS
™
ALTERRA
®
Donut
Shop Dark
Hot Beverage
Coffea Technologies
NEXT22 Super
Automatic Bean to Cup
Coffee Brewing System
Equipment
26 Automatic Merchandiser VendingMarketWatch.com April 2016