Edition #1: coffee machine for a hotel room
A headache for project managers, a waste of time for operators: the selection of operational equipment (OS&E) in high-end hotel projects is often a real obstacle course. This time-consuming and painstaking task usually falls to the operational teams, who strive to deliver a seamless, coherent customer experience. But they also have to deal with the architect, who will naturally defend his aesthetic vision, sometimes to the detriment of constraints of use or durability.
In-room coffee machines, courtesy trays, kettles, bathroom scales, bathroom hooks... These are all elements essential to customer comfort, but paradoxically among the most difficult to choose. Not because they're rare, but because the right models - aesthetically pleasing, robust, suitable for intensive use and in keeping with the hotel's standing - are often drowned in a plethora of products on offer.
To help professionals cope with this complexity, FIGURZ is launching a dedicated monthly magazine: a regular appointment to help industry players sort out the household, professional or simply unsuitable references for hotel use - and so make the right choices, more quickly.
Which coffee machine for a hotel room?
For this first edition, FIGURZ focuses on a piece of equipment that has become an essential part of hotel room design: the coffee machine. At the crossroads of customer comfort and design, it is today a marker of standing and a powerful, sometimes indispensable, lever in the traveler's experience.
To find out more about the multitude of products on offer - professional, domestic and sometimes unsuitable for hotel use - we spoke to three industry decision-makers, Daphné Desjeux, Arnaud Berthereau and Karl Fournier, architects experienced in high-end hotel projects in France and abroad.
Why the choice of coffee machine deserves your full attention
In a hotel room, every detail counts.And the coffee machine is no exception to the rule: it must be practical, robust, silent, intuitive, and in keeping with the ambience of the room.
A plus? A model available in several finishes or colors, to blend naturally with the furniture.
Daphné Desjeux's selections
Interior designer - Hôtel La Trêve (Paris), Hôtel Sookie (Paris)
Daphné Desjeux is attentive to the smallest details.
For her, OS&E is an integral part of the room's sensory universe. Here are the machines she recommends :
De'Longhi Dedica Style - Perfect for espresso lovers.
A fine pressure for a richly aromatic coffee, a compact, refined design in a range of colors.Ideal for seamless integration into all types of rooms.
Btray START - Specially designed for the hotel industry.
This ultra-compact machine (only 93 mm wide) is compatible with Nespresso® capsules. Made from ABS plastic, it combines lightness, sturdiness and modern design.
Symphony® capsule coffeemaker - Large color palette available
Modern, simple and customizable, this coffeemaker adapts easily to any décor thanks to its many colorful finishes. Perfect for use in hotels.
De'Longhi Dinamica Plus - Advanced options
A top-of-the-range model with advanced options, ideal for offering a premium coffee experience. Available in a range of elegant finishes, it is ideally suited to high-standard hotels where the staff will make your coffee in your room.
Arnaud Berthereau's clear, aesthetic choice
Associate architect - Studio Briand & Berthereau - EdgarSuite Paris, restaurant & clubhouse Sauvage (Quiberon)
True to his philosophy of “less is more”, Arnaud swears by just one model: Moccamaster's KBG Select.
And it's while serving you a cup that he tells you all about it...
This iconic filter coffee maker is an absolute benchmark for brewing quality: precise temperature (92-96°C), controlled extraction, hot plate, automatic shut-off.
Handcrafted in the Netherlands, durable, repairable, available in several colors.
ECBC and SCA certified. A committed choice, for a true in-room signature.
Karl Fournier's point of view
Architect and founder of Studio KO - Domaine Royal Palm (Marrakech), Chiltern Firehouse (London)
For Karl Fournier, the in-room coffee machine is not a matter of course. His architectural approach is based on purity and mastery of volumes. In his projects, he often recommends not incorporating one, or carefully concealing it in a discreet cabinet or cupboard.
His aim: to preserve visual harmony and avoid cluttering the space unnecessarily.
This point of view nuances the current trend. It's important to remember that, in the Atout France hotel classification, the presence of an in-room coffee machine is optional for all categories. It is therefore not required by law.
However, from the customer's point of view, this equipment is widely acclaimed: it contributes to a feeling of comfort and autonomy, particularly in high-end establishments. The challenge is to find the right compromise between comfort and discretion - an integrated, elegant and silent machine can make all the difference.
Berber Lodge : Refuge rural à Oumnas
And at FIGURZ point of view ?
At FIGURZ, we believe in the balance between aesthetics, efficiency and use. Our team has tested several models, and here we share our favorite:
A safe choice for hotels on a budget. Compact, easy-to-use and reliable, this machine makes good coffee in no time. It fulfills its mission perfectly, with an excellent customer satisfaction rate: 96% of users recommend it.
Pod model made in France (Vendée), with drip tray, 15-bar pressure, height adjustment, descaling alert, and 10 colors available. Compact (11.2 cm wide), it fits easily into bedroom furniture. 5-year warranty. Ethical and reliable, provided you recycle the pods.
To conclude
For Gaëtan, co-founder of FIGURZ, the coffee machine budget for a 100-room establishment can range from €6,000 to €25,000, depending on whether the choice of model is based on aesthetic or functional considerations. As with other OS&E packages, the coffee machine budget needs to be well anticipated if you don't want to have to cut other envelopes, such as FF&E.
