BOURNEMOUTH, United Kingdom – Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, made a royal statement as he returned to work after the summer hiatus with a coffee-themed surprise. Donning a light blue blazer and an open-collar shirt, Prince William was spotted at a Pret A Manger branch in Bournemouth. Here, he wore an apron and stepped behind the counter, demonstrating his barista skills while using the La Cimbali S60 – a customised automatic espresso machine designed exclusively for Pret A Manger.
This unexpected appearance at the coffee shop added a unique twist to his engagements in support of Homewards, his initiative to end homelessness.
Amidst the bustling cafe scene, Prince William’s coffee-making talents were on full display, and he even received a surprise handshake from football legend Paul Gascoigne, making it a memorable coffee experience.
Pret A Manger and La Cimbali: a historic partnership
For over two decades, Pret A Manger and La Cimbali have nurtured an exceptional partnership, with a shared commitment to coffee excellence at its core.
First introduced in 2019, the S60 marked a new era for La Cimbali’s top-of-the-range super-automatic machines, showcasing striking aesthetics, cutting-edge design, and advanced technology.
Its user-friendly touchscreen, Thin-Film Transistor display, and convenient push buttons enhance the barista’s workflow, ensuring high productivity and consistency even during busy peak hours.
With its simplicity and low barista skill requirement to prepare beverages, the S60 caters to the increasing demand for automated solutions within the hospitality sector. Since its debut in 2019, the La Cimbali S60 has been a cornerstone in Pret A Manger’s relentless quest to provide unparalleled coffee experiences.
This collaboration reached new heights in 2021 when La Cimbali introduced a bespoke automatic espresso machine, meticulously designed to support Pret A Manger’s thriving Coffee Subscription service.
This visionary alliance led to the creation of the La Cimbali S60 fully automatic coffee machine, a true masterpiece with the capacity to craft an astounding 600 cups of espresso daily. Its tailored refinements, including advanced user controls and a turbocharged steam wand for lightning-fast milk texturing, are a testament to the partnership’s unwavering pursuit of perfection.
Future alliances
Looking ahead, Pret A Manger remains resolute in its dedication to the S60 espresso machine. Ambitious plans are underway to expand its use not only across stores in the UK and Ireland but also in various global locations, ensuring a consistent, exceptional coffee experience for customers worldwide. Notably, Pret now boasts a remarkable fleet of over 400 La Cimbali S60 machines, spanning both equity and franchise locations, underscoring the depth of their partnership.
Daniel Clarke, Commercial Director UK & Ireland at La Cimbali, expressed immense pride in the enduring partnership with Pret A Manger, stating, “Our collaboration with Pret spans over two decades, and we take immense pride in our role as the exclusive supplier of Coffee Equipment. This enduring partnership has empowered us to stand by Pret A Manger in their unwavering commitment to consistently deliver exceptional coffee to their discerning customers.”
As Pret A Manger and La Cimbali celebrate their storied history and the extensive adoption of the S60 espresso machine, their commitment to enhancing the coffee experience remains unwavering, ensuring that coffee enthusiasts continue to savor nothing but the finest quality.
About Gruppo Cimbali
Gruppo Cimbali is one of the leading manufacturers of professional coffee and milk-based beverage machines and cafe equipment. The Group, which includes the brands La Cimbali, Faema, Slayer, and Casadio, operates through three production facilities in Italy and one in the United States (in Seattle, where Slayer-branded machines are manufactured), employing approximately 700 people in total.
The Group’s commitment to promoting espresso coffee culture and valuing the territory materialized in 2012 with the founding of MUMAC – the Museum of the Espresso Coffee Machine, the first and largest permanent exhibition dedicated to the history, world, and culture of espresso coffee machines, located within the Gruppo Cimbali headquarters in Binasco. MUMAC hosts the MUMAC Academy, Gruppo Cimbali’s coffee machine academy, a center for training, dissemination, and research.
