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By Howard Bryman
Olympia, Washington-based home and commercial coffee equipment seller Espresso Parts has become the United States-based partner of Spanish espresso equipment manufacturer Ascaso for the official launch of the European company's new stateside presence, Ascaso-USA.
A website for Ascaso-USA went live this past Spring, offering a full selection of the company's consumer espresso machines. Ascaso commercial equipment is currently undergoing the final stages of the UL Certification, with their U.S. debut slated for next year, according to Espresso Parts Owner and COO Matt Myer.
"We are already receiving more inquiries and interest than we expected for the Ascaso commercial models," Myer told STiR magazine. "We are excited to see how consumers react to the Ascaso brand experience."
Plans for rolling out Ascaso commercial equipment via Ascaso-USA include launching the Big Dream Specialty and Barista T Plus models on the website by the summer of 2021, Myer said. At that time, the company's latest release, the new prosumer-grade single-group Baby T machine, will also join the lineup.
"This could create a very compelling option for many consumers," said Myer, noting the recent increase in coffee consumption in the home as opposed to cafes. "We were fortunate to be in a position with Ascaso to help meet the demand for high-quality espresso at home. Throughout this year we have seen a clear shift in the coffee industry with a focus on working from home and consuming more coffee at home."
The new partnership builds on a longstanding relationship between the two companies. Ascaso's expansion into the manufacture of whole espresso machines came in the late 1990s, after over 30 years of establishing itself as a maker of spare parts for the world's existing commercial espresso machines. Espresso Parts, founded in 1993, has long carried a selection of Ascaso products in its catalog.
"Espresso Parts has been reselling Ascaso parts for nearly 20 years," Myer told STiR. "We have a long history and a great relationship. Recently we began discussing the possibility of working together to expand the Ascaso brand presence in the US market. After much planning, discussion, and a trip to the factory in Barcelona we had developed a plan. We're really excited to create a dedicated Ascaso brand experience, backed by our extensive experience in specialty coffee and industry best practices in e-commerce."
Service and support for all machines sold by Ascaso-USA will be provided by way of Espresso Parts’ existing and growing network of technicians around the country.