FAQ CLUSTER: BRANDS & PRODUCTS

Brands and Products: Frequently Asked Questions

We carry over 80 brands at Coffee Coaching Club, available to you here in Switzerland. Not because we want to offer as much as possible, but because every single brand has earned its place. Each one tells a different story, solves a different problem, speaks to a different feeling. What you read here is our perspective. Others see it differently, and that's just as valid. In the end, only one thing matters: does the equipment make you happy, and does the coffee taste good?

If you want to understand the differences between burrs, extraction methods, or group heads on a sensory level, take a look at our Sensory World with interactive simulators. There you can see how brands differ physically and in taste.

Why do you carry these particular brands?

We curate our range. That means we don't take on everything the market offers, only what we're genuinely convinced by ourselves. We use many of the products in our shop every day in our roastery and our cafés. That's the filter: if we wouldn't use it ourselves, we don't sell it. For numerous brands we're the official Swiss importer, including Flair Espresso, Normcore, Acaia, Weber Workshops, Varia and Subminimal. For other brands, such as La Marzocco, Rocket, ECM, Profitec, Mazzer and Mahlkönig we're an authorized partner.

What makes La Marzocco special?

La Marzocco has been building machines for decades that stand in the best cafés in the world. What sets these machines apart is the saturated group head: a massive, thermally stable construction that delivers a particularly refined, aroma-rich result in the cup. The espresso has a layered complexity you won't find in machines with a classic E61 group head. Whether that makes the difference for you is subjective. The best way to find out is to visit our showroom and experience it yourself. We compare La Marzocco in detail in our La Marzocco Comparison.

What makes Arkel special?

Arkel is a manufactory from Porto that builds machines the way you'd build furniture: uncompromising, honest, repairable. Made entirely of stainless steel, no copper, no brass in the water circuit. Saturated group head, dual boiler, and a build quality where you can trace every screw. The result in the cup is aroma-rich and refined. But beyond that, it's the feeling of owning a machine built to last for decades. Equipment as a lifelong companion, not a wear item. The two models, Coast and Tide, differ in a few technical details – we compare them in detail in our Arkel Coast vs. Tide Comparison.

What makes Rocket, ECM, and Profitec special?

Rocket Espresso, ECM and Profitec build machines that embody the classic portafilter feel in every detail. Handcrafted in Italy (Rocket and ECM, Milan) and Germany (Profitec, Heidelberg). E61 group head, heat exchanger or dual boiler, solid build quality, timeless design. These machines are built to last 20 years or longer, and they make coffee that's reliably good. Not experimental, not revolutionary, simply good. For many, that's exactly the reason: they don't want an app or complicated software, just a machine that turns on and works. A great example of this clarity is the ECM Puristika, a single-circuit machine with no steam generation at all, to which we've dedicated its own profile. If you're not yet sure which model from the Rocket lineup suits you, you'll find guidance in our Rocket Espresso Switzerland Model Guide, and how the three brands differ in detail, we compare in depth in ECM vs. Rocket vs. Profitec.

What makes Flair Espresso special?

Flair Espresso redefined manual espresso preparation. No electricity, no noise, just you, the lever, and the bean. What drives Flair fans is the ritual: you control the pressure with your hand, feel the resistance of the puck, watch the espresso flow. It's a slowing-down in a world that keeps speeding up. And the espresso? It can hold its own against any electric machine, once you're ready to learn and enjoy the process. We're the Swiss importer for Flair Espresso.

What makes Comandante special?

Comandante builds hand grinders with cult status. Not because they're the most expensive, but because the grind quality plays at a level that electric grinders only reach at a multiple of the price. But the real appeal is something else: holding a Comandante in your hand, turning the crank, feeling the bean, that's a sensory experience. The oak wood, the feel in your hand, the precision. Coffee lovers around the world swear by it, and many say the Comandante changed the way they drink coffee.

What makes Weber Workshops special?

Weber Workshops combines design, craftsmanship, and engineering at a level otherwise only found in watchmaking or the automotive industry. A grinder from Weber Workshops is at once a precision instrument and a design object. It stands in your kitchen and you enjoy looking at it, even when you're not making coffee. If you appreciate exceptional craftsmanship, this is for you. We're the Swiss importer for Weber Workshops.

What makes Varia special?

Varia combines innovation with an excellent price-to-performance ratio. Whether hand grinder or electric grinder, Varia products are thoughtfully designed, functional, and fun to use. What we particularly like: Varia isn't afraid to do things differently from the rest of the industry. The lineup keeps evolving, and you'll find a detailed grinder comparison in our Varia Grinder Comparison. We're the Swiss importer for Varia.

What makes Option-O special?

Option-O builds grinders that play in the sensory top tier. The Lagom series is known among home baristas worldwide for clarity, separation of flavors, and the ability to tune the burrs to your own taste. For people who want to extract the last percent of flavor from their beans, and you'll find a comparison with other grinders in this class in our Endgame Grinder Comparison.

What sets Eureka, Mazzer, Mahlkönig, and Fiorenzato apart?

These four brands cover the electric grinder spectrum for home baristas and hospitality. Eureka stands for Italian elegance and a very good price-to-performance ratio, ideal for getting started in the electric world. Mazzer is the hospitality classic with indestructible technology found in thousands of cafés worldwide. Mahlkönig builds grinders with large Flat Burrs, known for clarity and consistency, and is therefore often found in specialty cafés. Fiorenzato combines Italian craftsmanship with modern electronics and is especially known for its scale-integrated models. Which one suits you depends on how you brew coffee and what feeling you want your grinder to convey.

What makes Normcore special?

Normcore specializes in barista tools that make a real difference in the cup. Spring-loaded tampers, WDT tools, dosing cups. What sets Normcore apart is the combination of function and feel. Every tool feels high quality, sits well in the hand, and makes your daily routine a little more enjoyable. We're the Swiss importer for Normcore and use the tools every day in our roastery.

What makes Acaia special?

Acaia builds scales precise enough to be used in barista championships worldwide. But it's not just about numbers. It's about giving you control over your extraction. When you know how much coffee goes in and how much espresso comes out, you can reproduce what tastes good to you and deliberately change what doesn't. We're the Swiss importer for Acaia.

What makes Subminimal special?

Subminimal builds milk tools that bring home-barista coffee drinks to a new level. The NanoFoamer creates fine-pored milk foam with a consistency you'd otherwise only know from good cafés, and without a steam wand. For anyone who wants to perfect their cappuccino or flat white at home every time. We're the Swiss importer for Subminimal and use the products every day in our cafés and workshops.

Do you also carry filter equipment and hand grinders in more affordable price ranges?

Yes. For filter brewing we carry Hario (Japan, V60 pour-over), Chemex (USA, the classic with its signature shape), AeroPress (brilliantly simple pressure-brewing technology for on the go) and other brands from our Filter Equipment Range. For hand grinders, Timemore complements our Comandante and Varia selection with a very good price-to-performance ratio for everyday brewers. Great coffee doesn't always need expensive equipment. How Comandante and Timemore differ side by side is shown in our Comandante vs. Timemore Comparison.

Do you also carry coffee beans?

Yes, first and foremost we're a coffee roastery. Our own coffee roasts are created in Zurich. We roast in small batches and develop profiles that put the bean's origin front and center. From cocoa-chocolatey to nutty to berry-like, an ever-changing range for pure enjoyment. In our cafés you can discover all our roasts and find out which profile suits your taste best.

Can I experience the brands in the showroom?

Yes. In our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich Oerlikon (Hagenholzstrasse 50b), machines and grinders from many brands in our range are ready for you to touch, experience, and get to know at your own pace. If you want to see a specific brand or model, just get in touch with us beforehand. Not all products are permanently on display.

Discover all brands: Browse our full range. More questions? Explore our other FAQ sections: Purchase Advice | Preparation and Troubleshooting | Service and Shipping. Or start in our Sensory World.