FAQ CLUSTER: BRANDS & PRODUCTS

Brands and Products: Frequently Asked Questions

We carry over 80 brands at the Coffee Coaching Club that you can purchase from us in Switzerland. Not because we want to offer as much as possible, but because every single brand has its justification. Each tells a different story, solves a different problem, appeals to a different lifestyle. What you read here is our perspective. Others see it differently, and that is 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 sensory differences between grinders, extraction methods, or brew groups, take a look at our Sensory World with interactive simulators. There you can see what physically and tastefully differentiates brands.

Why do you carry these specific brands?

We curate our assortment. This means we don't just stock everything the market offers, but only what we ourselves believe in. Many of the products in our shop are used daily 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 are 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 are an authorized partner.

What makes La Marzocco special?

La Marzocco has been building machines for decades that are found in the best cafés worldwide. What distinguishes these machines is the saturated group head: a massive, thermally stable construction that ensures a particularly refined and aromatic result in the cup. The espresso has a complexity that you won't find in machines with classic E61 brew groups. Whether that makes a difference to you is subjective. It's best to visit our showroom and experience it for yourself. We compare La Marzocco in detail in our La Marzocco comparison.

What makes Arkel special?

Arkel is a manufacturer from Porto that builds machines the way furniture is built: uncompromising, honest, repairable. Entirely made of stainless steel, no copper, no brass in the water circuit. Saturated group head, dual boiler, and a craftsmanship where you can understand every screw. The result in the cup is aromatic and refined. But beyond that, it's the feeling of owning a machine built to last for decades. Equipment as a life companion, not a consumable item.

What makes Rocket, ECM and Profitec special?

Rocket Espresso, ECM and Profitec build machines that embody the classic portafilter feeling. Handcrafted in Italy (Rocket, Milan) and Germany (ECM, Profitec, Heidelberg). E61 brew group, heat exchanger or dual boiler, solid craftsmanship, timeless design. These machines are built to last 20 years or more, and they make reliably good coffee. Not experimental, not revolutionary, just good. For many, that's precisely the reason: they don't want an app, no complicated software, but a machine that switches on and works.

What makes Flair Espresso special?

Flair Espresso has 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. This is deceleration in a world that is getting faster and faster. And the espresso? It can keep up with any electric machine, if you are willing to learn and enjoy the process. We are the Swiss importer for Flair Espresso.

What makes Comandante special?

Comandante builds hand grinders that have cult status. Not because they are 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 charm is different: holding a Comandante in your hand, turning the crank, feeling the bean, that's a sensory experience. The oak wood, the haptics, the precision. Coffee lovers worldwide swear by it, and many say: The Comandante has changed the way they drink coffee.

What makes Weber Workshops special?

Weber Workshops combines design, craftsmanship, and engineering at a level usually only seen in the watch or automotive industry. A Weber Workshops grinder is both 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 the right place for you. We are the Swiss importer for Weber Workshops.

What makes Varia special?

Varia combines innovation with excellent value for money. Whether it's a hand grinder or an electric grinder, Varia products are well-thought-out, functional, and fun to use. What we particularly like: Varia isn't afraid to do things differently from the rest of the industry. The product range is constantly evolving. A detailed grinder comparison can be found in our Varia grinder comparison. We are the Swiss importer for Varia.

What makes Option-O special?

Option-O builds grinders that belong to the top tier in terms of sensory experience. The Lagom series is renowned among home baristas worldwide for its clarity, aroma separation, and the ability to customize the grinder to individual taste. For people who want to extract the last percent of flavor from their beans. A comparison with other grinders in this class can be found in our Endgame grinder comparison.

What differentiates Eureka, Mazzer, Mahlkönig and Fiorenzato?

These four brands cover the electric grinder spectrum for home baristas and gastronomy. Eureka stands for Italian elegance and excellent value for money, ideal for getting started in the electric world. Mazzer is the gastronomy classic with indestructible technology, found in thousands of cafés worldwide. Mahlkönig builds grinders with large flat burrs, known for clarity and consistency, and is often found in specialty cafés. Fiorenzato combines Italian craftsmanship with modern electronics and is particularly known for its integrated scale models. Which one suits you depends on how you prepare coffee and what kind of lifestyle your grinder should convey.

What makes Normcore special?

Normcore specializes in barista tools that make a real difference in the cup. Tampers with spring pressure, WDT tools, dosing cups. What sets Normcore apart is the combination of function and haptics. Every tool feels high-quality, fits well in the hand, and makes the daily routine a little more pleasant. We are the Swiss importer for Normcore and use the tools daily in our roastery.

What makes Acaia special?

Acaia builds scales that are so precise that they are used in barista championships worldwide. But it's not just about numbers. It's about gaining control over your extraction. If you know how much coffee goes in and how much espresso comes out, you can reproduce what you like and specifically change what you don't like. We are the Swiss importer for Acaia.

What makes Subminimal special?

Subminimal builds milk tools that elevate the quality of home barista coffee beverages to a new level. The NanoFoamer creates fine-pored milk foam with a consistency you usually only find in good cafés, and without a steam wand. For anyone who wants to perfect their cappuccino or flat white at home. We are the Swiss importer for Subminimal and use the products daily 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 characteristic shape), AeroPress (ingeniously simple pressure filter technique for on the go) and other brands from our filter equipment assortment. For hand grinders, Timemore complements our Comandante and Varia selection with very good value for money for beginners and everyday brewers. Great coffee doesn't always require expensive equipment.

Do you also carry coffee beans?

Yes, we are first and foremost a coffee roastery. Our own coffee roasts are produced in Zurich. We roast in small batches and develop profiles that emphasize the origin of the bean. From cocoa-chocolatey to nutty to berry, a changing assortment for pure enjoyment. In our cafés, you can discover all roasts and find out which profile you like 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 assortment are available. You can touch them, experience them, and get to know them at your own pace. If you want to see a specific brand or model, please contact us briefly beforehand. Not all products are permanently on display.

Discover all brands: To the entire assortment. More questions? Explore our other FAQ areas: Buying Advice | Preparation and Troubleshooting | Service and Shipping. Or start in our Sensory World.