Pictured left to right: Radu Savopol (Co-founder, 5 to go), Latte Art Factory’s Daniel Maciu, Oliver Haddad, Erkan Omer and Franjo Kis, and Lucian Bădilă (Co-founder, 5 to go)

In an increasingly competitive coffee industry, cafés face the challenges of rising barista wages alongside escalating operational costs and the price of goods. 

Amid this tough climate, three-time SCA award winner and recipient of the 2023 Smart Label HOST Innovation Award, Latte Art Factory (LAF), has emerged as a ground-breaking solution to sustain and enhance profitability with its cost-effective and waste-reducing milk frothing system.  

Over the last two years, LAF has been deployed at more than 100 5 to go cafés in Romania, resulting in significant cost and efficiency savings for franchisees. Eighty-five percent of coffees sold at 5 to go are milk-based, with the 475ml cappuccino ‘Mr. Big’ reigning as the customer favourite.

This preference underscores the importance of milk in 5 to go’s business model but also highlights a vulnerability to the rising cost of milk and waste associated with traditional barista-prepared beverages. 

“After just a week of using the Latte Art Factory, I can say that it is worth every penny. The milk foam is perfect, milk losses are reduced to almost zero and the cold milk foam is incredible. Waiting times for a coffee with milk have halved – worth the investment!” said Cebedal, a 5 to go franchisee. 

For Mihai Dadiloveanu, owner of the 5 to go branch in Eroilor, Bucharest, the introduction of the LAF was transformative – generating a 54% surge in revenues compared to the previous year without it.  

“Many customers come to my café specifically for the drinks made using the Latte Art Factory,” he noted, crediting LAF with enabling him to serve a larger customer base without the necessity for top-tier baristas.  

The numbers speak for themselves. LAF not only paid for itself within months but also helped double the production of milk-based coffees to 300 per hour. Additionally, the machine’s efficiency and precise dispensing led to a significant reduction in milk waste, saving Mihai 11.7 litres of milk daily and €3,000 a year. 

“The advanced milk frothing technology provided by Latte Art Factory is beyond doubt a significant 

asset for a café in terms of increased customer satisfaction, profitability, product quality and reduced staff training,” says Radu Savopol, Co-founder, 5 to go. 

“5 to go coffee shops using Latte Art Factory machines saw a 30% increase in revenue. We are proud of this partnership and have every reason to take it further”, adds Lucian Bădilă, Co-founder, 5 to go. 

By offering a solution that enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and maintains the highest quality of milk-based beverages, LAF is redefining the operational model for cafés. Its success at 5 to go signals a promising outlook for others in the industry seeking to navigate the challenges of rising costs and consumer demand for quality. 
 

Learn more about Latte Art Factory here.