The Modern Hotelier #214: Helping Hoteliers Elevate Their Coffee Programs | with Gage Johnston
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Steve: Welcome to another episode of The Modern Hotelier. We are coming to you from the Independent Hotel Show in Miami. We're joined by Gage Johnston from Dalla Corte. Thanks for joining us, Gage, how you doing today? 
Gage Johnston: Of course, I'm happy to be here. Happy to join The Modern Hotelier and be a part of this awesome trade show.
Steve: Absolutely. Yeah. So Gage, can you tell us a little bit more about Dalla Corte and what brings you to the Independent Hotel show? 
Gage Johnston: Sure. Yeah. So at Dalla Corte, we make and manufacture espresso machines, so grinders, the machines themselves, and we try to offer a service, a solution that really elevates. Coffee programs in boutique hotels, in luxury hotels, some soft branded, some independent.
We try to be that partner, that solution to really build up a food and beverage program, and we see the trends that are asking for those coffee programs to really be elevated. So. We're here today to help operators get what they need to be successful in the space. 
David: So tell everyone, how does the Icon Espresso Machine set up? How does that work with boutique and independent hotels? 
Gage Johnston: Sure. So our icon, specifically what we have in it is some few automated technologies. So we go to a hotel, we say, okay, you don't have the staff to have hyper trained baristas like the Starbucks model or some other chains. You know, we get it. There's low staff. We don't necessarily need a whole coffee program, but our icons set up with the grinder and the machine. We have some light automation so the grinder can actually make automatic adjustments to keep your recipe locked in. And we also have auto steam technology so that. Any of your staff can get latte and cappuccino milk to pour that beautiful art in the cup without having to be trained. So that's our real big push for the icon in hotel space. 
Steve: That's great. Yeah, that's great. I feel like there's been a lot of new trends in coffee lately and coffee gaining popularity. What have you seen in the trends in hospitality? 
Gage Johnston: Sure. Yeah. So I'll start off with the biggest trend. Uh, 66% of Americans in the past day had a cup of coffee to put that in comparison, only 20% had eggs. So we know coffee is huge. It actually beat out bottled water. So we know coffee is big, people are drinking it, and we wanna help hoteliers get involved in this big untapped market, especially in some of the more independent and boutique spaces that oftentimes are maybe not as staffed. You know, like the larger branded companies, uh, don't have the affordability.
So we help them get these. Coffee programs in there to really build up that food and beverage market because we see the trends. Another big thing we have is a challenge of people leaving the hotel, right? If I'm at a hotel and I see a Starbucks across the street, I'm gonna leave and go across the street.
We call that leakage, and there's a lot in the industry across all markets, but especially in hotel spaces with food, with coffee, with beverages. So how are we helping elevate your program? That's our biggest focus. 
David: I love that. You talked a little bit about the automation. What really makes you different from other espresso machine companies?
Gage Johnston: Sure. Yeah, so we have some light automation, but the fun thing is these being manufactured in Milan, Italy, they have that style. They have that look, that feel. The interior designers love it. The space designers love it because it looks really good, but it also applies some of that. Uh, automated technology that really help operators be successful without staffing and training all of their people. You know? So that's our biggest thing is the style, the elegance, that Italian flair, and then some of that automation that really helps the coffee be as best quality as it can be. 
Steve: That's great. Yeah. What advice would you give to hoteliers that are looking to upgrade their coffee program without completely redoing their whole f and b outlets?
Gage Johnston: Sure. Yeah. So first thing is just a menu change, right? Biggest thing is just finding out what your demographic actually wants and providing that for them. And it's as easy as customer feedback surveys, looking at some trend data, seeing what in that area really does well with your target audience is something that operators often aren't willing to look at because it's easier to put up a standard menu and just go with the flow. So identifying your proper menu and then backing that menu with the technology that supports that in the most efficient way, which is why we're here with these machines. 
David: Yeah, and so what's next with Dalla Corte, especially in hospitality?
Gage Johnston: For Dalla Corte, we really wanna take this year, next year to push operators to really elevate their coffee programs. It's not just about sending a piece of machinery off to the hotel, hoping it survives. Hoping the ROI is there. We are along for the ride. Dollar Corte is very much about growing a business.
We wanna be there as a solution partner. It's not necessarily just a machine. It's something that ideally returns for you. And we're a part of that process through advice, through consulting, through service, through helping get the machines into these spaces. And that's our biggest win, right? When we all grow, all the roof tides are rising, everybody's doing well. That's what we wanna see. 
Steve: That's great. Yeah. So Gage two questions and then we're gonna get you outta here. Let's do it. Hey, what's your favorite type of coffee right now? 
Gage Johnston: Ooh. Oh my gosh. Okay. It is fall. And I am kind of a pumpkin spice brew. I'm doing it, dude. So pumpkin spice is my thing right now. I gotta have that latte, so I love, love it. That's my favorite coffee right now. 
Steve: I love it. My wife would agree with you. Uh, and also for those that are looking to learn more about Dalla Corte or get in touch with you, what's the best way to do that? 
Gage Johnston: Best way to do it is to visit our website, dla corte.com/usa. We have all of the informational products of machines, contact information, and more to help you with your solution.
David: Awesome. Well, that does it for another episode of The Modern Hotelier. Let's grab a cup of coffee. 
Gage Johnston: Let's do it. 
David: All right. 
Gage Johnston: Awesome.
Steve: Thanks Gage. 
Gage Johnston: Thank y'all. Appreciate it.