Innovations
1950’s
The Origin of Quality Beverage Equipment
In the mid-1950s, George R. Bunn manages Bunn Capitol Wholesale Grocery Company in Springfield, Illinois. George becomes frustrated with the process used to separate coffee grounds from brewed beverage in the percolating process. As a result, George studies coffee brewing processes and starts to engineer innovative coffee brewing processes and coffee equipment.
Flat Bottom Makes the Coffee World Go Round
After experimentation with common household textiles, in the typical cone shape of the times, BUNN develops and introduces the world’s first flat bottom coffee filter that evenly extracts coffee. Customers love the improved taste of their coffeeciting “no bitterness” and better flavors. The BUNN Coffee Division is created.
O Yeah!
The BUNN Coffee Division expands its product line to include brewing equipment. The Model O commercial brewer is patented with the Gravity Drip system and a flat bottom filter.
Experience BUNN Quality
Bunn-O-Matic® Corporation officially joins the National Restaurant Association and debuts their first equipment exhibit at the Association’s annual show, beginning a great tradition. The BUNN booth remains popular today for great-tasting samples from the company’s full product line, including coffee, tea, granita, juice, espresso and Full Cup single servings.
1960’s
Incorporation
On May 16, 1963, Bunn-O-Matic Corporation officially incorporates as a separate entity from the Bunn Capitol Wholesale Grocery Company.
Quality Commercial Coffee Service
The Model X Pourover commercial coffee brewer launches and eventually is regarded as the cornerstone upon which Bunn-O-Matic Corporation was founded with a philosophy of making it simple to brew a quality cup of coffee wherever customers are located. The Model X brewer is offered as loaned equipment at no charge to customers who agree to purchase coffee product from BUNN. This is the inception of Office Coffee Service (“OCS”) business model, the OCS market is born.
Meeting the Needs of the Customer, Wherever Beverages are Served
An international business strategy begins with the establishment of Bunn-O-Matic Corporation of Canada.
1970’s
Commercial Quality at Home
The Model B8 home brewer is launched for the home brewer market and features an internal hot water tank that maintains water at optimal brewing temperature for on-demand brewing. The Model B8 introduces the innovative Pour-Omatic design for brewing much faster than traditional home brewers.
Made in the USA
A manufacturing facility opens in Creston, Iowa with 25 employees. Two lines producing Model RL commercial brewers ran the first day, and three days later a Model VP commercial brewer line was started. Today BUNN has US manufacturing locations in Illinois and Iowa and warehousing locations in Illinois, Iowa, California, New Jersey, Indiana, and Missouri.
More than Coffee
Model TL3 is patented as the first high volume commercial tea brewer to brew fresh tea from real tea leaves, improving flavor and eliminating instant tea mix.
1980’s
Demand for Quality
The Creston facility builds a record number of GR home models. Also, by this time, over 50 different commercial models, grinders, warmers and hot water dispensers as well as two home models are in production.
The Tradition of Bunn Innovation and Family Entrepreneurship Accelerates
Arthur "Hy" Bunn is named President and CEO and serves in the role today. Hy’s leadership enhances BUNN traditions by focusing on elevating dispensed beverage quality, flavor, and consistency through rededication to innovation in equipment, systems, and customer value.
In Hot Water
The model H5X hot water dispenser is patented and promoted for all prep needs in the foodservice environment.
1990’s
First in Class
A brewer/grinder electronic interface was patented as the frontrunner of the industry to ensure proper coffee-to-water ratios. It paved the way for future digital brewing systems.
It’s a Digital World
As customers entered the digital age, BUNN also embraced sophisticated new technology to meet changing needs. Digital Brewer Control™ (DBC®) was patented, making it easier for foodservice operators to consistently offer a great tasting beverage.
We Run Hot and Cold
The first U.S.-made, electronic-sensored frozen drink system (CDS2) is introduced and patented. The Model CDS2 detects the thickness or consistency of the frozen drink “Granita” mixture to control the temperate to maintain beverage consistency, flavor, and enhance equipment operation. BUNN develops and patents the innovative reversing auger system that reduces freeze time, reduces flavor separation, reduces air mixing with product resulting in improved Granita flavor, texture, and consistency.
A Better Way to Run Hot
The Soft Heat® brewer and system is patented, offering exclusive technology that automatically maintains the temperature of coffee in a reservoir at a docking station to manage heat loss. Soft Heat helps maintain coffee flavor over time and extends coffee service time.
2000's
Safety First
The first of its kind SplashGard® funnel is patented. The SplashGard funnel improves beverage brewing safety with a shield positioned in the funnel near the funnel handle to deflect hot liquids away from the hand and back into the funnel.
Juiced Up
BUNN Gourmet Juice systems allow dispensing of both frozen and bag-in-box juice products from a single dispenser.
Experience Brings Wisdom
The groundbreaking BrewWISE® system is patented and launched featuring RFID communication between grinder, funnel, and brewer.
Authentic Single Serve
BUNN is the forerunner in the single serve phenomenon with the introduction of My Cafe® pod brewer. In contrast to metal and plastic coffee capsules, BUNN’s MyCafe brewer uses eco-friendly, compostable pods to deliver a total authentic brewed beverage experience from the aroma of the freshly opened pod or sachet to the flavor quality in the cup.
Double the Grinding Power
BUNN’s MHG multi-hopper grinder is patented. The MHG grinder provides high volume, fresh ground coffee programs with the ability to quickly and easily reload large volume bean hoppers and change between bean types and flavors to expand day-part offerings and variety.
You Mix, We Mix, iMIX®
The iMIX hot powdered drink dispensers are launched with controlled product dosing and alphanumeric displays. BUNN obtains patents on various innovations in the iMIX dispensers that help manage the drink dispensing process to improve overall dispensed beverage consistency and flavor. In the same year, a French Press coffee grinder is designed.
Thermal Wrap Up
Utilizing the latest innovation in thermal holding materials, the ThermoFresh® system is patented allowing a quality beverage to be held for a longer time with greater energy efficiency in a closed, protected vessel.
The Best of Both Worlds
The Infusion Series® is patented and gives operators the best coffee and tea brewing system in one machine with precise extraction control.
Everybody Do the WAVE!
The SmartWAVE® Low Profile Airpot Thermal Carafe Coffee Brewer is patented with an under-the-cabinet design and technology that provides controllable and enhanced turbulence in the brew funnel, promoting more thorough mixing of water and ground coffee to provide more uniformity of extraction.
Quality in the Cup; Quality Manufacturing
BUNN assures high quality products by adhering to strict guidelines at production plants. This dedication resulted in an upgrade in the manufacturing facilities' quality management registration through ISO 9001:2008.
Coffee On Demand
BUNN specializes in producing the best cup for every occasion. The Liquid Coffee Ambient Dispenser is patented for high volume serving situations. FlavorGard® technology continuously monitors the extract-to-water ratio and improves mixing of ingredients to enhance dispensed beverage flavor and consistency.
Being Thorough
The Silver Series® gourmet cold beverage dispenser is elevated with patented High Intensity® mixing technology that enhances dispensed beverage consistency and flavor, BUNN’s novel High Intensity® mixing technology thoroughly and consistently mixes high viscosity concentrates to accurately achieve and maintain the required brix setting.
2010’s
Full Cup Quality
BUNN’s commitment to innovation was unwavering with the launch of the single-cup commercial brewer, trifecta® brewer that utilizes a unique patented Air Infusion® brewing technology. The trifecta brewing method is unlike any other and unlocks nuances for a smooth, deep-bodied coffee or tea experience known as Full Cup. Vogue Magazine’s Jeffrey Steingarten wrote, “It is reassuring to know that the gigantic BUNN company considers the superbly brewed coffee niche worth fighting for.” New York Times coffee and food writer Oliver Strand featured the trifecta brewer in the newspaper’s popular blog, “Diner’s Journal.”
Olympic Partner
BUNN’s equipment was supplied for use at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. The company adopts the Brand Promise, “A Partner You Can Count On®,” reflecting the business mission to be a partner of choice for equipment selection and total post-purchase support.
Respect Earth®
BUNN was named the Commercial Recycler of the Year from the Illinois Recycling Association. The company’s dry cell battery recycling program diverts more than 4,000 pounds of batteries from landfills.
Certified Gold Cup Standard
The Phase Brew home brewer model is one of only three brewers in the market certified by the SCAA to brew Gold Cup standard.
Full Cup at Home
The home model trifecta Model MB is launched exclusively for sale on www.bunnathome.com and gives coffee and tea lovers 25 optional settings to adjust the taste and size of their single cup beverage.
合伙人 (Partner)
Continuing to respond to customer demand, BUNN opens warehouses in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Hong Kong, as well as, offices in Germany and Dubai.
RFID Enabled
AXIOM® RFID coffee server management technology is a 2013 CSP Innovation award winner and a 2012 qualifier in the NAFEM What’s Hot! What’s New! product gallery. The patented technology of the AXIOM brewer's decanter automatically tracks and communicates the age of brewed coffee.
A New Canvas for Beverage Innovation
BUNN dedicates its best engineering and materials knowledge to designing an exclusive Sure Tamp® process in the Brew System Assembly for BUNN Espress® Sure Tamp superautomatic espresso machine.
BUNNLink® Tech Connected
A new chapter is written when BUNN forms an equipment support services unit to help customers manage the lifetime costs of owning premium commercial beverage equipment. Beginning with the BUNN Espress superautomatic espresso series, the company’s BUNNLink service program began utilizing a progressive, cloud-based service package for operators. Routine and on-demand maintenance is coordinated with machine-to-machine (M2M) communication that enables remote monitoring, configuration and management of geographically disbursed equipment. The technology is powered by real-time connectivity that precisely narrows root causes and identifies best-practice troubleshooting scenarios.
Singular Quality
My Café® MCO and MCU commercial-grade, single-serve cartridge systems are engineered to achieve industry recognized brewing temperatures and a unique jet extraction process.
BUNN refresh® is a user controllable still and sparkling cold water dispenser which delivers purified, premium water at the touch of a button or the pull of a tap handle.
Sure Immersion® Bean-to-Cup
A clean, balanced filter-style coffee is expertly extracted one cup at a time through a unique and exclusive patented, Air Infusion® brewing technology.
Be Authentic
Crescendo® is a compact, styled design that serves authentic espresso and premium cafe beverages.
The New Standard in Batch Brewing
The Infusion Series® coffee and tea equipment platform provides Best Result in the Cup™ performance with proven industry knowledge to deliver the lowest cost of ownership.
Standard Models
Achieve a variety of flavor profiles and batch options with programmable Digital Brewer Control. BrewWISE® intelligence with pre-infusion and pulse brew ensures ultimate control of your brewing process and maximum flavor extraction.
Platinum Edition®
This edition of brewers introduces a touchscreen for an enhanced operation experience, allowing users to customize recipes with Visually Intuitive Programming™. The powerful duo of a BUNN-exclusive Peak Extraction® sprayhead coupled with SmartWAVE® technology delivers increased turbulence in the coffee bed during brewing, unrivaled uniformity of extraction, and complexity in the finished beverage.
Keg-Free
The ground-breaking keg-free design makes Nitron2® the ideal platform for authentic Cold Brew taste without the need for a complex or lengthy brewing process.
Nitron gas module
Compatible with any Nitron™ model, this module purifies the surrounding air to provide an unlimited supply of gas for beverages and removes the need for high-pressure tanks or nitrogen generators.
2020 and Beyond
Fast, Precision Grinding
The GVH Grinders are designed for the modern coffee aisle. Sleek curves and a stainless steel finish look right at home in upscale environments, while offering users a precise grinding experience that feels unique.
Great Coffee FAST!
The Fast Cup® brewer is introduced as a profitable high-performance bean-to-cup coffee brewer that features an intuitive touchscreen experience, a bright drip style flavor profile, and accommodations for larger cup sizes - delivered to a customer in approximately 30 seconds. The innovative Fast Cup brewer patented brewing technology provides enhanced brewing consistency and flavor, cup after cup.
Next Generation of Frozen Beverage Dispensing
The Ultra® NX strengthens the already profitable and reliable Ultra equipment platform by offering enhanced design features that deliver a total cost of ownership reduction. The Ultra NX maximizes equipment uptime while providing easier equipment maintenance and reliability provided by patented controllable thaw cycling technology and break away cable connections.
Touchless Beverage Selection & Dispensing
BUNN patented VirtualTOUCH® control system allows users to make desired beverage selection without touching the machine by using a QR-code or simply hovering their finger in front of a sensor. Its like magic!
Cold Brew Mode
The Cold Brew mode on the Infusion Series Platinum Edition easily allows operators to brew batches of cold brew either in concentrate or finished strength formats!
JDF® 4-Tap
With its eye-catching design and smooth tap handles, the BUNN JDF-4 Tap cold beverage dispenser delivers both style and versatility. Serve everything from juices and lemonades to iced teas, mocktails, and cold coffee –all from one sleek, high-performance machine.
BUNN SupportHub™
This solution offers a scannable QR code where your staff can gain direct, uncomplicated access to training and troubleshooting information.
Coffee Excellence
The Premia® brewing system is a high-performance patent-pending bean-to-batch brewer that automatically grinds, brews and manages freshness for optimal coffee availability during peak times while reducing waste during slower dayparts. This next evolution of brewing equipment delivers hot and iced coffee with a drip-style flavor profile, no crema, excellent cup clarity and instant dispense for fast speed of service for your customers.
Liquid Auto Clean Feature
This feature removes the reliance on store staff to complete steps related to daily cleaning. Daily operator interaction consists of simply placing the cleaning shroud on the unit (to deter customer sue during cleaning) and automatically start the cleaning process. This patent-pending technology ensures that the unit is cleaned daily with the proper cleaning solution for optimal performance.
Brewing Versatility Redefined
The Infusion Series Platinum Pro™ is the ultimate brewing solution, designed to manage a wide variety of beverages in one compact system. From cold brew and iced coffee to hot coffee, tea, and lemonade, this versatile brewer delivers exceptional performance while freeing up counter space and simplifying operations.