The Nespresso story began in the 1970’s when Nestlé, the world leader in food, anticipated the growing gourmet coffee market and decided to take espresso inventor Luiggi Bezzera’s original concept a step farther. The totally integrated Nespresso System, developed after long years of research and many patents, revolutionized the portioned coffee market and started a new era of encapsulated coffee.

Historical Highlights

1986
The company, Nespresso SA, is set up in Vevey, Switzerland with a staff of five including one secretary. Nespresso is launched in Switzerland and Italy with the C100 and C1100 machine models manufactured by Turmix and targeted to the office coffee service (OCS) sector. Capsule production begins in Orbe, Switzerland, and coffee varieties include Bolero, Capriccio, Cosi and Decaffeinato.

1987
Nespresso is launched on the Italian and Japanese household markets. A “Service” department is set up to follow-up with customers in Switzerland. Technical assistance is provided by two employees called “Baristas”.

1988
Both the machine’s technical performance and the capsule technology are perfected. Operations are still focused on the OCS business.

1989
Nespresso launches on the Swiss household market and the Nespresso Club makes its debut. The company moves offices to Pully, Switzerland and comprises a staff of 15 people.

1990
Market tests begin in the USA. The Veneto (now Volluto) coffee variety is introduced as a replacement for Bolero. “Special Club”, blended from exceptional and rare annual harvests, is launched as an exclusive coffee variety limited to year-end sales.

1991
World leader Eugster Frismag AG becomes the exclusive producer of Nespresso machines and Krups is appointed as Nespresso’s machine partner for international operations. Nespresso is launched in France and the USA with the Krups 995 (C200 Plus) machine. The Roma coffee variety is launched in Switzerland and the USA, bringing the range of Nespresso coffee blends to five.

1992
Matsushita Electric Industrial (MEI) is appointed as Nespresso’s machine partner for Japan and sells the System under its “National” brand name. Nespresso is launched in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands with the Krups 995 (C200 Plus) machine. Nespresso Club opens its second Swiss office in Zürich.

1993
A full range of accessories is introduced as an additional consumer benefit by the Clubs. Nespresso is launched in six Middle Eastern countries, and the Krups 986 (C125) machine model is introduced internationally. Koenig and Philips are appointed machine partners for Switzerland and Japan respectively. Gaggia is appointed Nespresso’s machine partner for the distribution of professional models for the premium restaurant sector. A second capsule production line is opened in Nestlé’s Orbe (Switzerland) factory, doubling Nespresso’s capsule production capacity. The Toscana (now Arpeggio) coffee variety is launched internationally.

1994
Development of the Nespresso Aviation System machine begins with the British company Aerolux Ltd. Nespresso is now marketed in 15 countries and becomes one of Nestlé’s fastest growing operating companies. Nespresso dark chocolate is launched for Christmas.

1995
The new Livanto coffee variety is launched as Nespresso’s morning espresso. The C250 Automatic / Krups 554 Programmatic machine model is introduced internationally and Nespresso is launched in Spain, Austria and Australia. The C125 machine wins Nespresso an Honorable Mention in the Swiss Design Prize competition while the Nespresso Aviation System is awarded the IFCA Mercury Golden Award in the “Equipment for In-flight Service and Airline Catering” category. Swissair becomes the first airline to offer Nespresso on board its long-haul First Class service. Nespresso milk chocolate is launched for Christmas.

1996
Nespresso is launched in the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. The renowned Italian company, Alessi, is appointed as a new partner in the table arts sector and for an exclusively designed new machine. Other new machine partners are appointed including Jura and Magimix. Both the C125 and C250 Nespresso Systems win “Design Innovation” awards at the Essen trade show. British Airways and Cathay Pacific, among others, introduce the Nespresso Aviation System on board their First Class services. Nespresso is now served in over 60 top restaurants and hotels, particularly in France and Belgium.

1997
The Ristretto coffee variety is launched internationally and wins recognition as the best espresso by the Italian based International Institute of Coffee Tasters. The C200 Plus is redesigned and reintroduced internationally as the C220 Plus (Magimix M180). NESPRESSO PROFESSIONAL, the portioned coffee line specifically designed for small to medium sized offices is launched in France, Switzerland, Spain and Germany. Nespresso makes its debut on the Internet with its first Web site.

1998
The revolutionary Cobán Alessi & Nespresso machine is introduced in eight European countries. Nespresso is now present in 25 countries supported by 200 employees worldwide. Sixteen machine models are now sold in 3,500 points of sale by our 10 Nespresso machine partners. Trade show recognition continues with the Nespresso System C280 machine winning the “Award for High Design Quality” in Essen and the C220 machine capturing the “iF” (International Product Design) Award in Hanover. Nespresso’s e-business goes on-line at a re-designed nespresso.com.

1999
The entire Nespresso machine range receives a facelift and several new machine models are introduced. Nespresso is launched in the Italian household market with Krups and new machine partner Saeco, which is also appointed to distribute Nespresso machines in Spain. Other new machine partners include Jura in Germany and Magimix in Great Britain. NESPRESSO PROFESSIONAL continues to make strong gains in all of the nine European countries in which it has now been launched. Nespresso’s autumn advertising campaign wins acclaim in France, where it receives the Marie Claire SCORISSIMO award and in Belgium, where Onye Tijd / Notre Temps judges it to be the best overall ad for the month of December.

2000
Nespresso’s e-business gathers momentum with an average of over 50 percent of nespresso.com visitors placing orders on-line. Decaffeinato Intenso becomes Nespresso’s ninth coffee variety providing genuine, full-bodied espresso taste without caffeine. NESPRESSO PROFESSIONAL opens its own subsidiary operations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria and surpasses its competition with its revolutionary after sales service. Currently present in more than 30 countries with 12 subsidiaries and 300 employees, Nestlé Nespresso now has 11 machine partners, 18 agents, 6,500 points of sale and over 420,000 affiliated Club members.

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