Which brewing-technology company did Starbucks acquire in 2008?

Starbucks acquired Coffee Equipment Company in 2008.

Coffee Equipment Company developed the Clover brewing system, a machine designed to brew individual cups of coffee with precise control over time and temperature. Starbucks bought the company to bring Clover technology into its specialty-coffee strategy.

After the acquisition, Starbucks introduced Clover brewers in selected stores. The system helped baristas prepare single-cup brewed coffee and supported Starbucks’ emphasis on showcasing particular beans and flavor profiles.

The acquisition is sometimes misremembered as a purchase of the Clover brand alone. The legal acquisition involved Coffee Equipment Company, while Clover was the company’s best-known brewing technology. Clover also differs from Starbucks’ espresso machines and from automated batch brewers used for larger-volume service.