It’s not often we see American leading the way when it comes to inflight service, so here’s a small but noteworthy victory, as reported by @xJonNYC.
In this post:
American expands premium cabin espresso offering
American Airlines is expanding the planes and cabins on which it serves espresso-based drinks. Thanks to a recent change, American now offers espresso in first and business class on Boeing 777s (777-200ERs and 777-300ERs), Boeing 787s (787-8s and 787-9s), and Airbus A321Ts.
Note that these are only offered on flights where the forward cabins are marketed as Flagship First and Flagship Business, which includes long haul international and premium transcontinental flights. This means that if you fly a 777 from Miami to Dallas, for example, espresso wouldn’t be offered.
What’s the actual change here? Well, back in the day, American only offered espresso in first class, and not business class. So this now being available in business class on more aircraft is a positive development. Furthermore, for the first couple of years after the start of the pandemic, American had completely cut inflight espresso, before it returned in the spring of 2022.
Note that while American now offer espresso, the airline doesn’t offer cappuccinos or lattes, sadly, even in first class.
I’m happy to see American improve its coffee situation
As someone who is a bit obsessed with coffee, I appreciate when airlines invest in this aspect of the product. Airline coffee is kind of disgusting, so the more of a caffeine hit you can get while minimizing the amount of potable water you drink, the better. Now, I do wish American would bring back cappuccinos as well, rather than just espressos, but hey, I’ll take what I can get.
Interestingly, this is now a point of differentiation compared to Delta and United. In United Polaris business class, there are no espresso based drinks. However, United does have illy cold brew, which is cool. In the case of Delta One business class, only select aircraft have espresso machines.
Now, I do hope that the espresso machines are properly maintained, and actually work a majority of the time. Furthermore, I hope that the crews actually consistently offer to make these when requested, rather than claiming the machines are broken. For that matter, I hope crews don’t use all the espresso pods for themselves, before passengers are able to request them. Let me say that I think most American flight attendants do their best, so I’m only potentially talking about a small minority here.
Bottom line
American Airlines has expanded the routes on which it serves espresso. The airline now offers espresso in first and business class on Boeing 777s, Boeing 787s, and Airbus A321Ts. This is the most number of aircraft on which American has offered espresso, though unfortunately there are no cappuccinos, or the like.
I’m happy to see this change, though I sure wish more US carriers would match United with serving cold brew throughout their network.
What do you make about American serving espresso in first & business class?
I asked the flight attendant to make me one on the Etihad A350 AUH-YYZ. It was meh...
The entire world knows American coffee is $hit. Nice perk but I’m waking up in business class before landing for the pre landing meal. A mug of tank water black coffee or cappuccino ; I just wanna perk up and prepare for landing.
I can always grab a cappuccino at Starbucks. Once you arrive at your destination you can have your first amazing coffee drink even before leaving the airport. Maybe the crew can enjoy the espresso machine.
It won’t be done. We don’t have the cabin staffing. Period. And the expression pods are manufactured in Texas. No thanks.
A reminder of why you should never waste money for business class on U.S. carrier. I can't think of a single European or Asian carrier who hasn't been serving a cappuccino in business class for at least a decade, and here is AA just adding basic espresso.
Wow, just, wow.
Wow, just wow…you are a snob.
It's pretty ridiculous to get excited about machine coffee from a pod that I'd avoid drinking in a lounge or hotel, just because I can now get it with my 2000-dollar-plus plane ticket.
So, espresso coffee on these flights (and not even a mum-and-dad café level of options) is pretty much like a complimentary upgrade for an EP. Theoretically possible, but you buy a lottery ticket when it actually happens? There are airlines that seem to manage to offer it consistently even if not on all flights.
Here’s the thing. Espresso is a method of preparing g/extracting coffee. It, in itself, is not better or worse than other methods. AA is using this for marketing purposes (fair) and we shouldn’t get too excited.
In many cases, a bad espresso would be the worst coffee possible, as it burns and also runs in pipes filled with burnt residue. I have never had a decent espresso in the air. Not once.
If...
Here’s the thing. Espresso is a method of preparing g/extracting coffee. It, in itself, is not better or worse than other methods. AA is using this for marketing purposes (fair) and we shouldn’t get too excited.
In many cases, a bad espresso would be the worst coffee possible, as it burns and also runs in pipes filled with burnt residue. I have never had a decent espresso in the air. Not once.
If you ask me , cold brew and filter coffee are much safer options for air travel and do not require machines.
Flew on Flagship business twice recently when they stated 'Espresso available on request' and on both times, guess what: 'machine is broken'. Very American-based thinking, over-promissing and under-delivering.
Wonder how long it will be before they set up a tip jar for their special coffee? LOL
What I would much prefer is when I ask for a cup of tea, the beverage given to me does not smell or taste of coffee.
Am a bit confused. Thought American was planning on eliminating first class?
I am with you Lucky, I am more interested in an airlines coffee offerings than wine/champagne selection!
Which is why I find it disappointing that so many top league airlines still do not serve espresso based drinks in biz (looking at you JAL and ANA). C'mon, if Iberia can do it you can too!
"Now, I do hope that the espresso machines are properly maintained, and actually work a majority of the time."
Like the soft serve ice cream cone machines at McDonald's I am guessing.
I had an espresso on an AA 788 three months ago in biz.
Flew on one a few days ago and they were also serving Boizel Brut Reserve Champagne. Not sure why all the AA shaming, it’s a solid experience. Perhaps the catering is much better out of HND (better than the flight there on ANA), but the food has also been well above Polaris as well.
I guess its a good thing that AA can serve espressos in F and J, though I dont understand why its such a big deal with US / EU airlines. Most passengers are tired, jet-lagged and possibly hung-over after a trans-Atlantic flight and serving good coffee seems like an easy win for an airline in terms of customer experience.
I'm not sure if getting attendants to use pod machines is really a way of serving 'good coffee'. It seems incredibly labor intensive for what would presumably be a very mediocre drink.
Airplane coffee made in huge vats with rancid water from the tanks is a good way to both wake you up and clean out your system.