BreakMate

BreakMate was a compact, office-oriented soda fountain system developed by The Coca-Cola Company during the 1980s in cooperation with BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte. Rather than dispensing drinks from a conventional restaurant fountain, the machine combined carbonated water with syrup stored in replaceable containers. Its internal compartment accommodated three one-liter plastic syrup containers and a carbon-dioxide tank, allowing users to select among three beverage flavors. The system mixed water and syrup at an approximately 5:1 ratio and included a water reservoir intended to keep the machine usable when a direct water supply was unavailable. BreakMate was designed primarily for offices with roughly five to fifty employees, positioning it as a workplace refreshment product rather than a household appliance or a full-scale food-service fountain. The concept extended Coca-Cola's branded beverage distribution into smaller workplaces, where installing a conventional fountain could be impractical. In practice, the product encountered difficulties associated with its cost structure and the availability and expense of replacement parts. These complications contributed to its commercial failure. Coca-Cola eventually withdrew support for existing machines: the company stopped supplying parts in 2007 and ended syrup supply in 2010. Without parts and proprietary syrup, the installed base could no longer be maintained as a supported Coca-Cola product. BreakMate is therefore chiefly remembered as an unsuccessful attempt to adapt fountain-service technology to the office environment.

The BreakMate originated in the 1980s as a collaboration between The Coca-Cola Company and BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte. Its purpose was to create a smaller, self-contained alternative to the soda fountains commonly found in restaurants and other high-volume service locations. The target environment was the office, particularly workplaces employing approximately five to fifty people. This setting required a machine that could offer several Coca-Cola beverages without the space, plumbing arrangements, and operating scale associated with a conventional fountain installation. The resulting system used a dedicated machine compartment containing three one-liter plastic syrup containers and a carbon-dioxide tank. When a user selected a beverage, the machine combined the syrup with carbonated water at an approximately 5:1 ratio. It also incorporated a water reservoir that could retain water for use when a direct water connection was not available. The three-flavor format gave the system a degree of variety while keeping its footprint and supply arrangement relatively limited. Although the product addressed a recognizable workplace need, BreakMate was ultimately considered a commercial flop. The available reference material identifies unforeseen complications involving cost and parts as important reasons for its poor performance. These issues affected both the economics of installing and operating the machines and the ability of customers to keep them functioning over time. The proprietary nature of the equipment and consumables appears to have made long-term support particularly important, although the available source does not provide detailed sales figures, launch-market information, or a complete account of the product's distribution. Coca-Cola later began withdrawing support. In 2007, it stopped supplying replacement parts for BreakMate machines. In 2010, it ended the supply of syrup as well. The latter decision removed the branded consumable on which the system depended and marked the end of BreakMate as an officially supported Coca-Cola offering. The product is now defunct and is chiefly notable as an experiment in bringing branded fountain beverages to smaller offices.

1. 2010Syrup supply ended

   Coca-Cola stopped supplying syrup for BreakMate machines, completing the withdrawal of official product support.

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2. 2007Replacement-parts support ended

   Coca-Cola stopped supplying parts for BreakMate machines, ending official maintenance support for the installed base.

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3. 1980Development began in the 1980s

   The Coca-Cola Company developed BreakMate during the 1980s in cooperation with BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte as an office-oriented soda fountain system.

   Source

A compact Coca-Cola beverage-dispensing solution for small and medium-sized offices, intended to provide fountain drinks without the infrastructure of a conventional commercial soda fountain.

• BreakMateOffice soda fountain

  BreakMate was a three-flavor beverage dispenser for offices of approximately five to fifty employees. Its compartment held three one-liter syrup containers and a carbon-dioxide tank. The machine mixed syrup and carbonated water at an approximately 5:1 ratio and included a water reservoir for situations in which a direct water supply was unavailable. The system was intended to provide Coca-Cola fountain-style beverages in a smaller workplace setting, but cost and parts-related complications contributed to its commercial failure. Official parts support ended in 2007 and syrup supply ended in 2010.

• 2010Termination of syrup supplyStrategy

  After parts support had already ended, BreakMate machines still depended on Coca-Cola syrup supplies for their intended operation.

  What changed. The Coca-Cola Company stopped supplying syrup for BreakMate machines.

  Aftermath. The end of syrup supply effectively concluded BreakMate's supported commercial life.

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• 2007Withdrawal of replacement-parts supportStrategy

  BreakMate had been commercially unsuccessful and faced complications involving costs and parts.

  What changed. The Coca-Cola Company stopped supplying parts for BreakMate machines.

  Aftermath. Customers lost official access to replacement parts, weakening the maintainability of existing machines.

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• 2010Coca-Cola ended syrup supply for BreakMate machines

  The company finally stopped supplying syrup for BreakMate machines, effectively ending the product's supported commercial life.

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• 2007Coca-Cola stopped supplying BreakMate replacement parts

  The Coca-Cola Company discontinued the supply of parts for BreakMate machines, reducing official support for the installed base.

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1. BreakMate