Lake Lucerne is nestled in a breathtaking panorama at the foot of Mount Rigi. It is one of the largest lakes in Switzerland and was formed from the Reuss Glacier about 12,000 years ago. Many centuries later, the famous Rütli Oath, which laid the foundation for the Swiss Confederation and has been commemorated as a holiday on 1 August since 1921, is said to have taken place on a meadow on the lakeshore. Lake Lucerne also played a significant role in transport in the past – after all, it was the only trade route to the Gotthard Pass until 1863. This also marked the beginning of the shipping industry on Lake Lucerne: In 1837, the first steamboat carried travellers from Lucerne to Flüelen, where they boarded stagecoaches headed for Italy. Today, there are five historic steamboats and 14 motorised boats in use, and they mostly ferry day trippers and tourists across the lake.
Coffee specialities on board
Tavolago AG operates the catering business on Lake Lucerne on the fleet of ships of SGV AG, as well as various restaurants, hotels and catering companies across Switzerland. The catering company has been a loyal customer of Schaerer for more than ten years. A total of 80 Schaerer coffee machines – mainly the Schaerer Coffee Soul – are currently in operation at Tavolago. They also provide coffee beverages at the touch of a button on 17 of the 19 ships. Tavolago has thus opted for the most powerful fully automatic coffee machine from Schaerer, which can withstand even the biggest summer rush and always guarantees the best beverage quality. Due to the lengths of the different routes – from short crossings and one-hour round trips to journeys lasting several hours – guests stay on board for different amounts of time, meaning that the service staff has to be able to count on the coffee machines at all times. This is especially important on short trips, when beverages have to be prepared quickly so that every guest can enjoy their favourite type of coffee. This is where the Schaerer Coffee Soul really shines. Catering on atmospheric cruises by candlelight or for murder mystery dinners round out the cruises on Lake Lucerne. Schaerer coffee machines also provide the finishing touches to the menu here.
Perfect timing for service
The best time to perform maintenance work on Schaerer coffee machines is in winter, when there is not as much traffic on the lake. However, if faults occur during summer operation, good cooperation between the ship’s crew and Schaerer service technicians is essential: For the service team, it is important to be at the dock exactly when the ship arrives and to make optimum use of the short time window before the next departure. A high level of flexibility and innovation was also important when installing the coffee machines on the older steamships (the oldest steamship, the “Uri”, has been sailing since 1901). No synchronised power supply is available in these cases. The solution: The service technicians decided to install special back-up batteries in the machines. These ensure an uninterrupted power supply when the ships are connected to the synchronised grid on land.
A heaping helping of history and beautiful natural scenery: It is not for nothing that the region with and around Lake Lucerne is one of Switzerland’s most popular holiday destinations. On board a boat with a fine cup of coffee with Schaerer quality is the perfect way to take in the scenery.
Pictures: Tavolago AG
