ALTOONA, PA - Sheetz is among the first convenience restaurants to install a new coffee brewing technology that offers customers more consistency in taste, temperature and aroma. The new technology, called Soft Heat by BUNN, will still brew the company??s famous Sheetz Bros Coffeez and represents a $7.5 million investment in the company??s coffee technology.

"Many traditional brewing systems degrade coffee taste by using pots that extend exposure to inconsistent heating that results in coffee with a burnt or flat taste," said Louie Sheetz, executive vice president of marketing, in a press statement. "To add to the problem, coffee that is stored in open containers loses much of the natural aroma and evaporates before it??s even poured, making for a bland cup of coffee."

The new brewing technology will keep coffee at an ideal, uniform holding temperature in a closed container to preserve the aroma of Sheetz Bros Coffeez. Custom pulse-brew technology will also help make the most flavorful cup of coffee.

Sheetz is also introducing its new flavor dispensers that give customers more variety and flexibility in choosing flavors to complement their coffee. The new set up has 20 possible flavor shot combinations, including French Vanilla, Irish Cream, Amaretto, Chocolate Cream, Hazelnut and Butter Pecan, in addition to traditional Half & Half and non-dairy creamer. This allows patrons to truly customize any of the five Sheetz Bros Coffeez blends. Additionally, Sheetz will continue to offer four different sweetener options precisely delivered from its flavor stations.

"Adding sugar, cream and flavor shots generally involves opening numerous individual containers, then pouring, sometimes spilling, the contents into the coffee or on the counter, creating a lot of unnecessary mess and paper waste," said Louie Sheetz. "If you??re in a hurry in the morning, it can be frustrating waiting for someone to fumble through the flavoring process."

The new Sheetz system is simple, quick and allows customers to mix and match flavoring while virtually eliminating spills and paper waste. "This set up gives customers everything they expect when they come to Sheetz. No one else gives you the ability to customize your coffee like we do," added Louie Sheetz.

The new Soft Heat brewing technology and flavor dispensers are rolling out in Sheetz convenience restaurants throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, and will be completed by the end of the year.